This past weekend, both my wife and my sister insulted the singing voice of Mr. Robert Zimmerman, better known as Bob Dylan.  Now, poking fun at the gravely voice of the throaty folkster is nothing new, and sure, he doesn’t sound much like your average singer. But you just can’t dispute his genius.  He is hands down the most prolific songwriter this country has ever known.  And if you listen to his lyrics – really listen to them – you’ve got to be impressed.

Or not. Taste is all relative after all.

Now I actually enjoy Bob Dylan’s singing, but if you can only appreciate his tunes when they are sung by someone else, I humbly submit my Top Five Bob Dylan cover songs.

Manfred Mann – The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
OK, so the lyrics in this song may not be brilliant, but it’s definitely the catchiest song ever written about an Eskimo. And this version was released years before Manfred Mann would find further success doing another cover of a song where no one could understand the original’s lyrics, Blinded by the Light.

Robert Palmer and UB40 – I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
Bob Dylan not sexy enough for you? Well how about Robert Palmer? And what make Robert Palmer sexier? Well, the pale emotionless ladies that stand behind him don’t hurt, but also having the reggae sound of UB40 certainly makes this cover song extra seductive.

Jim James & Calexico – Goin’ To Acapulco
I love Dylan, but I just couldn’t get into the “bio-pic” I’m Not There – it was just too po-mo for me. (Post Modern. Weird for the sake of weird.) Still, the soundtrack is full of great Dylan covers, and it’s tough to single out a favorite. I very much enjoy Mason Jennings’ The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, Cat Power’s take on Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, and Jeff Tweedy’s Simple Twist of Fate. But if I have to pick one song that rises above the rest, it is this version of Goin’ To Acapulco. (Pay no attention to the Spanish subtitles… unless you’re into that sort of thing, of course.)

Guns N’ Roses – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Every band in the history of bands has covered this song. OK, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but this track has to be up there with Come Together and Feelin’ Alright. Now I mean no disrespect to Eric Clapton o anyone else, but the GNR version of this song is hands down the best. It’s hard to hear anyone else sing this song and not imagine Axl’s “Hey, hey, hey hey yeah” in your head.

Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower
Yes, it’s a cliché to put this song on my list, but there is a reason that it is the definitive Dylan cover. Many songs that were written by Dylan would go on to become much more popular after being sung by another act, but that has never been more true than with Watchtower, which became not only one of Hendrix’s biggest hits, but a true classic rock anthem. All thanks to the incomparable writing of Mr.Bob Dylan.