"I could tell, even over the phone, that these guys were something special." - Frank Zappa
Zoho Music has announced the release of an upcoming album by The Persuasions, featuring a cappella versions of 14 Bob Dylan compositions. Knockin' On Bob's Door, is expected to be released worldwide on November 9.
The Persuasions have previously covered Dylan songs, including "Three Angels" and "The Man In Me".
Formed in Brooklyn about the same time Bob Dylan released his debut album, The Persuasions have been recording since the late 1960s. The a cappella legends credits Frank Zappa for giving them their first big break by signing the group to his record label.
The Persuasions have worked with Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Little Richard, The Neville Brothers, and B.B. King, among others
Over the last decade, the group have focused on albums devoted to individual acts, including Frankly A Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa, Might As Well...The Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead, The Persuasions Sing The Beatles, and The Persuasions Sing U2.
Here's a sample of what we can expect on Knockin' On Bob's Door, according to the liner notes:
Like a Rolling Stone is viewed by many as Bob Dylan’s single greatest and perhaps most revolutionary song, from his 1965 LP “Highway 61 Revisited”. The Persuasions have the “cheek” and audacity to replace the thundering three cord riff and classic hard rock band sound of the original with a classic Brooklyn doo-wop vibe with an occasional vocal Reggae tilt – which, once heard, sounds completely natural. We dare speculate that The Persuasions’ highly original version of this song will become a classic in its own right.
Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right – a song from his second LP “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” from 1963 – here gets a stately ballad-style treatment with the gruff, but magic lead vocals by Joe Russell, one of the band’s original members, and his only lead vocal on the entire record.
The contrast to the next track, Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn), could not possibly be greater – with the Persuasions hilariously mimicking the sounds of an amateur brass band playing at a party! – Dylan first recorded this song with The Band in the famous 1967 “Basement Tapes” sessions.
Here's the track listing:
1. Mr Tambourine Man 5:27
2. All Along the Watchtower 2:59
3. Like a Rolling Stone 5:16
4. Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right 3:35
5. Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) 3:55
6. Blowing in the Wind 3:10
7. Positively 4th Street 3:16
8. You Ain’t Going Nowhere 2:55
9. When I Paint My Masterpiece 3:01
10. Lay Lady Lay 3:16
11. Just Like a Woman 4:23
12. Things Have Changed 5:08
13. Forever Young 3:38
14. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door 3:42
The current line-up is:
JOE RUSSELL: second tenor
JIMMY HAYES: bass
DAVE REVELS: lead tenor
RAYMOND SANDERS: first tenor
BERNARD “B.J.” JONES: baritone
with guest CLIFF DAWSON: tenor
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Below you can listen to The Persuasions covering "The Man In Me', from the album, Street Corner Symphony.
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