What's It Called?
Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
What's The Story?
Released as a B-side on Jim's 1968 album Electric Ladyland. Written by Bob Dylan.
What's The Story?
Released as a B-side on Jim's 1968 album Electric Ladyland. Written by Bob Dylan.
Who's To Blame?
Probably classic rock radio.
Why ♥ It?
Leave it to a poetic genius like Bob Dylan to throw together a wonderful riddle of lyrics with a more than competent chord progression, and then almost ruin his masterpiece by actually performing it himself. I count my blessings that Hendrix (among many others) came along to save it.
With that said, this song defies an easy description of why I love it so much. I think it's at least partially because of the simplicity; it is the quintessential classic rock hit. Guitar licks are thrown into every musical orifice, and after each verse, there's time for a solo section. However, despite the simplicity, the song doesn't really even have a chorus--sort of a standard.
I think the best example of the energy I love from this song is when, at the end of the long solo, the guitar builds the intensity for Hendrix to come back in singing the eponymous opening line in the third verse. That couple-second long moment makes the final verse feel almost triumphant, like I actually achieved something by listening to the song. I couldn't imagine how much better it would feel to actually play that--but I'm betting that could be the reason that bands like U2 & Dave Matthews Band cover it so frequently.
Why ♥ It?
Leave it to a poetic genius like Bob Dylan to throw together a wonderful riddle of lyrics with a more than competent chord progression, and then almost ruin his masterpiece by actually performing it himself. I count my blessings that Hendrix (among many others) came along to save it.
With that said, this song defies an easy description of why I love it so much. I think it's at least partially because of the simplicity; it is the quintessential classic rock hit. Guitar licks are thrown into every musical orifice, and after each verse, there's time for a solo section. However, despite the simplicity, the song doesn't really even have a chorus--sort of a standard.
I think the best example of the energy I love from this song is when, at the end of the long solo, the guitar builds the intensity for Hendrix to come back in singing the eponymous opening line in the third verse. That couple-second long moment makes the final verse feel almost triumphant, like I actually achieved something by listening to the song. I couldn't imagine how much better it would feel to actually play that--but I'm betting that could be the reason that bands like U2 & Dave Matthews Band cover it so frequently.
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