2000 Great Songs #1467: Absolutely Sweet Marie
Continuing our ongoing trend of including lots of Bob Dylan songs on the list... but almost invariably based on one of the many cover versions. This time, we've got "Absolutely Sweet Marie," the wonderful, jangly country-rocker from 1966's Blonde On Blonde . It's certainly great in its original form... but I'm partial to Jason & The Scorchers ' rollicking banger. It was an early single for the band, appearing on some versions of the 1983 debut EP Fervor (and on various CD reissues of that album, usually paired with its 1985 follow-up Lost & Found ). One of the defining moments in 80s cowpunk, twang & fury in equal doses. Jason & The Scorchers live 1985: Dylan's original: Dylan live 1990 (partial): George Harrison (Dylan tribute show): Flamin' Groovies' version: See the entire Top 2000 to date in a sortable database !
