I’m Still Scratching My Head Over These 4 Bizarre Bob Dylan Collaborations

Bob Dylan doesn’t collaborate with others very often. Why would he? His voice, lyrical prowess, and overall vibe are best suited for solo performances. However, he has worked with other artists in the past. And there are a few pretty bizarre and unexpected Bob Dylan collaborations out there that still have me scratching my head. Though, most of these weird pairings actually worked out.

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1. The Grateful Dead

Nobody expected famed protest singer and folk star Bob Dylan to collaborate with jam band Grateful Dead, yet here we are. The two entities actually worked beautifully together; after all, they both found their original roots in folk. The way Dylan interprets Grateful Dead’s songs is fascinating, and the collaborative 1987 performance of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” just sounds natural on stage.

2. USA For Africa

This one is on the more bizarre side of Bob Dylan collaborations, simply because Dylan looks so out of place in the music video for “We Are The World”. Though, the whole of this collaboration for Live Aid was pretty odd in the best way possible. 

How often does a folk star like Dyan get to be in the same room, recording a song, with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Lionel Richie? He might look uncomfortable and like a fish out of water, but the end result is still legendary today.

3. U2

Most of the members of Irish rock outfit U2 grew up on Dylan’s music. However, one wouldn’t expect these two entities to collaborate with each other. That’s precisely what happened for U2’s song “Love Rescue Me”. The track was written by Dylan, and it’s a naturally very gorgeous tune. At this point in U2’s career, they weren’t at their most sincere, but this song is definitely sincere.

4. Gene Simmons

This one is definitely on the bizarre side of Bob Dylan collaborations. Gene Simmons is best known for being a core member of hard rock outfit KISS, and his lyrical prowess isn’t exactly on the same level as the “Blowin’ In The Wind” hitmaker. Still, they collaborated. The result was Simmons’ “Waiting For The Morning Light”, which actually ended up being way cooler than one might expect from such an odd pairing.

Photo by Pete Still/Redferns

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