Best Remake

[jfkbengals]

(06-29-2020, 12:24 AM)BengalHawk62 Wrote: Jimi Hendrix’s All Along The Watchtower

When I was in my early twenties, there was a nationwide Hendrix exhibit that went to around the country to cities and colleges and set up for a few days in each place.  It was just a tractor trailer with a bunch of memorabilia set up inside along with this crazy "Electric Church" that allowed you to DJ a bunch of samples from Hendrix songs.

My favorite item was a handwritten and signed letter to Jimi from Bob Dylan.  In it he eloquently gave an apology and gave the rationale for why he (Bob) ducked into a cab on a New York City street corner when Jimi was yelling to him from the opposite corner.  As he told it, he was very embarassed by his actions, but it was because of a complete loss of words.  He went on to explain that when writing a song, he heard it in his head in a way that he was never able to emulate in any way, nor did he think it was possible for it to be done.  Apparently he had just heard Jimi's version of Watchtower days prior, and it was identical to what he heard in his head when he wrote it.  He talked about all of the emotion that it created in him that his creation had finally be realized, but how gifted and magical Jimi must be to make it a reality.  He REALLY made it evident his belief that Jimi needed to be placed on a pedestal for all the world to admire for his achievements.  As far as running away from him that day, he stated that no one could find the right words at that moment to portray their gratitude for transcending music the way he did, and needed the time to put those words to paper so as to not stand there dumbfounded and foolish.

In no way did my synopsis of the letter do justice to what was actually said in it.  It was one of the rare times in my life that I was in complete awe at the conclusion.  Probably the same way that Bob was that day in NYC!