Expert: Bong Santos - 12/9/2006

Question
Bob Dylan wrote a song "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight".  But
my husband & I knew this song from someone else as we pretty much listened to country music in the 80's.  Who else had a hit with this?  If not a hit, at least it was
played a lot.

Answer
Dear Karyl,

That was a tough one. I'LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT, ever since it was recorded by BOB DYLAN for his 1967 album JOHN WESLEY HARDING was covered about 30 times by different artists from JOSE FELICIANO to LINDA RONSTADT. Most of these were from the 70's. I only know three covers that is close to the 80's namely MARIANNE FAITHFUL's 1978 version from her album FAITHLESS, and by RAY PRICE & THE CHEROKEE COWBOYS from 1977's REUNITED and another from the late ROBERET PALMER's 1990 album DON'T EXPLAIN (a bit reggae). I should say ROBERT PALMER's version (done with UB40) was played a lot during those times as it was a Modern Rock Tracks hit for him and a UK Top Ten hit as well. Anyway, here's a list of artists who at one time or another did a cover:

ANNE MURRAY (1970)
BOBBY JAMESON (1969)
CLAUDE KING (1971)
EARL SCRUGGS (1970)
EMMYLOU HARRIS (1968)
HANK WILLIAMS  JR. (1970)
JOSE FELICIANO (1969)
LEAPY LEE (1969)
LINDA RONSTADT (1969)
MARIANNE FAITHFUL (1978)
RAY PRICE (1977)
RAY STEVENS (1969)
RITA COOLIDGE (1972)
ROBERT PALMER (1990)
THE HOLLIES (1969)
THE BROTHERS & SISTERS OF L.A. (1969)

Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines