Odetta Sings Dylan

Odetta Sings Dylan is the 1965 album by American folk singer Odetta, an entire album of covers of Bob Dylan songs.

Odetta was a Civil rights activist. Although she grew up in the city, she described black folk music and spirituals as “liberation songs" and used this music to “do my teaching and preaching, my propagandizing.” Both Odetta and Bob Dylan sang at the 1963 Civil Rights March in Washington DC.

When this album was recorded, Bob Dylan only just turning away from the protest singer phase, and had not yet released music done with electric instruments. His songs "Blowin' in the Wind" (which Odetta had recorded earlier) and "The Times They Are a-Changin’" were still anthems of the civil rights movement, and "With God on Our Side" and "Masters of War" longer, bitter anti-war songs.

Yet Odetta also made sure to include love songs, and other not obviously political tracks written by Bob Dylan, transformed by her powerful voice. In addition to a number of well known Dylan compositions, a couple of fairly obscure songs were included, including "Baby, I'm in the Mood for You".

This album was re-released on CD by BMG Camden (773802) in August 3, 2000. "Blowin' in the Wind" (which first appeared on Odetta Sings Folk Songs, 1963) and "Paths of Victory" (Odetta Sings of Many Things, 1964) were added as bonus tracks.