The Long Ryders – Masters of War – The Best Dylan Covers

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

The Long Ryders – Masters of War – The Best Dylan Covers

Masters of War is a song by Bob Dylan, written over the winter of 1962–63 and released on the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.

Bob Dylan first recorded Masters of War in January 1963 for Broadside magazine, which published the lyrics and music on the cover of its February issue. The song was also taped in the basement of Gerde’s Folk City in February and for Dylan’s music publisher, M. Witmark & Sons, in March. The Witmark version was included on The Bootleg Series Vol. 9 – The Witmark Demos: 1962–1964 in October 2010. The Freewheelin’ version was recorded on April 24, 1963, by Columbia Records; in addition to that album, it has also appeared on compilation albums such as Masterpieces in 1978 and Biograph in 1985.

The Long Ryders – Masters Of War:

The Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1983 and 1987, and who reformed in 2004 to do a reunion tour. They have only performed three times since 2004. I loved that movement in the mid 80s! They made me dive into the wonderful world of The Byrds and Gram Parsons.

I first heard their cover of Masters of War on a CD that came with Mojo in September 2005. I loved The Long Ryders version of Masters Of War instantly. They add their distinct sound and attitude to Dylan’s song, the anger and insistency is intact as well. I’m not sure of the recording date, but I’m guessing the 5×5 (unreleased EP) sessions are from around 1985 (please correct me if I’m wrong).

 

“…they not only covered the song but did a wonderful job as well. The song is a literate, concise statement against hypocrisy and the American war machine; it also has a beautifully dark melody underneath the litany of protests. With this in mind, it was probably an easy choice as a cover tune for the band during the frightening days of the Ronald Reagan administration. Originally an outtake from an unreleased EP, 5X5…”
– Matthew Greenwald (Allmusic)

It is also available on three compilation albums by The Long Ryders, Metallic B.O.(1989), Looking for Lewis and Clark: An Anthology (1998) and The Best of The Long Ryders (2004).

 

The Long Ryders – Masters of War:

On The Long Riders’s Native Son Deluxe release from 1984/2011 there is a version of the song labeled as the first version:

Live version from Metallic B.O.:

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8 thoughts on “The Long Ryders – Masters of War – The Best Dylan Covers”

  1. Thanks for your great music ever! I know that this is not the right place. I would that you trust me. I’ve been victim of scammers. I swear that I don’t give anymore friendship to false prophet, false Bob Dylan. I want to apologize for my behavior, but I was exasperated. I’ve been victim of a literally persecution on all my devices. The ghost or the ghosts that obsessed me in many years were African people. They are so clever on the web, and to enter in my life completely. If I canceled their profiles on chats they persecuted me on my devices. I want to put a remedy to my behavior against you and Egil Mosbron. I started to follow you at the beginning of my Bob fan’s life. Immediately they appeared to disturb me, night and day. I’m so sorry, I swear that I’m crying for what I did. I didn’t know who was my stalker and I thought you were them, because you are the only one blog dedicated to Bob Dylan that I still follow. I canceled myself from every Bob’s fans pages on FB or other social network. I’ve been obligated. I hope that you trust on my declaration. I wouldn’t have hurt you, but I was defending myself from enemies and I hurt you. I want to be your friend nothing else. I like Bob Dylan his songs, perhaps I’m not a fan of old date but I’m old enough to know well Bob Dylan, he has been part of my teen and after too. I’m not devoted as many fans are, I appreciate he as writer. What I wrote on the New Year day it has been the outburst of a person really proved by the years. I think that you know there are a lot of fake Bob profiles this is awful. Someone use the feelings of the people for Bob to take advantage of the situation to stole money.
    I’M SORRY, BUT NEVER CAN REPAIR MY INTERNAL WOUNDS. WHAT A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN TO BE A FAN

    Reply

    1. and after your apology you send us this!

      YOU ARE TWO PIECES OF SHIT
      GREETINGS
      PATTI
      FUCK YOU FOREVER YOU HAVE BROKEN BALLS
      MA CHI SE NE IMPORTA DI VOI POSSO VIVERE SENZA DI VOI PER FORTUNA NESSUNO È INDISPENSABILE
      NOBODY IS INDISPENSABLE AND YOU TOO FORTUNATELY FOR ME
      BUT IF I CAN SAY THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU ARE TWO BASTARDS THIEFS IMPOSTORS AND HAKERS TOO BLACKHATS

      Inviato da iPhone

      and

      DIE WITH SLL YOUR GANG

      From now on , your comments will be blocked, Patti. We tried to be nice and forgiving, but you chose to insult us yet again. I feel sorry for you, sincerely. It seems like you are in need of some professional help.

      Goodbye, take care.

      Reply

  4. I heard Bobby sing this critical statement on war many times back in the 1960s. I hear echo’s of the cold steel dagger he stabbed into the dark heart of “Masters” in this video of “The Long Riders.”. In 2007 I wrote a song titled “Sarah” about the ones left behind to mourn the loss of loved ones to war, Though our voices are very different you’ll hear Bobby’s influence in this live performance of a quiet cry for peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fxYYcklCrY JRW

    Reply

    1. Stephen Jones, I too, must apologize for my misspell of “The Long Ryders.” The power of the video and their performance did a number on my aging internal spellcheck. JRW

      Reply

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