Bob Dylan’s 1997 Love Song Covered by Music’s Biggest Names
In 1997, Bob Dylan released the album “Time Out of Mind,” which included a hidden gem of a love song called “Make You Feel My Love.” Although the album only peaked at number 10 on the charts and sold a million copies, this particular track became a standout, despite never being released as a single or hitting the top of the charts. Its emotional lyrics, accompanied by a piano-driven melody, resonated with listeners and proved to be too powerful to go unnoticed.
While Dylan hadn’t had a major hit in years prior to the release of “Time Out of Mind,” “Make You Feel My Love” helped spark a resurgence of interest in his music. The song, which delves into the enduring nature of romantic feelings, has been covered over 450 times by a wide range of artists, some of whom are equally as famous as Dylan himself. Despite not having any number one hits to his name, the success of this song solidified Dylan’s status as a legendary artist in the rock genre.
Interestingly, the general public first heard a cover of “Make You Feel My Love” before the original version was widely known. With the release of “Time Out of Mind” on the horizon, Dylan’s team reached out to other artists to promote his songs, resulting in Billy Joel recording a version of the song titled “To Make You Feel My Love.” Joel’s rendition, released on his “Greatest Hits Volume III,” became a hit on the adult contemporary charts, reaching number 9 in August 1997.
The song’s popularity continued to grow as it was picked up by other musicians, including Garth Brooks, who featured the song on the soundtrack of the film “Hope Floats.” Brooks’ cover of “To Make You Feel My Love” topped the country charts and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. Other notable artists who have covered the song include Michael Bolton, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Boy George, and Adele, who included it as a non-original track on her debut album “19.”
While “Make You Feel My Love” may not have been a commercial success for Dylan in terms of chart performance, it undoubtedly contributed to the critical acclaim and success of “Time Out of Mind.” The album went on to win Grammy Awards for Contemporary Folk Album and Album of the Year, solidifying Dylan’s reputation as a revered and influential musician in the industry.