Knockinâ on Bobâs Door showcases The Persuasionsâ highly distinctive a cappella takes on Dylanâs classic 60s and 70s songs â all deeply ingrained into the collective memory of generations of music lovers. The soulful, poignant contributions of survivors Jimmy Hayes and Joe Russell from the original 1962 line-up of The Persuasions give this recording a unique stamp of authenticity and integrity.

14 MP3 Songs in this album (53:33) !
Related styles: Rock: Classic Rock, Rock: 60's Rock, Type: Tributes

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The Persuasions are one of the unique sounds in American popular music in the second half of the 20th century and beyond. Their blended five-part harmonies are respectfully looking back to the tradition of the great gospel groups such as the Golden Gate Quartet, and the Blind Boys of Alabama. But they also have been hugely influential to the Motown group sound of the Temptations, Four Tops, Boys II Men and many others, all the way to newer R & B a cappella groups such as Take 6 and Rockapella.
Astonishingly, the group will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012 which is nothing less than a miracle in todayâs fast-changing, instantly downloadable world. The Persuasionsâ inimitable sound is intact, and two group members Jimmy Hayes (bass) and Joe Russell (second tenor) from their original 1962 line-up are still with the band, and on this recording. Third member is Raymond Sanders (first tenor), member of the Persuasions since 1996. Bernard "BJ" Jones has been a past member of the group who has appeared on several Persuasions recordings. Latest arrival in 2003 was Dave Revels, taking over as lead tenor and as artistic director and arranger for the group. This recording also features guest vocals by Cliff Dawson on several tracks.
Of their back catalog of dozens of LP and CD releases over the last 40-plus years, many of them are now regrettably out of print. During their last several releases in the past ten years, the Persuasions have developed a distinctive style of âTributeâ recordings. Each of these projects translates the songs of one of the great, iconic Classic Rock songwriters or bands into the Persuasionsâ own-gospel driven, characteristic a cappella style. Beginning with the hugely successful âMight as Well- Tribute to the Grateful Deadâ in 2000, several other tributes followed â to The Beatles, U 2, and â astonishingly â Frank Zappa!
Following several years of no new recording activity, the bandâs return to the studio began auspiciously in 2009 when the Persuasions graciously agreed to contribute two songs to ZOHOâs multi-artist TRIBUTE TO J J CALE project. Intentionally slightly cast âagainst characterâ, the group managed to infuse an emotional depth and gospel-like intensity to songs by an artist who is primarily known for his bluesy, laconic, laid-back and rootsy style.
KNOCKINâ ON BOBâS DOOR thus continues the bandâs impressive series of Tribute recordings, as the Persuasionsâ first full-length CD project for ZOHO. Given an entire universe of great songwriters to choose from, the songs of Bob Dylan were an immediate and obvious choice for both band and label. We decided to concentrate the repertoire selection to Dylanâs most famous songs from the 1960s â all of them deeply ingrained into the collective memory of generations of music lovers around the world.
As on all of the Persuasionsâ Tribute records, it is absolutely fascinating to hear how the musical worlds of (in this case) Bob Dylan and The Persuasions creatively collide- in most cases with the songs reduced to their bare harmonic and melodic essentials, of course without the electric guitars, harmonicas, keyboards and drums which one might have thought essential in any new versions of these classic songs.
The opening track Mr Tambourine Man â a huge Billboard # 1 hit for The Byrds in 1965, then an album track on Dylanâs âBringing It All Back Homeâ LP of the same year â lets the Persuasions shine with their crisp, tight harmonies, reveling in the surrealistic imagery of the lyrics.
The percussive vocal effects The Persuasions are employing on All Along the Watchtower, suggesting everything from jungle sounds to New York City traffic noise, need to be heard to be believed.
Like a Rolling Stone is viewed by many as Bob Dylanâs single greatest and perhaps most revolutionary song, from his 1965 LP âHighway 61 Revisitedâ. The Persuasions have the âcheekâ and audacity to replace the thundering three cord riff and classic hard rock band sound of the original with a classic Brooklyn doo-wop vibe with an occasional vocal Reggae tilt â which, once heard, sounds completely natural. We dare speculate that The Persuasionsâ highly original version of this song will become a classic in its own right.
Donât Think Twice Itâs All Right â a song from his second LP âThe Freewheelinâ Bob Dylanâ from 1963 â here gets a stately ballad-style treatment with the gruff, but magic lead vocals by Joe Russell, one of the bandâs original members, and his only lead vocal on the entire record.
The contrast to the next track, Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn), could not possibly be greater â with the Persuasions hilariously mimicking the sounds of an amateur brass band playing at a party! â Dylan first recorded this song with The Band in the famous 1967 âBasement Tapesâ sessions.
Blowing in the Wind â also from Bob Dylanâs second LP âThe Freewheelinâ Bob Dylanâ from 1963 â has been alternatively described as a âprotestâ song, and as an anthem of the early 1960s civil rights movement. The Persuasionsâ version completely does justice to the songâs sincerity and idealism, by treating it as a spiritual, with heartfelt lead vocals by Raymond Sanders.
Positively 4th Street â another Dylan song recorded during the âHighway 61 Revisitedâ sessions in 1965, but instead released as a single to follow âLike a Rolling Stoneâ, shares some of the bitterness of tone with its famous predecessor. Dave Revels on lead vocals wisely does not try to outdo Bob Dylan in his snarling delivery of the lyrics, but instead presents the songwriterâs anguished message plainly and sensitively to the listener.
You Ainât Going Nowhere is another song from the famous 1967 Basement Tapes, although it saw its first commercial release by a version of The Byrds in 1968. The Persuasions develop a light, almost swinging groove with this song.
When I Paint My Masterpiece is a 1971 Dylan classic in which he humorously describes his experience as an aspiring âpainterâ in Europe. Here, the song gets a wry, gently swaying treatment, with bassist Jimmy Hayes taking his first solo vocal turn on this album. Jimmy is smoothly singing/talking his way through the ironic lyrics.
Lay Lady Lay is one of the lead tracks on Dylanâs 1969 LP âNashville Skylineâ, and a successful Billboard-charting single. It has always been one of Dylanâs more remarkable songs, featuring a descending chromatic chord progression which gives the songs its ethereal, softly floating character. The Persuasions are clearly reveling in the harmonic richness of the song, topping it off with another understated, but stunning lead vocal by bassist Jimmy Hayes.
Just Like a Woman is the only song on this compilation from Dylanâs epochal 1966 double LP âBlonde on Blondeâ. The song was allegedly inspired by New York socialite Edie Sedgwick, although it has also been interpreted to have been written about Dylanâs relationship with folk singer Joan Baez. Dave Revels turns in a soulful, yearning lead vocal.
Things Have Changed is a song featured in the movie âWonder Boysâ, and was released by Dylan as a single in 2000. He won his first-ever Oscar for this song in 2001. In his Oscar acceptance speech, Dylan said, âThis song ⦠does not pussyfoot around, or turn a blind eye to human natureâ. Indeed, it doesnât, nor does the Persuasionsâ version, driven by a laconic, world-weary lead vocal by bassist Jimmy Hayes.
The song Forever Young was first released on the Dylan & The Band release âPlanet Wavesâ from 1974. Stylistically, the song can be described as a blessing from a parent to a child, reflecting the fact that Dylan had become a father himself during the prior years. The Persuasions beautifully catch the stately, intimate character of the song.
The albumâs final song Knockinâ on Heavenâs Door was written by Dylan for the 1973 Western movie âPat Garrett and Billy the Kidâ where it describes the feelings and thoughts of a deputy sheriff about his mortality. A song of deeply resounding spiritual power, the Persuasions celebrate the song with rich gospel undertones, crowned by a deeply sensitive lead vocal by bassist Jimmy Hayes.
Joachim âJochenâ Becker

Produced by Jimmy Hayes, Dave Revels and William Weist. Vocal Arrangements by Dave Revels. Recorded at Take Five Studios, Elizabeth, New Jersey, from April â July 2010. Engineer: William Weist. Edited and mixed by William Weist. Mastering: Fernando Martinez. Estudio MOMA, Buenos Aires, Argentina . Photography by JoachimâJochenâ Becker. Package design by Al Gold. Executive Producer: Joachim âJochenâ Becker