Watching the River Flow
Encyclopedia
"Watching the River Flow" is a blues song by Bob Dylan
that was first released as an independent single. It was recorded during the March 16–18 sessions at the Blue Rock Studios in New York City, and was produced by Leon Russell
. The recording was first issued as a single on June 3, 1971, backed with "Spanish is the Loving Tongue". The single reached No. 41 on the US charts, and No. 24 in the UK. It was included on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II
, which was released on November 17 of the same year.
pianist Ian Stewart
; this album included a recently-recorded version of "Watching the River Flow" featuring Rolling Stones Mick Jagger
, Keith Richards
, Charlie Watts
, and Ronnie Wood, as well former bass player Bill Wyman
. The contributions of these musicians were recorded at different times and locations, but the track marked the first time since 1992 that Wyman had recorded on the same song as his former bandmates. Waters has described "Watching the River Flow" as "the only decent thing Bob Dylan ever did".
The song has also been covered by numerous artists including Joe Cocker
, the Earl Scruggs Revue
, Colin James
, Steve Gibbons, the Heart of Gold Band
, Chris Farlowe
, Asylum Street Spankers
, Gordon Johnson
, the Lamont Cranston Band, and Seatrain
. Leon Russell, who produced and played on Dylan's 1971 recording, released his own version in 1999 on the compilation Tangled Up in Blues
.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
that was first released as an independent single. It was recorded during the March 16–18 sessions at the Blue Rock Studios in New York City, and was produced by Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
. The recording was first issued as a single on June 3, 1971, backed with "Spanish is the Loving Tongue". The single reached No. 41 on the US charts, and No. 24 in the UK. It was included on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II , also known as More Bob Dylan Greatest Hits, was the second compilation album released by Bob Dylan. With Dylan not expected to release any new material for an extended period of time, CBS Records president Clive Davis proposed issuing a double LP compilation of...
, which was released on November 17 of the same year.
Personnel
- Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
– vocal, guitar, harmonica - Leon RussellLeon RussellClaude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
– piano, production - Jesse Ed DavisJesse Ed DavisJesse Edwin Davis was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 is attributed to a drug overdose.-Biography:...
– guitar - Don PrestonDon Preston (guitarist)Don Preston is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He recorded in the 1970s with Leon Russell on Leon Russell and the Shelter People and other albums, and with Joe Cocker on Mad Dogs and Englishmen...
– guitar - Carl RadleCarl RadleCarl Dean Radle was a bass guitarist who toured and recorded with many of the most influential recording artists of the late 1960s and 1970s...
(called Charlie Radle on the session notes) – bass - Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
– drums
Covers
On, April 18, 2011, musician Ben Waters released Boogie 4 Stu, a tribute to former Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
pianist Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart (musician)
Ian Andrew Robert Stewart was a Scottish keyboardist, co-founder of The Rolling Stones and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
; this album included a recently-recorded version of "Watching the River Flow" featuring Rolling Stones Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
, and Ronnie Wood, as well former bass player Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
. The contributions of these musicians were recorded at different times and locations, but the track marked the first time since 1992 that Wyman had recorded on the same song as his former bandmates. Waters has described "Watching the River Flow" as "the only decent thing Bob Dylan ever did".
The song has also been covered by numerous artists including Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
, the Earl Scruggs Revue
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
, Colin James
Colin James
Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:...
, Steve Gibbons, the Heart of Gold Band
Heart of Gold Band
The Heart of Gold Band is an American rock band formed by Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux in 1980 following their departure from the Grateful Dead. The band took its name from a line in the Dead song "Scarlet Begonias."-Original Run:...
, Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
, Asylum Street Spankers
Asylum Street Spankers
The Asylum Street Spankers, formed in Austin, Texas in 1994, was a band whose music was rooted in early 20th century American musical forms. In fall 2006, the band's anti-war satire video "Stick Magnetic Ribbons on Your SUV", directed by Morgan Higby Night garnered 1,054,743 views on YouTube within...
, Gordon Johnson
Gordon Johnson (musician)
Gordon "Gordy" Johnson, is an American double bassist and bass guitarist who has toured and/or recorded with numerous artists, a few of which include Roy Buchanan, Bill Carrothers, Lorie Line, Chuck Mangione, Dewey Redman, Greg Brown, Peter Ostroushko, Paul Winter Consort, Cliff Eberhardt, Maynard...
, the Lamont Cranston Band, and Seatrain
Seatrain (band)
Seatrain was an American roots fusion band based initially in Marin County, California, and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Seatrain was formed after the breakup of the Blues Project in 1969...
. Leon Russell, who produced and played on Dylan's 1971 recording, released his own version in 1999 on the compilation Tangled Up in Blues
Tangled Up In Blues
Tangled Up in Blues: Songs of Bob Dylan is a 1999 album of Bob Dylan songs performed in blues and soul styles by various artists. The album's title is a play on the Dylan song title "Tangled Up in Blue"....
.