When Bob Dylan hands out a compliment, it shouldn't be taken lightly.
With a career spanning decades, the legendary singer-songwriter focused heavily on his own material and maintained a relentless touring schedule, placing him amongst the greats in music history
And while it would be easy to pinpoint his own songs as some of the most powerful of all time, as he's had plenty of chart-topping hits that tackled social justice and politics head-on, Dylan actually bestowed that honor on another artist.
His choice—a blues rock/ R&B track—provided insight into the many facets of his eclectic musical taste and his ability to recognize authenticity regardless of era or genre.
The tune Dylan championed as the most powerful of all time was revealed in a 1969 interview with Rolling Stone.
Dylan explained that it was Johnny Thunder's "I'm Alive" that caught his attention when he first heard it played on the radio.
When asked by the outlet's JannWenner if he was currently impressed by anything in the rock music scene, he immediately pointed to the song, stating, "Never heard it either, huh? Well, I can’t believe it. Everyone I’ve talked to, I’ve asked them if they’ve heard that record."
"It was one of the most powerful records I’ve ever heard," he continued, adding, " Well, it was that sentiment, truly expressed. That’s the most I can say … if you heard the record, you’d know what I mean. But that’s about all …"
It's one of the highest compliments coming from Dylan, and though the song was first recorded by R&B singer Johnny Thunder and released as a single in 1968, it was written by Tommy James of the Shondells, who later had his band record their own version in 1969 for their album, "Crimson & Clover."
Despite getting Dylan's seal of approval, the song never achieved the same success as Shondell's other hits, including "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Mony Mony."
Over the years, many artists have put their spin on the song, including Tom Jones, as it appeared on his 2008 album, 24 Hours, along with Don Fardon, whose cover was released in 1969.
According to Rock and Roll Garage, Dylan's memoir titled "Chronicles" also cited composer Harold Arlen's 1941 track "Blues in the Night" as a powerful and timeless song.
"The powerful 'Blues in the Night,' 'Stormy Weather,' 'Come Rain or Come Shine,' 'Get Happy.' In Harold's songs, I could hear rural blues and folk music. There was an emotional kinship there. I couldn't help but notice it. I could never escape from the bittersweet, lonely, intense world of Harold Arlen," he wrote of Arlen, who may be best known now for composing the classic Wizard of Oztune.
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