Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan (1973) 7/25/21

In 1973, Bob Dylan scored a movie, and I mean that two different ways.

One: He scored a small role in the film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid."

Two: He scored (musically) the scene where Sheriff Baker (played by Slim Pickens) dies of his gunshot wounds--and the song became a "Great Song of the '70s!"

On the surface, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" was a simple song: two short verses that illustrated what was happening onscreen.

But in addition to fitting perfectly into the film, people all over the world fell in love with its vivid simplicity.

When the song was released as a single a few months after the film's debut, it charted in 5 countries. In the US, it reached #5 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, and and #12 on the Hot 100.

In 1975, Eric Clapton released a version that went to #38 in the UK, and in 1987, Guns 'N' Roses took their excellent cover version to #15 on Billboard's (seldom mentioned) Album Rock Tracks Chart.

Those were just two of many covers that have surfaced over the years, but when legendary artists like Clapton and Axl Rose cover a legendary artist like Bob Dylan, you KNOW you've got a "Great Song on your hands. Check out all 3 versions below!

In the end, Bob Dylan not only scored a cameo and a scene, he also scored a "Great Song of the '70s (and '80s) with "Knockin' on Heaven's Door!"

Bob Dylan:

Eric Clapton:

Guns 'N' Roses: