Of course, Dylan had something to sing about. In somewhat recent years Rod's stable of songwriters churned out a blatantly transparent ripoff inspired by Dylan's "Forever Young" of 1974. They either thought no one would notice...or they just didn't care. Probably the latter.

The commercial music business actually really goes for people with "non-voices"...there have been a whole bunch of Rod Stewart clones of both sexes. Gravelly voice translates to romantic emotion in some people's minds.

- LH