The 1980s were almost certainly Bob Dylan’s least fruitful decade artistically, but the cult of Dylan is such that you’ll find apologists for every album in his discography. Count producers Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins, The Low Anthem) and Sean O’Brien (Dawes, PAPA) among the key witnesses for Dylan’s dark decade; they’ve assembled a compilation called Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One that aims to “shed new light on a large cache of Bob Dylan songs that have long gone ignored,” specifically the period ranging from 1980’s Saved to 1990’s Under The Red Sky. The duo rounded up some formidable talents to make their case; the comp includes contributions from Built To Spill, Aaron Freeman of Ween & Slash, Glen Hansard, Reggie Watts, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lucius, Langhorne Slim, Craig Finn Of The Hold Steady, Deer Tick, Dawn Landes, Blitzen Trapper, Carl Broemel Of My Morning Jacket, Elvis Perkins and more.

Today we present Aaron Freeman (aka Gene Ween) and Slash’s take on Under The Red Sky opener “Wiggle Wiggle,” among the most-maligned songs in Dylan’s oeuvre. Freeman and Slash have turned the tune into a screeching, burping, electrified blues romp that might actually accomplish its goal of redeeming this song. (Incidentally, Slash played acoustic guitar on the original version.) Check it out below.

Aaron Freeman & Slash – “Wiggle Wiggle” (Bob Dylan Cover)

Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One is out 3/25 via ATO. Get more info on the comp here, and just for kicks, here’s Built To Spill’s previously released “Jokerman” cover too.