There are so many covers of this from Dylan on up. Here are a few that I listen to, seems like everybody has tried this song from time to time.
YouTube - Jimi Hendrix All Along The Watchtower Live (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1uwBNSCF0&feature=related)
YouTube - Grateful Dead - All Along the Watchtower (1990-12-28) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN0gHJ4JEQk)
YouTube - Neil Young & Pearl Jam - All Along the Watchtower - Pro Shot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVAS8mYDB_E&feature=related)
YouTube - Dave Matthews Band - Folsom Field - All Along the Watchtower (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypaH1Gj6VIs&feature=related)

I think you can just stop with hendrix's version, his cover, has really become the original. IMHO

Dave Mason did a nice cover.

Correction:

Dylan wrote the song. It was on his John Wesley Harding album circa 1968

Really doesn't matter who wrote or originally recorded a song--one version becomes the definitive version, and everyone else's is a cover--in practical terms, at least.

And the definitive version is Hendrix.

I do agree that the Hendrix version is the definitive version

dont know how to spell his name but was listening to WMY alternative take and taj mahal comes on with on the watchtower it was wild. Not as good as Jimmy but worthy of consideration

Dave Mason did a nice cover.

we discussed this a while back, but i agree my fav is Dave Mason's.

Hendrix heard the song at a party in London that he was invited to by Mason. They were friends, Hendrix liked the song so much he went on to record it later that nite with Mason on acoustic guitar. That is not why I like the recording by Mason better I just think he does a better job :), not that Jimi didn't. Only an older version on You tube so not worth posting

If you like a super loud version as good as Jimi could do than Frank Marino does it really good. Very underrated player from the great white north. first version is 70's second is 80's


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmcBc-GjeDY&feature=related

YouTube - frank marino 1986 all along the watchtower (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taw0sFEjvpE)


He didn't do a bad Purple Haze either, 70's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL0IbQ2ltC0&feature=related

Really doesn't matter who wrote or originally recorded a song--one version becomes the definitive version, and everyone else's is a cover--in practical terms, at least.

And the definitive version is Hendrix.

And Dylan himself said so.

And Dylan himself said so.

True. I think Dylan also said that he altered the way he played the song once he heard hendrix's arrangement.