A new collection, Bob Dylan—1970, the first widely available pressing of a three-disc set of long-sought-after studio recordings many of which feature George Harrison, has been released by Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings in the U.S. on February 26, 2021. (It’s U.K. release has been delayed until March 19.)
The recordings on Bob Dylan—1970 were first released in a (very) limited edition on Dec. 4 as part of the Bob Dylan 50th Anniversary Collection copyright extension series (which began in 2012). That first batch sold out instantly.
The 3-CD set, announced on Dec. 18, includes previously unreleased outtakes from the sessions that produced Self Portrait and New Morning, as well as the complete May 1, 1970, studio recordings with his future bandmate Harrison, which capture the pair performing together on nine tracks, including Dylan originals (“One Too Many Mornings,” “Gates of Eden,” “Mama, You Been On My Mind”), covers (including the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox,” The Beatles’ “Yesterday”) and more.
The collection includes numerous takes of Dylan’s “If Not for You.” Several months after these sessions, Harrison recorded the song for his All Things Must Pass album, which was released at the end of the year.
Listen to “Went to See the Gypsy” (Take 6) from the collection
Bob Dylan—1970 comes housed in an eight-panel digipack featuring new cover art and liner notes by Michael Simmons. See the complete track listing and hear some other songs below the links.
Track Listing
Disc 1
March 3, 1970
I Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound
Universal Soldier – Take 1
Spanish Is the Loving Tongue – Take 1
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 2
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 3
Woogie Boogie
March 4, 1970
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 4
Thirsty Boots – Take 1
March 5, 1970
Little Moses – Take 1
Alberta – Take 2
Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies – Take 1
Things About Comin’ My Way – Takes 2 & 3
Went to See the Gypsy – Take 6
Untitled 1970 Instrumental #1
Come a Little Bit Closer – Take 2
Alberta – Take 5
Personnel:
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano
David Bromberg – guitar, dobro, bass
Al Kooper – organ, piano
Emanuel Green – violin
Stu Woods – bass
Alvin Rogers – drums
Hilda Harris, Albertine Robinson, Maeretha Stewart – background vocals
May 1, 1970
Sign on the Window – Take 2
Sign on the Window – Takes 3-5
If Not for You – Take 1
Time Passes Slowly – Rehearsal
If Not for You – Take 2
If Not for You – Take 3
Song to Woody – Take 1
Mama, You Been on My Mind – Take 1
Yesterday – Take 1
Disc 2
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues – Take 1
Medley: I Met Him on a Sunday (Ronde-Ronde)/Da Doo Ron Ron – Take 1
One Too Many Mornings – Take 1
Ghost Riders in the Sky – Take 1
Cupid – Take 1
All I Have to Do Is Dream – Take 1
Gates of Eden – Take 1
I Threw It All Away – Take 1
I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) – Take 1
Matchbox – Take 1
Your True Love – Take 1
Telephone Wire – Take 1
Fishing Blues – Take 1
Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance – Take 1
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Take 1
It Ain’t Me Babe
If Not for You
Sign on the Window – Take 1
Sign on the Window – Take 2
Sign on the Window – Take 3
Listen to “Sign on the Window” (Take 1) from the May 1, 1970 sessions
Personnel:
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
George Harrison – guitar, vocals (Disc 1, Tracks 20 & 24 and Disc 2, Tracks 2-3, 6-7, 10-11, & 16)
Bob Johnston – piano (Disc 1, Tracks 24-25 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-3)
Charlie Daniels – bass
Russ Kunkel – drums
June 1, 1970
Alligator Man
Alligator Man [rock version]
Alligator Man [country version]
Sarah Jane 1
Sign on the Window
Sarah Jane 2
Disc 3
June 2, 1970
If Not for You – Take 1
If Not for You – Take 2
June 3, 1970
Jamaica Farewell
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Long Black Veil
One More Weekend
June 4, 1970
Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie – Take 1
Three Angels
Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Take 1
Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Take 2
New Morning
Untitled 1970 Instrumental #2
June 5, 1970
Went to See the Gypsy
Sign on the Window – stereo mix
Winterlude
I Forgot to Remember to Forget 1
I Forgot to Remember to Forget 2
Lily of the West – Take 2
Father of Night – rehearsal
Lily of the West
Personnel:
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
David Bromberg – guitar, dobro, mandolin
Ron Cornelius – guitar
Al Kooper – organ
Charlie Daniels – bass, guitar
Russ Kunkel – drums
Background vocalists unknown
August 12, 1970
If Not for You – Take 1
If Not for You – Take 2
Day of the Locusts – Take 2
Personnel:
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica
Buzzy Feiten – guitar
Other musicians unknown
March 3-5 and May 1, 1970 sessions took place at Studio B, Columbia Recording Studios, New York City, New York
June 1-5 and August 12, 1970 sessions took place at Studio E, Columbia Recording Studios, New York City, New York
All songs written by Bob Dylan, except: “I Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound” by Tom Paxton; “Universal Soldier” by Buffy Sainte-Marie; “Spanish Is the Loving Tongue,” “Alberta,” “Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies,” “Things About Comin’ My Way,” “Fishing Blues,” “Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance,” “Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie,” “Lily of the West” traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan; “Little Moses” by A.P. Carter; “Thirsty Boots” by Eric Andersen; “Come a Little Bit Closer” by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, and Wes Farrell; “Yesterday” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; “I Met Him on a Sunday (Ronde-Ronde)” by Shirley Owens, Beverly Lee, Addie Harris, and Doris Coley; “Da Doo Ron Ron” by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich; “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Stan Jones; “Cupid” by Sam Cooke; “All I Have to Do Is Dream” by Boudleaux Bryant; “Matchbox” and “Your True Love” by Carl Perkins; “Alligator Man” by Jimmy C. Newman and Floyd Chance; “Jamaica Farewell” by Irving Burgie; “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss; “Long Black Veil” by Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill; and “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” by Charlie Feathers and Stan Kesler.
Related: Our Album Rewind of Dylan’s Travelin Thru boxed set
Produced for release by Jeff Rosen and Steve Berkowitz
Sessions originally produced by Bob Johnston
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