Bob Dylan Announces Box Set Featuring Rare 1970 George Harrison Session

Bob Dylan has announced 1970 (50th Anniversary Collection), the first widely available pressing of a three-disc collection of long-sought-after studio recordings, on Friday, February 26, 2021.

The recordings on Bob Dylan – 1970 were first released in a limited edition on December 4 as part of the Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection copyright extension series (which began in 2012). The buzz surrounding the 1970 performances, notably Dylan’s studio sit-down with George Harrison on May 1, created a demand for a broader release of these historic tracks.

Bob Dylan – 1970 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 George 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 (the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox”) and more.

Bob Dylan – 1970 comes housed in an 8-panel digipack featuring new cover art and liner notes by Michael Simmons.

Bob Dylan – 1970 (50th Anniversary Collection)

Disc 1

March 3, 1970

1. I Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound
2. Universal Soldier – Take 1
3. Spanish Is the Loving Tongue – Take 1
4. Went to See the Gypsy – Take 2
5. Went to See the Gypsy – Take 3
6. Woogie Boogie

March 4, 1970
7. Went to See the Gypsy – Take 4
8. Thirsty Boots – Take 1

March 5, 1970
9. Little Moses – Take 1
10. Alberta – Take 2
11. Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies – Take 1
12. Things About Comin’ My Way – Takes 2 & 3
13. Went to See the Gypsy – Take 6
14. Untitled 1970 Instrumental #1
15. Come a Little Bit Closer – Take 2
16. Alberta – Take 5

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
17. Sign on the Window – Take 2
18. Sign on the Window – Takes 3-5
19. If Not for You – Take 1
20. Time Passes Slowly – Rehearsal
21. If Not for You – Take 2
22. If Not for You – Take 3
23. Song to Woody – Take 1
24. Mama, You Been on My Mind – Take 1
25. Yesterday – Take 1

Disc 2

1. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues – Take 1
2. Medley: I Met Him on a Sunday (Ronde-Ronde)/Da Doo Ron Ron – Take 1
3. One Too Many Mornings – Take 1
4. Ghost Riders in the Sky – Take 1
5. Cupid – Take 1
6. All I Have to Do Is Dream – Take 1
7. Gates of Eden – Take 1
8. I Threw It All Away – Take 1
9. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) – Take 1
10. Matchbox – Take 1
11. Your True Love – Take 1
12. Telephone Wire – Take 1
13. Fishing Blues – Take 1
14. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance – Take 1
15. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Take 1
16. It Ain’t Me Babe
17. If Not for You
18. Sign on the Window – Take 1
19. Sign on the Window – Take 2
20. Sign on the Window – Take 3

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
21. Alligator Man
22. Alligator Man [rock version]
23. Alligator Man [country version]
24. Sarah Jane 1
25. Sign on the Window
26. Sarah Jane 2

Disc 3

June 2, 1970
1. If Not for You – Take 1
2. If Not for You – Take 2

June 3, 1970
3. Jamaica Farewell
4. Can’t Help Falling in Love
5. Long Black Veil
6. One More Weekend

June 4, 1970
7. Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie – Take 1
8. Three Angels
9. Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Take 1
10. Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Take 2
11. New Morning
12. Untitled 1970 Instrumental #2

June 5, 1970
13. Went to See the Gypsy
14. Sign on the Window – stereo mix
15. Winterlude
16. I Forgot to Remember to Forget 1
17. I Forgot to Remember to Forget 2
18. Lily of the West – Take 2
19. Father of Night – rehearsal
20. Lily of the West

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
21. If Not for You – Take 1
22. If Not for You – Take 2
23. Day of the Locusts – Take 2

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.

Produced for release by Jeff Rosen and Steve Berkowitz
Sessions originally produced by Bob Johnston

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