New Morning - The Beatles With Bob Dylan (An Alternate History Fan Album)

I saw a version of the cover I used for this post somewhere - Bob Dylan added to the iconic With The Beatles cover -  and it got me thinking…

*Please indulge me in an alternate Beatles history. It’s late 1969…*

After the sessions for Abbey Road were completed on August 25, 1969, The Beatles agreed to strike again while the iron was hot. The Abbey Road sessions went well and produced an extraordinary album. They decided to re-enter the studio immediately when they realized they had all written songs ready to be recorded. The Beatles chose to use John’s idea about a follow-up to Abbey Road, the so-called 4/4/4/2 idea. Each Beatle brought in their own songs for the group to work on. George was thrilled about possibly having 4 songs on the next album.

On August 31, John, George, and Ringo took in Bob Dylan’s show at the Isle of Wight. Paul was unable to attend the show as he stayed behind to help Linda with their newborn daughter, who was born only three days earlier. After the show, John, George, and Ringo invited Bob to come to a session the next day just to hang out. When George called Paul to inform him, he expected Paul to reject the idea of having Dylan there. Surprisingly, Paul gave enthusiastic approval.

The next day produced a mind-boggling burst of creativity. All of the Beatles played versions of their new songs. Bob then picked up a guitar and said to George, “Let’s play that one we wrote.” A shocked John said, “You wrote a song…” and Paul completed the sentence, “With…Bob?” A surprised Dylan looked at George, counted in, and the two friends launched into I’d Have You Anytime. John suggested recording it immediately and releasing it as a single. This quickly turned into a full-blown collaboration between The Beatles and Bob Dylan. Lap steel guitar virtuoso Pete Drake sat in on some sessions, and Billy Preston reappeared to help out on keyboards.

When George Martin suggested some overdubs and arrangements on a few songs, Bob smiled and suggested that they keep the songs simple. The Beatles all agreed, and George Martin was convinced to just let the guys play and sing. 

The one exception for production they made was on one of the sides for a double A-side single for the album…a song The Beatles, Dylan, George Martin, and their entire production staff agreed should be one of the singles from the album…

That song was…Ringo’s It Don’t Come Easy. And John got his wish. I’d Have You Anytime was included as the other A-side for the single.

In three days, The Beatles and Bob Dylan recorded enough material for two albums. They decided to release all of the tracks on one double album.

(I used George’s ATMP session outtakes for his songs because the production is minimal.)

*The Beatles Featuring Bob Dylan - New Morning**

1. I’d Have You Anytime (Session Outtakes & Jams/Take 5)
2. New Morning
3. Remember
4. Every Night
5. Isn’t It A Pity (Session Outtakes & Jams/Take 27)
6. Beaucoup Of Blues
7. What Is Life (Session Outtakes & Jams/Take 1)
8. The Man In Me
9. Love
10. All Things Must Pass (Day 1 Demo/Take 1)
11. If Not For You (Alternate Take/Dylan Bootleg Series version with “You ready, George?”)
12. Junk
13. Teddy Boy
14. Working Class Hero
15. Run Of The Mill (Session Outtakes & Jams/Take 36)
16. Went To See The Gypsy
17. It Don’t Come Easy
18. Day Of The Locusts
19. I Found Out
20. Man We Was Lonely
21. Behind That Locked Door (Day 1 Demo/Take 2)
22. Time Passes Slowly
23. Isolation
24. Loser’s Lounge
25. One More Weekend
26. That Would Be Something
27. Look At Me
28. Beware Of Darkness

[The Beatles Featuring Bob Dylan - New Morning](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Z7qJ1rxByzBRRhXiN2pY3?si=653876665bbf4793)


New Morning - A 1969 Alternate History Album: The Beatles with Bob Dylan