On 1 May 1970, George Harrison joined Bob Dylan for an informal but historically significant recording session in New York City.

The session took place in Studio B at Columbia Records’ studios, located at 49 East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, during Harrison’s extended stay in the city from 23 April to 5 May.

Session details

This marked the first session connected to what would become Dylan’s New Morning album. The producer was Bob Johnston, who also played piano during the recordings.

Also present were:

• Charlie Daniels – bass guitar
• Russ Kunkel – drums

The atmosphere was loose and collaborative, with a mix of structured takes and spontaneous performances.

Songs recorded

During the session, Harrison and Dylan ran through a wide selection of material, including:

• Time Passes Slowly
• Mama, You Been On My Mind
• One Too Many Mornings
• All I Have To Do Is Dream
• Gates Of Eden
• Matchbox
• If Not For You

Of these, If Not For You would later gain wider recognition, appearing on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 in 1991.

Release history

The recordings from this session remained largely unreleased for decades. They first surfaced officially as part of the limited copyright extension release Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection 1970, and later received a wider release as part of Dylan’s archival collection 1970.

Legacy

This session represents one of the earliest documented post-Beatles collaborations involving George Harrison, taking place just weeks after the public confirmation of the group’s split. It also highlights Harrison’s close creative relationship with Bob Dylan, which would ultimately lead to the formation of The Traveling Wilburys nearly two decades later.

Location

Columbia Records Studio B, 49 East 52nd Street, Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA