Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Rowland Scherman

In addition to being good friends, Bob Dylan and George Harrison had immense respect for each other’s work. During Harrison’s lifetime, he and Dylan would collaborate on several songs but when it came to recording albums or performing live Harrison also wasn’t shy about throwing in the occasional Dylan cover. Here are five of his very best.

1. ‘If Not For You’ – All Things Must Pass (1970)

George Harrison‘s post-Beatles debut, All Things Must Pass arrived with Bob Dylan’s fingerprints all over it. In addition to Dylan co-writes ‘Isn’t It A Pity’ and ‘I’d Have You Any Time’, the album would also contain ‘Behind That Locked Door’ a song Harrison wrote after witnessing Dylan at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969. Capping it all off he would slip in a cover Dylan’s ‘If Not For You’ from Dylan’s 1970 release New Morning (a record on which Harrison also played.)

‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’ – Live at Madison Square Garden (1993)

Harrison performed this Blonde on Blonde number at a 1993 Bob Dylan tribute concert. he sings the song’s in a manner that can only be described as positively Dylanesque. “If Bob Dylan hadn’t said some of the things he did,” Harrison once shared of his friend, “nobody else was going to say them. Can you imagine what a world it would be if we didn’t have a Bob Dylan? It would be awful.”

Mama You’ve Been On My Mind – Early Takes Volume 1 (2011)

Dylan wrote ‘Mama, You Been On My Mind‘ following his breakup with Suze Rotolo in 1964. While recorded during the sessions for Another Side of Bob Dylan, the song never made the final cut. In fact, the ‘Mama You Been On My Mind’ would not officially be released until 1991. It is believed Harrison learned the song while visiting Dylan in 1968 as Harrison can be heard singing the song as early as the “Get Back” sessions recorded that same year. Dylan and Harrison would later record a demo version together as well, though it too would not be formally released until posthumous Harrison compilation Early Takes.

‘I Threw It All Away’ – Unreleased 

Upon hearing Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline George Harrison‘s approach to music was forever changed. Another “Get Back” era Dylan cover is Nashville Skyline‘s ‘I Threw it All Away’. During bootlegs of the sessions, Harrison can be heard jamming on ‘Please Mrs. Henry’ and ‘Quinn The Eskimo’.

I Don’t Want To Do It, Porky’s Revenge! OST (1985)

Harrison originally covered this little known Dylan composition for the soundtrack of 1985 comedy film Porky’s Revenge!. While the college comedy series may have fallen into obscurity, the song itself holds up considerably well. (Unfortunately for Harrison and Dylan though, the single failed to chart.)