Dylan's back pages - Productive 'New Morning' session, high school graduation, and more

On June 5, 1959, Robert Allen Zimmerman graduated from Hibbing High School. The 1959 official school yearbook  featured a portrait of a chubby-cheeked Zimmerman, next to his stated goal to "join Little Richard".   The book also included photographs of former girl friend Echo Helstrom and LeRoy Hoikala (drummer for Zimmerman's band, The Golden Chords). Bob and Sara Dylan attended the 10th anniversary reunion at the Moose Lodge, although Dylan stood in the corner, shaking hands. There was even an old report of someone trying to pick a fight with Dylan, forcing him to leave.

Bob Dylan's father, Abraham Zimmerman, died of a heart attack on June 5, 1968.  Dylan flew into Hibbing the next day to attend the June 7 funeral, but had to fly back to New York on the 11th to be with Sara for the birth of their son, Samuel. Some say these events were a catalyst for Dylan to explore his own Jewish roots. 

(Columbia Records)

Dylan was in Columbia Recording Studio E in New York on June 5, 1970. This was a very productive session as (see below) tracks 3, probably 7, 19, 23 or 24, and 36 appeared on the released version of New Morning. Clinton Heylin wrote that 15 also appeared on the album, and 40 appeared on 1973's Dylan, but Olof suggests that these may have been from May 1st (evening session) and June 3rd, respectively.

Studio E, Columbia Recording Studios
New York City, New York: 5 June 1970
6th New Morning recording session, produced by Bob Johnston.

1. If Dogs Run Free
2. If Dogs Run Free
3. If Dogs Run Free
4. Went To See The Gypsy
5. Went To See The Gypsy
6. Went To See The Gypsy
7. Went To See The Gypsy
8. Sign On The Window
9. Sign On The Window
10. Sign On The Window
11. Sign On The Window
12. Sign On The Window
13. Sign On The Window
14. Sign On The Window
15. Sign On The Window
16. Winterlude
17. Winterlude
18. Winterlude
19. Winterlude
20. Winterlude
21. I Forgot To Remember To Forget (S. Kesler/C. Feathers)
22. I Forgot To Remember To Forget (S. Kesler/C. Feathers)
23. The Man In Me
24. The Man In Me
25. Ahoooah (Owau) (Instrumental)
26. Father Of Night
27. Father Of Night
28. Father Of Night
29. Father Of Night
30. Father Of Night
31. Father Of Night
32. Father Of Night
33. Father Of Night
34. Father Of Night
35. Father Of Night
36. Father Of Night
37. Lily Of The West (trad. arr. E. Davies/J. Peterson)
38. Lily Of The West (trad. arr. E. Davies/J. Peterson)
39. Lily Of The West (trad. arr. E. Davies/J. Peterson)
40. Lily Of The West (trad. arr. E. Davies/J. Peterson)

Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar, harmonica & piano), Charlie E Daniels (bass), David Bromberg (guitar, dobro), Ron Cornelius (guitar), Al Kooper (organ), Russ Kunkel (drums).

Notes.

· 2, 6, 8-11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 28-30, 38, 39 are all false starts.

· 18, 31, 33-35 are interrupted.

· Only released tracks in overdubbed version are available.

-3 Dogs Run Free on recording sheet.

· 4-7 Gypsy on recording sheet.

· 8-15 What’s It All About on recording sheet.

· 21, 22 Forgot To Remember on recording sheet.

· 23, 24 A Woman Like You on recording sheet.

· 26-36 Father on recording sheet.

· 37-40 Lillies Of The West on recording sheet.

· Recorded 2:30-5:30 and 6:30-9:30 pm.
 

On the b-side of their debut single,the Clash sang, "No Elvis, Beatles, or the Rolling Stones in 1977",  but they didn't say anything about Bob Dylan. Mick Jones attended Dylan's 1978 London gig, and Bob helped his son Jakob meet the members of his favorite band (Joe Strummer gave Jakob his leather jacket), probably in June, 1982. The Clash rehearsed a reggae version of New Morning''s "The Man In Me" in the early summer of 1979. It was included on the "25th Anniversary Edition" of the Clash's London Calling as part of the Vanilla Tapes, released in 2004.   You can hear it in the clip above. Dylan returned the favor in November, 2005, when he performed "London Calling" at London's Brixton Academy on the 21st and the 24th.

The song also received a second life when it was included in the cult classic, The Big Lebowski.

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