What Could Have Been: The Bob Dylan, Beatles, and Rolling Stones Album That Never Happened

Despite being a lone wolf when it came to crafting some of the finest poetry of the 20th century, Bob Dylan frequently collaborated with other artists. Whether it be in the recording studio or on stage for a live performance, Dylan was seemingly never reluctant to join musical forces with another musician. Some of the musicians Dylan has collaborated with throughout his career include Johnny Cash, The Grateful Dead, Joan Baez, Neil Young, George Harrison, Tom Petty, and many more.

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Per this list, it seems Dylan sought out collaborative endeavors. That being so, he had an idea for a collaboration that could have broken the music industry of the 60s. The ambitious idea was to do an album with himself, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Not All of The Beatles and The Stones Denied Bob Dylan’s Idea

Glyn Johns is one of the most decorated recording engineers and record producers of all time. During his heyday, he produced and worked on albums for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Eagles. Consequently, he was close with all The Beatles and The Stones, and could relay Bob Dylan’s proposal to them.

Recalling how Bob Dylan spoke his idea into existence, Johns recalled in his book, Sound Man, “He said he had this idea to make a record with the Beatles and the Stones. And he asked me if I would find out whether the others would be interested. I was completely bowled over. Can you imagine the three greatest influences on popular music in the previous decade making an album together?”

Per Bob Dylan’s request and his desire to see the album created, Johns asked The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. It was not a resounding no, but the band’s respective leaders, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger, put a kibosh on the idea. Concerning the rejection, Johns wrote, “Keith [Richards] and George [Harrison] thought it was fantastic” and “Ringo [Starr], Charlie [Watts], and Bill [Wyman] were amicable to the idea as long as everyone else was interested. John [Lennon] didn’t say a flat no, but he wasn’t that interested.”

“Paul [McCartney] and Mick [Jagger] both said absolutely not,” added Johns. Upon first hearing this idea, it sounds like a phenomenal one. However, maybe Jagger and McCartney were on to something with their refusal. After all, these three bands have very differing sounds, differing sounds that might not have melded all that well together. Though, nonetheless, the romantic question of “what if” applies.

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