Why John Lennon Wanted to Produce Records for Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley
John Lennon discussed the prospect of producing albums for Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley. It's unclear if Dylan would have wanted to work with John given a comment Dylan made.
The history of music sometimes feels like a history of missed opportunities. John Lennon discussed the prospect of producing albums for Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley. He wasn’t the biggest fan of one of Dylan’s classics. It’s unclear if Dylan would have wanted to work with John given a comment he made about Paul McCartney.
John produced Harry Nilsson’s 1974 album Pussy Cats. Around the same time, he also worked on David Bowie’s “Fame” and “Across the Universe” and Elton John’s rendition of The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” During a 1975 interview with Rolling Stone, John was asked if he would like to produce other singers. “Dylan would be interesting because I think he made a great album in Blood on the Tracks but I’m still not keen on the backings,” he said. “I think I could produce him great.
“And Presley,” he said. “I’d like to resurrect Elvis. But I’d be so scared of him I don’t know whether I could do it. But I’d like to do it. Dylan I could do, but Presley would make me nervous.
“But Dylan or Presley, somebody up there,” he added. “I know what I’d do with Presley. Make a rock ‘n’ roll album. Dylan doesn’t need material. I’d just make him some good backings. So if you’re reading this Bob, you know….”
Source: Matthew Trzcinski/cheatsheet.com
