Paul McCartney And Mick Jagger Said No To Bob Dylan’s Idea For A Beatles/Stones Album

Bob Dylan wanted The Beatles and Rolling Stones to collaborate with him on an album, and apparently everyone thought it was a great idea except for Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger.

That’s one takeaway from “Sound Man,” a memoir by legendary producer Glyn Johns.

Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene reviewed the book:

Dylan then dropped a bomb. “He said he had this idea to make a record with the Beatles and the Stones,” John writes. “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?”

Johns quickly began working the phones. “Keith and George thought it was fantastic,” he writes. “But they would since they were both huge Dylan fans. Ringo, Charlie and Bill were amicable to the idea as long as everyone else was interested. John didn’t say a flat no, but he wasn’t that interested. Paul and Mick both said absolutely not.”

Needless to say, the plan didn’t go forward. “I had it all figured out,” writes Johns. “We would pool the best material from Mick and Keith, Paul and John, Bob and George, and then select the best rhythm section from the two bands to suit whichever songs we were cutting. Paul and Mick were probably, right, however I would have given anything to have given it a go.”