Bob Dylan – New Morning (1970)
Overview
Released on October 21, 1970, New Morning is the 11th studio album by legendary American songwriter Bob Dylan. The record marked a creative rebound for Dylan after the polarizing reception of his previous album Self Portrait earlier that same year.
Blending folk rock, country influences, and warm acoustic arrangements, New Morning restored much of the goodwill Dylan had built during the 1960s. Critics praised the album’s relaxed tone and more focused songwriting, while fans welcomed Dylan’s return to form.
The album reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and No. 1 in the UK, confirming that Dylan’s cultural relevance remained intact despite the mixed reactions to his late-1960s work.
Tracklist
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If Not for You
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Day of the Locusts
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Time Passes Slowly
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Went to See the Gypsy
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Winterlude
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If Dogs Run Free
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New Morning
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Sign on the Window
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One More Weekend
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The Man in Me
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Three Angels
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Father of Night
Album Style and Themes
New Morning captures Dylan in a calmer, more domestic phase of his life. The songs move away from the intense protest themes of the 1960s and instead explore personal reflections, humor, love, and everyday experiences.
Musically, the album leans on:
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Piano-driven folk rock
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Country-influenced melodies
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Loose, informal studio performances
Tracks like “If Not for You” and “The Man in Me” show Dylan embracing simple, heartfelt songwriting rather than dense symbolism.
Notable Songs
If Not for You
One of the album’s best-known tracks, this gentle love song was later covered by George Harrison, further boosting its popularity.
The Man in Me
This upbeat track gained a new generation of fans after appearing prominently in the cult film The Big Lebowski (1998).
Sign on the Window
A reflective piano ballad often praised for its emotional depth and subtle humor.
Fun Facts
• Dylan recorded most of the album in New York City during mid-1970 sessions.
• Several songs were originally connected to Dylan’s abandoned theater project Scratch.
• The album’s warm sound contrasts sharply with the experimental and collage-like feel of Self Portrait.
Trivia
• “Day of the Locusts” was reportedly inspired by Dylan receiving an honorary degree from Princeton University.
• The spoken-word piece “Three Angels” is one of the most unusual recordings in Dylan’s catalog.
• New Morning helped repair Dylan’s reputation among critics after the backlash to his previous release.
Did You Know?
• George Harrison and Dylan were close friends, and Harrison recorded his own version of “If Not for You” for his 1970 album All Things Must Pass.
• The song “The Man in Me” became widely recognized decades later thanks to its use in The Big Lebowski.
• Many critics consider New Morning one of Dylan’s most underrated albums of the 1970s.
More Albums:
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)
Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964)
Bob Dylan - Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964)
Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
Bob Dylan - The Basement Tapes (1975)
Bob Dylan - Street Legal (1978)
Bob Dylan - Christmas in the Heart (2009)
