"I'd Have You Anytime" | |
---|---|
Song by George Harrison | |
from the album All Things Must Pass | |
Released | 27 November 1970 |
Genre | Folk rock |
Length | 2:56 |
Label | Apple |
Songwriter(s) | George Harrison, Bob Dylan |
Producer(s) | George Harrison, Phil Spector |
"I'd Have You Anytime" is a song written by George Harrison and Bob Dylan, released in 1970 as the opening track of Harrison's first post-Beatles solo album, All Things Must Pass. The pair wrote the song at Dylan's home in Bearsville, near Woodstock in upstate New York, in November 1968. Its creation occurred during a period when Harrison had outgrown his role in the Beatles and Dylan had withdrawn from the pressures of fame to raise a family. "I'd Have You Anytime" is recognised as a statement of friendship between the two musicians, whose meetings from 1964 onwards resulted in changes in musical direction for both Dylan and the Beatles. The song reflects the environment in which it was written, as Harrison's verses urge the shy and elusive Dylan to let down his guard, and the Dylan-composed choruses respond with a message of welcome.
As a gentle ballad, "I'd Have You Anytime" went against pop-music convention of the time for an album opener. The recording was co-produced by Phil Spector in London and features a lead guitar part by Eric Clapton. With the strong public association that existed between Harrison and Dylan by 1970, some music critics remarked on the American singer's presence on All Things Must Pass, even though he did not contribute to the album. Harrison and Dylan went on to enjoy further collaborations after writing the song, culminating in their recording together as members of the Traveling Wilburys in 1988–90.
An alternate take of "I'd Have You Anytime", recorded during the All Things Must Pass sessions, appears on the 2012 Harrison compilation Early Takes: Volume 1. Harrison and Dylan's demo of the song circulates on bootleg compilations, but it has never received an official release. Ralfi Pagán and Evan Rachel Wood are among the artists who have covered "I'd Have You Anytime".