— George Harrison
Everyone has a favorite Beatle. Mine is George Harrison. Odd choice I know. Hardly anyone noticed Harrison while the Beatles ruled the musical world for eight years. Turns out George was a late bloomer.
Harrison was only 26 when the Beatles broke up in 1970. If you were asked to predict the member of the Beatles who would enjoy the biggest success as a solo artist after the band broke up, hardly anyone would have chosen George Harrison.
Harrison, the "quiet Beatle," was always in the shadow of the Paul McCartney, the cute one and the best singer, or John Lennon, the smart one, and even lovable Ringo Starr.
Relegated to one or two songs on Beatles albums dominated by Lennon-McCartney tunes, Harrison's compositions were nothing more than album fillers for much of the Beatles run through the 1960s.
Harrison was credited with writing just 22 of the more than 200 songs recorded and officially released by The Beatles during their eight-year reign. Harrison came up with an occasional gem ("Taxman," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Here Comes The Sun") but of the Beatles' 27 No. 1 hits, Harrison's only contribution was "Something" from the "Abbey Road" album.
Harrison built up a stockpile of excellent songs in the late 1960s and finally got to share them with the world when the Beatles self-destructed as the decade came to a close.
His 1970 triple-album "All Things Must Pass" went platinum and spawned several hit singles. It was No. 1 for seven weeks. To this day, it is still regarded by critics as the best solo effort by a Beatle and is included on most lists of the best albums of all time.
His first post-Beatles single, "My Sweet Lord" was the No. 1 single for four weeks in the winter of 1970. It was followed by two other Top 10 hits from the album — "Isn't It A Pity" and "What Is Life." And there are a dozen other great songs on the album.
Enlisting the aid of Ringo Starr and longtime friend Eric Clapton as well as Billy Preston and Dave Mason, Harrison surprised everyone with the depth of his first solo release, which contained 16 original songs along with alternate versions of songs and extended jam sessions.
In addition to the title track, "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life," stand-out songs include "Awaiting On You All," "Art of Dying" and "Hear Me Lord." Pop gems like "Wah-Wah" and "Apple Scruffs" rival anything the Beatles released.
Although he dabbled with eastern mysticism from the days of "Sgt. Pepper," Harrison expressed a much deeper level of spirituality in "All Things Must Pass." While Harrison's lyrics can sometimes sound sanctimonious on their own, legendary "Wall of Sound" producer Phil Spector was brought in to create a sophisticated sound that often covers the awkwardness of the words.
Harrison's voice, never his strong suit during his Beatles days, matured during the recording "All Things Must Pass" and a confident Harrison offered strong vocals on all of the album's songs.
For a solo career that started with such promise, Harrison would never again duplicate the success of "All Things Must Pass" either commercially or artistically.
Harrison hit No. 1 again in 1973 with the single "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" from the album "Living In The Material World" but the record didn't sell anywhere near the copies of its predecessor and critical praise waned.
The best song Harrison wrote in 1973 was "Photograph," which he gave to Ringo Starr for his self-titled album. With Harrison on guitar and backup vocals, "Photograph" became a No. 1 hit for Ringo in October 1973 and still holds up today as one of the catchiest pop songs ever.
Harrison would release eight more albums in the 1970s and early 1980s to mixed commercial and critical success, occasionally cracking the Top 20. He would not have another major hit until "All Those Years Ago," his tribute to slain bandmate John Lennon, which peaked at No. 2 in 1981.
His last appearance on the pop music chart was "Got My Mind Set On You," a Jeff Lynn-produced remake of an early 1960s hit that the Beatles performed in their early days. Harrison's bouncy cover version went to No. 1 in the United States.
Harrison returned to the spotlight one more time as a member of the super-group the Traveling Wilburys, joining Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne to release two excellent albums. The group disbanded after Roy Orbison died.
George Harrison lost his battle with cancer in late 2001. He was 58. Unlike John Lennon's untimely death at the hands of an assassin, hardly anyone thinks about George Harrison anymore.
Five years after his death, we should recall the immense contributions George Harrison made to the world as a musician and a humanitarian.
Life is one long enigma, my friend. Live on, live on, the answer's at the end. Don't be so hard on the ones that you love. It's the ones that you love we think so little of.
— From the song "The Answer's at the End" by George Harrison
13 comments:
I completely agree ... infact I am a big George Harrison fan myself !
Nice to see that atleast someone agrees with me - he is the best Beatle !
No you are wrong some people think of George Harrison every day. I do , he was not my fav Beatle John was , i met John and got to know him , but i long for the spirit and truth like George . As life turns so does fate . I enjoy hearing George's son music , he reminds me of his father and my youth so much . I hope, THE LIGHT THAT LITES THE WORLD HOLD GEORGE CLOSE AND CAN HELP TO KEEP UP ALL WARM, FOR HIS WAY WAS THAT OF LOVE. LUKe
George has inspired me through his music and his life message. I think of him every day and I can only hope to find a spiritual inner peace as George did. We need to pass his message of love to our children so it carries on to future generations in an effort to stop the violence our world is facing today. Thank you to Olivia and Dhani for their efforts in carrying on his message by reviving his music and sharing its true meaning with the world.
Give me Love, Give me Peace...
Kathi
I have several of George's solo albums, and think his songwriting was amazing! His last studio album, "Brainwashed" is excellent. Fans of both the Beatles and music in general think about George often. His life was too short, but his contributions to the world ensure he will never be forgotten.
As the president of George Harrison's official fan club, not one day goes by that I don't think of him.
Pat Mancuso
With all due deference to John Lennon's well know declaration, I think of George as the "Heart" of the Beatles and Ringo as the "Soul", if one can make the distinction. Regardless of personal contribution, I believe each member of the band was equally responsible for the success of the world's greatest musical act. I got just as much from George as from any of the others, and after viewing my new Bangaladesh Concert DVD, maybe a lot more. - brian
Of course many of us think about George. I loved his music and that he wasn't afraid to express his spirituality. We will be holding the third annual George Harrison Tribute concert on March 3, 2007 at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene, OR. with Bindaas, Love Truffle, and the Maya Love Band performing.
Of course many of us think about George. I loved his music and that he wasn't afraid to express his spirituality. We will be holding the third annual George Harrison Tribute concert on March 3, 2007 at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene, OR. with Bindaas, Love Truffle, and the Maya Love Band performing.
We may sleep for a little while in that change called death, but we can never be destroyed. We exist, and that existence is eternal. The wave comes to the shore, and then goes back to the sea; it is not lost. It becomes one with the ocean, or returns again in the form of another wave. This body has come, and it will vanish; but the soul essence within it will never cease to exist.
Dear George was my favorite Beatle.........
We may sleep for a little while in that change called death, but we can never be destroyed. We exist, and that existence is eternal. The wave comes to the shore, and then goes back to the sea; it is not lost. It becomes one with the ocean, or returns again in the form of another wave. This body has come, and it will vanish; but the soul essence within it will never cease to exist.
We may sleep for a little while in that change called death, but we can never be destroyed. We exist, and that existence is eternal. The wave comes to the shore, and then goes back to the sea; it is not lost. It becomes one with the ocean, or returns again in the form of another wave. This body has come, and it will vanish; but the soul essence within it will never cease to exist.
George sang a couple Lennon-McCartney songs in the early days. If he could have gotten John or Paul to sing his songs it would have been interesting.
Like Anna said: "Don't underestimate how many of us still think about George.You are not alone my friend. By no stretch of the imagination."
There are lots of George Harrison fans out there! Thanks so much for writing this article.
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