― gg, Friday, 31 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Curt, Friday, 31 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I find it life-affirming. Forgetting about the third disc (everyone else does... and rightly so because it sucks eggs), those first two are an ocean of melody.
He would never do anything as good after that album and he never really seemed to care to top it. His ego just kind of disappeared after that (excepting that dopey, calculated hit single in the 80's when his mood probably changed for a time). He seemed happy to be a quiet, religious man knocking out innoucous pop rock records.
There's some good stuff there, though. Tracks like "Blow Away" and "Sue You Sue Me Blues". And his Lennon tribute (after asassination), "All Those Years Ago" is beautiful, I think. The lyrics are kinda cornball, but the melody has a lovely, shy sort of quality, I think.
As for the Beatles work, I find "Something" overrated easy listening pop, but "Blue Jay Way" is fucked up in a really nice, gurgly way. And I agree with the pro-"Long Long Long" camp. It might be my favorite Beatles track. It's very candlelit and ghostly.
I like George Harrison. A lot.
― Oliver K., Saturday, 1 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
When the "My Sweet Lord" case was finally settled, somehow George Harrison not only got to keep the rights to his song, but was ALSO awarded the rights to "He's So Fine". He now owns the song that he was accused of ripping off.
I've no idea how that happened, but it's true.
― JC, Saturday, 1 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― keith, Saturday, 1 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― X. Y. Zedd, Sunday, 2 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― dave q, Sunday, 2 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I quite like what Oliver K has to say about ATMP, though I can't seriously rate it over the Beatles. But it has some remarkable moments, like I (we) keep saying.
Yes, those 'Something' lyrics are bad. But I think we all agree that pop != just lyrics (though lyrics may, sometimes, be important) - so for me the song is still a great.
Harrison as guitarist before he went weepy / wah-wah: Classic? (The latter style becomes too all-encompassing.)
What about the LP (eponymous?) with the song 'Faster' on it? I loved that song as a kid.
RC: I agree, NLP: terrible dud. But I wouldn't want to write off 60s- 70s Harrison's achievements just cos of that involvement (92?). Where do the Greens come in - was he funding them too, at some stage?
Relevant connection: Handmade Films. Classic element?
― the pinefox, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Abbei, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Curt, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
I don't *think* Harrison has ever had anything to do with the Green Party. I kind of specified that it wasn't related to the subject of this thread and therefore, arguably, against the rules.
― Robin Carmody, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
http://www.8trackheaven.com/Images/georgeharrisonelectronicsound.jpg
― Paula G., Monday, 24 February 2003 20:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Paula G., Monday, 24 February 2003 20:44 (twenty-one years ago) link
Classic tune no one's mentioned: Cheer Down.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 24 February 2003 20:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Paula G., Monday, 24 February 2003 20:50 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 24 February 2003 22:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
― matt riedl (veal), Monday, 24 February 2003 22:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:58 (eighteen years ago) link
Destroy: every album b/w Dark Horse and Cloud Nine.
Never mentioned: his production work on Ringo's ace "It Don't Come Easy" and co-writing the fantastic "Photograph"; also, his solo on Belinda Carlisle's "Leave A Light On."
Verdict: With some all-too-obvous exceptions, the man needs collaboraters.
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:02 (eighteen years ago) link
Oh, and as for G.Harrison's lyrics...
(From Love you to)"I'll make luv to you..If you want me toooo"
Dawn: Knock yourself out, why don't you...
― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:03 (eighteen years ago) link
F that!
George wrote "Something" when he was only 25 years old! It and "Here Comes the Sun": 2 of the greatest Beatles tunes ever, period.
― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 23 June 2005 20:02 (eighteen years ago) link
― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Thursday, 23 June 2005 20:14 (eighteen years ago) link
Give Me Love
― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Thursday, 23 June 2005 20:32 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 23 June 2005 21:37 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 23 June 2005 21:53 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 23 June 2005 22:01 (eighteen years ago) link
(but, yeah, I like "This Song" a lot too.)
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 23 June 2005 22:02 (eighteen years ago) link
― darin (darin), Thursday, 23 June 2005 22:42 (eighteen years ago) link
"If Not for You" is another great one off that album. His voice was perfectly suited to sing those lyrics.
― Joe (Joe), Friday, 24 June 2005 00:41 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:21 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:34 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:39 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 16:53 (eighteen years ago) link
My fave track off ATMP though is I Live for You, another great melody.
I've been reading a few George interviews recently. I really like the turn of phrase he had and his gently cynical perspective.
― Bob Six (bobbysix), Monday, 10 July 2006 20:54 (seventeen years ago) link
and no one else on Earth has that sweet sound he got on the slide roundabout 1969.
― veronica moser (veronica moser), Monday, 10 July 2006 21:11 (seventeen years ago) link
and no one else on Earth has that sweet sound he got on the slide roundabout 1969 onwards.
― veronica moser (veronica moser), Monday, 10 July 2006 21:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 10 July 2006 21:38 (seventeen years ago) link
The only other one of his I have is Living In The Material World which is one of those records that almost mechanically alternates between tracks that make you want to put it on and tracks that make you keep flipping past in the bin. "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" is probably the best thing on there, would have slid in to ATMP very very nicely. And of course "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" which is short on lyrics but is lovely and head-sticky, and I like his vocal on it, so hey.
One night I randomly caught the drag-racing-themed video clip for the later "Faster" on VH1 Classic. That's probably worth hearing at least once - the "Faster than a bullet from a gun!" line is really cool, unfortunately the song overall is really aimless and dull. I fear that probably describes a lot of the 70s and 80s Harrison, which is why I haven't really delved much further, and this thread isn't giving me much inspiration to. Surely ILX has at least one rabid defender of Extra Texture?
Oh, and as for his Beatles work: his own compositions are about an even mix of very good ("Taxman," "Something," "Savoy Truffle") and embarassingly bad ("I Need You," "Piggies"). His guitar playing on the other hand is consistently essential, and fun to listen for because you can hear it getting better and better with each successive album. Get to Revolver and he pretty much epitomizes what I think rock guitarists should play like and sound like. Not such a fan of the slide stuff later on but it has its moments.
Unheralded greatness: George as backing vocalist! He's the Michael Anthony of the 60s, the absolutely essential ingredient in so many songs I don't know how to pick an example. "I'm Down" is probably the best use of him as the straight man. His lead vocals are sometimes awkward, sometimes so perfect you can't imagine the song without them - see "Don't Bother Me," "Love You To." Also check "Roll Over Beethoven" as it appears on Live At The Hollywood Bowl, where he has McCartney putting some enthusiasm into backing him up, it's great.
In short - I think the conventional wisdom is right. One great album (near excellent), inconsistent as a songwriter outside of that, but very consistently perfect as guitarist and team-member where-ever he appears.
― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:26 (seventeen years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:42 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 10 July 2006 23:51 (seventeen years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 00:00 (seventeen years ago) link
omg I love love love this song
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 00:52 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 00:57 (seventeen years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 01:20 (seventeen years ago) link
― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 01:32 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 02:19 (seventeen years ago) link
Thank you, Tim! Don't know if it's because of the horns, acoustic 12 string, sad lyrics or what, but this song has always been my favorite from ATMP.
xpost: kyle, I think this was not George (Martin's) shining moment. I like the slow tremelo Harrison used here, but it seems to be overplayed with at the console. wtf do I know? I do enjoy the song though.
― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 02:19 (seventeen years ago) link
For point of comparison, check out "Another Girl," where he tears it up on the same kind of call-and-response gap. "For I have got" BRANDOWN DA DOWN DOWN... etc. Now obviously "I Need You" is a different sort of song but it just feels as if so little energy was brought to bear on it. In George's defense, I would suspect that this was more for lack of interest from the other Beatles/George Martin than from himself...
― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 02:40 (seventeen years ago) link
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2014/02/11/they-were-the-first-really-loud-european-band-i-ever-heard/
― Eric B. Mash Up the Resident (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 26 April 2022 14:56 (two years ago) link
Yep. I believe he was the one who pushed most for them to try recording at Stax
His brief guitar solo at the end of "Got to Get You Into My Life" is one of his greatest moments on record. Exemplary of his taste and what he may have learned from Cropper - he's otherwise quiet for the rest of the track.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 26 April 2022 14:57 (two years ago) link
^The longest version of the story of Norbert Putnam, Tommy Roe and The Beatles I have seen so far. (xp)
― Eric B. Mash Up the Resident (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 26 April 2022 14:57 (two years ago) link
Thirty Three & ⅓ was his best album since ATMP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DzisXpZM7c
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 November 2022 22:58 (one year ago) link
yeah it's really good. I like it as much as the s/t that followed it; and dare I say that those three are his best albums.
― akm, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 01:59 (one year ago) link
Beautiful Girl dates back to the same backlog of songs that was used to fill up ATMP.
― akm, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 02:03 (one year ago) link
I'd claim Cloud Nine bests the s/t.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 02:03 (one year ago) link
What was George doing between cloud nine and brainwashed? The former was a huge album and then he was basically done til the latter was released (posthumously of course.)
― omar little, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 02:13 (one year ago) link
Wilburys, Japanese tour, legal battles, dealing with Paul 'n' Beatle shit, hanging out.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 02:15 (one year ago) link
Oh yeah wilburys, of course…surprised I guess he didn’t knock out another solo album or two in that time.
― omar little, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 02:17 (one year ago) link
I don't think he cared much. He had plenty of dough and had a strong enough sense of self.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 02:18 (one year ago) link
Yeah, I don't get the sense that he enjoyed the process enough to continuously do it. Working with Lynne and the Wilburys helped a lot and made those sessions enjoyable, but even the second Wilburys album (Vol. 3) was much less fun to do, especially for Dylan. The only reason he did the tour was because it was short and Clapton talked him into it, but it was never going to more than a one-time deal.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 14:39 (one year ago) link
Hare hare, George!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yJLqVN6eJM
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 25 February 2023 14:27 (one year ago) link
Stachewave
― calstars, Saturday, 25 February 2023 19:50 (one year ago) link
Would've been 80 years old today! Wish we could see all of them at this age.
― birdistheword, Saturday, 25 February 2023 20:45 (one year ago) link
Like
― calstars, Saturday, 25 February 2023 21:16 (one year ago) link
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/george-harrison-living-in-amaterial-world-1234737644/
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 June 2023 09:53 (one year ago) link
Fantastic album - his quietude as rewarding as it ever was. Even the funny stuff (Sue Me Sue You Blues) works, which can't be said so much for e.g. Extra Texture.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Thursday, 1 June 2023 14:23 (one year ago) link
Talk about a forgotbuster: #1 for weeks in the summer of 1973, not spoken of much ever since. Unavailability on CD until the early '90s didn't help.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 June 2023 17:27 (one year ago) link
Cover looks modern, out of time with 1973
― calstars, Thursday, 1 June 2023 17:33 (one year ago) link
Yeah, the cover is pretty good - it's now the logo for his foundation too.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 1 June 2023 21:17 (one year ago) link
Talk about a forgotbuster: #1 for weeks in the summer of 1973People were still on a Beatles high, especially in the US — hell, Ringo had more top 10 singles through 1975 than John and George combined, and only two fewer than Paul. Any Major Release by any of them was cause for excitement in the moment: “Are they getting back together? Are there hidden clues in this record suggesting they might get back together? Will any of them tour? Oh wait…hm, this record is kind of boring, actually…”
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 1 June 2023 21:39 (one year ago) link
This was also when the Beatles blue record came out, heavy on George songs; it wouldn't be too long before he was being treated a lot worse in the press than he was used to.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 1 June 2023 21:44 (one year ago) link
"don't let him rate too long," the press declared.
― got it in the blood, the kid's a pelican (Doctor Casino), Thursday, 1 June 2023 22:01 (one year ago) link
Not even Material World always had the best reviews. What I can never get my head around was Dark Horse then going on to miss the UK top 50 entirely, after two conseuctive mega albums (three including Bangladesh). That's insane for a Beatle.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Thursday, 1 June 2023 22:43 (one year ago) link
His 1974 tour is generally held to be a disaster, with his voice shot and his persona at his most spiritually hectoring. That can't have helped.
― Alba, Thursday, 1 June 2023 22:55 (one year ago) link
The live clips aren't bad at all, and I sorta admire how he forced his audience to listen to Ravi Shankar.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 June 2023 23:37 (one year ago) link
The tour was US-only, besides which I think a lot of the tour went without an issue IIRC.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 2 June 2023 00:18 (one year ago) link
(US and Canada*)
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 2 June 2023 00:19 (one year ago) link
I’ve been obsessed with “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” for about the last week – I literally haven’t been able to get it out of my head for more than an hour or so at a time.
― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, 12 June 2023 03:25 (one year ago) link
Ha - I had that phase a few months ago.
― Alba, Monday, 12 June 2023 05:43 (one year ago) link
It’s a little surprising because I wouldn’t call myself a giant fan of Harrison’s—there’s a persistently sour feeling I find hard to dismiss—and while I suppose I’ve known this song forever I’ve never really thought much about it one way or another. But there’s something undeniable about the circular chord sequence, modulations and slide guitar harmonies that collectively feel like they could go on forever. And now, I’m realizing at least two songs I wrote 25 years ago were influenced by it? Strange.
― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, 12 June 2023 12:19 (one year ago) link
Got really into All Things Must Pass again this week for some reason, particularly enjoying the Art of Dying which would have been an ace Beatles track, though the released version is obviously amazing too (wish Clapton would tone it down a little though). Have been poking around at other solo Beatles things I'd not given attention to in years, including Ringo's Rotogravure, which I had on vinyl as a kid (and liked! because I didn't know any better), and remembered that Harrison's track on that record was by far the standout:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXg45wYBCcg
Harrison wrote this back during the ATMP era (or earlier? dunno) and recorded it for the album, but apparently never came up with a satisfactory take. All I've been able to find is this:
https://soundcloud.com/harrisonstories/george-harrison-whenever-ill
A real lost opportunity with this one.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 6 September 2023 19:19 (nine months ago) link
I think not intended for ATMP:https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/george-harrison-legal-action-against-ringo-over-ill-still-love-you.1100437/
― Alba, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 20:04 (nine months ago) link
ah, didn't see that. it's weird there is so little documented truthful information about this song; when harrison recorded, whether there was or was not some lawsuit. it's kind of rare in beatles quarters for something to remain a total mystery like this.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 6 September 2023 22:48 (nine months ago) link
Happy birthday, bro!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI4xzwvaTWU
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 25 February 2024 14:04 (three months ago) link
Been listening to some of the albums I never loved. I think, even when it's not my favorite stuff, he didn't really indulge in just creating filler. Like on Extra Texture, I feel like I kinda get what he was going after with those songs and that there always seems to be some degree of musicality to the compositions that I find interesting at least.
Somewhere in England sounding pretty good to me lately.
― timellison, Friday, 5 April 2024 01:10 (two months ago) link