List of songs recorded by George Harrison Songs recorded by George Harrison
George Harrison in 1974
George Harrison (1943–2001) was an English musician who gained international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles . With his songwriting contributions limited by the dominance of John Lennon and Paul McCartney , Harrison was the first member of the Beatles to release a solo album. Wonderwall Music (1968), a mostly instrumental soundtrack album combining Western and Indian sounds, was followed by Electronic Sound (1969), an experimental album containing two lengthy pieces performed on Moog synthesizer . Following the Beatles' break-up in 1970, Harrison released the triple album All Things Must Pass . Co-produced by Phil Spector , it included the hit singles "My Sweet Lord " and "What Is Life ". The album featured musical contributions from Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr , both of whom collaborated regularly with Harrison throughout his solo career, and two signature elements of Harrison's work: his slide guitar playing and spiritually themed songwriting.
While organising the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, Harrison recorded the charity single "Bangla Desh ". The Concert for Bangladesh live album included three of Harrison's best-known Beatles songs: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps ", "Here Comes the Sun " and "Something ". Living in the Material World (1973) featured a pared-down sound and increasingly devout lyrics. It included the single "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) " and a title track in which contrasting sections of Indian music and Western rock mirrored Harrison's struggle to attain his spiritual goals. Dark Horse (1974) included songs inspired by the end of his marriage to Pattie Boyd and, particularly in the title track , vocal performances marred by Harrison contracting laryngitis – a result of overexertion as he prepared to launch his Dark Horse record label. Extra Texture (Read All About It) (1975) contained several songs in a downbeat soul style, reflecting his despondency following the mixed reception afforded his 1974 North American tour with Ravi Shankar . Largely recorded in Los Angeles, the album included "This Guitar (Can't Keep from Crying) ", a sequel to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
Thirty Three & 1/3 (1976) furthered the American soul influence and, with its singles "This Song " and "Crackerbox Palace ", was a more buoyant collection than its predecessors. Marked also by a more subtle approach to religious pronouncements, the album typified Harrison's move towards love songs seemingly addressed to his deity as much as to a romantic partner. Co-produced by Russ Titelman , George Harrison (1979) reflected Harrison's contentment after a period spent travelling. It included the hit single "Blow Away ", songs celebrating the tranquil surroundings he had discovered on Hawaii, and a tribute to Formula One racing drivers, "Faster ". Somewhere in England was released in 1981 and featured "All Those Years Ago ", a tribute to Lennon following his murder in December 1980 .[ 31] Gone Troppo (1982) included the single "Wake Up My Love " and "Circles ", a song that, like "Not Guilty " from George Harrison , had originally been considered for the Beatles' White Album in 1968.[ 33]
After a four-year hiatus, Harrison returned with Cloud Nine (1987), co-produced by Jeff Lynne .[ 34] It included a cover version of Rudy Clark 's "Got My Mind Set on You " and the Beatles tribute "When We Was Fab ".[ 34] Harrison then formed the Traveling Wilburys with Lynne, Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty .[ 36] He issued the 1989 compilation Best of Dark Horse , which included "Cheer Down ", co-written with Petty.[ 37] Harrison's 1992 album Live in Japan , recorded on tour with Clapton, included renditions of "Taxman ", "If I Needed Someone " and several other Harrison compositions from the Beatles' catalogue.[ 38] Harrison then reunited with Starr and McCartney for the Beatles Anthology multimedia project and collaborated extensively with Shankar, but he issued no further recordings under his own name before his death in November 2001.[ 40] His final album, Brainwashed (2002), included the singles "Any Road " and "Stuck Inside a Cloud ", and the slide-guitar instrumental "Marwa Blues ".[ 41]
Songs
Starting with the Wonderwall Music track "Ski-ing" in 1968, Eric Clapton played guitar on many of Harrison's recordings as a solo artist.
Phil Spector co-produced Harrison's recordings over 1970–72, including the songs "My Sweet Lord ", "Isn't It a Pity " and "Bangla Desh ". Harrison subsequently adopted elements of Spector's Wall of Sound in his own production style, particularly on "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long " and "Ding Dong, Ding Dong ".
Bob Dylan co-wrote "I'd Have You Anytime " with Harrison and provided the inspiration for another All Things Must Pass track reflecting on their friendship, "Behind That Locked Door ". Harrison also recorded cover versions of Dylan songs such as "If Not for You " and "I Don't Want to Do It ".
Gary Wright played keyboards on all of Harrison's 1970s albums and on Cloud Nine . A fellow devotee of Hindu teachings, Wright also co-wrote "If You Believe " and "That's What It Takes".
Entrance to Harrison's Friar Park estate in Oxfordshire . From 1973, Harrison recorded the majority of his music at his Friar Park studio, while the property's inscriptions and gardens provided lyrical inspiration for songs such as "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp ", "Ding Dong", "The Answer's at the End " and "Flying Hour ".
Having popularised the sitar through his work with the Beatles, Harrison made only minimal use of Indian instrumentation in his songs after 1968. Among the rare examples are "Living in the Material World ",[ 51] "Be Here Now ", "It Is 'He' (Jai Sri Krishna) ", "Writing's on the Wall " and "Ride Rajbun ".
Harrison's enduring admiration of soul music was reflected in two songs he wrote in tribute to Smokey Robinson in the mid-1970s, "Ooh Baby " and "Pure Smokey ".
Harrison released a pop version of Cole Porter 's "True Love " on his album Thirty Three & 1/3 .
A lifelong fan of Hoagy Carmichael , Harrison covered Carmichael's "Hong Kong Blues " and "Baltimore Oriole " on his 1981 album Somewhere in England .
From 1987, Harrison collaborated regularly with producer Jeff Lynne , who co-wrote "When We Was Fab " and "This Is Love ".
Tom Petty co-wrote "Cheer Down " with Harrison, in addition to joining him, Lynne and Dylan in the Traveling Wilburys .
Notes
^ a b c d e f g h i Originally recorded by the Beatles .
^ Features a spoken word section by Legs Larry Smith .
^ Two versions of the song appear on All Things Must Pass .[ 58]
^ A re-recorded version, titled "My Sweet Lord (2000)", was released on the 2001 remaster of All Things Must Pass .[ 87]
References
^ Ginell, Richard S. "Somewhere in England – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017 .
^ Planer, Lindsay. " 'Circles' – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017 .
^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "Cloud Nine – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2017 .
^ Ruhlmann, William. "The Traveling Wilburys – Biography" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017 .
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "The Best of Dark Horse (1976–1989) – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "Live in Japan – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ Thompson, Dave (25 January 2002). "The Music of George Harrison: An album-by-album guide". Goldmine . p. 53.
^ Inglis 2010 , p. 118; Leng 2006 , p. 293.
^ Planer, Lindsay. "George Harrison 'Living in the Material World' " . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2018 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w All Things Must Pass (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Apple Records . 1970. STCH 2-639.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j Somewhere in England (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Dark Horse Records . 1981. K 56870.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m " 'All Things Must Pass' 50th Anniversary Releases" . George Harrison Official Website . 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021 .
^ Wonderwall Music (2014 remaster) (CD liner notes). George Harrison. Apple Records . 2014. 0602537913954.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Brainwashed (CD liner notes). George Harrison. Dark Horse Records . 2002. 7243 5 41969 2 8.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j Gone Troppo (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Dark Horse Records . 1982. 1-23734.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b "Bangla Desh"/"Deep Blue" (Single liner notes). George Harrison. US: Apple Records . 1971. 1836.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j k Living in the Material World (liner notes). George Harrison. US: Apple Records . 1973. SMAS-3410.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j Thirty Three & 1/3 (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Dark Horse Records . 1976. K56319.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j George Harrison (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Dark Horse Records . 1979. K 56562.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cloud Nine (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Dark Horse Records . 1987. 925 643-1.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i Dark Horse (liner notes). George Harrison. US: Apple Records . 1974. SMAS-3418.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ Lethal Weapon 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (CD liner notes). Various Artists. US: Warner Bros. Records . 1989. 9 25985-2.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989 (CD liner notes). George Harrison. Dark Horse Records . 1989. 9 25726-2-DJ.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Wonderwall Music (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Apple Records . 1968. SAPCOR 1.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c "Songs by George Harrison Volume One" Archived 10 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Genesis Publications (retrieved 10 October 2017).
^ a b c Ginell, Richard S. "The Concert for Bangladesh – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2017 .
^ Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (2001). Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues . CD liner notes. p. 2.
^ a b "Songs by George Harrison Volume Two" Archived 10 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Genesis Publications (retrieved 10 October 2017).
^ "Ding Dong"/"I Don't Care Anymore" (Single liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Apple Records . 1974. R 6002.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "Dark Horse"/"I Don't Care Anymore" (Single liner notes). George Harrison. US: Apple Records . 1974. 1877.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ Porky's Revenge! (liner notes). Various Artists. UK: Columbia Records . 1985. JS 39983.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ All Things Must Pass (2001 Remaster) (CD track listing). George Harrison. Parlophone . 2001. 7243 5 30474 2 9.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b c d e f Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "Live in Japan – George Harrison" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2017 .
^ "Got My Mind Set on You"/"Lay His Head" (Single liner notes). George Harrison. US: Dark Horse Records . 1987. 7-28178.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b Early Takes: Volume 1 (CD track listing). George Harrison. Universal Music Group . 2012. 0602527990422.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)"/"Miss O'Dell" (Single liner notes). George Harrison. US: Apple Records . 1973. 1862.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "George Harrisongs – Pre George Harrison" . harrisongs.info . Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017 .
^ All Things Must Pass (Box set booklet). George Harrison. UK: Parlophone . 2001. 7243 5 30474 2 9.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ a b Electronic Sound (liner notes). George Harrison. UK: Zapple . 1969. ST-3358.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "Shanghai Surprise" (Promotional single record label). George Harrison. WEA Records . 1986. WEA-284-B.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "Sour Milk Sea" (liner notes). Jackie Lomax . UK: Apple Records . 1968. 1834.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "When We Was Fab"/"Zig Zag" (Single liner notes). George Harrison. US: Dark Horse Records . 1988. 7-28131.{{cite AV media notes }}
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Bibliography
Allison, Dale C. Jr. (2006). The Love There That's Sleeping: The Art and Spirituality of George Harrison . New York, NY: Continuum. ISBN 978-0-8264-1917-0 .
Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock . Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3 .
Clayson, Alan (2003). George Harrison . London: Sanctuary. ISBN 1-86074-489-3 .
Doggett, Peter (2011). You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup . New York, NY: It Books. ISBN 978-0-06-177418-8 .
The Editors of Rolling Stone (2002). Harrison . New York, NY: Rolling Stone Press. ISBN 978-0-7432-3581-5 .
Frontani, Michael (2009). "The Solo Years". In Womack, Kenneth (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-68976-2 .
Greene, Joshua M. (2006). Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-12780-3 .
Harry, Bill (2003). The George Harrison Encyclopedia . London: Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-0822-0 .
Huntley, Elliot J. (2006). Mystical One: George Harrison – After the Break-up of the Beatles . Toronto, ON: Guernica Editions. ISBN 978-1-55071-197-4 .
Ingham, Chris (2006). The Rough Guide to the Beatles . London: Rough Guides/Penguin. ISBN 978-1-84836-525-4 .
Inglis, Ian (2010). The Words and Music of George Harrison . Praeger Publishers. ISBN 978-0-313-37532-3 .
Lavezzoli, Peter (2006). The Dawn of Indian Music in the West . New York, NY: Continuum. ISBN 0-8264-2819-3 .
Leng, Simon (2006). While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Music of George Harrison . Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. ISBN 1-4234-0609-5 .
Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980 . Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-9093-4 .
Schaffner, Nicholas (1978). The Beatles Forever . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-055087-5 .
Tillery, Gary (2011). Working Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography of George Harrison . Wheaton, IL: Quest Books. ISBN 978-0-8356-0900-5 .
Woffinden, Bob (1981). The Beatles Apart . London: Proteus. ISBN 0-906071-89-5 .
Studio albums Live albums Compilations Box sets Books Tours Related
Articles People Albums Films Tributes
1970s
1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1979
1980s
1981 1982 1983 1985 1986
"Shanghai Surprise" (promo)
1987 1988 1989
"Cheer Down " / "That's What It Takes" (US)
"Cheer Down" / "Poor Little Girl" (UK)
"Poor Little Girl" (promo)
2000s