50 - 1 George Harrison

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28 - That Is All - Living In The Material World - 1973

This exquisite ballad is the closing song from Living In The Material World is another fine showcase of George's not often used falsetto vocal. Over the years George's critics have often stated that out of the ex Fabs his voice has often sounded the most "thin" or "whiny" but on this album it was anything but. George also offers some great lyrics on this profound yet simple declaration of being in love. One of my favourite lines is:

Times I find it hard to say
With useless words getting in my way
Silence often says much more
Than trying to say what's been
Said before.


 
27 - This Song - 33 & 1/3 - 1976

One of the catchiest and dynamic tunes of Harrison's solo career This Song was written tounge in cheek about Harrison's experiences with his "My Sweet Lord Lawsuit" which alleged Harrison's song subsconsciouslly lifted from the Chiffon's "He's So Fine" which can be found as a case study in Copyright Law 101 for you students out there. At one point after representing Harrison that old shark Allen Klein turned around and brought the rights to "He's So Fine" and proceeded pursued Harrison in courts however In the end around the time of the launch of his new label Dark Horse and first album release on that new label Harrison had turned a corner in his life and had the last laugh winning out on the ongoing cases with the rights to both songs.

Back to "This Song" it is a musically delight featuring a riff not unlike TRex "Bang a Gong" and some lively saxophones. A memorably hilarious video was filmed and heavily promoted at the time on SNL, etc. George put alot of effort in the promotion for this album and singles and it paid off with a respectable hit and return to the airwaves for Harrison.

Also noteworthy this return to form was welcomed by both fans and critics after the dirge like and often plodding attempt at soul on his previous album Extra Texture. Harrison was back with catchy rock and roll more commercially appealing, less "preachy and serious" that he ever was and back in form vocally. His humour really shines through especially on This Song:

This song has nothing tricky about it
This song ain't black or white and as far as I know
Don't infringe on anyone's copyright, so . . .

This song we'll let be
This song is in E
This song is for you and . . .

This tune has nothing Bright about it
This tune ain't bad or good and come ever what may
My expert tells me it's okay

As this song came to me
Quite unknowingly
This song could be you could be . . .

This riff ain't trying to win gold medals
This riff ain't hip or square
Well done or rare
May end up one more weight to bear

But this song could well be
A reason to see - that
Without you there's no point to . . . this song

 
26 - Art of Dying - All Things Must Pass - 1970

George puts forward his views on mortality with his opening line "There'll come a time when all of us must leave here" The sound is huge with one of Phil Spector's most bombast productions that really suits this song which is driven by Klaus Voorman's spooky and thudding bass line and some raucous guitar and wah wah pedal action too. It is a musical thunderstorm and a force of sound and is probably the song that sounds the least dated and not of its time, the time for this song was yesterday today and tomorrow.



There'll come a time when all of us must leave here
Then nothing sister Mary can do
Will keep me here with you
As nothing in this life that I've been trying
Could equal or surpass the art of dying
Do you believe me?

There'll come a time when all your hopes are fading
When things that seemed so very plain
Become an awful pain
Searching for the truth among the lying
And answered when you've learned the art of dying

But you're still with me
But if you want it
Then you must find it
But when you have it
There'll be no need for it

There'll come a time when most of us return here
Brought back by our desire to be
A perfect entity
Living through a million years of crying
Until you've realized the Art of Dying
Do you believe me?
 

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25 - Don't Let Me Wait Too Long - Living In The Material World - 1973

This song will go down as the hit single that never was. The lone single from this album was the chart topper "Give Me Love" however had this been released as the follow up it would have been a sure-fire top 10 hit for George. It is a catchy slice of pop-rock and remains a joy to listen to with its slide guitar, engaging sound and great signing.

 
24 - Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea - Brainwashed - 2002

George loved the Cab Calloway version of this popular tune dating back to the 1930's that he recorded a ukekele version of the song for a live TV broadcast in 1992 featuring a cast of musician friends which was later included on Brainwashed to provide a warm and fun moment on that album. George croons the song in fine voice and even plays a uke solo, its infectious and will put a smile on your face

 
23 - Dear One - 33 & 1/3 - 1976

An uplifting and melodic pop tune featuring some really nice keyboard playing and a nice tempo. It is quite underrated amongst his solo cannon therefore a great place to feature it in my countdown. It will brighten your day.

 
22 - This Is Love - Cloud Nine - 1987

An uplifting pop song about the joys of love filled with soaring slide guitar and a gorgeous melody and catchy chorus "this is la-la-la-la-love" The third single from the album featured a breathtaking video shot on location at George's tropical home on the Island of Maui captures perfectly the great vibes on this song. The Travelling Wilburys actually came about via trying to record a b-side to this song when issued as a single.



Precious words drift away from their meaning
And the sun melts the chill from our lives
Helping us all to remember what we came here for
This is love, this is la la la-la love
This is love, this is la la la-la love

Little things that will change you forever
May appear from way out of the blue
Making fools of evrybody who don't understand
This is love, this is la la la-la love
This is love, this is la la la-la love

This is love, this is love
This is love, this is la la la-la love

Since our problems have been our own creation
They also can be overcome
When we use the power provided free to everyone
This is love, this is la la la-la love
This is love, this is la la la-la love

This is love, this is la la la-la love
This is love, this is la la la-la love
Oh, this is love, this is la la la-la love
This is love, this is la la la-la love (repeat and fade)
 
21 - Cheer Down - Single - 1989

Released around the time of George Harrison's Best of Dark Horse compilation and featuring on the closing credits of the Lethal Weapon 2 Film, Cheer Down was a song George co-wrote with Tom Petty and was a phrase that wife Olivia used to tell George when he would spark with excitement. The standout feature of this song, other than the lyrics is the slide guitar playing it really soars. Harrison performed the song live on his Japan tour giving a masterful demonstration of his slide prowess.




I can see by your grin
That you're trembling within
It's all over town, cheer down
And the smile on your face
Is sometimes out of place
Don't mind, no frowns, cheer down.

If your hair should fall
If your shares should crash
You'll get by even without getting a rash

There's no tears to be shed
I'm gonna love you instead
I want you around, cheer down.

When your teeth drop out
You'll get by even without taking a bite

If your dog should be dead
I'm gonna love you instead
The world loves a clown, cheer down.
I want you around, cheer down
 
20 - Mystical One - Gone Troppo - 1982

"They say I'm not what I used to be" begins George on his song that he began as an acoustic demo but transformed into a spirited caribbean pop tune filled with melody and slide guitar fills that radiates with joy on the upbeat but barely noticed commerically Gonne Troppo album.


 
19 - Crackerbox Palace - 33 & 1/3 - 1976

George's hilarious tribute to the past spirit and characters of his historic gothic themed Henley on Thames Mansion all blended with his humour and philosophy resulting in a fine slide guitar and keyboard heavy pop song that was popular with its zany video and became a hit single for Harrison in the US.



I was so young when I was born
My eyes could not yet see
And by the time of my first dawn
Somebody holding me . . . they said

I welcome you to Crackerbox Palace
We've been expecting you
You bring such joy in Crackerbox Palace
No matter where you roam know our love is true

While growing up or trying to
Not knowing where to start
I looked around for someone who
May help reveal my heart - someone said

While you're a part of Cracerbox Palace
Do what the rest all do
Or face the fact that Crackerbox Palace
May have no other choice than to deport you

I welcome you to Crackerbox Palace
We've been expecting you
You bring us joy in Crackerbox Palace
No matter where you roam know our love is true

Sometimes are good . . . sometimes are bad
That's all a part of life
And standing in between them all
I met a Mr. Grief - and he said

I welcome you to Crackerbox Palace
Was not expecting you
Let's rap and tap at Crackerbox Palace
Know that the Lord is well and inside of you
 
18 - Tired of Midnight Blue - Extra Texture - 1975

A very unique song in George's solo discography Tired of Midnight Blue is a standout if not the standout track from one of George's lesser albums in my view. One listen and good odds that you will want to hear it again with its jazzy feel, distinct piano and ever present slide guitar. George rebounded in emphatic fashion vocally here and sounds very full and soulful. Take a listen.

 

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17 - Any Road - Brainwashed - 2002

In the words of his song Dhani the lead off track from the posthumously released Brainwashed album reeks of George Harrison. Humorous, upbeat, catchy, philosophical and filled with delightful slide guitar you cannot get more George Harrison in one song. This song was released as a single almost a year after the album and reached the UK Top 40. Listen to this song it will leave you with both a tear and a smile. Give me plenty of that guitar indeed.



(Give me that plenty of that guitar.)

But I've been traveling on a boat and a plane
In a car on a bike with a bus and a train
Traveling there, traveling here
Everywhere in every gear

But oh Lord we pay the price
With the spin of the wheel with the roll of the dice
Ah yeah you pay your fare
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there

And I've been traveling through the dirt and the grime
From the past to the future through the space and the time
Traveling deep beneath the waves
In watery grottoes and mountainous caves

But oh Lord we've got to fight
With the thoughts in the head with the dark and the light
No use to stop and stare
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there

You may not know where you came from
May not know who you are
May not have even wondered
How you got this far

I've been traveling on a wing and a prayer
By the skin of my teeth, by the breadth of a hair
Traveling where the four winds blow
With the sun on my face, in the ice and the snow

But oooeeee it's a game
Sometimes you're cool, sometimes you're lame
Ah yeah it's somewhere
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there

But oh Lord we pay the price
With the spin of the wheel with the roll of the dice
Ah yeah you pay your fare
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there

I keep traveling around the bend
There was no beginning, there is no end
It wasn't born and never dies
There are no edges, there is no sides

Oh yeah you just don't win
It's so far out, the way out is in
Bow to God and call him Sir
But if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there
If you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there

(Yeah hey! Ah ee ah! Ah he ah!)
 
16 - When We Was Fab - Cloud Nine - 1987

George looks back fondly and cynically on his fab four days both musically and lyrically on this interestingly engaging and hypnotic creation featuring Elton John, Jeff Lynne and Ringo Starr and an award winning cutting edge at the time music video that propelled the song to a moderate hit. The songs outro reminds one of I am The Walrus and it fades out with the sound of Georges sitar. This song was the pick off Cloud Nine for many.



Back then long time ago when grass was green
Woke up in a daze
Arrived like stangers in the night
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - back when income tax was all we had

Caresses fleeced you in the morning light
Casualties at dawn
And we did it all
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - you are my world you are my only love

And while you're in this world
The fuzz gonna come and claim you
But you mo better wise
When the buzz gonna come and take you away
Take you away
Take you away

The microscopes that magnified the tears
Studied warts and all
Still the life flows on and on
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - but It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - like this pullover you sent to me

Fab
And You've Really Got A Hold Me
fab - long time ago when we was fab

 
15 - The Day the World Gets Round - Living in The Material World - 1973

An underrated ballad, melody, arrangement and a simple yet poignant message from George. I love especially when George takes it up a few notches with his passionate singing on the verses.

 
14 - Dark Sweet Lady - George Harrison - 1979

Romantically beautiful like a hot summers breeze is his ode to his wife Olivia. George croons over some fine Latino flavoured acoustic guitar playing and an exceptional solo.

 
13 - Who Can See It - Living in The Material World - 1973

A moving and devotional piano ballad sung with feeling. Some fans consider it one of George's finest recorded vocals. And it's message is universal - our love belongs to those who can see it.

 
12 - Let It Down - All Things Must Pass - 1970

One of my favourite aspects of George Harrison as a musician was the way in which we employed the right chord to get a certain feel that always enhanced the song he was playing and this was evident throughout the Beatles and continued on throughout his solo career.

Around All Things Must Pass George was writing a lot of his songs on his acoustic and for every finished song that received, for better or worse, the full Spector production treatment there was an even better demo that underscored George's quiet brilliance as a singer/songwriter.

Let It Down is one such song. Listen to his vocal on the demo, that is George at his very best. The studio recording found on All Things Must Pass elevated this song from a quiet masterpiece to an epic sound piece both bombastic and heavy and gorgeously tender, both are great. Which one do you prefer?


Let It Down, demo


Let It Down, from All Things Must Pass
 
11 - Bangladesh - Single - 1971

My friend came to me
With sadness in his eyes
He told me that he wanted help
Before his country dies

Although I couldn't feel the pain
I knew I had to try
Now I'm asking all of you
To help us save some lives

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Where so many people are dying fast
And it sure looks like a mess
I've never seen such distress

Now won't you lend your hand and understand?
Relieve the people of Bangladesh

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Such a great disaster, I don't understand
But it sure looks like a mess
I've never known such distress

Now please don't turn away
I want to hear you say
Relieve the people of Bangladesh
Relieve Bangladesh

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Now it may seem so far from where we all are
It's something we can't reject
It's something I can't neglect

Now won't you give some bread to get the starving fed?
We've got to relieve Bangladesh
Relieve the people of Bangladesh
We've got to relieve Bangladesh
Relieve the people of Bangladesh

 
10 - Blow Away - George Harrison - 1979

Basking in the sunshine and good vibes George delivered perhaps his most radio friendly Beatlesque hit called Blow Away. It all began with a leak in Harrison's roof and developed into a great song. Slide guitar and double tracked vocals work a treat here. I love the way the song builds with its choruses.

 
Zuma said:
Hope you are all enjoying the music of George Harrison and perhaps some people have discovered something new here.
The scene is now set for my top 10 George Harrison countdown.
Which songs will make the cut? Stay tuned :)
Click to expand...

Great work as always Zuma.
 
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