George Harrison

[Robman?]

I searched around and I couldn't find a thread dedicated to this amazing guitarist and song writer.

George's solo career was amazing, especially his album All Things Must Pass, which was a masterpiece. It was just found out recently that this album did in fact reach number 1 in the UK. It was previously though Harrison never reached number 1 in his county of birth.

The album was released on boxing day, 1970. When Britian's postal workers went on strike in Spring '71, mail was prevented from reaching its destination. Therefore, each record shop's records of sales were lost. Simon and Garfunkel spent those 8 weeks at the top of the charts. It was investigated that Harrison had in fact been robbed of his #1 and the records have been changed.

My other favorite Harrison album would have to be Cloud 9. His final album, Brainwashed, was also a great album.


Some Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2faoQCKLzo  - Any Road, one of my favorite of his solo songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WG0NoyiPRs - George Harrison Medley

[WhiteRose]

If you're reading this thread, and if you haven't already seen it, I would highly recommend that you treat yourself to the 'Concert for George'.

I had the pleasure of experiencing this film in a movie theater during its one week release... and it totally blew me away.

If you're a fan of the Beatles, George, or if you just like good music... this film/dvd is a must! 

Here's a link for more information about this very special concert/film.

http://www.concertforgeorge.com/

Cheers,
W.R.

[Robman?]

I was thinking about getting that. It has some great musicians on it, including Eric Clapton. It also has George's son Dhani. I'll treat myself to a copy of it next time I'm in Best Buy.

[Robman?]

theres no way we're the only Harrison fans 

[lennonisgod]

George Harrison is amazing. He's written some of the best songs in the history of music, with and without the Beatles. I mean come on... While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Here Come the Sun, songs don't get much better than that shit. His solo albums are really underrated. Personally, I think he might have had a better solo career than Paul did. Lennon's solo career can't really be compared to George's though because his only lasted for about 10 years... but I think Lennon would have him beat if we compared 1970-1980 for both of them.

What would have happened to the Beatles if when George quit the band, he would have decided not to come back??  Lennon said he was going to get Eric Clapton to take his place if George didn't come back "by that Monday." I think George ended up coming back on Wednesday though if I remember correctly. Imagine the Beatles with Clapton on lead guitar in 1968-1969... Would it have mattered??  The only songs George were really a part of at during that time period were the songs he wrote himself. By that time Paul and John insisted on writing their own guitar solos for the songs they each wrote and George no longer played the role he once did. This had started even back in 1967 with Sgt. Pepper.

Anyway, when the Beatles finally called it quits, it was a great thing for George as a musician and as an individual. He could finally show more of what he was made of to the world and he had a ton of songs that he had written while he was in The Beatles that he could now "dust off" and bring back to life for his solo records. He wasn't only a great musician but he was also supposed to be a really great person as well.

[Robman?]

I actually think it would have sucked with Clapton in the Beatles. Not to mention Clapton was friends with George so I doubt he'd intentionally stab him in that back.

George released a couple instrumental albums during his time with the Beatles, and he had a steady output of album throughout the seventies. The flop of 1982's (i think 1982) Gone Troppo made him retire from he business. But Cloud 9 in the late eighties was an amazing comeback. I don't think he released another album until Brainwashed. Is that right?

[lennonisgod]

I actually think it would have sucked with Clapton in the Beatles. Not to mention Clapton was friends with George so I doubt he'd intentionally stab him in that back.

 
Well let's see... Do you know who the song Layla is about??? It was about George Harrison's wife Pattie Boyd that Clapton was "desperately" IN LOVE WITH and apparently was "fucking" behind Harrison's back.  Clapton and Pattie eventually married but divorced in 1989 I believe. So wouldn't fucking and later marrying your friends wife be a MUCH BIGGER STAB IN THE BACK than taking his place in a band???

I think Harrison told Clapton to "take her" after he found out what was going on behind his back but that doesn't take away the fact that he was fucking George's wife for awhile without him knowing.

[Robman?]

True 

But I think Harrison found his true love afterwards. Plus the two definitely reconnected by the late eighties, seeing as Clapton appeared on Cloud 9, and accompanied George on a tour in Japan.

[WhiteRose]

Yes, I believe that any misgivings between those two were reconciled a long time ago.? In fact, there's some interview footage of Eric talking about George in the 'Concert for George' tribute film... and it's very touching.? It's obvious they had a special bond between them.

Also, it was Clapton who served as 'music director' for the tribute, and the one who (along with Harrison?s wife) essentially spearheaded the project.

Again, for anyone who hasn't seen it, I would highly recommend that you run (don?t walk) to your local music store and pick yourself up a copy of the 'Concert for George' dvd.? It?s one of the best concert films I've ever come across and such a beautiful, magical, and wonderful tribute to the music of George Harrison.


Here?s a clip [from the film] of Clapton (along with some special friends) performing While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC1EZcrZEIs

Cheers,
W.R.

[Robman?]

Its funny how in the early days of the Beatles, John and Paul would get George to play the solos on records, note for note as they had been written. Like John had to get George to play them 

[JohnMorrison73]

sitars rok

[Dr. Blutarsky]

George wsa not a flashy guitarist, but a brilliant one nonetheless. He knew when not to play. His stuff really has a lot of feel and emotion to it.

[Robman?]

Yeah, especially 'Something'

Frank Sinatra always reffered to it as his favorite Lennon/McCartney love song 

[lennonisgod]

Yeah, especially 'Something'

Frank Sinatra always reffered to it as his favorite Lennon/McCartney love song 

AND Sinatra referred to 'Something' as "The GREATEST love song EVER written."  I think I remember reading that on the inside of 'The Beatles 1' album.  Anyway, I read it somewhere a long time ago and it is a great song written by George.  My favorite George song EVER is probably 'Here Comes the Sun.'  That is a great fucking track. 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps' is also a genius of a track.

I have all of George's solo albums, a few live bootlegs and some other bootlegs of various stuff on them from his solo years, but admittedly I am not nearly as familiar with his solo years as I am his Beatles years.

 

[Robman?]

Happy birthday to George 

[Dr. Blutarsky]

How old would he have been?

[Robman?]

64, hes just a little over half a year or so younger than Paul

[Krispy Kreme]

I love his "While my guitar gently weeps" and "Beware of Darkness." All time greats. Probably my favorite tunes from George.
And I recently bought his DVD from 1971, Concert for Bangladesh.
Guest appearances by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Ravi Shanktar, and others. Just a great DVD.
George was one of the greatest rock musicians.
I wonder if he'll make the Rock Hall of Fame.
For you Brits: is he in the British Hall of Fame?

[Robman?]

I wonder if he'll make the Rock Hall of Fame.

He was inducted as a solo artist in 2004, I believe.

[Krispy Kreme]

oh. That makes 2 new things  I learned  today.
And come to think of it, I think you are right, it  was after his death as  I remember.