Saturday, February 15, 2014

25 Days of Harrison Day 14- Albums

"I think people who truly can live a life in music are telling the world, 'You can have my love, you can have my smiles. Forget the bad parts, you don't need them. Just take the music, the goodness, because it's the very best, and it's the part I give most willingly'"- George Harrison
George had released a total of fourteen solo albums (including "Brainwashed" which he worked on up to his death) through his 58 years. Not all full details are in this following post, but a little background of each album, the tracklisting, and the full album (via Youtube videos)

Wonderwall Music- 1968
 Not only was it the first solo Beatle album but the first LP Apple had ever released. The album was the soundtrack for the film Wonderwall and was released on 1 November, 1968 (UK) and 2 December,1968 (US). It lasts approximately 45 minutes 43 seconds and was recorded in London and Bombay. Harrison is listed as the producer, writer, and arranger.
 The track listing is as followed:
  1. Microbes
  2. Red Alady Too
  3. Tabla and Pakavaj
  4. In the Park
  5. Drilling a Home
  6. Guru Vandana
  7. Greasy Legs
  8. Ski-Ing
  9. Gat Kirwani
  10. Dream Scene
  11. Party Seacombe
  12. Love Scene
  13. Crying
  14. Cowboy Music
  15. Fantasy Sequins
  16. On The Bed
  17. Glass Box
  18. Wonderwall to Be Here
  19. Singing Om
The album did not place in charts.

Electronic Sound -1969
This was George's second studio album released on Zapple, a subsidiary of The Beatles Apple Records. The album was recorded in November of 1968 and February of 1969, featuring only two songs, "Under the Mersey Wall" and "No Time or Space", both preformed on the Moog synthesizer. "No Time For Space" would reappear in George's later album, All Things Must Pass "I Remember Jeep". Bernie Krause, an electronic composer in California worked with Harrison on the album.


All Things Must Pass- 1970
Probably George Harrison's most notable album with most likely his most iconic album cover of him sitting in a field surrounded by garden gnomes. The album was recorded on 26 May- October 1970 in three studios, Abbey Road, Trident, and Apple. It was produced by George himself and Phil Spector, who described listening to George's songs for the album in 1970 as "endless".
"I went to George's Friar Park ... and he said, "I have a few ditties for you to hear." It was endless! He had literally hundreds of songs and each one was better than the rest. He had all this emotion built up when it was released to me."-Phil Spector
The album features many musicians like Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan (the two would write "I'd Have You Anytime" together), and many more. The album featured some of Harrison's greatest works like "My Sweet Lord", "All Things Must Pass", "What Is Life" and so many more. The album was originally released as a triple album.
Disc One:
  1. I'd Have You Anytime
  2. My Sweet Lord
  3. Wah-Wah
  4. Isn't It A Pity
  5. What Is Life
  6. If Not For You
  7. Behind That Locked Door
  8. Let It Down
  9. Run of the Mill
  10. Beware of Darkness
  11. Apple Scruffs
  12. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
  13. Awaiting on You All
  14. All things Must Pass
Disc Two
  1. I Dig Love
  2. Art of Dying
  3. Isn't It A Pity
  4. Hear Me Lord
  5. Out of the Blue
  6. It's Johnny's Birthday
  7. Plug Me In
  8. I Remember Jeep
  9. Thanks for the Pepperoni

The Concert For Bangla Desh-1971
The album from the Concert For Bangla Desh. Read about the concert here and here.
 The album includes performances by Ravi Shankar, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Jerry Leiber, Doc Pomus, Keith Richards, Mike Stroller, and Bob Dylan.
Disc 1 
  1. George Harrison/Ravi Shankar Introduction
  2. Bangla Dhun
  3. Wah- Wah
  4. My Sweet Lord
  5. Awaiting on You All
  6. That's the Way God Planned It
  7. It Don't Come Easy
  8. Beware of Darkness
Disc 2
  1. Medley: Jumpin' Jack Flash/ Young Blood
  2. Here Comes The Sun
  3. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
  4. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
  5. Blowin' In The Wind
  6. Mr. Tambourine Man
  7. Just Like A Woman
  8. Something
  9. Bangla Desh

Living In The Material World-1973
Living In The Material World was George Harrison's fourth studio released on 30 May 1973 (UK) and 22 June 1973 (US).
  1. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
  2. Sue Me, Sue You Blues
  3. The Light That Had Lighted The World
  4. Don't Let Me Wait Too Long
  5. Who Can See It
  6. Living In The Material World
  7. The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)
  8. Be Here Now
  9. Try Some Buy Some
  10. The Day The World Gets 'Round
  11. That Is All
 Rolling Stone's Stephen Holden comment on the album saying "At last it's here", saying that the album was worth the two and half year wait, after All Things Must Pass.



Dark Horse- 1974
George had been suffering from laryngitis during this point, which had critics making a point about talking about his voice being weak. The album was released on 9 December, 1974 on Apple Records. He released for his first solo tour in America, the first US tour by any Beatle since 1966. During this time he would be setting up Dark Horse Records and would also be around the time he and his first wife began to split, George describes it in his autobiography as "the end of a bad domestic year". The album features musicians like, Billy Preston, tom Scott, Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Gary Wright, Willie Weeks, Andy Newmark, and Ron Wood. Track listing is as followed:
  1. Hari's on tour (Express)
  2. Simply Shady
  3. So Sad
  4. Bye Bye Love
  5. Maya Love
  6. Ding Dong, Ding Dong
  7. Dark Horse
  8. Far East Man
  9. It Is "He" (Jai Sri Krishna)


Extra Texture (Read All About It) -1975
Released on 22 September, 1975 (UK) and 3 October,1975 (US). The album was unlike his others, in which it was mostly recorded in the states. The album is full of songs reflecting his previous year with depression from his pending divorce, critics and his cocaine use.  The following is the track listing:
  1. You
  2. The Answer's at the End
  3. This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)
  4. Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You)
  5. World of Stone
  6. A Bit More of You
  7. Can't Stop Thinking About You
  8. Tired of Midnight Blue
  9. Grey Cloudy Lies
  10. His Name Is Legs (Ladies and Gentlemen)
 Note: There was no videos of The full album for Extra Texture, by clicking on the above song titles you will be able to hear them. The below video is "You"

Thirty Three & 1/3 -1976
 After leaving Apple, this album was the first album released on George's Dark Horse label. The album was released 19 November, 1976 (UK) and 24 November, 1976 (US). It was recorded in his home studio at Friar Park and contains hits like "This Song", "Crackerbox Palace", "True Love", and "It's What You Value"; all of the four previous songs were released as singles. "This Song" was in response to the "My Sweet Lord" lawsuit, being sued for 'stealing' The Chiffon's song "He's so Fine".
  1. Woman Don't You Cry For me
  2. Dear One
  3. Beautiful Girl
  4. This Song
  5. See Yourself
  6. It's What You Value
  7. True Love
  8. Pure Smokey
  9. Crackerbox Palace
  10. Learning How to Love You


George Harrison-1979
George Harrison is a happier album, prior to the album he had married his second wife and had had his only child, Dhani. The record was released 20 February, 1979 (US) and 23 February,1979 (UK).  The album was also recorded in his home studio.
  1. Love Comes to Everyone
  2. Not Guilty
  3. Here Comes The Moon
  4. Soft-Hearted Hana
  5. Blow Away
  6. Faster
  7. Dark Sweet Lady
  8. Your Love Is Forever
  9. Soft Touch
  10. If You Believe
Bonus Tracks released in 2004

  1. Here Comes The Moon (demo)
  2. Blow Away (demo)


Somewhere In England- 1981
Released a few months after the death of former band mate, John Lennon. George honors his friend with his song "All Those Years Ago" having Paul McCartney (and Linda McCartney and Denny Laine) and Ringo Starr preform on the track. The album was released 1 June 1981 (US) 5 June 1981 (UK). The album caused conflict with Warner  Bros. Records (worked with the Dark Horse label). The company rejected the album, ordering George to get rid of four songs that they thought were too downbeat; "Tears of the World", "Sat Singing", "Lay His Head", and "Flying Hour". They also didn't like Harrison's original album cover of his profile on a map of Great Britain, George accepted all of these changes.
  1. Blood from Clone
  2. Unconsciousness Rules
  3. Life Itself
  4. All Those Years Ago
  5. Baltimore Oriole
  6. Teardrops
  7. That Which I Have Lost
  8. Writing's on the Wall
  9. Hong Kong Blues
  10. Save The World



Gone Troppo -1982
Released on the 5 November, 1982 (UK) and 8 November, 1982 (US). The album was a total disastor as some say and was his last album for five years. There were one album left on his current recording contract, Gone Troppo was the result.  During this time George had taken other interest with Handmade Films, racing, etc.
  1. Wake Up My Love
  2. That's the Way It Goes
  3. I Really Love You
  4. Greece
  5. Gone Troppo
  6. Mystical One
  7. Unknown Delight
  8. Baby Don't Run Away
  9. Dream Away
  10. Circles

Cloud Nine- 1987
 George teamed up with Electric Light Orchestra leader, amazing musician, and friend, Jeff Lynne to co-produce his album. Cloud Nine could be referred to as George's 'Comeback' album, since leaving the music world for five years. The album features great songs like "When We Was Fab" and especially "Got My Mind Set On You". The album would be released  on 2 November 1987 (UK) 3 November 1987 (US). The album would even be the start of the incredible super group, The Traveling Wilburys.
  1. Cloud 9
  2. That's What It Takes
  3. Fish On The Sand
  4. Just For Today
  5. This Is Love
  6. When We Was Fab
  7. Devil's Radio
  8. Someplace Else
  9. Wreck of the Hesperus
  10. Breath Away from Heaven
  11. Got My Mind Set On You



Live in Japan- 1992
After The Traveling Wilburys , George Harrison released his second solo album, Live In Japan. Close friend of George's, Eric Clapton, had persuaded George to go on tour with him. After his tour in 1974 George was a little uneasy about it but did the tour with Clapton and got great reviews. The album is credited to George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Band
  1. I Want To Tell You
  2. Old Brown Shoe
  3. Taxman
  4. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
  5. If I Needed Someone
  6. Something
  7. What Is Life
  8. Dark Horse
  9. Piggies
  10. Got My Mind Set On You
  11. Cloud 9
  12. Here Comes The Sun
  13. My Sweet Lord
  14. All Those Years Ago
  15. Cheer Down
  16. Devil's Radio
  17. Isn't It A Pity
  18. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
  19. Roll Over Beethoven


Brainwashed -2002
Brainwashed was the last album George Harrison worked on before his death in 2001. Jeff Lynne and George's son Dhani had helped George on the album trying to get as much done as possible and recorded all of the songs, after George had found out he had lung cancer, four years after his successful battle of throat cancer. Unfortunately George passed away before the album was released, Jeff and Dhani finished the work on it and released the album about a year after George's passing.  The album includes the following;
  1. Any Road
  2. P2 Vatican Blues (Last Saturday Night)
  3. Pisces Fish
  4. Looking for My Life
  5. Rising Sun
  6. Marwa Blues
  7. Stuck Inside a Cloud
  8. Run so Far
  9. Never Get Over You
  10. Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
  11. Rocking Chair in Hawaii
  12. Brainwashed

"I'll give up this sort of touring madness certainly, but music-everything is based on music. No, I'll never stop my music."-George Harrison

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