George Harrison Birthday 2016

1
George Harrison Birthday Special 2016
2
George Harrison – Crackerbox Palace - Thirty-Three & 1/3
‘76
This was the most successful track off the LP, and the title originally considered
for the album. It’s content was inspired by the comedian Lord Buckley, a
longtime favorite of George’s. Another Eric Idle directed promo film, featuring
the future Mrs. Olivia Harrison, future Rutle Neil Innes, and the numerous
children of Derek Taylor.
The Beatles - You Like Me Too Much - Help!
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
Recorded in eight takes on February 15, 1965. The introduction features Paul and
George Martin on a Steinway piano and John playing an electric piano.
On U.S. album:
Beatles VI - Capitol LP
The Beatles - Do You Want To Know A Secret – Please Please Me
(McCartney-Lennon)
Lead vocal: George
Recorded February 11, 1963. Written primarily by John Lennon for George Harrison to
sing. The song was given to another Brian Epstein-managed act, Billy J. Kramer with the
Dakotas, to cover. Their version topped the British charts in late spring 1963. Inspired
by "I'm Wishing," a song from Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film “Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs” that Lennon’s mother used to sing to him when he was a child.
On U.S. albums:
Introducing… The Beatles - Vee-Jay LP
The Early Beatles - Capitol LP
3
BREAK…
The Beatles - Don’t Bother Me – With The Beatles (Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
George Harrison’s first recorded original song. While some may see it as a misfortune
that Harrison was surrounded by two of the most gifted songwriters in history, this
proximity gave him great insight into the mechanics of writing a song from scratch. His
first attempt was more than a throwaway composition. He called “Don’t Bother Me” an
“exercise” to see if he could write a song, and it was written while George was sick in a
bed at the Palace Court Hotel in Bournemouth where The Beatles were playing six nights
at Gaumont Cinema in mid-August of 1963. It was during this engagement (on August
22) that photographer Robert Freeman took the iconic “artsy” cover photograph of the
band in half lighting that would grace the cover of both the British “With The Beatles”
album and the American “Meet The Beatles!” album.
4
Using the basic Lennon-McCartney song structure George crafted a “Beatles song” that
was on par with the material the band was currently working up for their second album.
Getting the other Beatles and producer George Martin to take his work seriously was
another matter, and it would take years for Harrison to finally be given his due. Normally
he was relegated to one or two songs per album.
On U.S. album:
Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP
The Beatles - I’m Happy Just To Dance With You - A
Hard Day’s Night
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: George
Written by John and Paul specifically to give George a song in the movie “A Hard Day’s
Night.” Completed in four takes on March 1, 1964, with filming slated to begin the next
day. The b-side of “I’ll Cry Instead” in U.S.
On U.S. album:
A Hard Day’s Night - United Artists LP
Something New - Capitol LP
George Harrison – Awaiting On You All - All Things Must
Pass ‘70
A track with some “tart lyrical phrasing,” an offending verse was omitted from
the printed lyrics included on the inner sleeve.
George Harrison – Any Road – Brainwashed ‘02
Composed in 1988 during the filming of a video for his album Cloud 9, Any Road
would be George’s last single. It was nominated for Grammy Award in 2004 for
Best Male Pop Performance.
5
George Harrison – All Those Years Ago
This particular track is a puzzle still somewhat unsolved. Originally written for
Ringo with different lyrics, (which Ringo didn’t think was right for him), the lyrics
were rewritten after John Lennon’s murder. Although Ringo did provide drums,
there is a dispute as to whether Paul, Linda and Denny did backing vocals at
Friar Park, or in their own studio – hence phoning it in. But Paul insists that he
had asked George to play on his own track, Wanderlust, for the Tug Of War
album. Having arrived at George’s Friar Park estate, they instead focused on
backing vocals for All Those Years Ago. It became George’s biggest hit in 8
years, just missing the top spot on the charts.
9.26 BREAK
The Beatles - Something - Abbey Road
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
The Beatles’ twenty-first single release for EMI, and fourth on the Apple
Records label.
Although initially crediting Lennon and McCartney as the songwriters, legendary crooner
Frank Sinatra called George Harrison’s “Something” “"the greatest love song of the past
50 years".[7
6
.” Commonly referred to as George’s first Beatles A-side, some sales chart makers at the
time considered the single a “double-A,” as both sides of the record received significant
radio airplay, and charted both “Something” and its flip side (John’s “Come Together”)
as one combined chart listing. The song is the first of two CLASSIC songs George
delivered for the “Abbey Road” album, the other being “Here Comes The Sun.” It was a
phenomenal one-two punch that had to have Lennon and McCartney wondering what
else Harrison had up his sleeve.
George Harrison – So Sad - Dark Horse ‘74
This track features some great 12-string guitar work by George, he had originally
begun composing the tune in New York in 1972. This was possibly recorded
during the “Living In The Material World” sessions at Friar Park
w/ Ringo on Drums = ½ Beatles
Speaking of Ringo & George….here’s George guiding his
friend through some vocals…lets listen
BREAK
George – It Don’t Come Easy – Demo
The Beatles - I Need You - Help!
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
Recorded in five takes on February 15, 1965, the first day of recording for what was to
become the “Help!” album, with overdubs completed the next day. It is the second
7
original George Harrison song to be recorded by the Beatles. Harrison wrote “I Need
You” for his future wife, Pattie Boyd. The track is notable for the first use on a Beatles
record of what is now known as a “wah-wah pedal.” George achieved this by playing his
12-string Rickenbacker through a foot-controlled volume pedal. Ringo provides cowbell
percussion.
On U.S. album:
Help! - Capitol LP
George Harrison – Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long - Living
In The Material World ‘73
This track was the single that should have been, almost was, but never
appeared. This is a prime piece of pop songwriting, and was scheduled as the
second single from the LP for release on September 24th, 1973. It was assigned
8
an Apple catalog number (Apple 1866), but was mysteriously cancelled at the
last minute.
George Harrison – Dark Sweet Lady - George Harrison ‘79
A tropical feel dominates this tribute to his lovely soon-to-be-wife, Olivia. The
lyrics were dated February 28th, 1978 – which means this tune was also written
in Hawaii.
QUIZ HERE
Name the song from George’s 33/1/3 album that he
began writing back in 1967…the first line of the song
is referring to Paul McCartney’s admission of
ingesting something psychedelic
Name that song
9.56 BREAK
It's easier to tell a lie than it is to tell the truth",
Winner HERE…kicking off a set of George
Harrison singing about his fellow Beatles…
George Harrison – See Yourself - Thirty-Three & 1/3 ‘76
George wrote the majority of this track in 1967, shortly after Paul McCartney
admitted he had taken LSD. It was constructed as a response to the media who
felt it necessary to pontificate on Paul’s “wrongdoings” in the uproar that ensued.
The song went unfinished for almost ten years until sound engineer (Kumar
Shankar – Ravi’s nephew) reminded George of the tune
George Harrison – Wah-Wah - All Things Must Pass ‘70
Famously composed during the “Let It Be” sessions. On January 10th, 1969 –
George left the Beatles and wrote the song during this period of estrangement.
The title refers to the “wah-wah” (headache) he was receiving due to prolonged
exposure to Macca-baiting and John and Yoko’s antics during the Twickenham
9
rehearsals. The song obviously had some meaning to George, as he used it to
open his section of the Concert for Bangladesh.
George Harrison – Sue Me, Sue You Blues - Living In The
Material World ‘73
Inspired the Beatles legal problems, George wouldn’t let a good fight go
unrecorded. In characteristic good humor, George put the frustrations of Paul
suing his former band mates to song (while Lennon reportedly threw bricks
through Paul’s windows – though this is highly, highly disputed!). This song had
some lyrical modifications for his 1974 US Tour, brining the story up to date to
include the litigation against Allen Klein (Paul told you so, George!).
The Beatles – Not Guilty – The Beatles (Harrison)
Recorded: 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th August 1968 Location: Abbey Road 2
Producer: George Martin Engineer: Ken Scott
Musicians:
George Harrison – lead vocal, guitars, harpsichord (?); John Lennon –
harpsichord (?); Paul McCartney – bass guitar, drums (?); Ringo Starr –
drums
This was scheduled for a slot on the White Album, but for some reason
they dumped it after 99 takes. For a long time after it was only available
10
on Beatle bootlegs, until they released it on Anthology 3. It might have
struck a bum note with John and Paul, because it suffered the same fate
as his other bitter lyrics: Only A Northern Song was dumped from Sgt.
Peppers, and I Me Mine was studiously ignored at Twickenham. George
explained: I said that I wasn’t guilty of leading them astray in all our going
to Rishikesh to see the Maharishi. He also made his frequent point that his
songs had often got a pasting: Not guilty of getting in your way/While
you’re trying to steal the day.
It was during the recording of this song that George first used his famous
cherry-red Gibson – a gift from Eric Clapton. (A famous old story says that
he gave it to him after playing the solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps,
but that’s just a Beatle myth!)
Lead Vocal George
Harrison 1.00
The LONGEST version of The Beatles song Not
Guilty from the White album sessions from the
summer of 1968…winding down a set of songs
all written by George Harrison about his fellow
Beatles…
NEWS w/ Jackie DeShannon followed by a
song.. Here Comes The Sun
10.36 BREAK
11
The Beatles - I Want To Tell You - Revolver
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
The backing track was recorded in five takes on June 2, 1966. George Harrison's third
song on “Revolver,” was, he later said, "about the avalanche of thoughts that are so
hard to write down or say or transmit." Once again Harrison had no idea what to call his
composition. The band briefly kicked around random ideas, and the song was recorded
under the working title “Laxton's Superb,” a type of apple. It later became known as “I
Don't Know,” which was George’s answer when producer George Martin asked whether
Harrison had come up with a title. By the day of the final mix (June 6, 1966), Harrison
had settled on the title “I Want To Tell You.” Contains the first bass overdub on a
Beatles record. Paul had his bass recorded on a different track really allowed for more
options when it came time to mix the song.
On U.S. album:
Revolver - Capitol LP
George Harrison – You – Extra Texture
Originally written for Ronnie Spector, and recorded during the sessions for her
sole Apple single, “Try Some, Buy Some,” in February 1971. According to
George, they “recorded four or five tracks before Phil fell over,” (something Phil
Spector had a tendency to do often. George dug this tape out during the Extra
Texture sessions, but didn’t bother redoing the backing track, which is why you
can hear Ronnie Spector singing one of her trademark “Be My Baby” oh-oh-oh’s
in the background.
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
12
In his book, “I Me Mine,” George explains that while visiting his parents he decided to
create a song from the first thing he saw upon opening a book. George randomly
opened a book and saw the phrase “gently weeps.” He put the book down and started
writing lyrics.
The first proper recording of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” took place on July 25,
1968. Nearly two months into recording the Beatles’ new album, this was George’s first
chance to record some of his new material. George: “I always had to do about ten of
Paul and John’s songs before they’d give me the break.” On this first day George
recorded several rehearsals and one proper take. At this stage, “While My Guitar Gently
Weeps” was an acoustic song, with George’s solo vocal and some organ overdubbed
near the end that ran 3:13 and had a final verse not found in the final version. This
exquisite “take 1,” which was a demo for the other Beatles, is one of the highlights of
the “Anthology 3” album. George would continue working on the song at home, and
eventually re-imagined the song as a rocker. On August 16, the full band revisited the
song, making 14 takes of a rhythm track.
The Beatles - I Me Mine - Let It Be
13
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
It should be noted that none of the Beatles’ rehearsals at Twickenham Studios in
January 1969 were recorded on multi-track. Those official recordings took place at Apple
headquarters, either in the studio set up in the basement or on the rooftop during their
concert. In the “Let It Be” film George can be heard playing his song “I Me Mine” to
Ringo while John and Yoko dance a waltz. He had composed the song the night before
in five minutes flat. Unfortunately, George’s song was not one the group recorded when
they went to Apple Studios to record the new album tracks. Because the song was being
used in the film it needed to be recorded for the soundtrack album, prompting George,
Paul and Ringo to return to Abbey Road Studios on January 3, 1970, to record the song.
John was on vacation in Denmark. Had he been in London it is doubtful he would have
attended the session because he had quit the band in September 1969. Sixteen basic
tracks were recorded with George playing acoustic guitar, Paul on bass guitar and Ringo
on drums. Overdubs recorded that day were electric piano, electric guitar, new lead and
backing vocals and a second acoustic guitar part. The original running time was 1:53. To
flesh out the song for the “Let It Be” album, producer Phil Spector cleverly edited the
song to repeat a section and extend it by 51 seconds. At the 1:53 mark, just after the
line “flowing more freely than wine,” the song jumps back to the :32 mark to the line
“all through the day.” This leads back into the hard-rocking “I me me mine” segment
and continues past “flowing more freely than wine” until the song ends. He also added
orchestration. The original shorter version of the song can be heard on the “Anthology
3” album.
BREAK
George Harrison – Mama You’ve Been On My Mind
(demo) - Early Takes Vol.1 ‘12
QUIZ HERE
Who’s singing this LIVE version of Savoy Truffle?
Kobe Only
The day after what would have been George Harrison's 73rd birthday,
February 26, 2016, George Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music Of
George Harrison. Recorded and filmed on September 28th, 2014 at the
The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. g 2xCD/DVD, 2xCD/Blu-Ray, 3xLP
(180 gram) and digital download.
Produced by Dhani Harrison and David Zonshine,…
14
Dhani Harrison – Savoy Truffle - George Fest: A
Night To Celebrate The Music Of George Harrison
10.56 BREAK Here’s a George Harrison song that’s as good as any Lennon/McCartney song from 1965…see hanging around those guys makes ya better! 15
The Beatles - If I Needed Someone - Rubber Soul
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
The fourth original composition by George Harrison to be recorded by The Beatles was
heavily inspired by the 12-string guitar sound of The Byrds. The introduction of George
Harrison’s “If I Needed Someone” is strikingly similar to the introduction of The Byrds’
“The Bells Of Rhymney.” Harrison commented that the song was “like a million other
songs written around the D chord.” The backing track was recorded in one take on
October 16, 1965. George’s double-tracked lead vocal and John and Paul’s backing
vocals were added two days later. The song was performed live by The Beatles in late
1965 and was a staple of their 1966 world tour.
On U.S. album:
Yesterday and Today - Capitol LP
George Harrison – Between The Devil And The Deep
Blue Sea - Brainwashed ‘02
Recorded in 1991 for British television, during sessions with Jools Holland and
band. It allows the ever-playful George to play ukulele and sing and just have
fun with the great Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler standard.
The Beatles - For You Blue - Let It Be
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
Recorded on January 25, 1969, and completed in six takes. John Lennon provides the
lead guitar part playing a lap steel guitar and using a shotgun shell as a slide. Paul
McCartney plays piano. Nearly a year later, on January 8, 1970, George Harrison rerecorded his lead vocal to the already completed backing track. During the instrumental
break he ad-libbed “go Johnny go” and “Elmore James’ got nothin’ on this baby” to give
the impression he was singing live with the band. Immediately prior to the start of the
song, John can be heard saying "Queen says no to pot-smoking FBI members." It is one
of the few inclusions of film dialogue heard on the soundtrack LP. Written by George
Harrison for his wife, Pattie, “For You Blue” was a straight-forward blues song. George:
“It's a simple 12-bar song following all the normal 12-bar principles, except that it's
happy-go-lucky!” “For You Blue” was the flip-side of the American “The Long And
Winding Road” single, released on May 11, 1970. A new mix of take six was made in
2003 for “Let It Be... Naked” and an alternative take from the January 25, 1969, session
is included on the “Anthology 3” album.
16
The Beatles - Piggies - The Beatles
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
The basic rhythm track for “Piggies” was recorded on September 19, 1968, with Chris
Thomas sitting in the producer’s chair, subbing for George Martin. It was completed in
11 takes and overdubs were finished the following day. Although “pig” was a derogatory
term that young people in America in the sixties called police, George Harrison’s social
commentary made light of the upper class, not authority figures. The first utterance of a
curse word (“damn”) by a Beatle in a Beatles song came at the suggestion of Harrisons’
mother, who offered her son the line: “What they need’s a damn good whacking” to
rhyme with “backing” and “lacking.” Although he did not attend any of the sessions for
the song, John Lennon improved on one of George’s lines, suggesting the line “Clutching
forks and knives to eat their bacon” instead of George’s line “Clutching forks and knives
to eat their pork chops.” Chris Thomas supplies the harpsichord part on the song. In
fact, the harpsichord had been set up overnight in Studio One for a classical recording
the next day. Rather than move it to Studio Two, the Beatles went to the harpsichord in
Studio One and recorded “Piggies” there. The rhythm track featured George played his
Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar, Paul on his Rickenbacker bass and Ringo on drums. It is
presumed he was elsewhere in the building compiling tapes for the still-evolving
17
“Revolution 9.” For the next night’s overdubbing session Lennon put together a tape
loop of pig sounds taken from the EMI sounds effects library. Prior to the big finish of
the song, George can be heard saying “one more time.” In his book, “I Me Mine,”
George provides lyrics to a verse that was not recorded.
Everywhere there’s lots of piggies
Playing piggy pranks
You can see them on their trotters
At the piggy banks
Paying piggy thanks
To thee pig brother!
The Beatles - Taxman - Revolver
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
Completed in 11 takes on April 21, 1966. Written by George when he started realizing
the majority of his money was going to the British government in the form of taxes.
George went to John Lennon for some help with the lyrics, and Lennon was especially
pleased with his line “Now my advice for those who die: declare the pennies on your
eyes.” Featuring a nice lead guitar solo by Paul on his Epiphone Casino. The ‘pennies’
lyrical reference derives from Greek mythology – it is the payment to Charon (the
ferryman of the underworld) to ferry the deceased to their destination in the
underworld. To pay the ferryman, the deceased person's relatives place a coin on each
eye of the deceased. The Mr. Wilson and Mr. Heath mentioned in the song were real
people. Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister Married 2 kids and Edward Heath
not married was head of the opposition party at the time the song was recorded. It is
the first time a George Harrison composition opens a British Beatles album.
On U.S. album:
Revolver - Capitol LP
11.26 BREAK LIVE set from George to end the show…but wait
do we have some Birthday’s ???
Eng Mark – George etc
18
The Beatles - Birthday - The Beatles
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul with John
“Birthday” is a song written entirely by Paul McCartney in the studio on September 18,
1968, while he waited for the other Beatles to arrive. The session that afternoon was
purposely scheduled to start two hours earlier than usual so the Beatles could take a
break and walk to Paul’s home and watch “The Girl Can’t Help It,” the 1956 rock and roll
film starring Jayne Mansfield and featuring the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino, the
Platters, Gene Vincent, and Eddie Cochran. The movie was having its British television
premiere on the BBC that evening, and Paul lived around the corner from Abbey Road
Studios, on Cavendish Avenue. The instrumental backing track included Paul on
Epiphone Casino electric guitar, George Harrison on Fender Bass VI (a six-string bass
guitar), John on Epiphone Casino electric guitar and Ringo on drums. By the 20th take
the backing track was complete and the Beatles headed out to Paul’s house to watch the
movie. When they returned to the studio they worked on overdubs. In addition to Paul’s
scorching lead vocal, overdubs included piano, drums, lead guitar, bass guitar,
tambourine (played by George with gloves on so he wouldn’t get blisters), handclaps,
and backing vocals. While Paul is predominantly the lead vocalist, he is joined on
occasion by John. The female voices heard on the “birthday” refrain in the middle eight
belong to Pattie Harrison and Yoko Ono.
19
LIVE SET to finish us off?
George Harrison – Beware Of Darkness - The Concert for
Bangla Desh ‘71
George Harrison – Old Brown Shoe - Live In Japan ‘92
Recorded in Tokyo – December 17th, 1991.
George Harrison – My Sweet Lord - The Concert for Bangla
Desh ‘71
20
George Harrison – Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On
Earth) - Live In Japan ‘92
Recorded in Tokyo – December 15th 1991.
(Let crowd noise GO while I do goodbyes…
George Harrison – Apple Scruffs - All Things Must Pass ‘70
This was a salute to the girls (and sometimes boys) who stood vigil at Apple,
Abbey Road and anyplace a Fab was to likely to be. Upon recording the tune,
George invited the “Apple Scruffs,” into the studio to have a listen.
21