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George Harrison Birthday Special 2016

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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.” 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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(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,…

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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!  

 

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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 re-

recorded 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.

 

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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

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“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

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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.

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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

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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.

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