I am gonna wait for HBO's airing on Martin Scorceses George Harrison bio "Living In The Material World" to get on "HBO On Demand" as opposed to tonight and tomorrow night (for one thing, I'm going to concerts both nights. If you are an FB friend of mine, you might remember a long discussion with Barry Holdship and some of his friends about Solo Beatles. Unfortunately, we got stuck on McCartney. Harrison would've been more contentious.
I wrote what follows in June 2009 and consider this a no, not ALL things must pass…
The story goes like this: harrison was good for two songs per album and that was it and unfortunately the truth wasn't a million miles away from the story.
But with the Beatles, what a two songs: "Tax Man," "For You Blue," "Think For Yourself," "Something," "Here Comes the Sun," "Only A Northern Song"…. on and on, brilliant electric guitar based pop standards.
till if you put them altogether they might fill a double album -hardly a career. So when the Beatles broke up the feeling one was kid brother George wasn't gonna blow everybody out of the water despite being one of the premier guitarist of his generation.
Also, Harrison had evolved into a sanctimonious prig and everybody was a little sick of him by then. The fear was albums full of "Blue Jay Way" -that given the opportunity to strech he would stretch too far.
Anyway, let's look at the albums.
Wonderwall/Electronic Sound -One soundtrack, one bleeps and bloops, I haven't heard either.
All Things Must Pass – three sides plus a side of jam with Starr on drums and Clapton on guitar (while seducing Harrison's wife of course), "Pass" is Harrison's masterpiece. Sure, lyrically he is a bit overwhelming, still with songs as good as "Beware Of Darkness" or "I'd Have You Anytime" or "Isn't It A Pity" (let's not mention "My Sweet Lord" here…) you just have to live with it. The production is pristine, the songs excellent (better then "McCartney," for one). Everything is slowed down: it's as if Harrison is waiting for you to arrive before you get to the song; I have a soft spot for spirituals but they have to be right on the money and this is. Incidentally, Phil Spector produced. Grade: "A"
The Concert For Bangaladesh – At MSG, where else? I skipped the Ravi Shanker Side for decades and now I listen to it all the time. Also, Bob Dylan back in front of an audience for the first time since his bike accident (the audience went bonkers and Dylan was way on top of his game doing old faves). Also, some perfectly pleasant Harrisongs and the worthy but not steller "Bangaladesh" itself though the best of his life performances was yet to come. Also, also, also… Mr. hit machine himself Ringo Starr. No Lennon and Mccartney but I doubt anybody was complaining Grade: "A"
Living In the Material World – I loved this album at the time, now a heck of a lot less so. But still, and despite its lyrical clunkiness (he was pissed about being found guilty of plagarism -"My Sweet Lord" a rip of "She's So fine"? Give me a break) there are some good songs, "The Lord Loves One (That Loves the Lord)" is good, so is "Try Some, Buy Some". but his voice is a little shot and the back up musicians are complete stiffs. Grade: "B"
Dark Horse – Uh Oh. Harrison was flogging this dead horse round the US on his only US tour. "In my life I love god more…" he would say and the world would wonder if he had lost it forever. This album comes with its own insults. "Ding Dong"? "DING DONG"????? "Maya Love"? Jesus must have been rolling over in his grave. And the band was yet another bunch of session henches. Grade: "D +"
Extra Texture (Real All About It) – One song is called " This Guitar Can't Stop From Crying" and the cover looks like a NY Mets tee-shirt. grade: "D"
Thirty-Three and a third – Finally. His best album since "All Things Must pass" . "This Song" was his response to losing the court case, "Crackerbox Palace' was a top twenty hit in the US, and "Pure Smokey" was for Smokey robinson. the playing was still lame. "B"
George Harrison – I am sorry to say i haven't heard this album. but I will make an effort to get it.
Somewhere In England – Harrison is playing some of his best guitar all over this album and Starr is back on drums, "All Those Years Ago" for big brother Lennon is a de facto Beatles reunion with McCartney singing back up vocals and Starr on drums and it is an excellent song. One of his best. "Blood from A clone" is an excellent indictment of the record business and "Baltimore Oriole" a jazzy little number. Grade: "B+"
Gone Troppo – This album is so laid back, so easy going, such a pleasure on every level I am surprised that he stiffed big time. Jimmy Buffet should cover the title track, "Mystical One" one of his loveliest expressions of faith, "That's the Way It goes" such an enormously beautiful number when it comes on my Ipod it always stops me in my tracks. A terrific album. Grade: "B+"
Cloud Nine – Despite a five year break between albums it sounds like a continuation and a great one. Though the cover of the cover of "Got My Mind Set On You" is probably the best moment, "Wreck Of the Hespereth," "Devil's Radio" and the title track are all excellent . Grade: "A"
Live In Japan – Here we go. From a 1991 tour of Japan and a very good one at that (Clapton on guitar!!!), Harrison performs a career spanning concert from "roll Over Beethoven" thru "Cloud Nine" and flawlessly picks his best moments (except for "Dark Horse" of course)… The playing is really good and there is an air of pure joy that lifts some of the solo stuff above the album versions. I can't recommend it highly enough. If you have "All things Must Pass" and this album you have about 90% of what you need except… Grade: "A"
Brainwashed – except this l send off a pleasure and better than the majority of Harrisons solo work. "Any Road" is a great song and with his son Dhani on guitar (Dhani would conclude production on the album after his father's death), old pal Jeff Lynne on guitar and Jools Holland on piano, this was a first rate back up band. The songs are lovely and tinged with sadness though how much of that we bring to it I am not sure. There was one more song, on a Jools Holland album, can't remember its name exactly, something like "Can't Lead a horse to water" -it is very good as well. grade: "B+
There is also the Travelling Wilburies stuff, "Handle With care" being a complete knock out (and covered by Jenny Lewis a coupla years ago).
So there you go. If all Harrison had done was play guitar for the Beatles it would be enough for any lifetime. His solo career was hurt by a lack of touring and the lack of a steady back up band. But however inconsistent his writing might have been it was certainly consistent enough.