George's Most Beautiful Post-Beatles Song?
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With all of the talk lately about George I have been playing a Greatest Hits album on my iPhone somewhat continually, revisiting some old favorites. One song that really stood out of the pack is "Learning How To Love You" which was written for Herb Alpert (though he never performed it) and was included on the wonderful 33-1/3 album. The song features a Rhodes organ and acoustic guitar giving it a rather sophisticated, jazzy vibe as opposed to the typical slide guitar that George fell back on way to often. It's a beautiful lyric as well and some had claimed that it is as beautiful a song as Something. I agree. The acoustic guitar solo by George is quite refreshing and shows that he really can play guitar if he sets his mind to it. It's just such a terrible shame that he didn't record more songs like this. A song that has a similar vibe is the lovely Far East Man, though it could have used a bit of an overhaul lyrically--specifically the chorus about helping the Far East man. He talks about Frank Sinatra in the intro which is a bit corny and I could never see Sinatra doing this song with those lyrics. Paul could play in this groove too with the ultra beautiful and sophisticated Bluebird. In fact he chose a much better sax player than George's choice of the $2 studio staple Tom Scott. These songs called for more of a Stan Getz sax sound which Tom Scott couldn't provide. Paul nailed the vibe on Bluebird which is a warm and sensual song and of course Paul vocals are a cut above. God I wish he'd done or will do more like this a well! Some of the songs on George Harrison, the album, have a bit of this jazzy vibe including the tastefully re-recorded Not Guilty, Here Comes The Moon, Blow Away, and Love Comes To Everyone--in retrospect quite a nice album even with it's warts and all (e.g. Faster) and certainly an under-appreciated one. In my mind 33-1/3 and GH represented his last hurrah as I can't stand anything that Jeff Lynn had anything to do with--the ELO George pop-a-billy stuff on Cloud Nine and the Wilbury's albums. Too bad he didn't concentrate more on the sophisticated jazzy groove he did so well. I think he lost his confidence somewhere along the way. Thoughts?
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My Sweet Lord is my favorite song by George. The song My Sweet Lord had changed my life spiritually. Also the song Cloud Nine is another one of my favorites and The Light That Has Lighted The World is another good one. I like to have George get some POSITIVE recognition because even though he's known as the Quiet One a lot of the time he gets overlooked. It was Paul that found George and brought him into the Beatles and taught John a few guitar chords. That's how talented George is. George impressed John with his guitar playing.
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Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) is my favorite Harrison song. I really like the Live In Japan version.
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Thx for your replies. I was was more interested in trying to find out which song(s) people consider to be George's most aesthetically beautiful melodies as opposed to their favorite GH songs. Similar question, but there is a difference in semantics.
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Erik in NJ:
...One song that really stood out of the pack is "Learning How To Love You" ...
This was the song that immediately popped into my head when I read the thread title, even before I read your post. I'm also very fond of "Pure Smokey" and "I'd Have You Anytime." Their melodies are very attractive.
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My favorite among his compositions is "Blow Away." I prefer "If Not For You" but he wasn't the composer of this song.
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maccasfangirl30:
My Sweet Lord is my favorite song by George. The song My Sweet Lord had changed my life spiritually. Also the song Cloud Nine is another one of my favorites and The Light That Has Lighted The World is another good one. I like to have George get some POSITIVE recognition because even though he's known as the Quiet One a lot of the time he gets overlooked. It was Paul that found George and brought him into the Beatles and taught John a few guitar chords. That's how talented George is. George impressed John with his guitar playing.
MY SWEET LORD...is also my favorite as being one of the most beautiful...
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I just listened to "Learning How To Love You," yesterday for the first time, or the first time I noticed it. It is such a beautiful song and I love the jazzy music.
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hey_kittay:
I just listened to "Learning How To Love You," yesterday for the first time, or the first time I noticed it. It is such a beautiful song and I love the jazzy music.
You obviously have taste and class
Have you heard Far East Man? I always felt that this was kind of in the same genre melody-wise, but in retrospect LHTLY is the superior song. -
Iowa Hawk:
Erik in NJ:
...One song that really stood out of the pack is "Learning How To Love You" ...
This was the song that immediately popped into my head when I read the thread title, even before I read your post. I'm also very fond of "Pure Smokey" and "I'd Have You Anytime." Their melodies are very attractive.
See I can tell you get it!
Thanks for pointing out Pure Smokey--I didn't remember ever hearing this one...definitely has a jazz vibe to it. I heard and interview with George yesterday where he characterized 33-1/3 as having a "happy sound." It's true, it's true 
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I always felt that 'Beautiful Girl' was George's hidden gem. It sounds like it could have fit right in on Rubber Soul. Beautiful melody and "feel". Its a shame it was not put on the All Things Must Pass album, as it would have had more recognition today. Demo'd in 1970 but released in 1976.
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For me, in terms of sheer beauty, it would probably be "Your Love Is Forever" from the 1979 GEORGE HARRISON album. I regard this song as a classic (in fact, I've always felt it deserves to be far better known than it currently seems to be). Another possible candidate would be "All Things Must Pass", only I'm not sure this counts as a post-Beatles song, as it was originally written during the GET BACK / LET IT BE sessions.
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For me, in terms of sheer beauty, it would probably be "Your Love Is Forever" from the 1979 GEORGE HARRISON album. I regard this song as a classic (in fact, I've always felt it deserves to be far better known than it currently seems to be).
Yes, yes, yes! This song shimmers with beauty and from the effects of those Leslie speakers. George's guitar work is sublime, isn't it, and evokes Hawaii. JazzStreet, if you hadn't nominated YLIF, I would have. My other two nominees would be "Run of the Mill" from ATMP and the little heard "Sat Singing," which he pulled from the Somewhere in England album. Both represent high points in George's maturity as a lyricist and musician.
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I like all the ones mentioned, but I'll go with "Behind That Locked Door".
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Dear One from 33 1/3 comes to mind right away. Isn't It A Pity off ATMP is also an amazing song. The entire album Living In the Material World is full of beautiful melodies and chord changes, and is among his most fully realized work.
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"All Things Must Pass." I'm not as enthralled by the whole album as some people are, but the title song is genius.
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Soft-Hearted Hana:
For me, in terms of sheer beauty, it would probably be "Your Love Is Forever" from the 1979 GEORGE HARRISON album. I regard this song as a classic (in fact, I've always felt it deserves to be far better known than it currently seems to be).
Yes, yes, yes! This song shimmers with beauty and from the effects of those Leslie speakers. George's guitar work is sublime, isn't it, and evokes Hawaii. JazzStreet, if you hadn't nominated YLIF, I would have. My other two nominees would be "Run of the Mill" from ATMP and the little heard "Sat Singing," which he pulled from the Somewhere in England album. Both represent high points in George's maturity as a lyricist and musician.
I think "Run Of The Mill" is one of the most perfectly-written songs of all time. Not only the music, but the lyrics are extraordinary - no chorus or repetition, yet lyrically-memorable in a way that many so-called "catchier" songs are not. "Sat Singing" is one of my favourites too! I've always thought it was extremely regrettable that both this and "Flying Hour" were dropped from SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND in favour of "Blood From A Clone" and "That Which I Have Lost" which IMO were nowhere near as good.
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Your post makes me smile, smile, smile!
And I agree 100% about "ROTM." I wish we all knew what would convince Olivia and Dhani to re-release those Somewhere in England tracks. -
Blow Away is my favorite. I heard it for the first time last year and fell in love with it immediately.
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P2 Vatican Blues, Wah Wah and You jump to mind as favs. ATMP is a nice song too, quite beautiful.
