George Harrison (1961-1973) – Six Fan Albums

For those not in the know, fan albums are the attempts of me and many others to take songs and put them on an album, typically they’re made to improve upon something, such as an existing album or to take non-album tracks and put them on an album.

Obviously I’m stepping away from some of the more obscure artists I cover to one of the most famous of them all, George Harrison. I’ve been intrigued by him, especially the material from around 1965 onward, which can feel more like a solo George song in a sea of Lennon and McCartney, than part of the same artist. Thus, I decided to make playlists of songs that either have George’s lead vocals or are instrumentals that are basically dominated by him to overall make an alternate history where George was a solo artist from square one. This version of mine is less radical than some others I’ve seen. A common thing is to either cut out songs that don’t seem to fit the mold, sort tracks by essentially when they were written, and things of that sort. I wanted to keep things in recording order and separate the Beatles era from the early solo era, as they feel distinct.

The most radical thing I’ve done is take the All Things Must Pass album and non-album tracks from around that time to make four single disc albums, instead of one triple album. Generally, the earlier the song was written that was recorded in that time period, the earlier it shows up. I think that my version flows much better than the original album. Starting with 1973’s Living In The Material World, Harrison’s albums were single discs and had barely any stray tracks, so they’re left alone. I may do a sequel to this that covers what few strays there were for the last twenty-eight years of George’s career. Immediately below is a brief narrative that also explains some of the strange stuff here. Lots of information here is made up.

The History of George Harrison from 1961-1973 

Liverpool bar band The Silver Beetles toured around trying to hit it big, mostly playing covers. The two clear leaders, bassist Paul McCartney and rhythm guitarist John Lennon, had begun to write songs together and develop a distinct style to lead guitarist George Harrison and drummer Pete Best. Wanting to fit in, George would write a little, but felt it was out of his depth. Soon enough, the differences became too much and the band split. The group remained friends. Paul and John continued to work together, mostly writing songs for others. When they got a record deal with EMI in 1962, then later a hit single, they asked the label to consider George. They agreed, though gave him little creative freedom, which frustrated George. George cut four successful singles, with ample help from John and Paul.

Two of the recent single tracks, “Don’t Bother Me” and “Roll Over Beethoven”, were successful enough to warrant George an LP. At the insistence of EMI, half that LP would consist of live recordings and most of the album would be covers. The live tracks were recorded with John, Paul, and session drummer Ringo Starr. The three made minor appearances on the studio material, with it mostly being filled out with session men. The Burning Hot George Harrison (1964) was released to little attention and George would decide to stop recording for the time being and try to find something that he identified with stronger.

Touring around and trying new styles, George became more confident and wrote many songs. In 1967, he returned to EMI, destined to record an LP of entirely originals. Seeing as this had become more trendy, and with the support of John and Paul, he got his wish. This new project, which George called his first “real” album, still was backed with a mix of John, Paul, Ringo, and session players. It’s All Too Much was a big hit and allowed George more creative freedom for the future. His upcoming albums were the bizarre soundtrack album, Wonderwall Music, which divided him between those that loved Indian music and psychedelia, and those that wanted more conventional music; The Inner Light, which was more conventional and acclaimed than his previous work; and the even more bizarre Electronic Sound. Electronic Sound would be Harrison’s first album to feature no John, Paul, or Ringo and also to receive mostly negative reviews. George endeared himself to some, and garnered hatred from others by saying he just wants to do what he wants while he can and that no matter what he does, he will one day fall off the map.

Harrison had felt he had grown beyond John and Paul, so decided to not use them on his next project. While his close friends, namely Eric Clapton, had appeared on his songs before, here they would be used a lot more. All Things Must Pass garnered mixed reviews, with some saying it came off as incomplete. As much could be said for the side release, Apple Jam. However, 1971’s The Concert For Bangladesh and 1972’s Beware Of Darkness were considered returns to form. Some theorized Harrison was making a point to essentially swap between a “mainstream” release and a polarizing release. This was continued with the extremely stripped-back Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine and the “conventional” Living In The Material World, both from 1973. Both had a more positive reception than his worst regarded material, though less than his best as those that weren’t willing to put up with his weirder tendencies had already gone.

Starting with 1974’s Dark Horse, some would claim Harrison was either trying to make bad, alienating music, or was going commercial. Harrison would often give contradictory answers. The first clue was when he took a break from recording and rereleased some of his early albums with differences. Both Pass and Gang Of Mine featured overdubs to some tracks to make them feel more complete and the latter included a non-album single and b-side. Regardless of Harrison’s intentions, all of his music, especially the 1961-1973 era, has in time become more consistently loved and acclaimed, detailing an artist that didn’t want to follow the rules and was willing to be daring. Some have noted the reason the works might be liked better now is the lesser releases, as well as the proper ones, can be obtained for cheap, instead of being the expensive new releases they once were.

TRACKLIST & LINKS

1963 singles + The Burning Hot George Harrison (1964) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SINGLES

1. “Don’t Ever Change (Pop Go the Beatles, 27 August 1963)”
2. “Chains”
3. “Do You Want To Know A Secret”
4. “Devil In Her Heart”
5. “Cry For A Shadow”
6. “You Know What To Do”

SIDE A

1. “Don’t Bother Me”
2. “I Forgot To Remember To Forget (From Us to You, 28 May 1964)”
3. “Roll Over Beethoven”
4. “Three Cool Cats”
5. “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby”
6. “Crying, Waiting, Hoping (Pop Go the Beatles, 6 August 1963)”

SIDE B

1. “The Sheik Of Araby”
2. “Nothin’ Shakin’ (Pop Go the Beatles, 23 July 1963)”
3. “Glad All Over (Pop Go the Beatles, 20 August 1963)”
4. “So How Come (No One Loves Me) (Pop Go the Beatles, 23 July 1963)”
5. “Young Blood (Pop Go the Beatles, 11 June 1963)”
6. “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You”

It’s All Too Much (1967) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Taxman”
2. “I Want To Tell You”
3. “Love You To”
4. “If I Needed Someone”
5. “Think For Yourself”
6. “I Need You”
7. “You Like Me Too Much”

SIDE B

1. “Within You Without You”
2. “Blue Jay Way”
3. “It’s All Too Much”
4. “Only A Northern Song”

Wonderwall Music (1968) comes here, unaltered – Spotify, YouTube

The Inner Light (1969) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “The Inner Light”
2. “Long, Long, Long”
3. “Piggies”
4. “Savoy Truffle”
5. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
6. “Circles (Esher Demo)”
7. “Here Comes The Sun”

SIDE B

1. “Something”
2. “Old Brown Shoe”
3. “For You Blue (Naked Version)”
4. “I Me Mine (Naked Version)”
5. “Not Guilty”
6. “Sour Milk Sea (Esher Demo)”
7. “Almost Shankara”

Electronic Sound (1969) comes here, unaltered – Spotify, YouTube

All Things Must Pass (1970) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Isn’t It A Pity (Version 1)”
2. “Art Of Dying”
3. “I’d Have You Anytime”
4. “Window Window (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
5. “Let It Down”

SIDE B

1. “Wah-Wah”
2. “Run Of The Mill”
3. “Dehra Dun (Day 1 Demo; Take 2)”
4. “Isn’t It A Pity (Version 2)”
5. “Nowhere To Go (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
6. “All Things Must Pass”

All Things Must Pass (1970) alt version – YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Isn’t It A Pity (Version 1)”
2. “Art Of Dying”
3. “I’d Have You Anytime”
4. “Window Window (walrusz version)”
5. “Let It Down”

SIDE B

1. “Wah-Wah”
2. “Run Of The Mill”
3. “Dehra Dun (walrusz version)”
4. “Isn’t It A Pity (Version 2)”
5. “Nowhere To Go (walrusz version)”
6. “All Things Must Pass”

Apple Jam (1970) comes here, unaltered – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Out Of The Blue”
2. “It’s Johnny’s Birthday”
3. “Plug Me In”

SIDE B

1. “I Remember Jeep”
2. “Thanks For The Pepperoni”

The Concert For Bangladesh (1971) comes here, unaltered – Archive.org

Beware Of Darkness (1972) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Hear Me Lord”
2. “My Sweet Lord”
3. “What Is Life”
4. “Behind That Locked Door”
5. “Beware Of Darkness”

SIDE B

1. “The Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)”
2. “Awaiting On You All”
3. “I Dig Love”
4. “If Not For You”
5. “Apple Scruffs”
6. “I Live For You”

Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine (1973) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Almost 12 Bar Honky Tonk (Take 1)”
2. “Cosmic Empire (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
3. “Get Back (Take 1)”
4. “Going Down To Golders Green (Day 1 Demo; Take 1)”
5. “Mother Divine (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”

SIDE B

1. “Om Hare Om (Gopala Krishna) (Day 1 Demo; Take 1)”
2. “Tell Me What Has Happened To You (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
3. “Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) (Take 1)”
4. “Bangla Desh”
5. “Deep Blue”
6. “Miss O’Dell”

Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine (1973) alt version – YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “It Don’t Come Easy”
2. “I’ll Still Love You”
3. “Almost 12 Bar Honky Tonk (Take 1)”
4. “Cosmic Empire (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
5. “Get Back (Take 1)”
6. “Going Down To Golders Green (Day 1 Demo; Take 1)”

SIDE B

1. “Mother Divine (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
2. “Om Hare Om (Gopala Krishna) (Day 1 Demo; Take 1)”
3. “Tell Me What Has Happened To You (Day 2 Demo; Take 1)”
4. “Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) (Take 1)”
5. “Bangla Desh”
6. “Deep Blue”
7. “Miss O’Dell”

Living In The Material World (1973) comes here, unaltered – Spotify, YouTube

This is a passion of mine and if one person likes what I do, I’ll feel honored. I like suggestions on what artist to cover next, so if you know of one you’d like me to look at, feel free to suggest ‘em!