I could hear the opening lines of “A Day in the Life” as the news ticker rolled across the screen. “I read the news today…”
George Harrison was always my favorite Beatle. While John spoke his mind to whoever and Paul spilled his emotions out on paper, George kept his emotions close to his heart as if he had a winning hand in poker. There was a sense of mystery around him that kept your interest.
George also had the unenviable task of living in the shadow of the Lennon/ McCartney dynasty. He often did not get the same level of respect from fans as he did from his fellow musicians. It was not until the very end of the Beatles’ run that he showed the world that his work could stand up to John and Paul’s. With All Things Must Pass George completely stepped out of that shadow and became a superstar in his own right.
Music was not the only thing touched by George Harrison. Long before Bob Geldof even dreamed of Live Aid, Harrison put together the Concert for Bangla Desh. This was the first of many all-star benefit shows. The lessons he learned would help all those multi-act shows for decades to come.
Today spirituality in music is almost a trend. Madonna does yoga while Ricky Martin meditates. For George Harrison spirituality was more than just some nifty trend to sell a record or two. George surrounded himself with spirit. It was a major part of his life and it brought him comfort and stability.
When George became interested in eastern music it became part of the Beatles’ sound. Beyond making for some unforgettable songs, it opened the door for what we call world music today. George stepped away from his solo career to produce records for artists like Ravi Shankar.
What truly makes me upset is that he lived through so much. Yes, I knew he was ill, but it seemed like this came out of nowhere. In my Popular Culture class Wednesday we talked about how generations keep track of their lives by things that happen to their idols. The class was about Frank Sinatra but my professor brought up George. He said something like it would be interesting to see how people reacted if George died. I will never let my Popular Culture instructor talk about anyone dying again.
As I read the news ticker on VH1 I just kept thinking “It’s not fair. He lived through a stabbing attack, drugs, two other cancer scares. Why George? Why now?” Why would a 22-year-old college student get so worked up about George Harrison dying? I was still in diapers when John Lennon was killed. I have no memory whatsoever about that sad night. I just lived in the era where there were three Beatles. I treat my copy of Harrison’s Cloud Nine as if it were gold. He’s a idol to myself and millions. It’s also the largest loss the music world has faced this year.
What really gets me is the fact that George Harrison solo albums are hard to come by, with the exception of All Things Must Pass. A friend of mine told me most of his solo albums are out of print. I hope that’s not true, but if it is someone had better make them available so that the world can be remembered of what they lost. Of course George Harrison’s influence will be felt for decades to come. You can hear him in the music of hundreds of acts, including Oasis (although Liam called George a “nipple” a few years back) Coldplay, virtually every band out of England, and every other act that picks up a guitar.
It’s not just his guitar that weeps. Myself, and millions of others, have shed our tears while remembering the man who was labeled “the quiet Beatle.” Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones said it best. I hope that he is jamming with John right now, too.
THE BEST OF GEORGE HARRISON:
What George Harrison leaves behind is an amazing catalog of music, both with the Beatles and in his own right. So here, in no particular order, is what a George Harrison ‘Best of’ CD would be if one existed. “My Sweet Lord”- Lawsuits aside, this song finally broke George free from The Beatles. Phil Spector was the producer and it shows with it’s lush sound. “Here Comes the Sun” – Along with “Something” this stands out as being one of the best tracks on Abbey Road “I Need You” – This was one of George’s early songwriting efforts with The Beatles. According to Steve Turner’s book “A Hard Day’s Write” it also is the first Beatle song to make use of a wah-wah pedal to distort sound. “Got My Mind Set on You” – The song that brought George back into the mainstream during the late 80s. “All Those Years Ago” – No one could pay tribute to John Lennon better than one of his bandmates. “Something” – One of the best love songs ever. “While my Guitar Gently Weeps” – The guitar literally weeps on this one. A challenge to guitar players everywhere. “This Is Love” – This is one of the lesser known singles off of Cloud Nine. It’s a good pop song that could easily play on radio. ” When We Was Fab” – This is the brief musical history of the Fab Four. “Within You Without You” – One of George’s first trips down the road of eastern music and one of his best. The acoustic version on Anthology 3 is amazing.
