George Harrison’s
song writing just got better and better over the years as he went from
contributing occasional songs to Beatles albums to crafting what for
many people is one of the great albums of the rock era, All Things Must
Pass. George’s guitar playing is all too often overlooked by even long
time fans, but the subtlety of his slide guitar work, and the sheer
inventiveness of his playing deserves to be put in the spotlight so here
we are, George Harrison in 20 Solos.
We start with a solo that the more knowledgeable among you will
immediately go, “Hey, that’s not just George playing, it’s also Paul.”
The guitar solo that is appears on ‘The Night Before’ was recorded in
February 1965 and it is such a clever idea that it could not go
unacknowledged. George and Paul play the double tracked solo, an octave
apart. Genius! In October 1965 The Beatles
were in the studio working on tracks for Rubber Soul, including
George’s ‘If I Needed Someone’. Playing a 12 string electric guitar
George conjures a solo that underpins the harmony vocals that according
to Roger McGuinn inspired the guitar sound for The Byrds.
Released on Yellow Submarine, ‘Hey Bulldog’ is a classic that
according to Geoff Emerick was “one of the few times that he nailed it
right away. His amp was turned up really loud, and he used one of his
new fuzz boxes, which made his guitar absolutely scream.” In the promo
film for the song George can be seen playing his cherry-finish Gibson
SG.
Is it a solo or is it a riff? Whatever it is George’s playing on
‘Here Comes the Sun’ redefines beautiful. Delicate and perfect it evokes
the mood and sets the scene. ‘Something’ is a defining song for George
and his solo is so perfect that it’s impossible to hear this song by
anyone without wanting to hear George’s solo inserted into the cover. It
may only be a b-side but George’s ‘Old Brown Shoe’ is an overlooked
gem. Again it’s the sheer inventiveness of George’s solo that makes it
worthy of inclusion.
On ‘Let it Be’, George’s playing is the complete antithesis to
‘Something’ or ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and like so much of his playing it’s
so innovative. George was not happy with the solo that John originally
picked to appear on the song and decided to redo it. George’s guitar is
played through a rotating Leslie organ speaker, which gives it a
distinctive warbling sound. 'I Me Mine' was the last song to be recorded
by The Beatles before they split up, yet it’s included not for any
reasons of nostalgia but because George shows he can rock out with the
best of them.
Recorded in 1971, George’s slide guitar on Badfinger’s‘Day
After Day’ is another example of sharing the spoils because Pete Ham
also plays slide, but it’s George’s distinctive solo that elevates this
catchy song to a whole new level. Recorded the same year, ‘Gimme Some
Truth’ from John Lennon’s Imagine is the perfect foil for the venomous lyrics that John spits out.
Extra Texture, George’s final album for Apple Records, includes the fabulous 'This Guitar (Can’t Keep From Crying)' that was written by George in response to some of the criticism he received during his 1974 North American tour. Almost inevitably it is compared with ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and it is unsurprising that it does not come up to the standard of George’s 1968 anthem. But, imagine for a minute that there had not been the former song? ‘This Guitar’ would be viewed entirely differently; for it is an excellent song. George’s slide guitar is to the fore, which in itself is something of a rarity for Extra Texture.
Thirty Three & 1/3 was released on George’s newly formed Dark
Horse Records, and despite George being ill with hepatitis during its
making, it’s proved to be an enduring record, full of great songs. It
includes another of George’s hidden gems, the delicate and beautiful
tribute to a Motown legend, ‘Pure Smokey’, which features two of
George’s most lovely guitar solos.
‘Blow
Away’ was a single from George’s eponymous 1979 album and is perhaps
less well known than many of his songs, but it shouldn’t be,
particularly as it includes some of George’s most lyrical guitar
playing. A decade later Georege released Cloud Nine and among its tracks
is the beautiful, ‘Just For Today’ that could easily have come from All
Things Must Pass. It’s a beautiful song that is made even more so by an
exquisite, trademark, Harrison slide guitar solo.
George’s
guitar playing on ‘Free As A Bird’, John’s demo song that the other
three Beatles recorded in 1994 is just the best of the best. It could be
no one else but George, simple, effective, heartfelt and perfect.
George’s final studio album, his twelfth, was released in 2002, a year
after he tragically passed away. It includes ‘Marwa Blues’, that is the
perfect homage to George’s exceptional guitar playing. Shortly before he
passed away George contributed a guitar solo to Bill Wyman’s cover of
Ketty Lester’s ‘Love Letters’ for a Rhythm Kings album. When he sent his
solo back to the former Rolling Stone he said in a tongue in cheek
note, “It’s my one note solo” – but George plays that sweet note better
than anyone.
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