In George Harrison's vast discography, "Somewhere in England" (1981) holds a unique place. More than a simple album, it represents a turning point, a record of a creative and personal battle against the pressures of the music industry.
This work, originally conceived in a different format and order, was the result of a confrontation with Warner Bros. Records, which led to a significant restructuring and a last-minute change in direction. Through this article, we explore the history, production, and songs that define this fascinating work.
The album's recording began in late 1980 at F.P.S.H.O.T. (Friar Park Studio, Henley-on-Thames), Harrison's residence. George had entered a phase of introspection after the success of his previous LP, "George Harrison" (1979), and was seeking a more personal sound, with influences from new wave music and electronic pop of the era, but without losing the essence of his acoustic and melodic compositions.
His initial vision was for a darker, more reflective album, with themes that explored spirituality, social criticism, and the loss of innocence.
The first major obstacle came when Warner Bros. rejected the initial version of the album.
The company deemed the album "too slow" and "not commercial enough."
They demanded that Harrison remove four songs and replace them with more "accessible" ones.
The original songs that were discarded were "Flying Hour," "Tears of the World," "Sat Singing," and "Lay His Head."
George's response to this interference was forced but ingenious.
He reluctantly accepted Warner's demands but refused to simply create new songs from scratch.
Instead, he turned to material he had already recorded or could complete quickly.
The result was the incorporation of four key tracks that would redefine the album: "Blood From A Clone", "All Those Years Ago", "Teardrops", and "That Which I Have Lost". George's original cover art, featuring his profile against a map of Great Britain, was also vetoed by Warner Bros.
"All Those Years Ago" is undoubtedly the album's crown jewel.
Greorge Harrison had originally written it for Ringo Starr, later admitted that the key was too high for him to sing, after John Lennon's murder, George decided to rewrite the lyrics to honor his friend.
The song became an anthem of mourning and nostalgia, and featured the participation of Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, along with Denny Laine, making it a musical reunion of The Beatles post-Lennon.
This collaboration not only boosted album sales but also became a powerful statement of the band's unity in tragedy. In May 1981, "All Those Years Ago" was launched as the first single from the album. It was met with a very positive reception, climbing to number 13 on the charts in the UK and number 2 in the US. This marked Harrison's most successful song since his 1973 hit "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)." The success of the track also helped boost the popularity of the album, Somewhere in England.
The second single, "Teardrops", peaked at only number 102 on Billboard's singles listings.
As for the album's other songs, "That's The Way It Goes" is an example of Harrison's ability to find beauty in simplicity. With a clean production and a catchy melody, the song is a reflection of his philosophy of accepting life's ups and downs. "Writing's on the Wall," on the other hand, is a more introspective piece, with lush instrumentation and lyrics that warn about the dangers of materialism.
The album was produced by Harrison himself, along with Ray Cooper, and featured an impressive cast of musicians. Among them were keyboardist Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), bassist Willie Weeks, and drummer Jim Keltner, who formed a solid musical core. The presence of musicians like Al Kooper and Tom Scott also added sophisticated textures and arrangements to the recordings.
Musicians
George Harrison – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards, synthesiser, gubguba
Willie Weeks – bass
Herbie Flowers – tuba, bass guitar
Neil Larsen – keyboards, synthesiser
Al Kooper – keyboards, synthesiser
Mike Moran – keyboards, synthesiser
Gary Brooker – keyboards, synthesiser
Ray Cooper – keyboards, synthesiser, percussion, drums
Jim Keltner – drums
Ringo Starr – drums
Dave Mattacks – drums
Alla Rakha – tabla
Tom Scott – Lyricon, horns
Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine – backing vocals
"Somewhere in England" is an album that defies easy categorization. It is a work of art that is both compromised and forced, a testament to an artist's struggle to maintain his vision in a commercial environment. The songs, from the most optimistic to the most somber, reflect the complexity of the human experience, filtered through George Harrison's unique perspective. Although it was considered a "difficult" album at the time, today it is valued as an essential document that captures the spirit of an era and the resilience of an artist.
🟠Would you like to support the page with a donation? Enter HERE 
🟠We invite you to visit our NEW #Facebook PAGE: BEATLES MAGAZINE
FOLLOW US HERE: https://www.facebook.com/BEATLESMAGAZINE1/
WELCOME! FOLLOW US! 24Hrs a Day, 8 Days a Week!
🟠Help us keep The Beatles' legacy alive! Visit, Comment, Like, and Share our pages!
Follow us on our social media platforms:
https://www.beatlesmagazine.com
https://www.facebook.com/BEATLESMAGAZINE1/
https://beatlesmagazine.blogspot.com/
https://beatlesmagazinebootleg.blogspot.com/
https://beatlesmagazinevideo.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/beatlesmagazine/
https://x.com/BEATLESMAGAZINE
https://www.tiktok.com/@beatlesmagazine
https://www.threads.net/@beatlesmagazine
🟠BEATLES STORES (Associated with Amazon, Shipments Worldwide)￫ HERE , HERE & HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment