sign in sign up
<<
Home , All Those Years Ago, Any Road, Awaiting on You All, Crackerbox Palace, Derek Taylor, Dhani Harrison

1

Special Guests Laurence Juber & All George !

2

9AM

George Harrison – - Thirty-Three & 1/3 ‘76 This was the most successful track off the LP, and the title originally considered for the . It’s content was inspired by the comedian , a longtime favorite of George’s. Another directed promo film, featuring the future Mrs. Olivia Harrison, future Rutle , and the numerous children of .

3

The Beatles - - Help! (Harrison) Lead vocal: George Recorded in eight takes on February 15, 1965. The introduction features Paul and on a Steinway piano and playing an electric piano. On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP

The Beatles - Do You Want To Know A Secret – (McCartney-) Lead vocal: George Recorded February 11, 1963. Written primarily by for to sing. The was given to another -managed act, Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, to cover. Their version topped the British charts in late spring 1963. Inspired by "I'm Wishing," a song from Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” that Lennon’s mother used to sing to him when he was a child. On U.S. : Introducing… The Beatles - Vee-Jay LP - Capitol LP

BREAK

The Beatles - Don’t Bother Me – (Harrison) Lead vocal: George 4

George Harrison’s first recorded original song. While some may see it as a misfortune that Harrison was surrounded by two of the most gifted in history, this proximity gave him great insight into the mechanics of writing a song from scratch. His first attempt was more than a throwaway composition. He called “Don’t Bother Me” an “exercise” to see if he could write a song, and it was written while George was sick in a bed at the Palace Court Hotel in Bournemouth where The Beatles were playing six nights at Gaumont Cinema in mid-August of 1963. It was during this engagement (on August 22) that photographer Robert Freeman took the iconic “artsy” cover photograph of in half lighting that would grace the cover of both the British “With The Beatles” album and the American “Meet The Beatles!” album.

Using the basic Lennon-McCartney song structure George crafted a “Beatles song” that was on par with the material the band was currently working for their second album. Getting the other Beatles and producer George Martin to take his work seriously was another matter, and it would take years for Harrison to finally be given his due. Normally he was relegated to one or two per album. On U.S. album: Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP

The Beatles - I’m Happy Just To Dance With You - A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: George Written by John and Paul specifically to give George a song in the movie “A Hard Day’s Night.” Completed in four takes on March 1, 1964, with filming slated to begin the next day. The b-side of “I’ll Cry Instead” in U.S. On U.S. album: A Hard Day’s Night - United Artists LP Something New - Capitol LP 5

George Harrison – - ‘70 A track with some “tart lyrical phrasing,” an offending verse was omitted from the printed lyrics included on the inner sleeve.

George Harrison – – Brainwashed ‘02 Composed in 1988 during the filming of a video for his album Cloud 9, Any Road would be George’s last single. It was nominated for Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Male Pop Performance. 6

George Harrison – This particular track is a puzzle still somewhat unsolved. Originally written for Ringo with different lyrics, (which Ringo didn’t think was right for him), the lyrics were rewritten after John Lennon’s murder. Although Ringo did provide drums, there is a dispute as to whether Paul, Linda and Denny did backing vocals at , or in their own studio – hence phoning it in. But Paul insists that he had asked George to play on his own track, Wanderlust, for the Tug Of War album. Having arrived at George’s Friar Park estate, they instead focused on backing vocals for All Those Years Ago. It became George’s biggest hit in 8 years, just missing the top spot on the charts.

9.26 BREAK

7

The Beatles - Something - (Harrison) Lead vocal: George The Beatles’ twenty-first single release for EMI, and fourth on the label. Although initially crediting Lennon and McCartney as the songwriters, legendary crooner called George Harrison’s “Something” “"the greatest song of the past 50 years".[7 .” Commonly referred to as George’s first Beatles A-side, some sales chart makers at the time considered the single a “double-A,” as both sides of the record received significant radio airplay, and charted both “Something” and its flip side (John’s “”) as one combined chart listing. The song is the first of two CLASSIC songs George delivered for the “Abbey Road” album, the other being “.” It was a phenomenal one-two punch that had to have Lennon and McCartney wondering what else Harrison had up his sleeve.

George Harrison – - ‘74 This track features some great 12-string work by George, he had originally begun composing the tune in New York in 1972. This was possibly recorded during the “Living In The Material World” sessions at Friar Park w/ Ringo on Drums = ½ Beatles

8

Speaking of Ringo & George….here’s George guiding his friend through some vocals…lets listen

BREAK

George – It Don’t Come Easy – Demo

The Beatles - I Need You - Help! (Harrison) Lead vocal: George Recorded in five takes on February 15, 1965, the first day of recording for what was to become the “Help!” album, with overdubs completed the next day. It is the second original George Harrison song to be recorded by the Beatles. Harrison wrote “I Need You” for his future wife, . The track is notable for the first use on a Beatles record of what is now known as a “wah-wah pedal.” George achieved this by playing his 12-string through a foot-controlled volume pedal. Ringo provides cowbell percussion. On U.S. album: Help! - Capitol LP 9

George Harrison – Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long - Living In The Material World ‘73 This track was the single that should have been, almost was, but never appeared. This is a prime piece of pop songwriting, and was scheduled as the second single from the LP for release on September 24th, 1973. It was assigned an Apple catalog number (Apple 1866), but was mysteriously cancelled at the last minute.

The Beatles - - Tour (EP) (Harrison) Lead vocal: George Written by George Harrison on August 1, 1967 while vacationing in a rented house in the Hills above . The story is essentially the same as the lyrics imply. On a foggy night in L.A., George sat at his rented house waiting for friends to arrive, but the maze of thin and winding streets and the thick fog rolling in got the best of them and they became lost. George: “I’d rented a house in Los Angeles on – Blue Jay Way, and I’d arrived there from England. I was waiting around for Derek and Joan Taylor who were then living in L.A. I was very tired after the flight and the time change and I stared writing, playing a little that was in the house. It had gotten foggy and they couldn’t find the house for some time. The mood is slightly Indian.” Following the release of the song on the “” LP in America, the City of Los Angeles got so tired of having to replace stolen “Blue Jay Way” street signs that it had the street name painted on walls along the street’s route. The backing track was recorded in one take on September 6, 1967. 10

On U.S. album: Magical Mystery Tour - Capitol LP

QUIZ HERE Name the song from George’s 33 1/3 album that he began writing back in 1967…the first line of the song is referring to Paul McCartney’s admission of ingesting something psychedelic Name that song

9.56 BREAK

It's easier to tell a lie than it is to tell the truth",

Winner HERE…kicking off a set of George Harrison singing about his fellow Beatles…

George Harrison – - Thirty-Three & 1/3 ‘76 George wrote the majority of this track in 1967, shortly after Paul McCartney admitted he had taken LSD. It was constructed as a response to the media who felt it necessary to pontificate on Paul’s “wrongdoings” in the uproar that ensued. The song went unfinished for almost ten years until sound engineer (Kumar Shankar – Ravi’s nephew) reminded George of the tune

George Harrison – Wah-Wah - All Things Must Pass ‘70 11

Famously composed during the “” sessions. On January 10th, 1969 – George left the Beatles and wrote the song during this period of estrangement. The title refers to the “wah-wah” (headache) he was receiving due to prolonged exposure to Macca-baiting and John and Yoko’s antics during the Twickenham rehearsals. The song obviously had some meaning to George, as he used it to open his section of the Concert for .

George Harrison – Sue Me, Sue You Blues - Living In The Material World ‘73 Inspired the Beatles legal problems, George wouldn’t let a good fight go unrecorded. In characteristic good humor, George put the frustrations of Paul suing his former band mates to song (while Lennon reportedly threw bricks through Paul’s windows – though this is highly, highly disputed!). had some lyrical modifications for his 1974 US Tour, brining the story up to date to include the litigation against (Paul told you so, George!).

The Beatles – Not Guilty – The Beatles (Harrison) Recorded: 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th August 1968 Location: Abbey Road 2 Producer: George Martin Engineer: Musicians: George Harrison – lead vocal, , harpsichord (?); John Lennon – harpsichord (?); Paul McCartney – bass guitar, drums (?); – drums 12

This was scheduled for a slot on the White Album, but for some reason they dumped it after 99 takes. For a long time after it was only available on Beatle bootlegs, until they released it on . It might have struck a bum note with John and Paul, because it suffered the same fate as his other bitter lyrics: was dumped from Sgt. Peppers, and was studiously ignored at Twickenham. George explained: I said that I wasn’t guilty of leading them astray in all our going to to see the Maharishi. He also made his frequent point that his songs had often got a pasting: Not guilty of getting in your way/While you’re trying to steal the day. It was during the recording of this song that George first used his famous cherry-red – a gift from . (A famous old story says that he gave it to him after playing the solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, but that’s just a Beatle myth!) Lead Vocal George Harrison 1.00

NEWS w/ Jackie DeShannon

10.36 BREAK I think I hear George Harrison and his Beatles circa 1966… Clap along and sound like were having FUN! 13

The Beatles - - Revolver (Harrison) Lead vocal: George The backing track was recorded in five takes on June 2, 1966. George Harrison's third song on “Revolver,” was, he later said, "about the avalanche of thoughts that are so hard to write down or say or transmit." Once again Harrison had no idea what to call his composition. The band briefly kicked around random ideas, and the song was recorded under the working title “Laxton's Superb,” a type of apple. It later became known as “I Don't Know,” which was George’s answer when producer George Martin asked whether Harrison had come up with a title. By the day of the final mix (June 6, 1966), Harrison had settled on the title “I Want To Tell You.” Contains the first bass overdub on a Beatles record. Paul had his bass recorded on a different track really allowed for more options when it came time to mix the song. On U.S. album: Revolver - Capitol LP

George Harrison – You – Extra Texture Originally written for , and recorded during the sessions for her sole Apple single, “Try Some, Buy Some,” in February 1971. According to George, they “recorded four or five tracks before Phil fell over,” (something had a tendency to do often. George dug this tape out during the Extra Texture sessions, but didn’t bother redoing the backing track, which is why you 14 can hear Ronnie Spector singing one of her trademark “Be My Baby” oh-oh-oh’s in the background.

The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles (Harrison) Lead vocal: George In his book, “I Me Mine,” George explains that while visiting his parents he decided to create a song from the first thing he saw upon opening a book. George randomly opened a book and saw the phrase “gently weeps.” He put the book down and started writing lyrics.

The first proper recording of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” took place on July 25, 1968. Nearly two months into recording the Beatles’ new album, this was George’s first chance to record some of his new material. George: “I always had to do about ten of Paul and John’s songs before they’d give me the break.” On this first day George recorded several rehearsals and one proper take. At this stage, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was an acoustic song, with George’s solo vocal and some organ overdubbed near the end that ran 3:13 and had a final verse not found in the final version. This exquisite “take 1,” which was a demo for the other Beatles, is one of the highlights of the “Anthology 3” album. George would continue working on the song at home, and eventually re-imagined the song as a rocker. On August 16, the full band revisited the song, making 14 takes of a rhythm track.

The Beatles - I Me Mine - Let It Be (Harrison) Lead vocal: George 15

It should be noted that none of the Beatles’ rehearsals at in January 1969 were recorded on multi-track. Those official recordings took place at Apple headquarters, either in the studio set up in the basement or on the rooftop during their concert. In the “Let It Be” film George can be heard playing his song “I Me Mine” to Ringo while John and Yoko dance a waltz. He had composed the song the night before in five minutes flat. Unfortunately, George’s song was not one the group recorded when they went to Apple Studios to record the new album tracks. Because the song was being used in the film it needed to be recorded for the soundtrack album, prompting George, Paul and Ringo to return to on January 3, 1970, to record the song. John was on vacation in Denmark. Had he been in London it is doubtful he would have attended the session because he had quit the band in . Sixteen basic tracks were recorded with George playing acoustic guitar, Paul on bass guitar and Ringo on drums. Overdubs recorded that day were electric piano, electric guitar, new lead and backing vocals and a second acoustic guitar part. The original running time was 1:53. To flesh out the song for the “Let It Be” album, producer Phil Spector cleverly edited the song to repeat a section and extend it by 51 seconds. At the 1:53 mark, just after the line “flowing more freely than wine,” the song jumps back to the :32 mark to the line “all through the day.” This leads back into the hard-rocking “I me me mine” segment and continues past “flowing more freely than wine” until the song ends. He also added orchestration. The original shorter version of the song can be heard on the “Anthology 3” album.

BREAK

16

George Harrison – Mama You’ve Been On My Mind (demo) - Early Takes Vol.1 ‘12

QUIZ HERE – WIN! Wonderwall Who’s singing this LIVE version of ?

Dhani Harrison – Savoy Truffle - George Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music Of George Harrison

10.56 BREAK

Welcome LJ New album…Can’t Stop Playin` The Beatles

LJ - from

BREAK

17

George Harrison – Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea - Brainwashed ‘02 Recorded in 1991 for British television, during sessions with and band. It allows the ever-playful George to play and sing and just have fun with the great Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler standard.

11.15 - OLIVIA CALLS IN HERE

George Harrison – Dark Sweet Lady - George Harrison ‘79 A tropical feel dominates this his lovely soon-to-be-wife, Olivia. The lyrics were dated February 28th, 1978 – which means this tune was also written in Hawaii.

11.26 BREAK

GEORGE LIVE! 18

George Harrison – Beware Of Darkness - The Concert for Bangla Desh ‘71

George Harrison – - Live In Japan ‘92 Recorded in Tokyo – December 17th, 1991.

George Harrison – - Live In Japan ‘92 Recorded in Tokyo – December 14th, 1991.

George Harrison – Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - Live In Japan ‘92 Recorded in Tokyo – December 15th 1991.

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun - Abbey Road (Harrison) Lead vocal: George The second of two CLASSIC songs George Harrison delivered for the “Abbey Road” album. “Here Comes The Sun” and “Something” was a phenomenal one-two punch that had to have Lennon and McCartney wondering what else Harrison had up his sleeve. George wrote the song while walking around the sunny back garden of Eric Clapton’s home, strumming o0ne of Eric’s acoustic guitars. Harrison had skipped out of one of the many Apple business meetings that day. Recording in 13 takes on July 7, 1969, Ringo’s 29th birthday, with George on his Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar, Paul on his Rickenbacker bass guitar and Ringo on drums. John was sidelined for the week due to be hospitalized following a car accident in Scotland. The next day George overdubbed his lead vocal, and Paul and George recorded their backing vocals twice, rather than simply double- tracking. Additions continued on July 16 (handclaps and harmonium), and August 6 and 11 (George’s acoustic guitar). George Martin’s orchestral score was recorded on August 15. 19

fin