Today would be George Harrison’s 78th birthday, so I built a short playlist (5 songs) to honor the occasion:
- "Something": George’s most famous song, from Abbey Road. It was one side of a double-A side single (with "Come Together"), and reached #1 in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. By the end of the ’70’s it had been covered oer 150 times.
- "Crackerbox Palace": A fun song (and even more fun video) from his 1976 album Thirty-Three & 1/3. It reached #19 on the Hot 100.
- "Blow Away": From his eponymous 1979 album. It was a song he wrote on a rainy day when the roof in his house was leaking. He realized that getting upset over it was just making it worse, and it reminded him that he loved everybody and he needed to be more optimistic. Reached #16 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
- "All Those Years Ago": From 1981’s Somewhere In England, this was George’s tribute to John Lennon. Ringo played drums, while Paul, Linda and Denny Laine sang backup, stoking rumors that the band was getting back together. Reached #2 in the US behind Kim Carnes’s "Bette Davis Eyes" and topped the Adult Contemporary chart as well as reaching #1 in Canada.
- "When We Was Fab": From 1987’s Cloud Nine, a fond look back at the days of Beatlemania. Co-written by Jeff Lynne, who produced the album, the song features Ringo on the drums and some elements of psychedelia and Indian music. The video is priceless. Reached #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart, #10 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #7 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.
Happy birthday, George!
To the best Beatle ,’ when we was fab’ such a great song 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is, and the video is hilarious.
LikeLike
Hi, John!
Thanks for acknowledging this as George Harrison’s 78th birthday, good buddy. John was my favorite Beatle with George right behind. Their output of world class songs was phenomenal. My favorite George Harrison songs are “Something,” “Here Comes The Sun,” “Within You Without You,” “If I Needed Someone,” “Guitar Weeps,” “Think For Yourself,” “Blue Jay Way” and Norwegian Wood.” If you haven’t yet seen them, I HIGHLY recommend the movies Across The Universe and Yesterday – both films beyond excellent!
Thanks for visiting Shady’s Place today, good buddy John!
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by! George has always been my favorite. The called him The Quiet Beatle, but I think that was in comparison to John and Paul. A great musician, and a good person who left us too soon…
LikeLike
Musically George was always my favorite of the Beatles. He wrote some really good tunes.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
LikeLike
He did, and I like that he kept many of them for himself. Of course, he was up against John and Paul, and he probably figured it was easier to let them run the show and only contribute when asked to. From the articles I’ve read, he really came into his own when they were in India.
LikeLike
Nice tribute John.
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Crackerbox Palace and Blow Away came out when I was a fan and old enough to remember. Blow Away especially gets overlooked…nice optimistic pop song.
LikeLike
George impresses me as that kind of person. I think the home life he and Olivia (and Dhani) shared, and the TM and Hindu practices, had a lot to do with it. “Blow Away” is not just a good song, it’s a good philosophy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is…The video is just plain odd…but I still liked it also.
He was the most grounded Beatle as far as all the way around… I always thought John was the most down to earth Beatle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many didn’t realize how talented he was. Happy Birthday, George!
LikeLike
He was the first guy that I remembered played slide guitar, and turned it into an integral part of his sound. At some point, he picked up the ukulele, harmonica, and banjo in addition to guitar and sitar, was a better-than-average bass player, and even played a little piano and harmonium. Remarkable musician, had an eye for business (He started Handmade Films to finance Monty Python and the Holy Grail and produced a number of movies since then), and had a wicked sense of humor. The world lost a great one when he died.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, thank you for filling me in on his talents that I had no clue. Yes, he is truly missed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy birthday George
LikeLike
I’m sure he’d thank you… actually, knowing him, he probably already has… 😀
LikeLike
He is my favourite Beatle and one who had many tastes. He produced movies in the 1080s and he loved to garden. I wonder if we could ever see it.
LikeLike
See his garden, you mean? I think I’ve seen pictures, but I can’t remember where. It (or was) quite spectacular.
LikeLike
Hi John – I’ll enjoy these … and I’d forgotten he’d died so young in his fifties … he is much missed. Happy Birthday to him and all others born on 25 Feb … stay safe – Hilary
LikeLike
Maybe I’ll start a collection of his albums…
LikeLike
superb
LikeLike