The American Spectator : I Me Mine: My Ten Favorite George Harrison Songs

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I Me Mine: My Ten Favorite George Harrison Songs

By Aaron Goldstein on 11.29.11 @ 6:06AM

He died ten years ago today.

It has been ten years since George Harrison passed away. While cancer claimed him at the age of 58, he left behind a treasure trove of songs worthy of our lasting attention whether they appeared on Beatles records, on his solo albums, or with other collaborators. A quiet Beatle he was not. So here are my ten favorite George Harrison songs.

10. Badge
Co-written with Eric Clapton, “Badge” appears on Cream’s final album Goodbye which was released in 1969. Harrison contributes a memorable guitar solo. It wasn’t the first time Harrison and Clapton had collaborated and it would not be the last.

9. Taxman
Who knew that Harrison would pen the Beatles’ first and most enduring protest song? This was Harrison’s response to the 98% super tax imposed on Britain’s wealthiest citizens by the Labour government of Harold Wilson. Granted, it was John Lennon who suggested that Wilson and Conservative Party leader Edward Heath be named in the song. But the anger and derision in the song was all Harrison’s:

In those days we paid 19 shillings and sixpence [96p] out of every pound, and with supertax and surtax and tax-tax it was ridiculous — a heavy penalty to pay for making money. That was a big turn-off for Britain. Anybody who ever made any money moved to America or somewhere else.

The policy would force fellow Beatle Ringo Starr, the Rolling Stones as well as British actors like Michael Caine and Roger Moore to leave the U.K. and become tax exiles in the United States or other parts of Europe. Ironically, Harrison would remain a British resident.

The opening song on the Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver, “Taxman” has long been a favorite of conservatives and ranked number two on John J. Miller’s list of the fifty greatest conservative rock songs. Only “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who kept it from the top spot. But given President Obama’s soak the rich policies, if Miller were to update the list perhaps it would hit number one.

8. Old Brown Shoe
This Harrison composition was recorded in 1969 and was a B-side for John Lennon’s “The Ballad of John & Yoko.” “Old Brown Shoe” starts with an interesting bass/piano intro, met by muffled vocals and a great guitar solo. Yet another in a long line of underappreciated gems Harrison wrote in the shadows of Lennon-McCartney.

7. Savoy Truffle
This song appeared on their 1968 double LP The Beatles (a.k.a. The White Album) and was inspired by Eric Clapton’s chocolate cravings. However, the lyrics to “Savoy Truffle” sour both with Clapton’s stomach and when Harrison turns his attention to Paul McCartney’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” which appeared earlier on The White Album. I think it’s safe to say that this is the only song in the history of rock ‘n’ roll that makes reference to Montelimar.

6. The Inner Light
This was also a B-side (the A-side was McCartney’s “Lady Madonna”). Recorded in 1968 with local musicians in Bombay (now Mumbai) while working on his first solo album Wonderwall. Lennon and McCartney would later add backing vocals. “The Inner Light” is a showcase for Harrison’s love of Indian music and spirituality. The lyrics, “The farther one travels the less one really knows,” have stuck with me.

5. Only a Northern Song
Here is Harrison at his bitter best. Northern Songs Ltd. was the publisher of the Beatles’ catalogue. While Lennon and McCartney owned 30 percent of the holdings, Harrison and Ringo Starr held less than 2 percent between them. This meant that Lennon and McCartney made more money off of Harrison’s songs than did Harrison. As he put it, “It doesn’t really matter what chords I play/What words I say or time of day it is/As it’s only a Northern Song.” Originally considered for inclusion on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, it eventually saw the light of day on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack in 1969. I have long enjoyed its over-the-top psychedelic arrangements.

4. I’d Have You Anytime
Although many great songs came from Harrison’s landmark 1970 triple solo album All Things Must Pass (i.e. “My Sweet Lord,” “What Is Life,” “Wah-Wah,” “Isn’t it a Pity” and the title track), my favorite song is the lead track, “I’d Have You Anytime.” Harrison co-wrote this song with Bob Dylan. Judging by this early demo, it might have been intended as a duet. However, Dylan does not appear on the final recording although Eric Clapton chimes in on lead guitar.

3. Something
The second track on side one of their 1969 album Abbey Road, “Something” is the second most covered song in the Beatles’ catalogue aside from “Yesterday.” Its most famous cover was recorded by Frank Sinatra who said, “It’s one of the best love songs I believe to be written in fifty to a hundred years.” There’s nothing more I can add.

2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Originally intended as an acoustic piece, Lennon & McCartney had little interest in the song until Harrison brought in Eric Clapton to play lead guitar. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has become a staple of classic rock and The White Album wouldn’t have been the same without it.

1. Here Comes the Sun
Harrison wrote the song while standing in Eric Clapton’s garden after escaping another tense business meeting with the other Beatles and executives from Apple Records. Leading off side two of Abbey Road, “Here Comes the Sun” never fails to make me feel good. I am far from alone. So with that I’ll end this on a positive note.

About the Author

Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (65) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Moe Blotz| 11.29.11 @ 6:19AM

The lead in on "Here Comes the Sun" sounded great on my brother's new stereo in 1970, when you could hear the instrumentals glide across the room from one speaker to another. When I hear those familiar chords striking on my Sirius connection, I crank up the volume and follow the sounds across my windshield. 'Tis a great tune to start a day.

Alan Brooks| 11.30.11 @ 3:23PM

Interesting guy. BTW he slept with Ringo's wife and then sheepishly called it "incest" after the divorce. But you give a pass to someone who writes 'Taxman', right?

Frank Drackman| 11.29.11 @ 6:43AM

No "Happiness is a Warm Gun"???

PaulyD| 11.29.11 @ 8:30AM

I think that is a Lennon tune.

TR| 12.6.11 @ 8:44PM

It is a Lennon, the title taken from a magazine lying on his coffee table.

Conserdude| 11.29.11 @ 7:11AM

I'll grant you the top 4, but disagree on the remainder, which probably confirms how good a song-writer he was to wide appeal. A few other considerations: "If I Needed Someone" (from Rubber Soul), "Within You Without You" (Sgt. Pepper), "Piggies" (White Album), "All Things Must Pass" (title track to the greastest solo album by a former Beatle, bar none), "Woman Don't You Cry For Me" (from 33 1/3). He also did some good tunes with the Traveling Wilbury's.

Deborah D | 11.29.11 @ 7:27AM

Thanks for this tribute, Mr. Goldstein. I loved and admired George Harrison for many reasons. He is missed...thankfully, we do have his music.

WRTolkas| 11.29.11 @ 8:20AM

I didn't know that Mr. Harrison wrote the song Something. Anyone know who she was?

PaulyD| 11.29.11 @ 8:32AM

A lot of possibilities. He was quite the ladies man.

astorian| 11.29.11 @ 9:46AM

The best guess is that it was about Patti Boyd Harrison... whcih would mean that she inspired TWO classic songs. The other one was Eric Clapton's "Layla."

Don| 11.29.11 @ 11:12AM

I believe you are correct. Patti Boyd was the inspiration for Something and Layla.

TexasEngineer| 11.29.11 @ 12:10PM

and Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight", "Blue Jean Blues" and a number of other songs. Patty was an incredible Muse for both of these great guitarists.

scotchieguy| 11.29.11 @ 9:00PM

bell bottom blues. blue jean blues is ZZ top

Frank Drackman| 11.29.11 @ 8:28AM

Ringo Star's the "No-N0 song" is better than anythang George Harrison did, except maybe Patti Boyd...

Binx Bolling| 11.29.11 @ 10:59AM

George enjoyed the pleasures of Mrs. Starr, not Ringo with Patti Boyd. Eric Clapton made a cuckold of George with Patti.

Aleck| 11.29.11 @ 8:35AM

Thanks for this article. Now that the dust has settled, your 1, 2, and 3 choices are the songs that actually have lasted as my favorite Beatles songs.

LarryK| 11.29.11 @ 8:48AM

Great Songs. My favorite Beatle.

Mark MacInnis| 11.29.11 @ 8:52AM

When the savage yet optimistic growl which is the intro hook to "What is Life" marries itself to the baseline in the song's second measure, and the horns kick in and Ringo's toms make the counterpoint, just before George's awesome lyrics start....pure genius. After "Something", and "Here comes the Sun", "What is life is his masterpiece statement of his philosophy and muse. For this song to not be on your top 10 list is a failure on your part.

Other than that, great list. Thanks. As a fan and student of the Beatles lo these many years, George's writing and playing has become my favorite attribute of the band's seemingly endless quality. At my church, the Christmas presentation will be something entitled "Let It Be Christmas", comprising all Beatles songs. As the most spiritual of the Beatles, I expect George's music will be featured prominently. Thanks for the piece and for the reminder that George passed 10 years ago. Seems like yesterday.

Conserdude| 11.30.11 @ 7:54AM

What kind of church does this?

P. Aaron| 11.29.11 @ 9:15AM

Old Brown Shoe gets heavy rotation on my I-Pod. One of my favorites.

Anastasia Mather| 11.29.11 @ 9:23AM

"Here Comes the Sun" has to be one of my all-time favorite songs ever from any artist. It's very personal and yet I'm sure many people identify with it. Ringo was always my favorite Beatle, but George would have been second. Didn't really like the pretty boys and after reading about Northern Song, my instincts are validated.

astorian| 11.29.11 @ 9:44AM

A lot of worthy nominees on your list, but I'll go with

10) "For You Blue"
9) "Don't Bother Me"
8) "You Like Me Too Much"
7) "This Song" (inspired by the "My Sweet Lord" lawsuit)
6) "Taxman"
5) "Something"
4) "Crackerbox Palace"
3) "Badge"
2) "I Want to Tell You"
1) "If I Needed Someone"

scotchieguy| 11.29.11 @ 9:54AM

George Martin said that Abbey Road is their happiest album. What could be happier than Hear comes the sun? And that weird moog??

Binx Bolling| 11.29.11 @ 11:56AM

Funny, McCartney's material was arguably the worst on Abbey Road. Harrison had "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something". Starr had "Octopus' Garden." Lennon had "Come Together." McCartney did have "Oh Darling" yet that is diminished by the childsong "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."

Casey Abell| 11.29.11 @ 2:25PM

Tastes differ. I love Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Wicked humor.

BTW, McCartney has often used The End from Abbey Road as, well, the end of his concerts (medleyed with the reprise of the Sgt. Pepper theme). Works pretty well. There are maybe a dozen different versions on YouTube. The funniest is the one in Ukraine when McCartney has to get a new guitar. So his drummer goes nuts on the solo for a while.

scotchieguy| 11.29.11 @ 9:08PM

Revisionist history. The entire "medley" was McCartney' s idea. Lennon hated it. You never give me your money is a McCartney classic, as is she came in through the bathroom window, as well as Golden Slumbers. Still, for my money, whatever it is worth, the BEST stuff on Abbey Road was neither McCarney's nor Harrison's. It was Lennon's. Come Together is the coolest song in rock and roll history. By a long shot. OK, maybe Won't get fooled again, or Honky Tonk Women. I Want you (She 's so heavy) is the coolest drug song of all time. Heroin? Or Yoko? Or both. It is the GREATEST ending of any tune I have ever heard. I still try to guess when it will end everytime I listen to it. 'Because' is epic. As is Polythene Pam and Mean Mr. Mustard. I don't know who wrote SUN KING, but it has become my favorite, esp. the Spanish. Sounds like Lennon. Just a great, great album. They definitely went out on top.

TR| 12.6.11 @ 8:50PM

Play side two of Abbey Road and enjoy perhaps the greatest musical experience that is possible. One great song after the other with virtually no pauses. A true masterpiece.

scotchieguy| 11.29.11 @ 9:59AM

How could you forget "Love You To" from Revolver. The trippy sitar intro told the world, "the ruled have changed in music."

Rick L| 11.29.11 @ 10:19AM

You can tell how much George was loved and respected by watching the "Concert for George" where his friends and musical colleagues paid tribute. Also a great list of songs.

TR| 12.6.11 @ 8:53PM

Rick, I can never get through the version of Something without getting a lump in my throat. The entire concert is fantastic and truly performed with love by so ,any great artists.

JohnD| 11.29.11 @ 10:35AM

No "Crackerbox Palace.?"

Setriously though, I thought I was the only one who appreciated George Harrison's music. One of the things I liked about George is that his guitar playing style was something straight out of Nashville. (Listen to the guitar on "Act Naturally") George's style was more Chet Atkins or Roy Clark than striaght rock and roll. George was a good picker in the classic country/rockabilly style.

astorian| 11.29.11 @ 12:08PM

George Harrison's first musical hero was Carl Perkins, which is why the Beatles covered such Perkins tunes as "Honey Don't" and "Matchbox" (with Ringo on vocals) and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" (with George on vocals).

Binx Bolling| 11.29.11 @ 10:57AM

Also fine are "Don't Bother Me" from Meet the Beatles, "If I Needed Someone" and "Think for Yourself" from Rubber Soul, and "Love You Too" and "I Want to Tell You" from Revolver.

1ConservativeUSA| 11.29.11 @ 10:58AM

We will ALL have a different top 10 list. I appreciate that Mr. Goldstein has shared his.

May God bless you, George.

Jensen Lee | 11.29.11 @ 11:21AM

“Badge” was Eric Clapton’s final song with Cream. Co-written with George Harrison, Clapton was inspired by The Band’s “Music From Big Pink” to create “not extended solos… but just good funky songs.” Clapton turned to his friend Harrison for help; as Clapton had played on Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” for the Beatles’ “White Album” in September 1968, Harrison was happy to help a month later. Harrison, who wrote the lyrics, said his scribbled word “bridge” was misread by Clapton as “badge,” which became the song’s title.

astorian| 11.29.11 @ 12:11PM

Correct- "badge" was originally just a misreading of the word "bridge." But in the years since, when Clapton has performed the song live, he has often (jokingly) sung "Where is my badge" during the bridge of the song!

Seek| 11.29.11 @ 11:24AM

I'd go with "Don't Bother Me" (1963) and "Wah-Wah" (1970). Each is possessed of superb songwriting and arrangements. Still missing you, George.

Frank Drackman| 11.29.11 @ 12:44PM

OK, top 10 lists are old hat, especially with geniuses...
How about the best one line from a Beatles song??
I'll start.

I GOT BLISTERS ON MAH FINGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frank

Moe Blotz| 11.29.11 @ 1:04PM

From a fish and finger pie?

MacDaddy| 11.29.11 @ 3:08PM

I believe that line is actually, "Four of fish and finger pie!"

My favorite line is, (there's so many!) "and Moscow girls make me scream and shout, and Georgia's on my-my-my-my-my-mind!" Punny.

scotchieguy| 11.29.11 @ 9:14PM

Come together--"One and one and one is three. Got to be good lookin cuz he's so hard to see." A serious rip at Paul. Also, "listen to the color of your dreams," from Tomorrow never knows. The world was never the same after that tune.

Frank Drackman| 11.29.11 @ 1:46PM

if noones gonna play, I'll play with myself.

I GOT BLISTUHS ON MAH..

I mean, those Ukraine Girls really knock me out...

crunchycon| 11.29.11 @ 3:48PM

"So I lit a fire,
Isn't it good
Norwegian Wood?"

Ken in People's Republic of MD| 11.29.11 @ 9:29PM

Thanks, crunchy. I was beginning to wonder when the first song to feature the sitar would make an appearance.

Conserdude| 11.30.11 @ 8:00AM

Within you without you" from sgt pepper is on my list, his only song on that album but one of the best

Paevo| 11.29.11 @ 1:19PM

I Me Mine sums up this Facebook Kim Kardashian culture best...

Norman Conquest| 11.29.11 @ 2:12PM

What!?!? No mention of It's All Too Much? One of George's, or anybody's best!

skip| 11.29.11 @ 4:11PM

No Traveling Wilbury's either?

Stan Allen | 11.29.11 @ 8:05PM

I heartily agree that the omission of "It's all too much" is an oversight - but hey, it's a tough list to come up with, no matter how you slice it.
I'm just glad for the post itself; it's always a good time to remember how incredibly under-rated George Harrison is, and it's great to see that so many of us agree on this topic!

Anthony| 11.29.11 @ 2:16PM

Creams version of "Badge" is sublime. Clapton's guitar riffs are awesome.

Stoddard| 11.29.11 @ 3:26PM

"Wah-Wah" -- Great song.

crunchycon| 11.29.11 @ 3:46PM

...and here I thought I was the only George-is-my-favorite-Beatle-Club member....like others, I was looking for "Within You Without You" on the top ten list. Thanks for sharing, and continue to RIP, George. I still miss you.

JimP| 11.29.11 @ 3:51PM

What? The Beatles weren't socialist revolutionairies?! "I'm shocked. Shocked!" This makes them part of the 1%. Where are the OWS trolls decrying the Fab Four on this thread?

Mike Hawk| 11.29.11 @ 5:57PM

The only one of the four I didn't really like much was Lennon. His later stuff was drivel. THe OWs / Anarchist Anthem is "Imagine". Listen to the words sometime. I hate it.

The others matured in their talents and did memorable stuff.

cuban pete| 11.29.11 @ 9:09PM

"His later stuff was drivel."
Who came along"later"?
Yoko Ono-professional drone.
Give her credit though.She parlayed no talent and an unpleasant personality in to big bucks.

Watchyer6| 11.29.11 @ 5:15PM

I would nominate "Something," While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Isn't it A Pity," "Wah-Wah," "Beware of Darkness," "When We Was Fab," and "Cheer Down."

Dave | 11.29.11 @ 8:12PM

A quick two cents on Harrison solo (and) The Beatles

(1.) I always thought George got "jobbed" when he lost that (alleged) plagiarism case against him, brought by the writer(s) of "He's So Fine", a nice little hit for the Chiffons. If memory serves, the judge in that case ruled that, indeed, there was an identical riff in the opening of "My Sweet Lord" and the opening line of the Chiffons hit:

Humm it ...

"He's so fine" ...
1-2-3
"My sweet Lord" ...
1-2-3

That's all that caused a judge to rule against Harrison.

Sure, they both have a similar line, but I can name hundreds, nay maybe, thousands if songs that inadvertently "borrow" from each other. Think of how many song are written at any one time, then tell me that a judge or writer couldn't hear a similarity in many of them?

It's just me, but I think ol' George got jobbed by 'da judge.

(2.) As far a Beatle product goes, I've never felt that George Martin received near the creative, production credit he deserved for co-producing some of their greatest sellers. None of the guys had any clue how to write charts and/or arrange classical or other orchestration pieces. Without George Martin to create those complicated charts and direct the musicians, tell me how many copies of Sgt . Pepper would have been sold? And what would it have sounded like? Without Martin's input and direction, that album might have ended up sounding like "Sgt. Pepper - Unplugged": two guitars, a bass and Ringo on tambourine. In the business it might have sounded no better than a basic demo tape.

But again, that's just me.

Die Fledermaus| 11.29.11 @ 10:46PM

Good points. In that court case, George also mentioned in his defense that basically all songs are "borrowed" in that there are a limited number of musical note combinations.

He pointed this out by playing for them and showing song similarities.

At least he wrote "This Song" afterwards!

One of the greatest things I watched was when George was inducted in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Prince played the guitar solo on "While my Guitar..."

I was blown away. Always blew Prince off as a pop star. Dude can play a mean guitar.

RetUSA1/75| 11.29.11 @ 9:29PM

George Harrison had a knack with me back in the old AM Radio day's. However, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Carol King; do I need to go on? I lived in a great band music era as a kid and young adult. Now, what should I listen to now........Oh yeah, another favorite song of mine; "Take a walk on the wild side," by who.....yep. Lou Reed. And Johnny Cash, Led Zepplin, Hank Williams, Ray Charles. Oh, and did I say Jeff Beck yet? Or, how about Tina Turner? The flood gates are open. This article reflects eating a decent outdoor grilled medium rare ribey steak and accidently puking it up. And wondering why you did it.

POST American| 11.29.11 @ 11:07PM

---After the disclosures of Tavistock,
and Theo Adorno's, full-spectrum
'involvement' with creating the 'POP' culture
---can we EVER look at even the Beatles the same way again?

--------------------------------NO, WE CAN'T

TR| 12.6.11 @ 8:58PM

Always have to make a stupid post, eh POST? And as far as "no we can't"......speak for your own disturbed self, jackass.

Richard Baker| 11.30.11 @ 10:38AM

Enjoyed his music from the Beatles on especially his version of "Roll Over, Beethoven" on the Beatles second album in the US. First song, second side, if memory serves. However, I lost all respect for the man when I found out that Ringo caught him and Ringo's wife Maureen, Zak's Mother, going "at it."

Mike H.| 12.1.11 @ 10:51AM

Think For Yourself is more conservative than Taxman. It's a rebuke to leftwing statist idealism:
"You're telling all those lies
About the good things that we can have
If we close our eyes"

"And though you still can't see
I know your mind's made up
You're gonna cause more misery"

"Although your mind's opaque
Try thinking more if just for your own sake
The future still looks good
And you've got time to rectify
All the things that you should"

Harrison even said the song was inspired by "the government. He would have made a great conservative if the Maharishi hadn't got hold of him first.

Peppermint Tea| 12.6.11 @ 9:18AM

"I really want to know you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord."

spike59| 12.29.11 @ 9:39AM

"life itself"
the most heartfelt hymn of praise i have ever heard

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