George Harrison’s Solo Journey and Songwriting Independence
Following the dissolution of The Beatles, George Harrison ardently pursued his artistic autonomy, particularly as he embarked on his solo endeavors. Harrison was resolute in demonstrating his songwriting capabilities, an aspect he often perceived as constrained within the collaborative framework of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Creative Freedom and ‘Beware of Darkness’
Despite newfound creative liberty, Harrison exercised selectivity regarding the release of his compositions. Notably, ‘Beware of Darkness,’ a track featured on his seminal solo album All Things Must Pass, was one such song he expressed reservations about issuing.
All Things Must Pass: A Post-Beatles Masterpiece
All Things Must Pass is widely recognized as a landmark achievement from a former member of The Beatles. This expansive triple LP served as a testament to Harrison’s profound musicality and mature lyrical themes, providing audiences with an immersive experience of his complete creative expression.
Contrasting Versions: Demos vs. Album Tracks
A particularly intriguing dimension of All Things Must Pass is the divergence between the finalized album versions of certain songs and their earlier demo recordings, most notably the demo for ‘Beware of Darkness’.
Harrison confessed a lack of enthusiasm for the initial iteration of this song, which surfaced much later in unofficial bootleg recordings.
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“I wasn’t even aware it had been recorded at that time,” Harrison admitted in a 2000 interview with Billboard. “It subsequently emerged on a bootleg, and it feels peculiar when something you never intended to be a formal recording is unexpectedly unearthed and presented as the definitive version. I have reservations about that whole situation.”
Harrison’s Longing for Songwriting Recognition in The Beatles
Harrison’s aspiration for creative independence was a recurring theme throughout his tenure with The Beatles. While Lennon and McCartney largely dictated the songwriting direction of the band, Harrison increasingly found his own contributions relegated to the periphery. Although he contributed tracks early on, his songwriting efforts were frequently overshadowed or minimized in favor of Lennon and McCartney’s more prominent work.
Nevertheless, Harrison’s time within The Beatles was far from unproductive. He penned some of the band’s most enduring and acclaimed songs, including:
- ‘Something’
- ‘Here Comes the Sun’
- ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’
Songs Harrison Expressed Disfavor For
Regarding songs Harrison disliked, his discontent with certain Beatles compositions was well-documented, and he openly voiced his aversion to several tracks. He notably expressed his disdain for ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ in his song ‘Savoy Truffle,’ alluding to it as a “sour” piece.
He also held a negative opinion of ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,’ a song reportedly disliked by all Beatles members except Paul McCartney. Harrison found the recording sessions for this track protracted and irritating, noting that McCartney’s insistence on maintaining an upbeat tone despite the song’s dark narrative created an unusual discord within the band.
Furthermore, Harrison harbored critical views of ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’ and ‘Don’t Bother Me’—two of his initial contributions to The Beatles’ catalog. In his autobiography I, Me, Mine, he conveyed feeling that the latter was a feeble attempt at songwriting and regarded ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’ as a simplistic, uninspired melody he was compelled to sing.