November 5, 2010 Playlist

 
"All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison (1970)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
George Harrison  "All Things Must Pass"  1970 (UK)
For this November's special, I am attempting to recreate albums that never were, including a "Beatles reunion album" from the early 1970's (don't ask from which year specifically, because it covers a 5 year span from 1970-74 -- let's just imagine they would have saved up their best songs for a comeback album!)  Among the ex-Beatles' many solo albums, perhaps the most acclaimed (and best-selling) is this unlikely triple LP set from "the quiet one" in the band (who was always surprisingly low-profile for a guy who was, after all, LEAD GUITARIST IN THE MOST POPULAR ROCK BAND EVER!)  As legend has it, George was bursting with tunes that John & Paul had vetoed for Beatles albums, and this record is certainly proof of that (though the 3rd "jam" LP is pretty much unnecessary.)  George's post-Beatles supergroup on this album includes the rhythm section of Ringo and Klaus Voorman (who also feature prominently on the rest of the Beatles' solo albums -- except for Paul's -- lawsuit, ahem) --  as well as Eric Clapton and a bunch of his buddies who would soon form the short-lived Derek & The Dominoes.  Also old Beatle pals like Billy Preston, Dave Mason (from Traffic), the keyboard players from Procol Harum and Spooky Tooth, the singers from Badfinger, producer Phil Spector, and even a teenaged Phil Collins playing bongos on one track!
Here is George performing the song from this album that became the first #1 hit by an ex-Beatle after the band broke up: "My Sweet Lord" (he also got sued for this song, because it sounds a bit like the 60's girlgroup hit "He's So Fine".)  George was a good pal to Ringo -- he apparently ghost-wrote Ringo's first hit "It Don't Come Easy" but didn't take any credit for it (Starr needed the money, not getting much royalties from the Beatles as he didn't write any of their hits) -- and Harrison also helped Ringo write his biggest hit "Photograph", performed here at the tribute concert after George passed (as all things must.)  Finally, here's George explaining the title of this album, and a glimpse of him as a hip young Beatle making a surprise appearance on American TV in 1968.
 
Imaginary Albums
What if . . . ?
Artist Song Album Year Country
The Beatles There's A Place Please Please Me 1963 UK
The Beatles I Me Mine Let It Be 1970 UK
 
 
 The Beatles
The Beatles - "Love Will Turn You On" - side A
Ringo Starr (with Harrison & Klaus Voorman, Stephen Stills, Badfinger) It Don't Come Easy (by Starr & Harrison) A-side 7" single
(Blast From Your Past compilation LP)
 1971 UK
John Lennon (with Starr & Klaus Voorman) I Found Out Plastic Ono Band 1970 UK
Paul & Linda McCartney Too Many People Ram 1971 UK
George Harrison (with Starr & Klaus Voorman, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason) I Dig Love All Things Must Pass
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1970 UK
John Lennon (piano by Phil Spector) Love Plastic Ono Band 1970 UK
Paul McCartney Maybe I'm Amazed McCartney 1970 UK
 
 
The Beatles - "Love Will Turn You On" - side B
Paul McCartney & Wings Hi Hi Hi A-side 7" single
(Wings Greatest Hits LP)		 1974 UK
George Harrison (with Eric Clapton & Badfinger) What Is Life All Things Must Pass
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1970 UK
Ringo Starr (with Harrison) Photograph (by Starr & Harrison) "Ringo"
 1973 UK
John Lennon (with Klaus Voorman) #9 Dream Walls & Bridges 1974 UK
Paul & Linda McCartney Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey Ram 1971 UK
John Lennon (with Klaus Voorman) Oh Yoko (My Love Will Turn You On) Imagine 1971 UK
 
 
 Lou Reed & Nico 1972 (John Cale not pictured)
The Velvet Underground & Nico - "Antarctica" - Side A
Lou Reed I Can't Stand It (Velvet Underground remake) Lou Reed 1972 USA
John Cale MacBeth Paris 1919 1973 UK (Wales)
Lou Reed Hangin' 'Round Transformer 1972 USA
John Cale Graham Greene Paris 1919 1973 UK (Wales)
John Cale Ghost Story Vintage Violence 1970 UK (Wales)
Nico (with Cale) Afraid Desertshore 1970 Germany
 
 
The Velvet Underground & Nico - "Antarctica" - Side B
Lou Reed Perfect Day Transformer 1972 USA
John Cale Antarctica Starts Here Paris 1919 1973 UK (Wales)
Nico (with Cale) Frozen Warnings The Marble index 1969 Germany
Nico (with Cale) Evening Of Light The Marble index 1969 Germany
Lou Reed Ocean (Velvet Underground remake) Lou Reed 1972 USA
Nico (with Cale) All That Is My Own Desertshore 1970 Germany
   
 
Young, Nash, Crosby & Stills (left to right)
Crosby Stills Nash & Young - "Music Is Love" - side A
Stephen Stills (with Crosby & Nash) Love The One You're With Stephen Stills 1970 USA
David Crosby (with Nash & Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Billy Kreutzman) Laughing If I Could Only Remember My Name 1971 USA
Neil Young (with Crosby, Stills & Nash) Long May You Run (from aborted 1976 CSNY sessions) Decade rel. 1977 Canada
Graham Nash (with Crosby & Young) And So It Goes Wild Tales 1973 UK
Stephen Stills (with Crosby & Nash) Sit Yourself Down Stephen Stills 1970 USA
David Crosby (with Jorma Kaukonen, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh & Billy Kreutzman) Tamalpais High (At About 3) If I Could Only Remember My Name 1971 USA
   
 
Crosby Stills Nash & Young - "Music Is Love" - side B
Neil Young (with Crosby, Stills & Nash) Through My Sails (from aborted 1974 CSNY sessions) Zuma 1975 Canada
David Crosby & Graham Nash (with Dave Mason) Immigration Man (by Nash) Graham Nash David Crosby 1972 USA/UK
Stephen Stills (with Crosby & Eric Clapton) Go Back Home Stephen Stills 1970 USA
Neil Young & Graham Nash War Song (by Young) A-side 7" single
(Neil Young Archives Vol. 1)		 1972 Canada/UK
Graham Nash Chicago (We Can Change The World) Songs For Beginners 1971 UK
David Crosby (with Nash & Young) Music Is Love (by Crosby-Nash-Young) If I Could Only Remember My Name 1971 USA
   
 
Crosby Stills Nash & Young Everybody I Love You (by Stills & Young) Deja Vu 1970 USA/UK
/Canada
             
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