I bought something for @RocketSpouse’s birthday that I know he has wanted for a while that he would never buy for himself...

Okay, should I show it?

It is gorgeous, and he is freaking out.

The box is heavy!

Okay, I am going to show it. He has wanted it since it was announced but didn’t want to spend that much $$$$ on himself.

WARNING: if you are a Beatles fan at all, this is pretty much straight up pr0n.

You have been warned.

:)

Outer box is huge. Second interior box, still huge.

Actual package, heavy as hell!

But lovely color!

This is where he freaked out. :)

Sorry for the shadows!

It is the MOST beautiful box of every George Harrison album (minus Bangladesh concert), plus bonus discs, in 180 gram vinyl, remastered, in archival reproduction of the original packaging.

It is GORGEOUS.

Okay, George Harrison isn’t just his favorite Beatle, George is one of his favorite musicians and artists ever. And both of us listen to George when we are a bit down and could use some wisdom or serenity.

We played a George song when we got married.

He’s a big deal to us both.

Is it okay if I do a thread about these albums?

If you are not a Harrison/Beatles fan, you may want to mute for a bit.

@rocketspouse is more of a scholar, but I have some thoughts.

Some of these just aren’t available any other way on vinyl.

The first two are pretty rare, and we’re critical and commercial failures. We have never heard them all the way through.

We’re listening to them in order.

I have to say, Wonderwall is remarkable. Just a lovely mix of Indian and Western instrumentals. Way better than I’d heard

Haven’t heard Electronic Music yet, supposedly it is just George learning to play the Moog synthesizer.

ALL THINGS MUST PASS is of course, probably the crowning achievement in Beatles solo work...a 3 disc set, featuring My Sweet Lord and What is Life, just to start.

It was George’s best songwriting period, probably, with impossibly lush production by Phil Spector. To this day, when I am sad, I listen to the songs, Isn’t It A Pity and All Things Must Pass, for genuine mental relief. It’s a joy.

Next is Living In The Material World...

Which is just a lovely album, and a compromise between Spector’s bombast and George’s understatement.

Highlights include Give Me Love, Who Can See It, and That Is All. His most beautiful melodies are on this one. But you can feel it’s bittersweet, there is sadness. Haunting.

Man, still listening to Wonderwall. This album is incredible, and I never listened to it because of doofus critics.

Okay, moving on!

So much to talk about here!

Dark Horse. I love it, it is a mess. George has laryngitis. He did a revenge track about his wife and best friend cheating on him, AND GOT THEM TO SING ON IT.

The lead song is a masterwork. I actually prefer the laryngitis take.
But he doesn’t want to be here and it shows.

EXTRA TEXTURE again feels half-baked. He wrote a song for Ronnie Spector, recorded it with her ex producing, then took the music and recorded it himself though it’s out of his range.

It has gems, but his rep was really sliding here. I love this album partly because it’s cranky.

Next, 33 1/3, is one of my favorites. It famously is partially inspired by Monty Python, and came back with a couple minor hits “Crackerbox Palace,’ and ‘This Song.’ But for me, it’s the love songs that win.

He found his new love, and it shows. This music smiles and aches.

Next, George Harrison, his first real ‘comeback.’

This album had huge, happy hits, including Blow Away, Love Comes To Everyone, and Faster. He was doing films around this time, beautiful, quirky films, like the man himself.

Heading towards the end of his output while he was alive here.

The first, Somewhere in England, feels a little dated, has a weird ska/new wave opener that doesn’t work.

But!

It also has the song, “You Are The One” which they played when I walked down the aisle and married @Rocketspouse on a beautiful sunny day in the park.

Couple big hits, including his tribute to John Lennon, All Those Years Ago. It’s kind of a lesser album, still enjoy it.

Gone Troppo is an absolute mystery. It is a weird mix of Harrison and a producer who doesn’t get him at all. It was probably his most harshly reviewed. Critics said he was completely over.

They were wrong, and there are a few spots of brilliance AND one incredible work...

The Time Bandits end credits song, DREAM AWAY.

I would put this song among his very top works. It;s endlessly fun, lovely, and thrilling. The doggerel chorus, that for years I thought was some mystical chant, is just nonsense. But I think it’s an actual masterpiece.

The critics and labels thought George was dead. Then he walked in with the tapes for CLOUD NINE, produced by Jeff Lynn, and famously, all the executives lost their minds. The album had hit after hit, even the forgotten songs are killer.

He rediscovered his joy. And for a while, the hottest new act was an ex-Beatle everyone had written off.

Favorite song on this album, Fish On The Sand, which is both smart and edgy.

Last album while he was alive...BRAINWASHED. It’s fascinating, a spiritual guy who knew he was dying, and said screw it, I’m going to play the ukulele.

Almost every song is at least good, some are heartbreaking. ‘Stuck Inside A Cloud’ and ‘Pisces Fish’ are a beautiful goodbye.

Okay, special stuff...

The first is the surprisingly strong Live In Japan double album set. For a guy who did very little solo performing, this album really holds up.

Then there are two picture discs to round out the set.

Here they are. Pretty, fun to look at, beat for collectors...I don’t have much to say about them.

Cool to look at though!

Eric Clapton said he loved the way George ‘bent the notes.’ That he was never really a raver, he did tasteful solos and songs that aimed at places beyond the surface.

Every solo Beatle had highs and lows, but George kept doing what made him happy, and it resonates still.

Long thread, thanks for celebrating @rocketspouse’s birthday with us today, and also this artist whose work is such a part of our relationship!

I have a favor to ask...

I would love to hear everyone’s favorite...

1) George-written Beatles song
2) George solo song
3) George solo album

That would make us both happy. :)

Ps. My hubby is so happy.

Pps. Electronic Sound is NOT a hidden gem.

It’s just...yikes.