Beatles News
Former Beatles guitarist George Harrison would have turned 75 on Sunday, Feb. 25. Harrison was seen in various ways over his life. It is factual that he was the youngest of the four Beatles and the primary lead guitarist.
He also was pigeonholed at one point as the quiet Beatle, then as a curiosity when he started inserting Eastern Hemisphere music elements, such as the sitar instrument and a penchant for personal reflection, into his songs. The period from February to April 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles spending time with yogis in India.
Beyond his Beatles years in the Sixties, Harrison had a wide ranging solo career. He dropped to a much lower profile after the late 1970s, then had a big comeback in 1988 with "Got My Mind Set On You" single and following work in the Traveling Wilburys supergroup, which included Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Harrison died on Nov. 29, 2001, from lung cancer, less than two years after receiving wounds from a man who broke into his house and stabbed Harrison in the chest in December 1999.
Here are the top four charting songs by Harrison as a Beatle and solo artist, plus five extras that should not be overlooked.
Source: Bret Hayworth/siouxcityjournal.com
The 2002 George Harrison tribute concert brimmed with music greats – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton, among them – who played the late Beatle's best known songs, a year after his death at age 58.
But the show ended on an unexpected note with respected, but far-from-superstar musician Joe Brown strumming a ukulele center stage at Royal Albert Hall, singing "I'll See You in My Dreams," a big hit from 1925.
It marked a pure "George" moment: low-key, but high-impact. Just a pal playing one of Harrison's favorite instruments, performing a sad and sweet song about love, loss and the power of memory.
"Concert for George" earned a theatrical rerelease and a reissue on vinyl this week in honor of a Beatles milestone that otherwise might have gone largely unheralded by all but hardcore fans: the 75th anniversary of Harrison's birth.
Source: By Jere Hester/nbcconnecticut.com
Despite the adulation and enthusiasm of the growing band of Beatles fans in India, their trip to Rishikesh was not without its controversies. There were many people in the country who were openly hostile to both Maharishi [Mahesh Yogi] and the arrival of the rock band and other celebrities from the West in his ashram. In the Lok Sabha, the elected Lower House of the Indian Parliament, the Opposition went up in arms alleging that the yogi was in cahoots with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and that many of his guests from abroad were actually foreign spies. The charge was led by communist members of Parliament who formed a sizeable block in the Opposition benches and were supported by the socialists who too felt that something fishy was happening in Rishikesh.
Source: Ajoy Bose/scroll.in
By early 1963, the value of the songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney was obvious to Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
Artists were lining up to record their new compositions. Following the release of their debut single "Love Me Do," producer George Martin recommended Dick James Music to Epstein as a publisher that could do a good job maximizing the value of the Beatles' music. James' idea: a new company owned by James, McCartney, Lennon and Epstein. On Feb. 22, 1963, Lennon and McCartney signed contracts that created what they thought was their own music publishing company: Northern Songs.
"We just signed this thing, not really knowing what it was at all about [and] that we were signing our rights away for our songs," McCartney recalled in Many Years From Now. "John and I didn't know you could own songs. We thought they just existed in the air.
Source: ultimateclassicrock.com
The letter, thought to be signed by all four Beatles members, is expected to fetch around £12,000
The typed letter to Atlanta DJ Paul Drew, who travelled with the band, was signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in September 1965.
It reads: “Dear Paul, we just thought that we would like to write to you all and say thanks very much for your help on the tour.
"We enjoyed it and appreciated your patience and co-operation. Hope to see you next year.“
The letter was written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in 1965
Anything signed by all four Beatles is highly collectable but to have it on NEMS stationary and addressed to Paul Drew takes it to another level.
Source: Andrew Aldridge/express.co.uk
The 84-year-old record producer says he had a long talk with his daughters about what he said, and he is sorry.
Quincy Jones on Thursday morning issued an apology for remarks he made in bombshell interviews with Vulture and GQ in late January.
In his apology, the music legend said his daughters took him aside and talked to him about the effects of the comments.
The 84-year-old record producer said he stopped drinking a few years back and his memory of past events is not as sharp as it should be, which is one of the side effects, so his stories do not paint the whole picture.
"I am sorry to anyone whom my words offended, and I am especially sorry to my friends who are still here with me and those who aren't," Jones said in the statement.
One of the biggest tales Jones shared in one interview was that the late Richard Pryor allegedly had a sexual relationship with the late Marlon Brando. Pryor's ex-wife said it was true, but Brando's son denied the claim.
Source: Ryan Parker/hollywoodreporter.com
Baby you can drive my car! Or certainly George Harrison’s cherished 1984 black Mercedes which is expected to fetch £40,000 at auction next month.
The ex-Beatle had the Mercedes 500 SEL AMG customised to his liking – including the addition of a wired-in mobile phone – in May 1984 when he bought the vehicle near to his home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Spoilers, a leather steering wheel, and a black chrome trim were also added to the car, eventually setting Harrison back a total of £85,000.
But all the investment was perhaps worthwhile after the car made a cameo in the band’s official Real Love video in 1995. Harrison clocked up 30,000 miles on the Mercedes during his 16-year ownership before he sold it to a friend in August 2000. Omega Auctions will put the item up for sale in Newton-Le-Willow, Merseyside on March 24.
Source: independent.ie
My Sweet Lord! ‘The Quiet Beatle’ George Harrison would have turned 75 this week.
To celebrate what would’ve been George Harrison’s 75th birthday, The Beatles Story, Albert Dock is hosting a free event dedicated to telling the story of George’s introduction to Indian music and spirituality on Sunday 25th February 2018 from 4pm. The event will include a talk, given by Dr. Mike Jones of the University of Liverpool’s Music Department exploring the Indian influence on the Beatles from its origins, through to the Rishikesh episode and beyond.
He will be joined by Thomas McConnell, a Liverpool-based singer songwriter, who will provide musical demonstration throughout the session. Tom is signed to Deltasonic Records and is currently touring his new album with his band, TV ME. He played at the Philharmonic Hall in June last year as part of the concert George Harrison: The Beatles and Indian Music. The event is free and will be held in the Fab4 café.
Source: theguideliverpool.com
George Harrison’s 75th birthday is being marked in the most surprising of places.
An event celebrtaing the life of the former Beatle who passed away in 2001 is being held at Portmeirion in North Wales.
The Italian Renaissance-style village was the distinctive setting for the ‘60s television series The Prisoner and was also a favourite spot for The Beatles with George holding his 50th birthday party there in 1993.
This event is open to the public and includes a tour of Portmeirion giving details of George’s links to the site.
There will also be a Q&A session with Freda Kelly , the band’s former PA and president of the official fan club.
Her role, which she undertook from 1962 to 1972 and saw her responding to fans’ letters, often staying up until 4am to do so.
She also oversaw publication of a monthly fan club magazine.he evening will finish with a performance from the singer Paul Jones who was cast as George in the The Cavern Club Beatles, and other special guests. Tickets to the event, which include dinner, are £30, available to buy at this link .
Source: Liverpool Echo
Musician, recording engineer and producer Jerry Hammack has just released volume 2 of The Beatles Recording Reference Manual - a book that reveals the secrets behind the recording of some of the band's most famous albums. It is the second of what will be a four-volume set.
In January, volume 1 was nominated for an Award of Excellence from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC). The new book picks up where the first left off, covering "Help!", "Rubber Soul", and "Revolver" (1965-1966).
"This period in The Beatles' development is really fascinating," says Hammack. "It's a time where the demands of Beatlemania end and they are able to explore both from a songwriting and recording perspective. It represents the emergence of their unique voices as writers (think, 'In My Life') as well as their use of the studio to create sounds the world would never expect from a pop band (as in 'Tomorrow Never Knows')."
Source: beatlesnews.com
