RIP George Harrison

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― Melissa W, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Very sad. RIP.

― stevo, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you

I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps

― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

For his stuff on 'Rubber Soul', the man is forgiven everything. The first and last jangle-pop I ever luvved!

― dave q, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

As a kid, I kept copying images from the John Byrne painting on the cover of "The Beatles Ballads" and his cheekbones were the centre of all I drew. There is no higher tribute in my solipsistic world.

― Alasdair, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not to forget "Taxman" - the only pop star with the balls to sing what everyone else in the biz was no doubt thinking!

Did he do "Long Long Long" or was that Lennon? I know he did something on the White Album that I love, but I can't remember what - one of the slowies?

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My mum's favourite Beatle. She's going to be *so* upset when she wakes up.

― suzy, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yikes. I better write my ex-roomie, he was her fave Beatle, too. :-(

― kate, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I know he did something on the White Album that I love, but I can't remember what - one of the slowies?
Come on Tom, what did I just post? He also did "Piggies" I think but that's not what you mean I guess.

― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Long, Long, Long - yes, fantastic. Best track on The White Album. Quick straw-poll of mates this morning has If I Needed Someone as best Geo track.

And DQ is spot-on 'bout Rubber Soul. His playing Help (the album) is ace too.

― Dr. C, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No, goodness Alex, it wasn't that. It WAS "Long Long Long" thankyou Dr C., and "If I Needed Someone" was also very good and I like "Something" too - actually with that kind of strike rate he might have been *my* favourite Beatle!

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And "Piggies" is unfairly maligned too I think - goodness knows there are worse things on that record.

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I must admit he seemed the gentlest of the beatles and a fellow that did no harm . a loss even if its jsut for wonderwall.

― anthony, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tom - was it Savoy Truffle?There are,what,four George songs on the White Album?While My Guitar Gently Weeps,Long Long Long,Piggies and Savoy Truffle.

― Damian, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've said nasty things about him elsewhere that I didn't really mean, but God, I was in *tears* on the bus this morning when I finally found a radio station that knew he did more than 'Something' and 'Here Comes The Sun'. They played the acoustic version of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and it just cut me up. I wasn't crying for him, I suppose as much as for me. Knowing the names of the four Beatles is bound up with my earliest memories, 'Abbey Road' one of the records I grew up with, and his passing feels like the part of the inevitable ebbing away of the foundations of the only world I know.

― Nick, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

George had become my favourite of all the Beatles over the years. Not necessarily musically although I like a lot of his songs. I mean personally. Watching him on the Anthology programmes, he was the one who had the most perspective on the Beatles years and this brought a nice irreverence to his reminiscing. He saw 'Beatle George' as a seperate person to who he was now.

He always had a cheeky twinkle in his eye and a very dry sense of humour. I admired him because he didn't have to play the celebrity game to justify his existence. He was never happier than with his wellies on doing his garden.

Also, lets not forget the films he made as film producer. Propped up the British film industry for a long time. The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits, Life Of Brian, Private Function etc. Just don't mention Shanghai Surprise.

A sad loss.

― mms, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nick

I kinda feel the same way. For all its a cliche to like the Beatles and people can sneer at them because they're so pervasive, they were the band i grew up with and I'm only 29 so didn't live through it first time.

They were the only records in my dads collection that I played over and over and this is before I had money to buy my own records. They couldn't help but influence my musical taste. My fandom isn't so rampant now but when a band gets under you're skin at such an early age its difficult to let that go. Sgt Pepper for me, is a childhood Sunday morning album cause thats when i can remember my dad playing it the most.

So, as you say, its like a part of who you are/were is slipping further away, and thats the hardest thing.

Small boys in the park, jumpers for goal posts. Marvellous.

― mms, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What Tom, are you saying that everyone else in the rock world was worried the government were going to tax their feet?

― Pete, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I downloaded an MP3 of "My Sweet Lord" but unfortunately the vision filling my head is not of poor dead George but of NICK DASTOOR singing it at Karaoke. It's really good though.

Pete: yes.

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So you thought you'd mark his death by STEALING ROYALITIES FROM HIS ESTATE, Tom? Who needs the Taxman when you've got Ewing.

― Nick, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Surely from the Chiffons' estates?

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

WHAT ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES?

― Nick, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm saying nothing, I'm already in trouble on ILE.

― DG, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nick he can't very well perform it NOW can he?

(OK I know thats not what "performance royalties" means.)

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nope, its George's money you are stealing. He still owned the rights to My Sweet Lord and he in fact bought the rights to He's So Fine too.

― mms, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I stand corrected. I will put George's cut of a single's royalty payment in a charity box tonight.

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I always felt George had the best of the Beatles' solo careers. One great album (All Things Must Pass), a significant benefit concert, and a number of other albums that weren't particularly involving but weren't offensively bad, like most of Wings. He was also one of the few people in pop with an openly 'spiritual' side who didn't seem pretentious about it. He was too 'English' for that, too down-to- earth, in his funny eccentric lovable way. "Show me that I'm everywhere and get me home for tea..."

― Justyn Dillingham, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

May I throw in Savoy Truffle? No-one in the world likes that track except me.

― Dr. C, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I quite like it. The only George track I hate on the White Album is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

re. the solo albums. I'd probably have always said George was the worst Beatle because "Got My Mind Set On You" was so terrible and was all over the radio in its day. And the Travelling Wilberries were hopeless too. But my hooky MP3 of "My Sweet Lord" suggests otherwise.

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The only George track I hate on the White Album is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
As hate is such a strong word could you explain that a little, Tom? Just reading the lyrics before I posted them here made me almost cry. I was thinking of George's guitar which is now weeping for him. Is it too sentimental? I must admit it is on the verge of schmaltzy kitsch but I think it is still on the good side.

― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i liked his "indian" songs when i was small, and put my name down to learn sitar at the freshers fair! — how this would have stood with my punXoR blether i cannot now tell (ragalama dolequeue?), but the man never sent me the times of the classes so the problem never arose :(

he was my favourite beatle back in the day because he seemed sad: admittedly the travelling wilburies somewhat weaned me off this

― mark s, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Songs abt guitars (esp. yr own guitar) = rockism, no?

― Andrew L, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"gently weeps" is terribly patronising, alex (tho more so on paper than on record, i think): "higher guitar-man I feels bad for all you perverted-diverted masses"

― mark s, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

songs abt guitars (or any instruments) = not rockist

― mark s, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

my mum just shed a tear, she did. and she is the most NON ROCKIST human bean i know. i hate the fucking beatles as all kno, but the death of anyone (okay, most people) is a time to put away petty differences/obsessions. but for some reason all that flashed into my mind when reading the title of this thread was "got my mind set on you" and d. toop's comment in a review (and i'm paraphrasing/butchering): "harrison's proclivities for aetherial bombay psychedelia always made you think he was about to happen upon some trippy new form of pop song writing, only to obscure the results with the dim glow of his simplemindedness." and "taxman" was the only song i skipped everytime on revolver. (except for that tosser ringo's "yellow submarine.") ditto "guitar."

oh, well. at least i'm not as bad as dg.

― jess, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Alex - I don't like the guitar on WMGGW. Those are crocodile tears (only a step away from "Crocodile Shoes" by J Nail).

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tom, wasn't the lead guitar on that version by the vastly over-rated Mr Clapton?

Maybe you should seek out the acoustic version that brought Nick to ears this morning.

― David, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm not very fond of the Clapton guitar on WMGGW. But the acoustic version on Anthology is lovely. Also, it has an extra final verse that goes

I look from the wings at the play you are staging
While my guitar gently weeps
As I'm sitting here doing nothing but aging
Still my guitar gently weeps

I think that reinforces the song's sadness over the 'patronising' reading.

― Nick, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pants!

Tears, tears.

― David, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Of course WMGGW is Clapton-tainted, which somehow lessens it. That's him soloing in a 'weeping' fashion here and there. I love the cry of "Hey Up" at the start of the track, also the whole bloody thing is out of tune, especially the organ. I rather like this.

― Dr. C, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I do not find WMGGW "patronising" and don't hear "crocodile tears" in the guitar play. George expresses his admittedly simple world view in this song. "Flower power" is distilled in this song. It is extremely naive but that's what those years were about. I definitely prefer it to a bland and lyrically poor song like "All You Need Is Love".
I read that he will be laid out according to Hare Krishna tradition with a specific flower (forgot the name) under the tongue. There is something very peaceful, very innocent about him.

― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

We'll miss you, George.

― dleone, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah I thought it might have been Clapton. Well that's good because I'm not speaking ill of the dead, hooray.

"All You Need Is Love" is better because the KLF nicked it.

― Tom, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Worth remembering, perhaps, that George saves the day on (the otherwise mostly abysmal) 'Abbey Road' ("Something" and "Here Comes the Sun"--the latter of which was answered very shortly thereafter by the Velvets in "Who Loves the Sun"). Also that "Don't Bother Me" from '64 (?) is a terrific mood piece (I sulk along everytime), and that his little dance moves in the movie 'A Hard Day's Night' (during "I Should Have Known Better") made me wish I was his mother (so *cute*).

― scott wods, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So, I'm watching the local newscast this morning, and the news about George Harrison comes on. Just a short clip about his life and times. Cut to a trio of talking heads, all smiley faces, sighing together. One starts murmuring bits of 'Here Comes the Sun' ... and they segue to the weather: "Well, we'll have to wait a day to sing that one, because here in DC it's rain, rain, rain ...."

It's a bit of a naive fantasy to imagine the Beatles' music un-co- opted, free of taint. Likewise, to imagine them religiously, as these pure saints of music. But I almost kicked my television right off its stand.

― Chris, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Don't know why, but this sentence in salon.com's obit made me feel a little more sad about the whole thing:

"With Harrison's death, there remain two surviving Beatles..."

― scott woods, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And henceforth, they're not the Threetles but the Tootles

― mms, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If you think that's bad, on my local news they segued from the story of George's death by having the deeply dippy bimbette newsreader say, "Well, speaking of music, Riverdance is coming to town!".

I am not a huge fan of the Beatles by any means, but GH probably wrote most of the songs of theirs that I do like.

― Nicole, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

try driving to work listening to the local news channel and hearing the weather goober "cleverly" insert beatles song titles into his forecast ("going to be sunny and clear EIGHT DAYS A WEEK (wink, wink, GET IT??)") gah.

― jess, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

that should be his ENTIRE FORECAST. one per line.

― jess, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Here Comes The Sun always made me cry for some reason. Erm, he was great and funny and I can't really say more but he'll be missed.

― Bill, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Love You To, I Want To Tell You, Long Long Long, Here Comes The Sun, Something ... yes, probably my favourite too.

― Jeff W, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fate keeps taking the most talented of the Beatles before their time. Just watch: Ringo will be next.

― Sean Carruthers, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ringo's a fantastic actor, haven't you seen Caveman?

― Ally, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, come on! When We Was Fab, All Those Years Ago, Got My Mind Set On You, the Travelling Wilburys. The man hasn't been good - or fab - in decades. I know I shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but fuck it. I have a bit of a go at him on http://swishcottage.blogspot.com

― David Sim, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, sure, I haven't really much enjoyed Harrison's output in a while, but are you seriously implying that Macca has done anything worth listening to in that same period? I mean, sheesh, "The Girl is Mine" is far worse than anything Harrison did.

― Sean Carruthers, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I read your piece, David. Referring to him as a "fucker" was a nice bit of writing. Oh, and "died in Los Angeles, by the way" was deep. What a clever boy you are!

― dan, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Erm, wasn't he a guitarist or something as well?

I was just listening to the white album in awe a couple days ago. Rest easy.

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm with Dan. I mean, David makes it sound like it's wishy-washy or something to remember someone who's passed away for the better things they did. If the first thing you think of when you hear the words 'George Harrison' is "Got My Mind Set on You," then I don't think the problem is with George necessarily. And to suddenly no longer be obsessed with the Beatles because it's no longer 1966 or something...I'm lost.

― s woods, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah - it's funny the way almost everyone is only talking about the songs he wrote and not those he played on. Rockists!

― Nick, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No, he wasn't my favorite beatle... but he was definitely my favorite beatle guitar player. All that stuff on "And Your Bird Can Sing"... the cool solo on "Nowhere Man"... he was a tasty, understated and sometimes brilliant guitar player, and for all of his sitar jangling, I think he would be happy to be remembered as just a really good guitar player. Plus, I bet there's probably at least 4 or 5 major gods who are just lining up to invite him into their heavenly kingdoms.

― andy, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bloke behind the counter in my local CD library is wearing a black armband, bless him.

― stevo, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Long, Long, Long" - yes, I love that as well. His best work. I always try to like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" but the song structure is just too proto-AOR (as MacDonald noted). "Something" and even "Here Comes The Sun" never lose their charm for me either.

Of course all his later work was dire AOR, but curiously I find his view of the world more appealing now than I ever did in life. Whether this is just not-wanting-to-speak-ill business I don't know, but it does have some resonance. I like "My Sweet Lord" as well.

"the only world I know" - Nick, I take this to be a world of social mobility and flexibility not hidebound by traditional class boundaries. And it *was* the 60s generation that founded that world, and the Beatles were the band most definitive of that time, so I really can't argue with that.

― Robin Carmody, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

when i was a young lad, I always liked that demo on anthology 1, "you know what to do"...direct and pretty... also his monologues on the bbc tapes. sigh...

― dave k, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sometimes, some people just don't like George Harrison's music. I think that's a fair criticism, whether it's While My Guitar Gently Weeps (which is terribly overrated - I think it's a dirge, and it makes me want to weep, very hard) or Got My Mind Set On You. I like What Is Life. That's about it for Harrison. I don't think it's unfair to just not like someone's songwriting style, I won't suddenly like him because he's dead, you know. I'm sorry he died the way he did, it's quite terrible.

― Ally, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dignity through inactivity! Cloud Nine notwithstanding, he could be the '60s legend-type that did the least harm to his rep in the past quarter-century by just doing little (musically at least; his filmwork was top drawer -- time bandits!).

WMGGW with forceful, "serious" Slowhand solo is a blight. Isn't It a Pity is an overlooked gem and Long x3 is the pick of the Beatles litter.

― scott p., Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

you know, we get bombarded by the media all the time with bullshit, like 'something' is the greatest love song, so sez sinatra, etc, so no one's mentioned this song, but the fact remains, press or no press (and sometimes i prefer the latter), it is a great great song, beautiful and awesome in its structure and melody, good on ya george, you'll never be forgotten for that, not to mention 'within you without you', cool that you saw the value in eastern music, paved the way for talvin singh et al, at least the acceptance as such, remember, like george did, music is love.

― karmik guy, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i scroll too fast... (re:somthing)

― karmik guy, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm glad everyone's remembering Long Long Long as i always thought it was highly underrated. But did anyone think Taxman was a bit gripey "Oh God! Must I really help pay nurses?"

― dog latin, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So did I, Latin, but its value is that it cuts through all the simplistic "Beatles = Wilsonian" bullshit.

― Robin Carmody, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Underrated songwriter, frustrated guitar player, ageing curmudgeon whose only public pronouncements are occasional pot-shots at contemporary pop... my kind of fellow.

Great sadness and sympathy: the 'sadness' Mark S talks of is absolutely there, for me, and must ultimately be a profound part of what Harrison 'means'.

Nicky D's ('historical / generational') tears are moving too (and not just cos wept on a bus): the death of a Beatle is a loud, dark bell tolling for us all.

― the pinefox, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the death of a Beatle is a loud, dark bell tolling for us all

Death only happened with this? Astounding! Weird hallucinations I've been having saying otherwise, then.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

seven years pass...

Now some love for George.

― Sickamous (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 18 September 2009 08:43 (sixteen years ago)

some lovely understated songs. the instrumental "what is life" is one of my favourite! things! ever!
can't forgive him for Taxman though.

― tomofthenest, Friday, 18 September 2009 09:19 (sixteen years ago)

I want to do "Top ten George Beatles guitarness moments" but I've not got anything to hand to confirm who played what so I shant yet.

― Sickamous (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 18 September 2009 10:06 (sixteen years ago)

I know, someone could easily go "yeah, that solo on Taxman" for instance.

― Mark G, Friday, 18 September 2009 10:11 (sixteen years ago)

hahahaha, yes, BUT there are a couple of things I'm thinking of suggesting where I have doubt in my mind over whether it was Lennon or Macca instead.

― Sickamous (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 18 September 2009 10:17 (sixteen years ago)

What top ten can we do for Lennon? Songs? Vocals performances?

― Sickamous (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 18 September 2009 10:17 (sixteen years ago)

Lyric?

― Sickamous (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 18 September 2009 10:24 (sixteen years ago)

How about Vocal moments?

e.g. Backing vocal on "Getting Better" "but I can't complain"

― Mark G, Friday, 18 September 2009 10:49 (sixteen years ago)

My Top Ten Harrison Beatle Guitar Moments

1. Fixing a Hole solo
2. Backwards bits on I'm Only Sleeping
3. Let it Be solo
4. Multilayered parts on And Your Bird Can Sing
5. Riffs on Another Girl
6. Wonky wierd suff on Baby's in Black
7. Country solo on I'm a Loser
8. Call & response parts on She Loves You
9. Reverby solo on I Saw Her Standing There
10. Guitar swells on Yes it Is

― Darin, Friday, 18 September 2009 16:48 (sixteen years ago)

dark horse v underrated imo. it's kind of muddy and meandering, but I love that shit.

― feed them to the (Linden Ave) lions (will), Friday, 18 September 2009 16:52 (sixteen years ago)

4. Multilayered parts on And Your Bird Can Sing

I can narrow this down even further to the plucked/harmonic "ping" that ends the solo which is just so fucking awesome and makes me smile every time I hear it

― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 18 September 2009 16:56 (sixteen years ago)

Oh yeah! He does the same thing on his Nowhere Man solo.

― Darin, Friday, 18 September 2009 17:00 (sixteen years ago)

oh shit I think I am mixing those two up

― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 18 September 2009 17:05 (sixteen years ago)

yeah it is def Nowhere Man I was thinking of

duh

carry on!

― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 18 September 2009 17:07 (sixteen years ago)

11. His solo on "Got To Get You Into My Life"

― vulva eyes (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 18 September 2009 17:10 (sixteen years ago)

can't forgive him for Taxman though.

Fuck are you talking about? "Taxman" is awesome.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 18 September 2009 17:29 (sixteen years ago)

I'm starting to really love the early songs he sang, like 'Think for Yourself'...I love that he's kind of using his speaking voice in TfY, compared to later where he actually 'sings', like in Something, etc.

and I don't understand not loving Taxman. It's GREAT!

― VegemiteGrrrl, Friday, 18 September 2009 17:53 (sixteen years ago)

This links to the long, famous version of 'Think For Yourself', with lots of speaking.

― Ismael Klata, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:18 (sixteen years ago)

wee! thanks!

― VegemiteGrrrl, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:24 (sixteen years ago)

all things must pass is one of my faves

― holosystolic murmur and the thrill (gbx), Friday, 18 September 2009 18:26 (sixteen years ago)

that octaner blog is a little headspinning ... so many beatles bootlegs ... also reminded me that this existed
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lMRIjoHyp-4/SqcFMD5UWII/AAAAAAAADSw/VXQP4gc6nrA/s1600-h/capa.jpg
worst beatles cover art ever? lol, thumbs

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:33 (sixteen years ago)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lMRIjoHyp-4/SqcFMD5UWII/AAAAAAAADSw/VXQP4gc6nrA/s1600-h/capa.jpg

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:34 (sixteen years ago)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lMRIjoHyp-4/SqcFMD5UWII/AAAAAAAADSw/VXQP4gc6nrA/s1600-h/capa.jpg

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:34 (sixteen years ago)

gah!

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:34 (sixteen years ago)

tyler your last few posts have been. . . all thumbs. . .

― Mr. Que, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:35 (sixteen years ago)

sorry haha ... just click on the link 4 a laff!

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:36 (sixteen years ago)

gag! Ack! looks like it was painted by that 'boulevard of broken dreams' artist, the one with James Dean, Bogey and Marilyn all hanging at a sad-sack diner. yeesh.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:54 (sixteen years ago)

it is sort of crazy, what with the hushed reverence that these recent reissues have been given, packaging-wise. And then you see that ... who approved that?!

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:00 (sixteen years ago)

was it Ringo

― tylerw, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:00 (sixteen years ago)

can't forgive him for Taxman though.
Fuck are you talking about? "Taxman" is awesome.
― Alex in NYC, Friday, 18 September 2009 18:29 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

don't get me wrong, musically its awesome. but lyrically... it just comes across as nasty - I'm rolling in cash & I don't wanna pay taxes... wanker

― tomofthenest, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:15 (sixteen years ago)

Fair point, actually. But in the UK, weren't they being taxed 80% of their earnings at the time(or some insane percentage like that), hence the trend of popstars becoming tax exiles?

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:30 (sixteen years ago)

That point's almost worth its own thread. The US.'s top tax rate was 70% at one time!

― vulva eyes (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 18 September 2009 19:33 (sixteen years ago)

94%, actually, during the WWII years. But yeah, from 1936, it never went below 70% until Ronald Reagan was president. Since 1987, it's never been above 40%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States#History_of_top_rates.5B20.5D

― Pancakes Batman (Pancakes Hackman), Friday, 18 September 2009 19:40 (sixteen years ago)

the point is, though, that's the top rate - you had to be earning a small fortune for it even to apply.

― tomofthenest, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:48 (sixteen years ago)

I read that the top rate of uk tax in the 60s was at one point over 100%. That seems a bit unlikely, but I'm pretty sure it hit 99%. I'd be pretty unhappy with that too.

― Ismael Klata, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:49 (sixteen years ago)

George dissed Wilson AND Heath in Taxman.

― Sickamous (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 18 September 2009 19:50 (sixteen years ago)

And "one for you, nineteen for me" = 95%, obviously

― Ismael Klata, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:51 (sixteen years ago)

I knew someone would finally do the math.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 18 September 2009 19:58 (sixteen years ago)

Actually, depending on the number of brackets, you'd have to be earning a HUGE fortune for the top rate to apply. When Reagan entered office and the top rate was 70%, there were 15 brackets. The top rate kicked in at $108,000 for single filers. (That's $243,399 in 2007 dollars.) Now there are 6, with the top rate kicking in at, I believe, income over $372,950.

― Pancakes Batman (Pancakes Hackman), Friday, 18 September 2009 19:58 (sixteen years ago)

RIP George Harrison thread

― Mr. Que, Friday, 18 September 2009 20:00 (sixteen years ago)

Brought to you by L&M Block.

― Pancakes Batman (Pancakes Hackman), Friday, 18 September 2009 20:04 (sixteen years ago)

...and really, where would radio 'money market' announcers be without their 'Taxman' intro music?

I like the lines, like 'If you take a walk I'll tax your feet'. omghaha taxman is MEAN

― VegemiteGrrrl, Friday, 18 September 2009 20:21 (sixteen years ago)

― vulva eyes (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 18 September 2009 20:22 (sixteen years ago)

The way Lennon's and Harrison's guitars tumble, twist, and turn around the vocal lines in "She Said, She Said." Plus, George plays bass on it.

― leavethecapital, Friday, 18 September 2009 23:06 (sixteen years ago)

― vulva eyes (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 18 September 2009 23:19 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

I know this is John's, but George steals the clip. Happy birthday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz7IjXu0DfQ

― clemenza, Tuesday, 25 February 2014 14:31 (twelve years ago)

such a great clip. pretty much everyone who's in it steals it.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 25 February 2014 18:47 (twelve years ago)

four months pass...

L.A. Gently Weeps as George Harrison Tree Is Felled by Beetles

LOS ANGELES — A tree planted in memorial to late Beatles guitarist George Harrison following his death in Los Angeles in 2001 has been killed by bark beetles amid California's epic drought, a local official said on Tuesday.
The pine tree, which was dedicated with a plaque to Harrison at the head of a hiking trail in the city's Griffith Park, was among a number of trees that have succumbed to the beetles this year, City Councilman Tom LaBonge said.
"It was weakened by the drought, bark beetles just attacked it. It had a quick demise," LaBonge said. "I happen to hike every day in Griffith Park and the tree just turned a bad corner this year."
The sapling had grown to 12 feet in height by the time it was discovered dead in June and removed by city workers, he said, adding that Harrison's widow, Olivia, had been notified.
LaBonge said he expected to see a new tree planted in remembrance of Harrison in the fall.
Harrison, who was born in Liverpool in 1943, gained international fame as the Beatles lead guitarist, penning such songs as "Here Comes the Sun," "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

― mizzell, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 19:37 (eleven years ago)

Its a bad idea for trees to turn corners, bad or otherwise

― Mark G, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 20:00 (eleven years ago)

If George had been alive he'd have blamed Paul.

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 20:10 (eleven years ago)

surprised they didn't come up with a more pun-filled headline like "Former Beatle Wife Barks at Latter Bark Beetles" or whatever

― Darin, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 20:25 (eleven years ago)

Original NME post on that

http://i60.tinypic.com/2ibyxd2.jpg

― a curious shade of pale (onimo), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 20:33 (eleven years ago)

Blow away

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 20:34 (eleven years ago)

They should name the new tree "Feorge" as in; False George...

― bodacious ignoramus, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 00:16 (eleven years ago)

wasn't he a devoted gardener? sad!

― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 00:54 (eleven years ago)

it shoulda been a (gently) weeping willow.

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 01:28 (eleven years ago)

man, Eleanor bron tho

― your favourite misread ILX threads (darraghmac), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 02:47 (eleven years ago)

I spent so much time
Thinking baout Eleanor Bron
Saying "I can say no more."

― I Don't Zing Like Nobody (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 10:31 (eleven years ago)

Am I alone in thinking George would have loved the irony?
I had Revolver on for the first time in ages the other day - Taxman is all time top 5 Beatles for me, I think, the melody is so elastic and sardonic. McCartney's solo so good they used it twice. And Love You To must have sounded like a transmission from Mars in 1966.

― MatthewK, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 11:13 (eleven years ago)

So many of George's Beatle songs sound better now than they did. WY&WY obv, even "Don't bother me" !

― Mark G, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 12:36 (eleven years ago)

I always liked "Don't Bother Me." I never understood its reputation as awkward or not fully-realized; I vastly prefer it to a few other things on WTB, particularly "Not A Second Time."

― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 13:27 (eleven years ago)

B-b-but the Aeolian cadences!

― brimming with misplaced confidence (Phil D.), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 13:30 (eleven years ago)

Get one bass, morans!

― I Don't Zing Like Nobody (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 13:39 (eleven years ago)

apparently, this was a #1 hit, which gives me faith in...something. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vXZPztcGaY

― Dominique, Thursday, 24 July 2014 03:33 (eleven years ago)

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