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GREAT LIVES - MARK BILLINGHAM CHOOSES GEORGE HARRISON (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 3rd February 2025
George Harrison was a musician, singer and songwriter who became one of the most famous people in the world as one quarter of the Beatles. That alone would merit a place in the Great Lives pantheon, but his work in the decades after the band broke up indicates a man of diverse and arguably underestimated talents.
Erupting onto the pop music scene in the 1960's, the Beatles' success was swift and dizzying; and for the rather private George, sometimes dubbed 'the quiet Beatle', this celebrity and adulation seems to have never quite sat comfortably. Nevertheless, he became a musical icon: responsible for a captivating collection of songs, from those he wrote with the Beatles through to his solo work; collaborating with a host of international artists; popularising Indian music and instruments; and even venturing into the movie-making business. At the same time, like many others thrust into the spotlight, George appears to have struggled with balancing success and the celebrity lifestyle with a more meaningful and spiritual existence.
This tension and how it drove George Harrison as an artist is part of what attracts crime writer, occasional musician and self-professed Beatles fanatic Mark Billingham to his story, and why he's nominated him today. Also in the studio to offer her insights is Dr Holly Tessler, a senior lecturer in music industries at the University of Liverpool, where she leads their MA programme: 'Beatles, Music Industry and Heritage'.
Presented by Matthew Parris and produced for BBC Studios Audio by Lucy Taylor.
GEORGE HARRISON: WHAT IS LIFE (320kbs-m4a/137mb/60mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 23rd February 2023
Michael Palin presents a tribute to his friend George Harrison, who died in November 2001. It features archive interviews with George, as well as contributions from his wife and son, Bob Geldof, Jim Keltner, Jeff Lynne, Brian May, Gary Moore, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, Ravi Shankar and the Beatles' producer George Martin.
The programme highlights George's contribution to the extraordinary and enduring legacy of the Beatles. Although John or Paul would usually sing the lead vocal, George played a vital role in the distinctive harmonies that enhanced the Beatles' records. Guitarist Gary Moore demonstrates the brilliance of George's solos on their records. And Ravi Shankar talks about how George's love for Indian music and culture influenced Beatles records.
After the Beatles split in 1970, all four released solo records but - to the astonishment of many - it was George who initially achieved the most commercial and critical success. His single My Sweet Lord was a worldwide number one in 1971 and returned to the top of the UK chart in 2002. He organised the Concert for Bangladesh and the triple album of the recordings topped charts around the world. This event, and George Harrison's understanding of the power and responsibility that rock musicians could wield in the world, have had a lasting influence.
George's solo career had periods of great productivity and also two phases when his profile dipped below the horizon. He enjoyed a late 1980s 'comeback' with his hit album Cloud Nine, released the number one single Got My Mind Set On You and two albums with his supergroup The Traveling Wilburys (featuring Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty). The year after George died Brainwashed was released, which featured the music he had worked on since his last solo album in 1987. Among them was the beautiful instrumental Marwa Blues, which won a Grammy Award.
First broadcast on Radio 2 in 2009.
George Harrison - What Is Life
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue
The Beatles - She Loves You
The Beatles - Don't Bother Me
The Beatles - This Boy
The Beatles - Yes It Is
The Beatles - And I Love Her
The Beatles - Taxman
The Beatles - The Inner Light
The Beatles - Within You Without You
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Beatles - Something
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
George Harrison - Awaiting On You All
George Harrison - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
George Harrison - Blow Away
George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
George Harrison - When We Was Fab
The Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care
George Harrison - Marwa Blues
George Harrison - Pisces Fish
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
George Harrison - Any Road
ARCHIVE ON 4: ALL THINGS MUST PASS AT 50 (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 21st November 2020
In November 1970 a triple album was released by the Beatle previously known as 'the Quiet One'. George Harrison's All Things Must Pass was unique, not because it was number one around the world, but because of its fascination with Eastern religion.
Growing up in the 1970s, musician and composer Nitin Sawhney was aware of George Harrison and his interest in Indian classical music, particularly his close connection with Ravi Shankar. He knew Harrison's hit singles, but his most famous album, All Things Must Pass, remained unexplored. Was this LP, written in the latter years of the 1960s already out of date in 1970, or was it in fact ahead of its time, with its heart-felt lyrics and religious themes? This month sees the 50th anniversary of the its release and so is a good time to reappraise George Harrison's most successful album.
Interviewees include Olivia Harrison, Michael Palin, Jools Holland, biographers Graeme Thomson and Joshua M. Greene, keyboard player Bobby Whitlock, drummer Alan White, and guitarist Dave Mason.
Presenter: Nitin Sawhney
A TBI Media production for BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 28th December 2016
The Beatles - All You Need Is Love [Parlophone]
George Harrison - I Dig Love [EMI]
George Harrison - Living In The Material World [Apple]
George Harrison & Ravi Shankar - Dispute And Violence [Dark Horse]
Ravi Shankar - I Am Missing You (Reprise) [Dark Horse]
George Harrison - Dark Horse [Capitol]
Splinter - Costafine Town [Dark Horse]
George Harrison - Ding Dong Ding Dong [Apple]
George Harrison - Crackerbox Palace [Parlophone]
George Harrison - Bye Bye Love [EMI]
George Harrison - So Sad [EMI]
George Harrison - True Love [EMI]
George Harrison - Woman Don't You Cry For Me [EMI]
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun [Apple]
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 27th December 2016
Annie shares an interview she did with George Harrison on his last days with the Beatles & his early days as a solo artist including the Concert for Bangladesh.
This is the original information for the program written in 1977:
Since the Beatles split he has been getting divorced and making albums. He wrote 'Something' for the White Album but he could do nothing with it for 6 months. That and 'Here Comes the Sun' were probably his most successful songs if termed in the number of cover versions that were recorded. 'Something' covered about 150 times - wrote it at the Abbey Road studios at the time of The Beatles' White Album - originally gave the song to Joe Cocker to record - 'Here Comes The Sun' has been covered a few times.
During the last few years with the Beatles he was writing a lot of material but so were the others and so it was very difficult to get anything on an album. It was like "being constipated". Some tracks from 'All Things Must Pass' written back in '66 - tried occasionally to get them on Beatles' album. They officially broke up in 1969 but things had been very bad whilst recording the 'White' album. They had been together too long and were limiting each other. It was a relief for him when they did split. He says that it felt strange playing with other musicians, that he had already left the Beatles before they had finished recording the album 'Let It Be'. Now being a solo artist it's a whole new thing; he did not like being the front man and tried to make others contribute. The first version of 'My Sweet Lord' was by Billy Preston. It was not until his version was recorded that the trouble started. Jodie Miller claimed that it was the same as his song 'He's So Fine'. They had to go to court and Harrison lost. He talks about all the other records that have pieces of other songs in them.
He then goes on to talk about the Concert for Bangladesh. They decided to stage the concert in a big way - film and record it - terribly difficult to get everyone to do it - Bob Dylan needed a lot of encouragement to appear. Eric Clapton was on heroin at the time but finally decided to appear - Eric played tremendous guitar that night without any rehearsal. All the musicians were really good and "put down their own egos". The 2 shows raised $250,000 - with album and film it's about $5 million at the moment. The tax people don't help - they put far too many barriers up - took months to get the film right with Bob Dylan's help. It took 2 years of his life that one concert. The gate money was paid straight to UNICEF by cheque. $110,000 was paid to fly and put musicians up in hotels; that money came from Apple. He hopes the money sent to UNICEF makes its way to the right people. Many people gave money, which was very encouraging; people don't do anything unless they're inspired.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra - Something
James Brown - Something
The Beatles - Something
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
George Harrison - Isn't It A Pity
Billy Preston - My Sweet Lord
The Chiffons - He's So Fine
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
Jody Miller - He's So Fine
George Harrison - This Song
Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (Live At Madison Square Garden)
George Harrison - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Live At Madison Square Garden)
Bob Dylan - It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (Live At Madison Square Garden)
George Harrison - Bangla Desh (Live At Madison Square Garden)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 9th January 2004
Paul Gambaccini remembers this 1971 concert, which set the benchmark for pop-music charity events with the help of some of the performers and those who were in the audience as well as Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof.