10 Best George Harrison Songs

Undoubtedly, we were destined to have a slew of George Harrison songs, after his Fab Four disbanded. Especially when the quiet The Beatles had a handful of songs saved up that never made it on any of the Beatles records.

His solo career lasted until he joined the Traveling Wilburys supergroup, comprised of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison.

Here is a list of  AOL radio listener’s 10 Best George Harrison songs — sandwiched between the Beatles and Traveling Wilburys.

10) ‘Bangla Desh’

1971 East Pakistan tragedy published a charity single, this George Harrison song was featured on the live album ‘The Concert for Bangladesh’ — a charity concert Harrison helmed with world-renowned sitar player Ravi Shankar, which paved the way for other rock stars benefit concerts such as Band-Aid and Live Aid.

This was the first time Harrison lead a whole band to live on his own! Plus, he raised $250,000. Not too bad.

9) ‘When We Was Fab’

This single — off Harrison’s 1987 effort ‘Cloud Nine’ — is about the Beatles, notably the “Fab Four.” The song’s paired music video features all four musicians — well sort of George is dressed in his St. Pepper’s costume and Ringo Starr plays Harrison’s sidekick and drummer, whereas McCartney and Lennon are just representations — specifically, a man dressed as a Walrus playing bass left-handed and the face of Lennon was on the Imagine album cover, which was carried by a passer-by.

8) ‘Dream Away’

In 1992 the album “Gone Troppo-Dream Away” was recorded in 1990, whereas the rest of the tracks were recorded in the year 1992. “Waking while you’re still deep sleeping / Finding you’re not here / Watching a dream appear.”

7) ‘Isn’t It a Pity’

This George Harrison song appeared on the ‘All Things Must Pass’ album. Similar-sounding to Dylan’s folksy ’60s tunes, but  John Lennon rejected the song for the Beatles ‘White Album.’ 

Harrison even thought about giving the song to Frank Sinatra. Fortunately, Harrison kept the song for himself.

6) ‘All Those Years Ago’

Released in 1981, ‘All Those Years Ago’ was originally written for Ringo Starr. The former drummer did record it but wasn’t crazy about the vocal range and lyrics.

After Lennon died, Harrison rewrote the lyrics and recorded it by himself, as a tribute to Lennon in 1980. 

5) ‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)’

‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)’ hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, beating Paul McCartney’s ‘My Love.’ Featured off 1973’s ‘Living in the Material World,’ the song’s lyrics are telling: “Give me life / Keep me free from birth”.

4) ‘Got My Mind Set on You’

14 years after ‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)’ hit No. 1, Harrison’s new single, ‘Got My Mind Set on You’ also went to No. 1 on the list, marking his third and last No. 1 single. 

3) ‘What Is Life’

Off 1971’s ‘All Things Must Pass’ album, the song was co-produced by Phil Spector and hit No. 10 on the charts — making it Harrison’s third single to make it in the Top 10.

Harrison originally wrote the song for blues musician and former Beatles collaborator Billy Preston in 1969 but decided to produce it with Spector instead. An instrumental version of the track was included in the 2001 re-release of ‘All Things Must Pass.’

2) ‘Blow Away’

‘Blow Away’ appeared on George Harrison’s 1979 eponymous album, which he produced at a high time in his life as he was newly married to Olivia Trinidad Arias and was a new father. The single was a No. 51 hit in the U.K. and No. 16 hit in the U.S.

1) ‘My Sweet Lord’

The song later made Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Not only is ‘My Sweet Lord’ our No. 1 George Harrison song, it was the first single by a former Beatle to hit No. 1 on the charts.

Before completing its 14-week run on the charts, Bright Tunes Music — who owned the rights to the Chiffons ‘He’s So Fine’ — sued for plagiarism, a lawsuit that continued on and off for at least 10 years. In 1976, Harrison wrote ‘This Song,’ in reaction to the lawsuit.