It’s been a while since a Beatles album has been released that you can genuinely get excited about, but George Harrison’s Early Takes easily fits the bill. While it isn’t strictly a Beatles album, it is one of the last great records of previously unheard material from a former member of the band that we’re likely to get.
Within seconds of playing the demo of My Sweet Lord, which is the opening track on George Harrison’s Early Takes, you’re hit with the raw talent and stripped back brilliance of the recording. It makes you smile instantly and is introduced with Harrison’s softly spoken, “It’s My Sweet Lord”.
The Run of the Mill demo is about as good as it gets in terms of a man and his guitar performance. It’s up there with Dylan or Lou Reed demo recordings, giving a new take on an old classic.
The great interplay of electric guitar and vocals on the early take of I’d Have You Any Time is stunning, especially during the chorus. It’s finished off with Harrison asking in his trademark Liverpudlian accent, “any, erh, anything d’you want to change or say?”, which is class. The Mama You’ve Been On My Mind demo sounds like it could have been written and recorded by Dylan in ’62 and overdubbed by his electro future self in ’65 and the Let It Be Me demo is beautiful with great sounds on the electric guitar.
The early take of Women Don’t You Cry For Me is a bluegrass classic with wildly twanging guitar and the addition of Harrison’s comic count in. Awaiting For You All (early take) is introduced in gentlemanly tones and sounds amazing without the big band acoustics of the original recording and the addition of gravelly vocals.
The Behind That Locked Door demo is simple and dominated by roving acoustic rhythm, finger picking and haunting electric slide, while The Light That Has Lighted The World (demo) has got a real warble to it that didn’t make it through to the original final recording.
George Harrison’s Early Takes is a brilliant new modern collection of old classic songs that will light up your record player with great tone and composition. It’s mirrored mentally with the original stripped out potential of the songs that defined Harrison’s solo career, leaving you filling in the gaps and appreciating the differences you can hear.
George Harrison, Early Takes album review: 5/5
incredibly good.
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looking forward to another great article.