All Things Must Pass - Harrison, George (CD 2001)

Every band always seems to have its underrated member. In REM, it's Mike Mills, for Led Zeppelin it was John Paul Jones and for the Beatles, it was definitely George Harrison.

George, the youngest member of the Beatles, was their lead guitarist. He started off somewhat overshadowed by the talents of Lennon/McCartney. But he always managed to put at least one song on each album (with the exception of the totally Lennon/McCartney composed A Hard Days Night). He finally found his voice in 1965 with the Rubber Soul album and the wonderful "If I Needed Someone". He really came into his own the following year with the Revolver album, which featured three Harrison songs; two of them were classics ("Love You To" and "Taxman"). He kept on writing and improving throughout the Beatles career and added several classics to the Beatles canon of songs ("Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" to name two).

In 1970, after much fighting, the Beatles split. George Harrison became the first Beatle to release a solo album. All Things Must Pass was that album.

All Things Must Pass consists of songs that had been written as far back as 1968, songs that could have fit in easily on the White Album or Abbey Road. 23 songs on two discs. But don't let that put you off. This is one double album (like The White Album, The Wall and The Fragile) that is worth the extra bucks.

Some of the lyrics here are somewhat dark (although not as dark and intense as those on Lennon's Plastic Ono Band album). Many of them deal with life and changes. There are also many spiritual references here as well. But here they are not knee-jerk in any way and thus don't go down like medicine. Harrison lets you take from them whatever you will.

All Things Must Pass begins with "I'd Have You Anytime". This song is a rather slow number that features some super slide guitar playing by Harrison. The lyrics in a way are about trying to reconcile a failed relationship. If one reads into the lyrics ("Let me grow upon you) they could be seen as inspired in some way by his old band mates. But the other verses seem directed at a loved one, so it's probably directed more towards his then wife Patti, whom he was drifting away from at the time.

The biggest single off All Things Must Pass, My Sweet Lord , follows this. This song is a rocker with a superbly played guitar riff and excellent backing vocals that add to the metaphysical flavor. Even though the song is clearly spiritual, Harrison never gets preachy. The song could be about any god. Unfortunately, this song would also become the subject of a ridiculous plagiarism lawsuit brought against Harrison by Bright Tunes, the publisher of the Chiffons "He's So Fine". Bright Tunes claimed that "My Sweet Lord" plagiarized the aforementioned "He's So Fine". A court later ruled that the plagiarism was "subconscious". I once played the songs back to back and did not find any similarities other than the fact that both songs have three words in the titles.

"Wah-Wah" is a hard rocker that makes extensive use of the aforementioned wah-wah pedal. I always thought of the song as an ode to the electric guitar ("Wah-wah/You made me such a big star").

"Isn't It A Pity" is a slow piano driven song. The song again alludes in some way to the Beatles demise (We break each others hearts and cause each other pain"). But the lyrics also point out how we often can become self-centered ("How we take each others love/Without thinking anymore/Forgetting to give back/Isn't it a pity").

"What Is Life" is a driving rocker that begins with a fuzzy guitar riff, and then a rocking backbeat kicks in. The lyrics make this one song that (if I ever get married) I definitely plan to have played at my wedding. "What I feel/I can't say/But my love is here for you/Any time of day/If it's our love/That you need/Then I've done my best to make everything succeed/Tell me what is my life without your love/Tell me who am I without you/By my side".

"If Not For You" is an acoustic ballad with harmonica on top. If it sounds anything like Bob Dylan ("The winter would hold no spring/I couldn't hear a robin sing"), that's because Dylan wrote it. Harrison gives an excellent rendition that doesn't mirror the original too closely.

"Behind That Locked Door" has an opening guitar lick that for some reason makes me think of "The Weight" by the Band. But once Harrison's singing begins, you immediately forget about it. In this song, Harrison appears to be singing to someone who is somewhat introverted and is trying to get him or her to open up.

"Let It Down" begins with a blistering guitar intro that is outright scary in a way. This song features George singing some rather mystical lyrics (Wasting away these moments so happily/Let it down/Let it all hang down/Over me").

"Run Of The Mill" is a song that has a rather slow groove to it, with some horns. The lyrics feature Harrison encouraging us to look at what's extraordinary in everyday reality.

"Beware Of Darkness" features some superb guitar playing. The lyrics exhort the listener to do just as the title suggests. It warns that sadness and pain are out there and that it's up to all of us individually to guard against them.

"Apple Scruffs" begins with some excellent harmonica playing and the song features an upbeat groove, complete with the repeated harmonica playing and superb guitar work. The lyrics reflect on those fans that used to hang around the Abbey Road studios, hoping to meet the Beatles ("While the years may come and go/Their love will surely show").

"Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp" is a poppy song that features Harrison urging the listener to "lay low". What the song is about I'm not sure. But it is a good one.

"Awaiting On You All" is another spiritual song. This one has the feel of an old time gospel song, complete with backing vocals that really add that church choir feel.

The title track is an appropriately somber song. The lyrics deal with time and how time changes things. The song could in some ways refer to his dissolving friendship with the other Beatles, but in the wake of Harrison's death, they take on even more tragic meaning. The song is somber but hopeful ("The Darkness only stays the night time").
Very good slow piano based groove as well.

So ends the first disc. The second disc, while not bad by any means, is not up to the overall excellence of the first one.

"I Dig Love" is a simple generic pop song. Doesn't really have much else to it other than George singing, "I dig love".

Much better is "The Art Of Dying". This song is another rocker that features more great playing by Harrison. The lyrics are about death, the afterlife and reincarnation.

"Isn't It A Pity" is a somewhat slower version of the original. It's not bad at all. But I prefer the original.

"Hear Me Lord" features Harrison getting spiritual again. The song features him pleading "Help me lord please/To rise above this feeling"). Not bad. But out of the metaphysical songs on here, it's the least.

The last 5 songs on here are not really songs. But simple jams. They're not bad by any means (notice a theme developing with the second disc). But are not really essential for anyone but the most dedicated fan. That's not to say that they're awful or anything. But they would have been better served if they'd appeared on a rarities disc.

For the first disc alone, All Things Must Pass would be essential; this album is proof that Harrison was no second-rate hack who got lucky. Overall, All Things Must Pass ranks right up there as one of the top 5 solo Beatles albums.