George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" - Essential?

**Blackbird** · #1 07-05-2007, 10:21 AM

This triple album is considered by many to be George's finest album and one of the best post breakup solo beatle records.

Anyone own this album? Thoughts, opinions? How's the bass playing/ songs in general?

Thanks.

ctbass · #2 07-05-2007, 10:36 AM

I own it but haven't listened to it in a while. Harrison is "my favorite Beatle." I bought the anniversary CD set that had some additional tracks. THis is a great album and really shows what he had pent up inside of him (only "allowed" one or two songs per Beatles album) I believe Willie Weeks played on this as well as other GH records that also included a younger Tom Scott on sax. I don't think you think of GH's material as "commercial", like McCartney's. You almost have to be in a certain state of mind. But when you think of his life, spirituality, thoughts on fame, family, etc. you get a good sense of the heart of the material. Great songs for the sake of the song; not to sell it to the public appeal.

IMHO

Lazylion · #3 07-05-2007, 12:17 PM

George still has a website:
allthingsmustpass.com

ElMon · #4 07-05-2007, 04:03 PM

I believe it was actually Carl Radle and Klaus Voorman on bass. Great album.

Matt Till · #5 07-05-2007, 09:08 PM

I consider THIS essential.

JimK · #6 07-06-2007, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackbird

This triple album is considered by many to be George's finest album and one of the best post breakup solo beatle records.

The theory why All Things Must Pass is 'the best'-
It was the first post-Beatles' album...& much of the material coulda/shoulda been on a Beatles' record(I guess Harrison was 'allowed' 2 songs per album; the result: George had a stockpile of some very cool stuff just waiting to see the light of day).

Lennon/McCartney's first solo albums paled in comparison because most of their 'good' material had already been used for The Beatles.

Sounds plausible, right?

Anyway, IMO, ATMP would be a great addition to your collection...

**Blackbird** · #7 07-06-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Lennon/McCartney's first solo albums paled in comparison because most of their 'good' material had already been used for The Beatles.

Sounds plausible, right?

Ok, I guess I'll put in to the "definitely" list.

Do you think it would heve been better if he put out three single albums instead of one triple one, considering his low output later in his career? I mean, hindsight is 20/20, but still...

dvh · #8 07-06-2007, 07:24 AM

It's really more of a double album with the third being extended jams.

That said I think there is truth to the fact that George had a backlog of good songs because Lennon and McCartney took up more of the Beatles album space.

I was a huge Harrison fan when I first got into listening to music and buying albums back in the 70's. I bought all his stuff. After 33 1/3 though I kind of lost interest. I think Harrison's limitations were revealed after the post-Beatles blossoming. A capable enough musician but not eneough there to sustain greatness.

IMHO

afinalfantasy · #9 07-06-2007, 08:40 AM

Damn good album, but I prefer the Beatles stuff to it

ctbass · #10 07-06-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElMon

I believe it was actually Carl Radle and Klaus Voorman on bass. Great album.

Noted: I know Wille Weeks was on 33 1/3. Got a little ahead of myself.

flatwounds · #11 07-06-2007, 08:40 PM

I have the old double Cd version(black&white cover), and still one day intend to get the re-release version(just haven't yet).

I think that it is well worth the money. It has the hits (My Sweet Lord, What Is Life), a Dylan cover(If Not For You), a song co-written with Dylan(I'd Have You Anytime). Produced by Phil Spector. Isn't the band basically the same as Derek and the Dominoes(as in Layla)?

I have no problem recommending this album to anyone. I'm sure that you will like it. Consider how good his songs were getting towards the end of the Beatles (While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something, Here Comes The Sun), then consider that they were probably written during these same years.

There are so many different moods on this album. There are gospel style songs(Awaiting on you all), blues jams(Plug me in/i remember jeep/thanksfor the pepperoni), dylan-style harmonica(apple scruffs), some heavier moments also(let it down).

I really dig this album. I need to go listen to it now.

Favourite song at the moment: It's Johnny's Birthday.

Below is a link to a page that has plenty of album reviews. It is a pretty cool and useful site. I have linked the george harrison page.

http://starling.rinet.ru/music/harrison.htm#things

I hope this helped. And I hope you enjoy the album.

Busker · #12 07-06-2007, 09:03 PM

I have it on vinyl. Actually, two copies on vinyl. I also haven't listened to it in a while, but it was a great effort from George. Some great music on there. George was in many ways my favorite of the four. You can really track his development from the early Beatles where he had a limited role, to later on, when he wrote some of their better songs.

I like all of the Beatles after the Beatles. They all did some great music. The only one that I grew a little weary of was Paul (sorry Paul). Some of that Wings era stuff was great though. My favorite Paul record was Ram, which was made circa 1971, pre-Wings..

sonicvi · #13 07-06-2007, 11:11 PM

I think the first 3 sides of ATMP is George's best album and my favorite post-Beatles album, though Paul's Band on the Run and Venus and Mars are close behind.

gottawalk · #14 07-07-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

I have it on vinyl. Actually, two copies on vinyl. I also haven't listened to it in a while, but it was a great effort from George. Some great music on there. George was in many ways my favorite of the four. You can really track his development from the early Beatles where he had a limited role, to later on, when he wrote some of their better songs.

I like all of the Beatles after the Beatles. They all did some great music. The only one that I grew a little weary of was Paul (sorry Paul). Some of that Wings era stuff was great though. My favorite Paul record was Ram, which was made circa 1971, pre-Wings..

I'm with Busker on this one. I wore out my brother's vinyl copy, and then got one of my own after that. For Christmas last December, my family got me the re-release disc set. The liner notes talk about the musicians on the record and a lot of them were never named before because of contract issues with other labels. It's also got some versions of some of the tunes that were some of the the first versions that were submitted to the record company. Great album!

Also agree that "Ram" was McCartney's best.