The Beatles Reveal Themselves!

George Harrison in a recording session, July, 1969.

George Harrison’s handwritten lyrics for ‘Art of Dying’

‘Art Of Dying’ is believed to have been written by George Harrison in 1966, but was not recorded until 1970.

Harrison’s original handwritten lyrics reveal mentions of Brian Epstein. In the final version, released on Harrison’s 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass, ‘Mr Epstein’ was reborn as ‘Sister Mary.’

Photo by Bill Zygmant.

The Harrisong “Sour Milk Sea” was recorded by Jackie for his album Is This What You Want? (as George recalled in I Me Mine, the song was “really about meditation.... I used ‘Sour Milk Sea’ as the idea of — if you’re in the s***, don’t go around moaning about it: do something about it.”) Also while in California, 55 years ago… “Because he knows exactly what Jackie is after on his records, George is the ideal producer for him. They share a lot of feelings together and have this great musical sympathy as it were. George spent a lot of time with orchestras doing arrangements whenever these were necessary.” - Mal Evans, The Beatles Monthly, January 1969 “George was a champion. He made time for me and was protective even, inviting me to his home. I felt really privileged. It was incredible. To have my name associated with The Beatles – what better thing could happen to a budding artist?” - Jackie Lomax, Apple Records website After George’s passing, Jackie wrote and recorded the song “Friend-A-Mine” in his honor; it appears on The Ballad of Liverpool Slim. (x)

Onstage, Concert for Bangladesh, August 1, 1971. Photographer unnamed.

“I think his voice is great, I love that sort of madness. And as a person he’s somebody who — well, as he said, ‘Time will tell who has fell and who’s been left behind.’ Bob is still out there and whether you like him or not he’s Bob. I’ve always listened to his music. I’m thankful there’s people like that.” - George Harrison, Musician, March 1990 “I’m a huge Bob Dylan fan and I’ve got all his records and I’ve always liked him and I’ll like him and go on liking him regardless.” - George Harrison, Wanted Man: In Search of Bob Dylan (1998) “I mean, you tell me one person other than Bob Dylan who has a moral message in a tune that’s improved upon Bob’s words in his song ‘Every Grain of Sand’: ‘Don’t have the inclination to look back on any mistakes/Like Cain I now behold this chain of events that I must break/In the fury of the moment I can see the Masters hand/In every leaf that trembles/In every grain of sand/Oh the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yester-year/Like criminals they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer/…I gaze into the doorway of temptations angry flame/And every time I pass that way/I always hear my name/Then onward in my journey/I come to understand/That every grain is numbered/Like every grain of sand.’” - George Harrison, Billboard, June 19, 1999 “They had a soul connection.” - Olivia Harrison, Rolling Stone, September 15, 2011 Q: “Tell me about George Harrison.” Bob Dylan: “George got stuck with being the Beatle that had to fight to get songs on records because of Lennon and McCartney. Well, who wouldn’t get stuck? If George had had his own group and was writing his own songs back then, he’d have been probably just as big as anybody. George had an uncanny ability to just play chords that didn’t seem to be connected in any kind of way and come up with a melody and a song. I don’t know anybody else who could do that, either. What can I tell you? He was from that old line of playing where every note was a note to be counted.” Q: “You were very close, right?” BD: “Yeah.” - Rolling Stone, 3-17 May 2007 “He was a giant, a great, great soul, with all the humanity, all the wit and humor, all the wisdom, the spirituality, the common sense of a man and compassion for people. He inspired love and had the strength of a hundred men. He was like the sun, the flowers and the moon, and we will miss him enormously. The world is a profoundly emptier place without him.” - Bob Dylan, Rolling Stone, January 17, 2002

Bob Dylan & Joan Baez, 1964 © Daniel Kramer.

In July [1971], the music press gave reports of the many people George was assembling for the concert. It was rumoured that his friend Dylan might even turn up, but Terry [Doran] told me George was having slight problems with Bob. Dylan had not performed for quite a while. Now George was asking him to make his 'comeback' in the hardest of all performing situations: at Madison Square Gardens with a bunch of musicians he had never played with before. One day during rehearsals, Dylan apparently got uptight and said he just couldn't do it; he was too nervous. George went wild: "You're nervous! What, are you crazy? I've never performed without the other three. At least you're used to performing on your own!" Dylan then explained that the concert was becoming a hassle. Again, George went wild. "I'm the one trying to put it together. All you have to do is sing!" Dylan walked out of the rehearsals. (He was not seen again by George, or anyone else, until the night of the concert. George didn't know if he was coming or not. So when the time allotted for Dylan came in the concert, live and on stage, George looked into the stage wings. There was Dylan, ready to come on. George still didn't know he was going to perform until Dylan started to stroll on stage. Dylan was a major hit, possibly the limelight of the show. It did Dylan good, too. He had regained his confidence and returned to the road for a tour shortly after the concert.)

Waiting for the Beatles: An Apple Scruff's Story, Carol Bedford (1984)

JOAN BAEZ during THE ROLLING THUNDER REVUE TOUR

George Harrison & Bob Dylan “If Not For You” Concert For Bangladesh rehearsal, July 31, 1971.

George Harrison during the recording of the song How Do You Sleep? (1971)