Early Takes Vol. 1 (2011 Remaster) George Harrison

• 1My Sweet Lord (Demo)03:33
• 2Run of the Mill (Demo)01:56
• 3I'd Have You Any Time (Early Take)03:05
• 4Mama You've Been on My Mind (Demo)03:05
• 5Let It Be Me (Demo)02:56
• 6Woman Don't You Cry for Me (Early Take)02:44
• 7Awaiting on You All (Early Take)02:40
• 8Behind That Locked Door (Demo)03:29
• 9All Things Must Pass (Demo)04:39
• 10The Light That Has Lighted the World (Demo)02:22
• Total Runtime30:29

Info for Early Takes Vol. 1 (2011 Remaster)

Early Takes, Volume 1 is a fascinating journey though the early days of George Harrison’s solo career. Compiled from his personal library by Olivia Harrison, Giles Martin (the son of Beatles producer George Martin) and a few trusted collaborators, it provides an essential companionpiece to Martin Scorsese’s stunning and critically acclaimed documentary of George’s life, “Living in the Material World”.

This new album features a wealth of previously unreleased recordings including early takes of “I’d Have You Anytime” and “Awaiting On You All,” plus unheard demo versions of “Behind That Locked Door,” “All Things Must Pass,” “Run of the Mill” and “My Sweet Lord,” all later featured on Harrison’s 1970 chart-topping album All Things Must Pass. Other unreleased tracks include demos of “The Light That Has Lighted the World,” “Let It Be Me,” Bob Dylan’s “Mama You’ve Been on My Mind,” and an early take of “Woman Don’t You Cry For Me.”

Giles Martin shares his thoughts about finding and hearing these recordings for the first time in the more detail: In 2009 I was privileged to be invited by Olivia to listen to tapes that George had stored in his library at Friar Park. In the beautiful setting of George’s studio, overlooking the meticulous gardens that he had created, engineer Paul Hicks and I unboxed forgotten reels to hear the music George had left behind. This first collection provides a glimpse of what we found. From early multi-tracks of live takes of “My Sweet Lord” and “All Things Must Pass” to more recent tracks like “Mama You’ve Been On My Mind”, we hear an intimacy to George’s voice and guitar that can only be achieved with live performance devoid of production. I’d like to thank Olivia and Dhani for the honour of being invited into their home to share the work that George gave us all.

Harrison was bold, an iconoclast. His platinum-selling solo record All Things Must Pass was released as a triple album and featured the hit single “My Sweet Lord.” He organized the landmark benefit Concert for Bangladesh—the first major rock concert to address a world crisis. He launched HandMade Films, a key factor in the revival of the British film industry in the 1980s. He spent 30 years restoring one of the great estates and gardens in England, Friar Park. In every aspect of his professional, personal and spiritual life, until his final hours, Harrison blazed his own path.

As his friend John Lennon once said, “George himself is no mystery. But the mystery inside George is immense. It’s watching him uncover it all little by little that’s so damn interesting.”

'This Collection of the artist's demos provides an appealing portrait of the ex-Beatle as a working singer-songwriter.'  (The Financial Times)

'The voice is gentle and lovely and the songs beauties.' (Daily Express)

George Harrison
MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an influential English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, author and sitarist best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles. Following the band's demise, Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys super group where he was known as both Nelson Wilbury and Spike Wilbury. He was also a film producer, with his production company Handmade Films, involving people as diverse as Madonna and the members of Monty Python. From an initial exposure whilst a member of the Beatles, he maintained a high public profile regarding his religious and spiritual life.

Booklet for Early Takes Vol. 1 (2011 Remaster)