|
Continued from page 14
his quest to the top of the international charts when he went solo, earning a # 1 song in 1970 with“ My Sweet Lord” and a chart-topping triple album with All Things Must Pass. For his 1973 follow-up Living in the Material World, Harrison focused on a single platter’ s worth of beautifully crafted and evocative material devoted primarily to matters of the soul. Publishing royalties for nine of the album’ s 11 songs were devoted to Harrison’ s newly established Material World Charitable Foundation, which still operates today. The jangling pop of“ Give Me Love( Give Me Peace on Earth)” became the biggest provider, returning Harrison to the # 1 spot in the US. The yearning song is decorated by Harrison’ s slide guitar, Nicky Hopkins’ flowing piano, and Klaus Voorman’ s melodic bass. Material World is more personal than preachy overall, reflecting his post-Fabs experience and unease with fame rooted in the past, among other topics. The songs are overtly reverent without being heavy-handed. Harrison does gently warn those who avoid giving thought to their creator in“ The Light That Has Lighted the World”( with its swooping slide guitar solo and Hopkins elegantly assured piano) and“ The Lord Loves the One( That Loves the Lord)” featuring Jim Horn’ s New Orleans-styled saxophone and Hopkins’ electric piano. With“ Be Here Now,” Harrison offers himself simple advice to live in the present.“ A mind that wants to wander‘ round a corner is an unwise mind,” he sings to gentle acoustic guitar accompaniment and warm harmonium drone. Harrison deviated from his spiritual calm for“ Sue Me, Sue You Blues,” possibly the most brazenly sarcastic song produced by any Beatle( yes, including Lennon’ s“ How Do You Sleep”).“ Bring your lawyer, and I ' ll bring mine / Get together, and we could have a bad time,” sings Harrison in his square dance-styled lyrics over a bristling resonator guitar lick and Jim Keltner’ s pulsing kick drum. Harrison’ s temptation-resisting“ Try Some, Buy Some” was a Phil Spector-produced single for Ronnie Spector in 1971. Harrison borrowed the Wall-of-Sound
|
backing track for Living in the Material World. David Bowie would revisit the song on his 2003 album Reality. Announced as a 50th-anniversary project, this 2xLP set leads with the main album remixed by Paul Hicks. The results provide a more distinct, balanced, and full listening experience than even the 2014 remaster from the original stereo master tapes. The stereo field has been moderately rebalanced on“ Give Me Love( Give Me Peace on Earth),” and special attention has been given to acoustic guitar tones, yielding more clarity and separation between instruments. The heavy-handed piano reverb on“ Sue Me, Sue You Blues” has been tempered, and Harrison’ s lead vocal is more distinct.
The set’ s second platter includes an alternate version of each of the album’ s 11 tracks. Songs including“ Give Me Love( Give Me Peace on Earth)” and“ The Day the World Gets Round” are stripped to their acoustic bones, relying on Harrison’ s inviting voice and chiming acoustic guitar. Ballad“ Who Can See It” remains a masterful ballad and statement of identity, available here in its 93rd take( that’ s a lot of takes, friends) without John Barham’ s lush choral and string arrangements. Relying instead on Harrison’ s soaring melody and close studio accomplices, the song does not suffer. As a bonus, we get to hear Harrison cracking up through his attempt to record the Dylan-esque B-side“ Miss O’ Dell,” dedicated to Apple employee and confidant Chris O’ Dell. A 12-page book includes photos of Harrison at his home of Friar Park along with essays by Olivia Harrison and John Harris.
– Jeff Elbel 9
9
ELVIS COSTELLO King of America & Other Realms( UMe)
In 1986, Elvis Costello took a significant stylistic diversion and made his first studio album since debut full-length My Aim is True without his revered backing band, the Attractions. Instead, he followed the trail laid by producer T Bone Burnett through an exploration of American roots music styles and themes. In the process, Costello crafted one of the standout albums of his career. King of America connected with North American fans, earning masterpiece acclaim even
|
L I S T I N G S |
APRIL 12, 2025 |