George Harrison in the 70s: Decades

by Eoghan Lyng

Depending on who you asked, George Harrison was many different things to different people. There was his songcraft, which won over the affections of producer savant Phil Spector; there was his musicianship, that captured the hearts of blues savants Eric Clapton and Delaney Bramlett; and then there was his penchant for comedy, which made him an obvious shoo-in for Rutland Weekend Television and Saturday Night Live. But behind these traits stood a fragile man, aching for enlightenment and peace in an industry that strove to rid him of any of it. Keenly aware of this conflict, Harrison was brave enough to commit it to tape on the wistful Dark Horse, a confessional album written against the backdrop of a regrettable American Tour. But Harrison was always ready to brave the conflict, and it served him better to ride it out than to return to The Beatles for an easy paycheque. He was known as ‘The Quiet Beatle', although this title did him a disservice, considering his intellectual focus and thoughtful nature. Instead, he was arguably ‘The Chameleonic Beatle', a moniker that only serves to understand the deeply complex guitar player better. And in a deeply complicated decade, Harrison's artistry flourished.

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2022

Reviews

[Andy Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. While I've always been a Beatles fan with a high regard for George Harrison, I didn't really know much about him or his solo catalog. I thought this book might be a start in the right direction. The book was thoroughly researched and well written.

[Elizabeth Sowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part biography, part music review, George Harrison in the 70s tells the story of the first decade of “the Quiet Beatle’s” solo career. When you’ve read a number of Beatle biographies, you expect to re-tread some of the same ground, but this book surprised me with some new facts. Did you know that George recorded a track with Cheech & Chong? I didn’t until I read this book. The author provides a balanced look at George’s life. However, I appreciated that although he mentions George’s extramarital affairs, he doesn’t wallow in them — a refreshing change from commentators who are so obsessed with the matter that they can’t stop bringing it up.

This book is very useful as a guide to the music. If you haven’t listened to all of George’s 70s catalog, this book will give you a good idea of which songs you must hear and which are ok to skip. All in all, a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to learn more about George’s solo career.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough account of George Harrison in the 1970s. It is refreshing to read about albums like Extra Texture (Read All About It).
Excellent book.