All things must pass: George Harrison.George Harrison All Things Must Pass GN Records / EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference) An electrical disturbance in a system due to natural phenomena, low-frequency waves from electromechanical devices or high-frequency waves (RFI) from chips and other electronic devices. Allowable limits are governed by the FCC. There are many artists who toss spiritual points of reference into their work. Rarer is the artist for whom the spiritual quest is the lifeblood life·blood n. 1. Blood regarded as essential for life. 2. An indispensable or vital part: Capable workers are the lifeblood of the business. of the work. The re-release of George Harrison's 1970 boxed set All Things Must Pass shows that "the quiet Beatle" was clearly in the latter category. Harrison's talents were, understandably, often overlooked in the Beatles phenomenon in light of the prolific Lennon / McCartney songwriting team. However, when the fab four split in 1970, Harrison was bursting at the seams with material galore. A magnum opus resulted, and the 3-LP set was the first album by a solo Beatles member to go to #1, spurred by the smash hits My Sweet Lord and What Is Life. In hindsight three decades later, one is less surprised by the album's quality, scope, and spiritual nature. After all, Harrison had written some lovely Beatles songs and it was clear that he was the band member for whom deep spiritual quests were the fruit of the band's late 60s multi-faceted searching. As for his messages, they have aged well, particularly if one is open to the more general scope of their applications. "By chanting the names of the Lord ... you'll be free," Harrison asserts in Awaiting On You All, explaining: "The Lord is awaiting on you all to awaken and see." The common tools, he explains, are not needed, and he cites such things as churches, temples, rosary rosary [rose garden], prayer of Roman Catholics, in which beads are used as counters. The term, applied also to the beads, is extended to Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist prayers that use beads. beads, and books in that list. Indeed, it is the personal pilgrimage of prayer and meditation that Harrison is extolling. The closing track Hear Me Lord is a prayer in the most basic sense, and the same can be said for the signature hit My Sweet Lord. As for the other things of life, they are not eternal, he explains in the title track All Things Must Pass, and he explores similar themes in Beware Of Darkness and The Art Of Dying. The music is, of course, a treat for fans of the Beatles, Harrison, or the classic rock era. Harrison's gently-weeping slide licks are always distinctive and delicious, and he is backed by an all-star cast that includes old pal Eric Clapton, former stablemate Noun 1. stablemate - a horse stabled with another or one of several horses owned by the same person stable companion Equus caballus, horse - solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times Ringo Starr Noun 1. Ringo Starr - rock star and drummer for the Beatles (born in 1940) Richard Starkey, Starkey, Starr Beatles - a rock group from Liverpool who between 1962 and 1970 produced a variety of hit songs and albums (most of them written by Paul McCartney and , and an ace rhythm section Noun 1. rhythm section - the section of a band or orchestra that plays percussion instruments percussion section, percussion section - a division of an orchestra containing all instruments of the same class that would join soon Clapton in Derek and the Dominoes. Phil Spector's Wall Of Sound production might seem a bit dated, but it was the perfect foil for Harrison's distinctive but thin vocals. The self-indulgent jam that took up all of the third LP is part of this 2-CD set too, but it is fun for what it is. Wisely, the retooling done by Harrison 30 years down the road is simply a welcome sonic upgrade to the muddy sound that marked the original release, and some clever toying with the original album artwork. The new material, ranging from acoustic demos to one outtake out·take n. 1. a. A section or scene, as of a movie, that is filmed but not used in the final version. b. A complete version, as of a recording, that is dropped in favor of another version. 2. (the countryish I Live For You), is incidental. The only clunker clunk·er n. Informal 1. A decrepit machine, especially an old car; a rattletrap. 2. A failure; a flop. , sadly, is the only new recording: a weak remake done by Harrison of My Sweet Lord. This is not a good harbinger har·bin·ger n. One that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner. tr.v. har·bin·gered, har·bin·ger·ing, har·bin·gers To signal the approach of; presage. for the impending im·pend intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends 1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending. 2. release of Harrison's first album of new material in 15 years due later this year. Regardless, the classic album All Things Must Pass remains a gem, and it is wonderful to have it newly polished. It displays a spiritual walk that Harrison has deepened in a life of uncommon grace in the music industry that sees him as a gentle elder statesman of rock today. He would give the credit to God. After all, as he sang with such passion 30 years ago, "What is life without Your love?" |
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