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Post by 88keys on Nov 1, 2015 6:42:55 GMT
I've been listening to a lot of George Harrison, lately. Maybe because we are approaching the 14th anniversary of his death.
For this week's album , I picked his 1989 compilation Best Of Dark Horse 1976-89.
Poor Little Girl.....previously unreleased. Recorded in July 1989. produced by George and Jeff Lynne Blow Away....from the 1979 self-titled album. That's The Way It Goes.....from the 1982 album Gone Troppo Cockamamie Business.....previously unreleased. Recorded in July 1989.produced by George and Jeff Lynne Wake Up My Love.....from Gone Troppo Life Itself....from the 1981 album Somewhere In England. Got My Mind Set On You....from the 1987 album Cloud Nine.Produced by George and Jeff Lynne Crackerbox Palace....from the 1976 album 331/3 Cloud 9...title track from Cloud Nine. Produced by George and Jeff Lynne Here Comes The Moon....from George Harrison Gone Troppo....title track from Gone Troppo When We Was Fab...from Cloud Nine . Produced by George and Jeff Lynne Love Comes To Everyone....from George Harrison. All Those Years Ago...from Somewhere In England. Cheer Down ..from the Lethal Weapon 2 soundtrack. Produced by George and Jeff Lynne
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Post by jrmugz on Nov 1, 2015 16:21:26 GMT
Coooooool!!!!!! Can't wait to play it 88! Jim
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Post by unomusette on Nov 1, 2015 18:30:52 GMT
Excellent choice, I know and like some of these tracks already, and being a "best of" promises even more delights
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Post by 88keys on Nov 1, 2015 18:51:47 GMT
George never got the recognition for his lyrics like Lennon and McCartney did, but I think he was as big a lyrical genius as Dylan. This compilation contains some tremendous songs with lyrics that are often awe-inspiring.
Poor Little Girl…..Best line – “poor little boy/head in a whirl/there’s a phony sick world all-around you”
Blow Away….Best line – “breezes are singing/I’m feeling good. Moment had passed/like I knew that it should”
That’s The Way It Goes…. Best line-“There’s a man talking of the Promised Land/he’ll acquire it with some Krugerand/ subdivide and deal it out/feel his clout/he can stoop so low”
Cockamamie Business….Best line-”now we like to air condition/but the air has no ozone ring/still they’re chopping down the forests for McDonald’s and the Burger King”
Wake Up My Love….Best line-”my life’s been so many ways/too much darkness gets me crazed”
Life Itself….Best line-”you are the one/no matter what/you are the real love that I’ve got”
Got My Mind Set On You…George didn’t write the song, but the line “but it’s gonna take money/a whole lotta spending money” is real life! Lol
Crackerbox Palace….Best line- “I was so young when I was born/my eyes could not yet see”
Cloud 9….Best line – “take my hope/maybe even share a joke/if there’s good to be shown/you may make it all your own”
Here Comes the Moon….Best line- “Impulse always quickens when it’s full/as it turns my head around me”
Gone Troppo….Best line- “warm sea/see right to the bottom/no like, shoveling snowfall”
When We Was Fab….Best line-“”the microscopes that magnified the tears/studied warts and all”
Love Comes To Everyone….Best line-“there in your heart/something that’s never changing”
All Those Years Ago…Best line-“I’m shouting all about love/while they treated you like a dog”
Cheer Down…Best line- “if your dog should be dead/I’m gonna love you instead/the world loves a clown/cheer down”
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Post by Chippa on Nov 1, 2015 22:01:05 GMT
Had this on cassette when it first came out. I'll give it a thorough listen, and review very soon.
By the way, maybe it's just me, but the CD of the week interest seems to be waning. Perhaps because we have new Jeff/ELO music on the horizon, or perhaps because people just don't have time or patience to sit through, and type out a review of, an entire album.
Maybe we should just do Song Of The Week.
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Post by BSJ on Nov 1, 2015 22:06:42 GMT
I've not reviewed in quite a while, but still stick my nose in. I'd be happy with something like song of the week.
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Post by unomusette on Nov 1, 2015 23:06:05 GMT
Song of the Week could be a good idea, I've thought of lots of artists who have a couple of really good songs but not really a whole album's worth that might appeal to folks round here.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2015 2:08:10 GMT
Song Of The Week sounds much less daunting a task than an entire album.
I love George's solo music, and this album is a great representation of the best of his solo material.
He gives us his spiritual side with songs such as the beautifully moving Life Itself, That's The Way It Goes, and the overwhelmingly positive Blow Away. Silly, tongue-in-cheek George comes to play in the somewhat naughty Poor Little Girl, the career encapsulating Cockamamie Business, the lyrically genius CrackerBox Palace, the Caribbean delights of Gone Troppo, the charming walk down Beatles memory lane When We Was Fab,and Cheer Down, which could have fit well on Cloud Nine.
My favorite from this album is the John Lennon tribute All Those Years Ago. George's musical eulogy to his fallen bandmate and friend.
A great set of songs from a truly great artist.
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Post by Horacewimp on Nov 2, 2015 14:37:42 GMT
I would be happy with song of the week as I hardly ever get time to review the complete albums. Maybe stick with the current format until the end of the year and start afresh in the new year, what do you think Jim? jrmugz
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Post by queenofthehours on Nov 2, 2015 18:08:52 GMT
Oh fantastic!
I adore George and I LOVE this album. It was very hard to get this on CD but I managed it somehow and it's one of my prised possessions. I had been tracking it down primarily for 'Cockamamie Business' and 'Poor Little Girl' which I don't think are available anywhere else.
I totally agree with 88key on George's lyrics. Lennon and McCartney are great wordsmiths but, at least with Paul, there is an element on insincerity in them - didn't 'Yesterday' start out as a song about eggs? It's a wonderful song but once you realise the words were pulled from the air to fit the tune it looses a little magic. George's songs are never throwaway love songs or tunes-to-order. Just about all his Beatles tracks offer something extra that John and Paul couldn't manage.
George's lyrics have great integrity. They are funny and wise. When you hear them you feel sure he it telling you the truth. Telling you his own thoughts, feelings and observations. You'd be hard pushed to find any George track about "nothing". In fact I don't know how many songwriters are as honest, not even Dylan or Jeff Lynne.
...
Song of the Week is a good idea but I enjoy Album of the Week a lot. What about running both at the same time? Or if that's too much A of the W could just run every fortnight or month? It's going to be difficult reviewing a single song without the context of the musician's work, especially if we are dealing with an unfamiliar artist.
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Post by Chippa on Nov 3, 2015 1:19:46 GMT
1. Poor Little Girl – Very clever song about a “horny boy” pursuing a girl who is looking for real love, rather than a one night stand. Love the sax bursts and tympani-like percussion on this song. Oh, and Jeff Lynne’s smooth backing vocals are great, too.
2. Blow Away – Superb. One of George’s very best songs. Love the positive message that, hey, just cause it’s raining now, doesn’t mean the sun will never shine again. Great slide work from George, here, too.
3. That's The Way It Goes – Very sparkly song, for lack of a better term. The guitar sounds on this song are unique, especially the bit when it sounds like a synth and slide guitar are playing in unison.
4. Cockamamie Business – Very sly mini biography of George’s career. The man had one hell of a sarcastic wit. I love the line “before I could mend, lost the missus, missed the girlfriend”.
5. Wake Up My Love – VERY 80s! Those stabbing synth lines are cheesy, but the rest of the song isn’t bad.
6. Life Itself – George was obviously a very spiritual individual, and sometimes had his heart on his sleeve while writing about such topics. This song illustrates that very well. Even though I’m not really into all of that, this is still a very admirable piece of work. Really good song.
7. Got My Mind Set On You – This cover of the old Rudy Clark song swings like crazy! Jim Keltner’s drumming is outstanding. A huge comeback hit for George. Fun stuff.
8. Crackerbox Palace – Absolutely love this song. Lyrically, it’s very clever, and was inspired by George’s visit to the late comedian Lord Buckley’s home in LA, which he affectionately called “Crackerbox Palace”. The “Mr. Grief” in the song, refers to Buckley’s manager George Grief. Love the little tribute to Madeline Kahn’s character in “Blazing Saddles”—“it’s twue! It’s twue!”
9. Cloud 9 – Title track from George’s 1987 comeback album. Great song, with a nice little guitar battle between George and his “husband-in-law” Eric Clapton.
10. Here Comes The Moon – An obvious lyrical tip of the hat to “Here Comes The Sun”. Very laid back. Charming, even if it’s not the best song on the album.
11. Gone Troppo – Quirky little Calypso-flavored song, most likely written while George was at his home in Hawaii. A bit too cutesy, but not bad.
12. When We Was Fab – Ringo kicks it off with the “ONE..TWO!!”, and then we go full Sgt. Pepper mode! Much like “Cockamamie Business”, this is another autobiographical song. A total winner of a song.
13. Love Comes To Everyone – Good message, but the song is just so-so. Not a total loss, but just a bit “undercooked”.
14. All Those Years Ago – This song was originally written by George for Ringo to record, but when John Lennon was murdered, George kept the song and changed the lyrics to reflect upon his relationship with John. Actually, Ringo plays drums, and Paul and Linda McCartney contribute backing vocals, making it a mini Beatles reunion, of sorts. Love Al Kooper’s electric piano in the song, as well.
15. Cheer Down – My favorite song on this album, hands down. George’s slide is amazing, as usual, and Jeff’s contributions are stellar, as always. Richard Tandy contributes the piano riffs on this song, which was written by George and Tom Petty. Absolute perfection from start to finish. Maybe my favorite George solo song, in fact.
Overall, this is a solid 9/10. One or two slight songs, but nothing terrible. A must listen for George fans, for sure.
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Post by nickheynes on Nov 3, 2015 10:27:23 GMT
I would have ,in the past, listened to the album of the week in the car on my way to work. Now I live a 5 minute drive from work it has become more difficult.Perhaps album of the month!?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 20:45:29 GMT
If the album isn't good, Album Of The Week is a real chore. LOL
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Post by jrmugz on Nov 6, 2015 12:35:35 GMT
OK, here is my review of George Harrison "Best Of Dark Horse 1976-89". 01. "Poor Little Girl" - Total winner from the vintage George slide guitar intro, to the melody, and to the inspired chorus. 02. "Blow Away" - This is one only George could have come up with, vintage classic George Harrison song. 03. "That's The Way It Goes" - Nice guitar riff, and melody. For the "actor that wants to fit the bill, and all he has is prose" lyric against Reagan in 1980; I would say 8 years later after Reagan's term ended in 1988, that there was a lot more than prose. And he's famous for having very few friends who kept to himself and his writing, so he was "wined and dined" by nobody, IMHO. 04. "Cockamamie Business" - Similar to previous song for nice guitar riff, though the melody is not as good. Brings up a very good and not-talked about subject of STDs. I strong recommend everyone gets this CD for their kids, and themselves. I played it in the car the other day, about how people have no idea the prevalence, and George's song here really nails it. 05. "Wake Up My Love" - Well-produced and very lively and spirited; but doesn't do a lot for me. It's seems that it's strength and simultaneously it's downfall are the organ-synth theme. 06. "Life Itself" - It seems it's songs like these that flowed so naturally from George that Eric Clapton would praise George for being such a good slide guitar player. 07. "Got My Mind Set On You" - Always been a great cover song jam, from the moment it came out. Love it. 08. "Crackerbox Palace" - Great pro-life song, with a great chorus, and a dated sax solo; but it all sounds so good. And the "it's trrue, it's trrue", is a nice carefree touch that adds to the special charm of it. 09. "Cloud 9" - The kind of vintage song we would expect from a George Harrison and Jeff Lynne collaboration. 10. "Here Comes The Moon" - Nice simple fun song that works well; with a very hooky guitar theme reminiscent of a part of "Here Comes the Sun". 11. "Gone Troppo" - I don't think Jimmy Buffet eats his heart out when he hears this one; but it is a nice fun nod to the genre. 12. "When We Was Fab" - As perfect of a nod to the mid-Beatles era as there could ever be in terms of substance and lyrics. Amazing song. The Lennonesque 1967 era paid a full and complete tribute. 13. "Love Comes To Everyone" - Hallmark greeting card stuff; but probably true. 14. "All Those Years Ago" - Obligatory nice words for someone at a funeral. The real thing that killed the song is that Lennon was an atheist, and George is talking like he was trying to preach about God to everyone. Liked it when it came out; but doesn't really stand the test of time for me. It sounded contrived when it came out to me, and does even moreso now. This one was famous when Neil Diamond's "America" song was famous, and for me those songs are good nostalgia of driving to Cedar Point with my friend and his family when I was in the 7th grade. 15. "Cheer Down" - I think "Poor Little Girl" was a good collaboration in songwriting; for this song though, only so-so. Star Rating: 4 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Poor Little Girl", "Blow Away", "Crackerbox Palace", "Gone Troppo", "Here Comes the Moon" Bottom Line: George Harrison's amazing gift of making powerful songs with his slide-guitar magic is showcased on a solid collection with several classic songs. I've owned this over the years, and played it a lot on youtube as well on a regular basis. I usually gravitate to "Blow Away" and "Crackerbox Palace"; but one that really connected with me for paying more attention for this review was "Poor Little Girl". Also "Gone Troppo" and "Here Comes the Moon" sound a lot better than I remembered them, as well. Thanks very much 88, enjoyed it very much. Will mark you down for early next year sometime, once I get to compiling that list. Jim
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Post by jrmugz on Nov 6, 2015 14:42:37 GMT
I would have ,in the past, listened to the album of the week in the car on my way to work. Now I live a 5 minute drive from work it has become more difficult.Perhaps album of the month!? I informed Suptertramp of the situation, Nick, and they advised to consider taking the long way home. ha ha. Yeah, we did have some back and forth in the past about making it every two weeks, but looks like we're going to stick for each week for now. The good thing about that is that everyone at least gets a turn, and if it's an album that's not our cup of tea, we're not stuck with it for more than a week. This year is booked up, but I'll mark you down for one for next year once I make the new thread for 2016. Jim PS Plus on kind of a selfish side, I get a kick out of coming to the section each Sunday, to see what the CD will be, kind of like opening up a Christmas present each Sunday morning. Hope others feel the same, I think the fact that we're on a forum like this shows we're all cut from the same cardboard, namely, total music geeks, who could spend hours looking through albums and records in the record store and never get bored.
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