George Harrison needs no introduction because he was nothing less than part of the greatest group of all time, The Beatles. The ‘quiet Beatle’ was anything but ‘quiet’ during his career after the breakup of The Beatles in 1970. During his solo career, he proved to be a guitarist and songwriter with skills at the McCartney/ Lennon level. In this article, we will expose five facts that show how he made one of the best albums of the 70s, became a musician with a huge heart for charity, and became an out-of-the-box musician and businessman.
1. George Harrison’s Benefit Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 Paved the Way for Live Aid
While George Harrison leveraged his deep artistic influence to promote humanitarian causes in the form of the Concert for Bangladesh, today there are other platforms that use the internet to fund both entertainment and good causes. Of all these, online betting sites in Bangladesh have been the most used platforms where individuals can play games while contributing to the local economy. And much like Harrison’s original fusion of art and activism, these sites combine entertainment with community impact in such a way that any interaction can lead to something bigger.
Alongside the success of his third solo album, ‘All Things Must Pass,’ George Harrison was unstoppable. It was likely the most productive period of his 40-year career. Just a few months after the release of his third album, Harrison decided to organize a global-scale rock concert titled ‘The Concert for Bangladesh.’
These pair of benefit concerts, co-organized with Ravi Shankar, took place on August 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main objective of the concert was to raise awareness of the Bangladesh Liberation War-related genocide and the 1970 Bhola cyclone.
By 1985, revenue raised from the Concert for Bangladesh live album and film, estimated at $12 million, had been sent to Bangladesh. Decades later, Shankar would reflect on the overwhelming success of the event, saying, ‘In one day, the whole world knew the name of Bangladesh. It was a fantastic occasion.‘
2. “All Things Must Pass,” a Highly Praised Masterpiece
‘All Things Must Pass’ was released in November 1970 and featured “My Sweet Lord” as its debut single. The album was released in a sealed cardboard box. It contained a giant color poster with an image of George Harrison—both this package and the album’s content is a portal to George Harrison’s self-confidence as a musician.
There are 18 songs on this triple album, and tracks like “Let It Down,” “Isn’t It a Pity,” and “Beware of Darkness” are some of the tracks that elevated this album to a stratospheric level. Even today, ‘All Things Must Pass’ is acclaimed by fans and critics alike as a top contender for the best solo album ever by a former Beatle, possibly closely competing with John Lennon’s ‘Plastic Ono Band’ or Paul McCartney’s ‘Band on the Run.’
3. “My Sweet Lord” Lawsuit
In February 1971, Bright Tunes Music Corporation sued George Harrison for copyright infringement, claiming “My Sweet Lord” was similar to Ronnie Mack’s “He’s So Fine.” Harrison acknowledged not noticing the similarity initially, which was further highlighted when a cover of “He’s So Fine” incorporated elements of “My Sweet Lord.”
Musicologists noted both songs shared similar musical structures, although Harrison introduced different elements in his song. Despite this, the case, which involved several complex legal battles, went to court in 1976. Harrison was found to have subconsciously copied Mack’s song. The court ruled this constituted copyright infringement, leading to a significant damages award against Harrison.
Throughout the legal proceedings, the case became notorious, reflecting the tense and prolonged nature of the litigation. The case concluded in the 1990s, with Harrison retaining rights to both songs in the UK and North America. It set precedents in copyright law, highlighting issues of subconscious plagiarism in the music industry.
Harrison’s experience with this lawsuit deeply affected him, making him cautious about songwriting to avoid further legal issues. The case remains one of the most famous copyright disputes in the history of rock music.
4. George Harrison Founded HandMade Films Out of His Love for Monty Python
George Harrison co-founded HandMade Films in 1978, initially to produce the Monty Python troupe’s comedy film ‘The Life of Brian’ (1979). Harrison mortgaged his home to finance the movie in a show of love for the Python project. As we know, this classic film was hugely successful: it grossed $21 million at the box office in the US.
Other films that HandMade Films would later distribute include the well-known ‘Time Bandits’ (a 1981 British comedy starring Sean Connery), ‘The Long Good Friday’ (a 1980 gangster film starring Helen Mirren), and the 1987 black comedy ‘Withnail and I’ routinely regarded as being among the finest British films ever made.
5. He Co-Founded the Traveling Wilburys, “The Biggest Supergroup of All Time”
In 1988, Harrison formed the Traveling Wilburys with Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty. The LP, ‘Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1,’ peaked at number 16 in the UK and number 3 in the US and was triple platinum certified.
The Wilburys continued to sing as a four-piece after Orbison died in December 1988. ‘Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3’, the second album, reached number 14 in the UK and 11 in the US and was certified platinum.
The project is often called “perhaps the biggest supergroup of all time.“
