Living in the Material World [50th Anniversary] [Orange Vinyl with 4-Page Booklet] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]

by George Harrison

Overview

How does an instant multi-million-selling album become underrated? George Harrison's follow-up to All Things Must Pass was necessarily a letdown for fans and critics, appearing after a two-and-a-half year interval without the earlier album's backlog of excellent songs to draw from. Harrison narrowed his sights and his vision for this record, which has neither the bold expansiveness nor the overwhelming confidence of its predecessor. "Sue Me Sue You Blues" seems like a throwback to "Taxman" in its subject matter -- the lawsuit over the similarities between "My Sweet Lord" and "He's So Fine" -- rather than recalling the spiritual All Things Must Pass. And some of the most serious songs here, such as "The Light That Has Lighted the World," seem dirge-like. What Living in the Material World shows off far better than the earlier record, however, is Harrison's guitar work -- he had Eric Clapton and Dave Mason sharing the guitar chores on All Things Must Pass, but he's the only guitarist on Material World, and it does represent his solo playing and songwriting at a peak. Most notable are his blues stylings and slide playing, glimpsed on some of the later Beatles sessions. "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" is driven by a delectable acoustic rhythm guitar and has a great beat, both sounds later picked up by Jeff Lynne for ELO's "Livin' Thing." The title track benefits from a tight, hard band sound with a great Jim Horn performance on sax; and "The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)" is the high point of the record, a fast, rollicking, funky, bluesy jewel, with a priceless guitar that may be the best of Harrison's solo career. "Be Here Now" is nearly as fine a song in the completely opposite vein, a soft, eloquent, hauntingly beautiful piece that quietly (and eerily) recalls Pink Floyd's exquisite, languid "Now and Then" from the same year. Vocally, he isn't as self-consciously pretty or restrained here, but it is an honest performance, and his singing soars magnificently in his heartfelt performance on "The Day the World Gets Round." "Try Some Buy Some," the only song produced by Harrison and Phil Spector. and the only number to recall All Things Must Pass' sound, doesn't quite fit with the rest of this, although in 1973 it was many people's favorite song other than the chart-topping "Give Me Love." Perhaps a less serious title -- like "Just George" -- would have represented the album better, but nobody was looking for self-effacement from any ex-Beatle in those days. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	11/15/2024
Label:	DARK HORSE RECORDS
UPC:	4099964087666

Tracks

1. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
2. Sue Me, Sue You Blues
3. The Light That Has Lighted the World
4. Don't Let Me Wait Too Long
5. Who Can See It
6. Living in the Material World
7. The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)
8. Be Here Now
9. Try Some Buy Some
10. The Day the World Gets 'Round
11. That Is All

Album Credits

Performance Credits

George Harrison   Primary Artist
Zakir Hussain   Guest Artist
Gary Wright   Guest Artist
Ringo Starr   Guest Artist
Jim Horn   Guest Artist

Technical Credits

George Harrison   Composer
Phil Spector   Composer