Harrison, George – 1969-1974 – Through Many Years – Tracks Together – Studio 1CD A (w Ringo)

Liner notes:

Featuring unreleased and rare performances of “the other two” Beatles. “Through Many Years” is a tribute to the talents of George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The tracks included here have been taken from the finest sources available, including dubs made by late Abbey Road studio engineer John Barrett.

The recordings George and Ringo made in the early 70’s bested those of their more esteemed colleagues both aesthetically and critically (as well as on the charts!) many times, and the music featured here does nothing to challenge that fact.

Many of the tracks on this set owe their appearance on this set to the Abbey Road vault search the late John Barrett undertook in 1982. The references cassettes he made while doing said research (…) are the primary source used for most of the tunes on “Through Many Years”. Other songs have come from the finest sources yet, so sit back and enjoy some down-to-earth music from the quiet one with a little help from his friend Ringo.

(Liner notes’ transcription by Tilleul, beatleg@infonie.be)

1. I Live For You (Harrison)
03:35
(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
This and the next five tracks were recorded during the All Things Must Pass sessions at Abbey Road between May and October 1970.

“I Live For You”, an otherwise unreleased Harrison composition has previously appeared on other releases from an acetate source, but this is a beautiful sounding take from the Barrett dubs.

2. Dera Duhn (Harrison)
03:26
(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
A real surprise find, “Dera Duhn”, another unissued Harrisong, was first heard by most fans in 1995 in a short informal rendition played by George on ukulele in The Beatles Anthology. George, Paul and Ringo are sitting on George’s Henley-On-Thames grounds talking about songs The Beatles wrote in India in 1968, and this tune was one of them. Here’s a 1970 studio version, obviously unfinished, but still exciting to hear.

3. Gopala Krishna (Harrison)
04:42
(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
Not one of George’s more comprehensible lyrics but sill a pleasant enough tune which seems to be a remnant of his Radga Jrishna Temple work.

4. Going Down To Golders Green (Harrison)
02:24
(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
A jam session in all but name, George is making this one up as he goes along, but does a good job of it. This happens to be the area in London where Badfinger lived, through whether that had anything to do with his namechecking the area is doubtful.

5. Get Back (Lennon/McCartney)
02:50
Jam
1970

George Harrison
This is a prize; George taking the piss out of a song he certainly got tired of performing during the interminable Get Back/Let It Be sessions, with hilarious (?) results.

6. Pete Drake’s Talking Steel Guitar (Drake)
05:05
(unidentified)
(date unknown)

George Harrison
Ever wonder what “Danny Boy” or “Bridge Over Troubled Water” would sound like if performed vocally through a steel guitar ? Well, you’re about to find out as the late, great Pete Drake, showed George & Co. how it was done in this All Things Must Pass session tape extract.
Demo (unknown)

(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
Pete Drake demoing his talking guitar: “I’m just a guitar, and everybody speaks on me…”
Danny Boy (Traditional adapted by Weatherly)

(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
Peter Drake demoing his talking guitar.
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon)

(unidentified)
1970

George Harrison
Peter Drake demoing his talking guitar.

7. Old Brown Shoe (Harrison)
03:04
Demo
Barrett
25 Feb 1969

George Harrison
These demos were recorded on Feb 25, 1969, George’s 26th birthday. All three were done as “one man band” productions, and also appeared in somewhat inferior 1996 mixes on Anthology 3. Included here are John Barrett’s 1982 mixes of the first two tracks, with “Something” coming from an original acetate just for the completeness and authenticity’s sake.

8. All Things Must Pass (G. Harrison)
03:04
Demo
Barrett Mix
25 Feb 1969
SS.ETC.26
George Harrison
These demos were recorded on Feb 25, 1969, George’s 26th birthday. All three were done as “one man band” productions, and also appeared in somewhat inferior 1996 mixes on Anthology 3. Included here are John Barrett’s 1982 mixes of the first two tracks, with “Something” coming from an original acetate just for the completeness and authenticity’s sake.

9. Something (Harrison)
03:20
Demo
Barrett
25 Feb 1969

George Harrison
These demos were recorded on Feb 25, 1969, George’s 26th birthday. All three were done as “one man band” productions, and also appeared in somewhat inferior 1996 mixes on Anthology 3. Included here are John Barrett’s 1982 mixes of the first two tracks, with “Something” coming from an original acetate just for the completeness and authenticity’s sake.

10. Deep Blue (Harrison)
03:45
Regular
1971

George Harrison
The three heretofore-uncollected-on-LP-or-CD George Harrison B-sides, have all been painstakingly remastered from the finest sources available. Just to refresh your memory: “Deep Blue” was the B-side to “Bangla Desh” issued in July 1971.

11. Miss O’dell (Harrison)
02:28
Regular
1973

George Harrison
“Miss O’Dell” backed “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” in May of 1973.

12. I Don’t Care Anymore (Harrison)
02:41
Regular
1974

George Harrison
“I Don’t Care Anymore” was the flip side of the US “Dark Horse” 45, released in November of 1974, and the UK “Ding Dong Ding Dong” single in December of that same year.

13. Octopus’s Garden (Starkey)
02:50
Alternate Mix
(date unknown)

George Harrison
A fascinating version of Ringo’s second and last authored Beatles track recorded for a George Martin IBA Network special broadcast on Christmas Eve 1969. Most of The Beatles basic tracks for the song recorded for the Abbey Road LP remained but the bass, piano and lead guitar were removed in a remix done on December 2, 1969 at Abbey Road. This was due to the need to make the track different from the record because of Musician’s Union lip-syncing rules. On December 8, these parts were re-recorded by other musicians, and Ringo redid his lead vocal, but all other elements of the Beatles’ recording are present.

14. Stormy Weather (Arlen/Koehler)
03:03
(unidentified)
6 Nov 1969

George Harrison
The one and only unreleased recording from Ringo’s first solo effort, the “standards” LP, Sentimental Journey. Recorded November 6, 1969 produced by George Martin at Abbey Road, and unheard until now.

15. The Wishing Book (Starkey)
01:16
(unidentified)
Jun 1970

George Harrison
Unissued from sessions for the second Nose LP, the countrified “Beaucoups Of Blues”. Recorded in late Jun 1970 at Music City Recorders in Nashville during sessions produced by Pete Drake.

16. Nashville Freak-out (unknown)
03:05
(unidentified)
Jun 1970

George Harrison
Unissued from sessions for the second Nose LP, the countrified “Beaucoups Of Blues”. Recorded in late Jun 1970 at Music City Recorders in Nashville during sessions produced by Pete Drake.
A different edit and mix of “Freakout” was titled “Nashville Jam” on the “Beaucoups Of Blues” CD reissue.