Beatles News

George Harrison was known as the "Quiet Beatle," but his songwriting spoke volumes.

The Beatles icon, who passed away in 2001, wrote 22 tracks for the Fab Four, a few of which remain among their most memorable. Unlike many of his peers, Harrison was more reserved and introspective. He wasn’t drawn to the glitz and glamour of fame; instead, he thrived on genuine connection and spirituality. Some of his Beatles songs show this side of him, while others might catch you off guard.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon handled most of the group’s songwriting, with many tracks credited as McCartney-Lennon originals. Ringo Starr, the band's drummer, contributed just two songs.

In an interview, commenting on Harrison as a singer and a songwriter, Lennon once said, "George didn’t even use to sing when we brought him into the group; he was a guitarist. He wasn’t in the same league for a long time. That’s not putting him down, he just hadn’t had the practice at writing that we had.”

A decade later, Harrison was the first Beatle to hit No. 1 as a solo artist following the band's breakup in 1970 with "My Sweet Lord." If that's not proof of his exceptional creativity and lyri details

Paul McCartney old and new, ancient and contemporary, come together on The Boys of Dungeon Lane, the 27th studio album of his post-Beatles career. The melodious pop genius of his youth and the venerable elder statesman of rock culture look back with rheumy, sentimental eyes on the memories and influences of his youth.

“Grandpa Paul sounds old,” you might think during the opening bars of As You Lie There. Really, every one of McCartney’s 83 years can be detected in his shaky, thinning voice, reminiscing saucily about a teenage crush over dreamy acoustic chords.

Yet in a snap he can bring the past sharply into the present with musical flourishes akin to colourising a black-and-white film, his own deft harmonies rising to expand his vocal timbre, his sustained electric guitars snaking nimbly into the flourishing bass and thumping drums of the greatest one-man band in pop history. When McCartney hits the high chorus of the epic, shapeshifting As You Lie There, then unleashes a joyous background roar of “yeah yeah yeah” with that Little Richard wail and mop-top head shake, you hear the very same joyful enthusiasm he brought to the Fab Four when he embarked on his recording career in 1962 details

While on the whole the '70s are known for uplifting disco numbers and epic rock hits, music groups did put out a few quiet, sad tunes in the decade. The publication Far Out recently shared a list of the "five most tragic songs of the 1970s."

The ranking, published on May 21, featured devastating '70s hits likeJim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" and "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor. George Harrison's 1970 song, "Isn't It a Pity," which deals with the end of a partnership, was named the "most tragic song" released in the 1970s. According to the publication, Harrison shared some insight into the lyrics of the song, off his 1970 record All Things Must Pass, while writing his autobiography, I, Me, Mine.

"‘Isn’t It a Pity’ is about whenever a relationship hits a down point. It was a chance to realise that if I felt somebody had let me down, then there’s a good chance I was letting someone else down. We all tend to break each other’s hearts, taking and not giving back," shared the former Beatle in the book, published in 1980.

Harrison played some of the seven-minute song during a 1974 interview on Rock Around the World with Alan Freeman. After he was finished singing, Harrison said the t details

Paul McCartney, a surprise guest on the final episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” provided a poignant capper to the series by being given the ceremonial honor of turning out the lights in the Ed Sullivan Theater, a location with which he has plenty of history.

The final number had McCartney and Colbert singing the Beatles‘ classic “Hello Goodbye,” accompanied by Elvis Costello, former band leader Jon Batiste and current band leader Louis Cato, eventually joined on stage by a parade of staffers dancing through and around the stag in a line, as the house band finally gave the ’60s tune a New Orleans-style coda.

Then Colbert was seen in a filmed bit taking McCartney backstage to the electrical breakers, where the legendary rocker was seen flipping a switch that not only turned the lights out but sent the Sullivan Theater into a green interdimensional portal introduced earlier in the show by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The symbolic gesture followed McCartney’s stint as the show’s final interviewee as well as last musical performer, in which the host asked him to share stories about his first visit to the theater 62 years ago.

“Hello Goodbye& details

Ringo’s rhythm and voice have provided the soundtrack for multiple generations. From his groundbreaking work with The Beatles to a remarkable solo career featuring 20 studio albums between 1970 and 2023, plus a recent string of popular EPs, Ringo brings an unparalleled musical legacy to every stage, making each concert on his tour a historic event.

Ringo's creativity shines beyond the music. He's an accomplished actor with over 15 film credits and an Academy Award®, an author of eight books, a visual artist with multiple global exhibitions, and even a photographer. His annual July 7th Peace and Love initiative has blossomed into a worldwide movement, and in recent years, Ringo was knighted, received an honorary degree as a Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music, and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame with the Joe Chambers Musicians Legacy Award.

In January of this year, Ringo released Look Upopens in a new tab, his first country album in more than 50 years, which earned him his first top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, as well as landing him on multiple other Billboard charts. In the UK, the album secured Starr his first solo #1 album on the Official Country Chart, overt details

A tour to help heal the rifts between members of The Beatles had been suggested by Paul McCartney, but amounted to nothing, the veteran songwriter has claimed.

McCartney, who would leave the band in the late 1960s, had hoped that getting back on stage with John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, might help the band work through the problems laid bare in documentaries Let It Be and Get Back. But it appeared the tensions were too much for the Fab Four, with Lennon confirming his departure from the group privately to his bandmates. McCartney, who would go on to form Wings and later enjoyed a successful solo career, commented on his hopes of getting The Beatles back on the road and why it never came to pass.

In response to criticism from Philip Norman in his book, Shout!, the Blackbird songwriter says he tried his best to keep the band together in the late ’60s.

He said: “What the book says, about me being the great manipulator simply isn’t true. Nothing happened in The Beatles unless everyone wanted it to happen. But when there was a decision to be made, somebody had to say it out loud — and that usually turned out to be my job. I accepted it.

“I certainly wasn&r details

By the late 1960s, the Beatles were driving much of pop culture’s direction, from electric guitars to psychedelia to Indian music and meditation. But their influence also became entangled in the era’s more controversial shifts — including widespread experimentation with drugs. That tension surfaced directly when George Harrison appeared on The Dick Cavett Show in November 1971. The host asked whether the Beatles bore responsibility for America’s growing drug culture.

“You had this tremendous influence on young people,” Cavett said. “Everyone knows you went through a drug phase. Did it ever occur to you that the fact that was known, and the fact that you were the Beatles, might have caused thousands of people to have drug problems that might not have otherwise?”

The audience bristled at the question, but Harrison responded without hesitation, beginning with a story that reframed the premise entirely.

So we had it; we went out to a club, and it was incredible.” “First of all, when we took the notorious wonder drug LSD, we didn’t know we were having it,” he said. “John and I had the drug when we were having dinner with o details

While some popular songs aren't everyone's cup of tea, a handful of the top tunes are universally beloved. For instance, on May 20, Far Out magazine released a ranking of "10 songs that are too perfect to hate." According to the publication, a few songs "that are impossible to hate" include Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" (1975), "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman (1988), "Friday I’m in Love" by The Cure (1992), and "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers (2004).

Far Out named the Beatles' beloved 1969 song, "Here Comes the Sun," as the top tune simply "impossible to hate."

While "Here Comes the Sun," off of Abbey Road, has received constant praise from critics and fans alike, its songwriter, George Harrison, revealed he wasn't overly impressed with the tune. During a 1969 interview for Scene and Heard, Harrison described "Here Comes The Sun" and his song, "Something," also from Abbey Road, as "ok... maybe a bit more commercial but as songs not much better than the songs on the last album."

"But I've been writing for a couple of years now. And there's been lots of songs I've written which I haven't got 'round to recording. So, you know, in my own mind I don't see what the fuss is, because I've heard these songs befor details

The flute that features on the Beatles' iconic song The Fool On The Hill is to go under the hammer.

Owned by leading British flautist Jack Ellory until his death in 2009, the flute will be sold at auction at Gardiner Houlgate in Wiltshire on 12 June – and is expected to fetch up to £20,000.

Ellory was a prolific session musician who played on classical and pop music records as well as soundtracks for the Sean Connery-period James Bond films, Pink Panther films, and the musical Oliver!

His son Brian Ellory said he hoped the restored instrument, which was held together by elastic bands when he inherited it, goes to someone "who can make music with it" and "appreciates its incredible history".

In 1967, Beatles producer George Martin asked Ellory to play flute for The Fool on the Hill, which was recorded for their Magical Mystery Tour project and topped the UK chart.

The flute was also used in numerous adverts of the period including the Cadbury's "fruit and nutcase" campaign featuring the Nutcracker Suite, which was later voted as one of the greatest adverts of the century.

Brian Ellory said: "I wanted to learn to play it but soon found I had no talent.

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The paths of rock legends George Harrison and Bob Dylan first crossed in 1964, sparking a friendship that would profoundly shape both their lives and music. This unexpected bond inspired a deeply personal co-written song that opened Harrison's iconic debut solo album, a poignant ballad celebrating loyalty and connection.

The Beatles, already global sensations, first encountered Bob Dylan in 1964 during their American tour. This meeting proved pivotal, with Dylan famously introducing the Fab Four to marijuana and influencing their shift towards more introspective songwriting. George Harrison, in particular, was drawn to Dylan's lyrical depth and unique artistic vision.

By late 1968, a frustrated George Harrison, feeling stifled within The Beatles, sought refuge at Bob Dylan’s home near Woodstock, New York. Dylan, recovering from a motorcycle accident, was at a quieter, more guarded period in his life. Harrison noticed Dylan's reticence, prompting a desire to connect.

Source: MSN/Jose Williams

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By the end of their recording career, The Beatles had the benefit of three standout songwriters. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison all possessed the ability to spin out a classic at a moment’s notice.

But that wasn’t always the case. It took a while for Harrison to find his songwriting legs. His first song recorded with the band was a bit of an oddball that reflected George’s willingness to push against the norms, a characteristic that would remain a hallmark of his writing throughout his career.

When considering George Harrison’s late-bloomer status as a songwriter within The Beatles, it’s important to remember that he was the youngest member of the group. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were both writing songs at a very young age.

As a result, they had a massive head start in terms of honing their songwriting craft. Not only that, but Lennon and McCartney understood the financial edge that they possessed by cultivating a stronghold on the songwriting duties. While they might have encouraged Harrison to write, they didn’t exactly twist his arm.

For his part, Harrison didn’t force himself to write until he was ready. There were n details

The largest collection of Paul McCartney’s personal artifacts ever publicly displayed is part of a new exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame centering on his life after The Beatles.

“Paul McCartney and Wings,” which opened Friday in Cleveland, explores the musician’s reinvention after leaving the iconic British rock band through displays of instruments, handwritten songwriting notes and photographs taken by his wife, Linda McCartney, who was keyboardist and harmony vocalist for Wings during its decade-long run from 1971 to 1981, when the band produced hits including “Band on the Run,” “Silly Love Songs” and “Live and Let Die.”

After the breakup of The Beatles, Paul McCartney was no longer just the musician who had been known around the world since his teenage years, but a husband and father of a young family. What he built with Wings reflected that new stage of life, said Andy Leach, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s senior director of museum and archival collections.

Leach said the band’s embrace of domestic life — bringing children on tour, having a married couple perform together and writing songs inspired by his wife details

Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming John Lennon documentary film recently received an exciting update. Just days after unveiling its official title, the project seems to be gaining momentum ahead of its special screening at Cannes.
What’s the latest update on Steven Soderbergh’s John Lennon movie?

Steven Soderbergh’s movie, John Lennon: The Last Interview, has launched sales through 193, a Legendary-backed sales and production company founded by Patrick Wachsberger. With this movie, 193 has expanded into the category of premium nonfiction movies.

The documentary features exclusive access to the Beatles icon’s final, in-depth conversation, reports Variety.

Its official synopsis reads, “On December 8, 1980, Lennon and Yoko Ono sat down with a small radio crew in their New York apartment to promote the release of their album Double Fantasy. What followed was an unfiltered, wide-ranging discussion about music, politics, fatherhood, and life. Just hours later, Lennon was killed.”

Helmed by Soderbergh, the movie presents “the complete interview for the first time, framed by reflections from those who were present, revealing a man at the height of his creati details

Geoff Emerick was just a teenager in June 1962, employed as an apprentice sound engineer at EMI Studios (later renamed Abbey Road), when a then-little-known English rock band recorded a demo in the studio.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and drummer Pete Best laid down four tracks that day — “Bésame Mucho,” “Love Me Do,” “PS, I Love You,” and “Ask Me Why” — on a magnetic recording tape, which was then shuttled over to record producer George Martin at EMI’s headquarters on Manchester Square.

You know the rest: After ditching Best for Ringo Starr, The Beatles broke out with “Love Me Do,” launched Beatlemania, and became the most famous band of all time. Emerick rose with them, serving as chief engineer on iconic records like Abbey Road and becoming what Variety once called the “behind-the-scenes brains that helped shape the Beatles sound.”

But here’s what you probably don’t know: Emerick held onto that demo tape, which had been sent to a nearby squash court where “tapes went to die.” He kept it in his possession for decades, all the way until his 2018 death, when it was disc details

Sir Paul McCartney has named John Lennon’s Imagine as one of the songs that mean the most to him.

Sir Paul chose the song as his final entry for Tracks of My Years on Radio 2, a feature in which a celebrity selects pieces of music that have soundtracked different periods of their lives.  Imagine was released in 1971, a year after the Beatles officially split.

“It’s just such classic by John. It was after we split up, so I wasn’t with him when he wrote it. It’s just one of those songs, when you hear it for the first time, you know it’s a killer. And I still love looking at footage of him singing it.

“It’s an anthem, the kind of thing everyone can relate to. It just sums a lot of things up, and it’s got to be one of John’s best songs,” Sir Paul has said.  Lennon and Sir Paul were estranged following the band’s break-up but were reconciled before Lennon’s death in 1980.

At the Glastonbury Festival in 2022, Sir Paul sang a “virtual” duet of I’ve Got a Feeling with Lennon, using Lennon’s performance from the 1969 Apple rooftop concert.  Other songs he has chosen for Track details