George Harrison's Musical Brilliance: The Story Behind 'Something' and His Impact on The Beatles
Abbey Road, the final album before The Beatles' breakup in April 1970, is considered one of their most iconic works. With over 30 million copies sold, the album features 17 tracks primarily written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. However, lead guitarist George Harrison's contributions are often highlighted as the standout tracks. On this day in 1969, The Beatles entered the UK singles charts with one of Harrison's finest compositions.
When recording "Something," George Harrison took a different approach than usual. He improvised his guitar solo, deviating from his usual method of planning it out in advance. Harrison later admitted that he was unsure of what he was doing and even smoked something before recording the solo. Despite this, he was pleasantly surprised by the final result, appreciating the spontaneity and right notes he hit.
"Something," believed to be inspired by George Harrison's first wife, Pattie Boyd, is one of The Beatles' most covered songs, second only to "Yesterday." Even legendary artists like Frank Sinatra praised the ballad, calling it the greatest love song of the past 50 years. Despite not being a fan of The Beatles, Sinatra recognized the song's brilliance, though he often mistakenly credited it as a Lennon-McCartney collaboration. Elvis Presley, another Beatles critic, also admired Harrison's songwriting, particularly enjoying "Something" along with other Harrison compositions.
In addition to "Something," Elvis Presley had a fondness for George Harrison's songs, including "Norwegian Wood," "If I Needed Someone," and "Here Comes the Sun." These tracks resonated with Presley, showcasing Harrison's talent as a prolific songwriter. The enduring popularity of "Something" and Harrison's other compositions continues to highlight his significant contribution to The Beatles' musical legacy.