All Things Must Pass
is a triple album
by English musician
George Harrison
Recorded and
released in 1970,
the album was
Harrison's first
solo work since
the break-up
of the Beatles
in April that year,
and his
third solo album overall.
It includes the hit singles
"My Sweet Lord"
and
"What Is Life",
as well as songs
such as
"Isn't It a Pity"
and the title track
that had been
turned down
for inclusion
on releases
by the Beatles.
The album reflects the
influence of Harrison's
musical activities
with artists such as
Bob Dylan,
the Band,
Delaney & Bonnie
and
Billy Preston
during 1968–70,
and his growth as an
artist beyond his
supporting role
to former bandmates
John Lennon
and
Paul McCartney.
All Things Must Pass
introduced Harrison's
signature sound,
the slide guitar,
and the spiritual themes
that would be present
throughout his
subsequent solo work.
The original vinyl release
consisted of two LPs
of songs and a
third disc
of informal jams,
titled
Apple Jam.
Several commentators
interpret
Barry Feinstein's
album cover photo,
showing Harrison
surrounded by
four garden gnomes,
as a statement on his
independence from the Beatles.
Production began at
London's Abbey Road Studios
in May 1970,
with extensive overdubbing
and mixing continuing
through October.
Among the large cast
of backing
musicians were
Eric Clapton
and
Delaney & Bonnie's Friends band
three of whom formed
Derek and the Dominos
with
Clapton during the recording
as well as
Ringo Starr,
Gary Wright,
Billy Preston,
Klaus Voormann,
John Barham,
Badfinger
and
Pete Drake.
The sessions produced a
double album's worth of
extra material,
most of which
remains unissued.
All Things Must Pass
was critically
and
commercially successful
on release,
with long stays at
number 1
on charts
around the world.
The album was
co-produced by
Phil Spector
and employs his
Wall of Sound
production technique
to notable effect;
Ben Gerson of
Rolling Stone described
the sound as
"Wagnerian,
Brucknerian,
the music of mountain tops
and vast horizons".
Reflecting the widespread surprise
at the assuredness of
Harrison's post-Beatles debut,
Melody Maker's
Richard Williams
likened the album to
Greta Garbo's first role
in a talking picture
and declared:
"Garbo talks!
Harrison is free!"
According to Colin Larkin,
writing in the
2011 edition of his
Encyclopedia of Popular Music,
All Things Must Pass is
"generally rated"
as the best
of all the
former Beatles'
solo albums
I Also Added An
Interview Disc
Of George Harrison
Talking About The Album
