While George Harrison is best remembered as The Beatles’ lead guitarist and a gifted songwriter in his own right, his contributions extended well beyond the band’s legendary catalogue. Although overshadowed during the early Beatles years by the songwriting powerhouse of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Harrison steadily developed his craft, ultimately emerging as a master composer whose works resonated both within and outside the Fab Four.
Harrison’s Songwriting Journey: From Underdog to Icon
Harrison’s first penned Beatles track, “Don’t Bother Me” (1963), arrived at a time when Beatlemania was sweeping the world, with Lennon and McCartney dominating the charts with hits like “From Me to You” and “She Loves You.” Yet, it would take until Help! (1965) for Harrison to consistently contribute his own songs, signaling a turning point. From then on, every Beatles album featured at least one or two of his compositions.
By the band’s final years, Harrison had blossomed into a formidable songwriter, penning classics such as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Here Comes the Sun.” His song “Something” even earned praise from Frank Sinatra, who famously declared it “the greatest love song of the past 50 years,” unaware it was a Harrison original rather than a Lennon-McCartney composition.
Beyond The Beatles: Harrison’s Gift to Fellow Musicians
Despite Harrison’s growing reputation, Lennon and McCartney often sidelined his material, leaving many of his songs unreleased by The Beatles. This abundance of unrecorded gems became the foundation of Harrison’s acclaimed triple album All Things Must Pass (1970), which included tracks like “Isn’t It a Pity,” originally penned during Revolver sessions.
Post-Beatles, Harrison remained prolific, not only spearheading humanitarian efforts such as The Concert for Bangladesh but also supporting friends and fellow artists through songwriting and production.
Here are six notable songs Harrison wrote for other artists:
1. “Sour Milk Sea” – Jackie Lomax
Initially a Beatles demo, “Sour Milk Sea” was given to blues-rock artist Jackie Lomax, one of Apple Records’ early signees. The song reflects Harrison’s spiritual exploration during the band’s time in Rishikesh, India, under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s guidance.
2. “Badge” – Cream
Harrison co-wrote “Badge” with Eric Clapton, who returned the favor by playing the iconic guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Featured on Cream’s final album Goodbye (1969), the track remains a rock classic.
3. “Try Some, Buy Some” – Ronnie Spector
Written during the All Things Must Pass sessions, this song’s orchestral pop style showcased Harrison’s collaboration with Phil Spector. Although it was intended as a comeback record for Ronnie Spector, it achieved limited commercial success. Harrison later recorded his own version for Living in the Material World, and David Bowie covered it on his 2003 album Reality.
4. “Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)” – Ringo Starr
Featured on Ringo Starr’s 1973 album Ringo, this folk-inspired track was Harrison’s sole original contribution to the record. Inspired by a trip to Ireland with his wife, Pattie Boyd, it reflects Harrison’s warmth and camaraderie toward his former bandmate.
5. “I Still Love You” – Originally for Shirley Bassey, later for Ringo Starr
Though originally intended for singer Shirley Bassey, Harrison ultimately penned this song for Ringo’s album Rotogravure, continuing their close musical partnership.
6. “Run So Far” – Eric Clapton
After battling addiction, Clapton’s comeback album Journeyman (1989) featured “Run So Far,” penned by Harrison. Another track, “That Kind of Woman,” was initially meant for Clapton but was recorded by Gary Moore instead, fitting Moore’s blues-rock style.
Final Years and Legacy
Though Harrison’s songwriting pace slowed in his later years, he continued to collaborate, including the 2001 track “Horse to the Water” with Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and his son Dhani. Harrison passed away later that year due to lung cancer complications, leaving behind a rich legacy as a gifted musician, composer, and collaborator.
