George Harrison......my Sweet Lord

[dieseldick]

just watched the video, he is singing my sweet lord, goes from halleluja to harre krishna....i also see a picture of him sitting in a field surrounded by gnomes.

too much acid ?

[douglas9401]

No, just a keen gardener.

[1ozzy]

I suspect so.

[andy-hughes]

I think GH was a very spiritual man - perhaps he just liked gnomes as ornaments.

[retrocop]

Wouldn't be at all suprised. I read, probably on here,some time ago that the Sgt Pepper album was inspired and written solely under the influence of hallucinogens. Seems that modern popular musicians can't function or create without drugs and those on the periphery as well. Much to their later cost.

[EcclesCake]

The Beatles modern?

[retrocop]

If two still have a pulse and one is still trilling then they aren't ancient. They didn't singing Trad Jazz yet.

[dieseldick]

why change from christian lyrics to hindu lyrics, all about peace and love in all religions ,

maybe ? must say i still love the song and he was a lovely great guy im sure.

[andy-hughes]

retrocop - // Seems that modern popular musicians can't function or create without drugs and those on the periphery as well. Much to their later cost. //

I think that the notion that creativity is linked to drug use - hallucinogenic or otherwise - is a long-debunked myth.

Musicians take drugs because they have the money to buy them, which automatically facilitates access to them, and because they enjoy them.

[Retrochic]

Most of the 'creative' written word in the Victorian Age was helped along by the use of Opiates .

[tamborine]

GH...who left us saddled with todays pc

[Retrochic]

^^^^^ I'll have a drag on whatever you're having lol!

[retrocop]

//I think that the notion that creativity is linked to drug use - hallucinogenic or otherwise - is a long-debunked myth.//




“Inspired by Eastern influences, classical music, Pet Sounds and mind-altering substances, The Beatles pushed the envelope of recording capabilities,” CS experimenting “with music that was too complex …to perform onstage.” RS’97 They “consciously synthesized such disparate influences as psychedelia, art-song, classical music, rock & roll, and music hall, often in the course of one song. Not once does the diversity seem forced.” STE “Sgt. Pepper was the most breathtaking and innovative piece of modern music the world had ever heard.” LS

What would those "mind altering subtances" be that they refer to. Polo Mints?

[tamborine]

Its my line....get ur own

[andy-hughes]

retrocop - //What would those "mind altering subtances" be that they refer to. Polo Mints? //

I do not dispute that The Beatles, and may other musicians have, and do enjoy various mind-altering substances.

But the link between their use and resultant creativity remains unproven.

[tamborine]

They original key they sang in was recorded at different speeds to enhance chords

[Retrochic]

It would be impossible to prove. However, the fact that Sargent Pepper was made in a period of the Beatles life when they were openly admitting to taking hallucinogenics would suggest that the album may have turned out very differently if they had abstained. The OP was aimed specifically at one song, written at a time when GH was heavily into the drug scene so one would presume it was written 'under the influence'.

[ummmm]

Syd Barret is the perfect example.

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //It would be impossible to prove. However, the fact that Sargent Pepper was made in a period of the Beatles life when they were openly admitting to taking hallucinogenics would suggest that the album may have turned out very differently if they had abstained.//

Indeed - the album was written and released in 1966/67 - the height of The Beatles' drug use as documented.

The OP was aimed specifically at one song, written at a time when GH was heavily into the drug scene so one would presume it was written 'under the influence'.//

Not so - the song was released in 1970 - and Harrison and the rest were solo artists by then.

Add to that the fact that Harrison was far less into the drugs scene than Lennon and McCartney - it is possible he was drug-free by this time.

Added to that, the fact that the song is rooted in Harrison's religious faith, I fail to see why any drugs inference can be taken from this song particularly.

[Gromit]

40% of the Royalties of the song go to Ronnie Mack composer of 'He's so fine' from where Harrison 'borrowed' the tune.

[andy-hughes]

Gromit - //40% of the Royalties of the song go to Ronnie Mack composer of 'He's so fine' from where Harrison 'borrowed' the tune. //

Indeed - 'Unconcious Plaigarism' is still provable in a court of law - as Mr Harrison found out to his cost, and Mr Mack's gain.

It is notoriously difficult to actually prove intent to copy a song without appropriate acknowledgement and suitable royalty payments - various cases are under investigation - and plenty of people claim that others should be!

The most recent example was the 'Blurred Lines / Got To Give It Up' court case in which the late Marvin Gaye's children received a wallet-enhancing $7 million due to the flagrant rip-off of the second by the first.

Other famous cases include - Ray Davies receiving a chunk of the UK royalties from The Doors' Hello I Love You - deemed to be far too close for comfort to The Kinks' All Day And All Of The Night.

Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love was deemed 'near enough' to Willie Dixon's You Need Love, a hit for Muddy Waters, for an out-of-court settlement. You can speed it up and add lots of guitar, but a riff is still a riff, 'borrowed' or not.

Still hotly discussed - but not yet by lawyers - late sixties acid-rockers Spirit's song Taurus can certainly be said to more-than-slightly resemble Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven classic banned by guitar shops around the world.

The list goes on and on and on - where there's a hit ...