George Harrison - The Apple Years 1968-75 (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

In November 1968, George Harrison released 'Wonderwall Music'. A soundtrack to an art film called 'Wonderwall' this predominantly Indian music collection was the first solo album to be released by a Beatle and also the first album on the newly formed Apple Records. George would continue to release albums on Apple (and EMI) through to 1975's soul-influenced 'Extra Texture (Read All About It)' touching on experimentalism with 'Electronic Sound', the magnificent triple album 'All Things Must Pass', the chart-topping 'Living In The Material World' and the, perhaps, less well-known 'Dark Horse'. This box brings all these eclectic albums together in one set that mirrors 2004's 'Dark Horse Years' box set and contain a perfect booklet. All albums have been remastered by Dhani Harrison and Paul Hicks.

Here is George Harrison’s first six solo albums, released between 1968 and 1975 on The Beatles’ Apple Records label, have been digitally remastered from the original analogue masters for CD and digital release. Designed to complement Harrison’s 2004 collection, The Dark Horse Years 1976-92, the new box includes an exclusive introduction by Dhani Harrison, new essays by award-winning radio producer and author Kevin Howlett, and rare and previously unpublished images

The six albums have been digitally restored and remastered at Lurssen Mastering in Los Angeles by a GRAMMY Award-winning team of engineers including Paul Hicks, Gavin Lurssen, and Reuben Cohen. Wonderwall Music, Living In The Material World, Dark Horse, and Extra Texture (Read All About It) are all newly expanded with previously unreleased or rare additional tracks. All Things Must Pass includes the five extra tracks first released in 2001.

Released in November 1968, George Harrison’s Wonderwall Music was the first solo album released by a member of The Beatles and the first LP to be released by Apple Records. The soundtrack music for director Joe Massot’s debut feature-length film, Wonderwall, the predominantly instrumental album is an intricate, vibrant tapestry of Western rock music and compositions in an Indian classical style. In 1992, George recalled, “I decided to do it as a mini-anthology of Indian music, because I wanted to help turn the public on to Indian music.” Three bonus tracks have been added to the remastered album: “In The First Place” by Liverpool group The Remo Four, who played the rock elements of the recording sessions, a previously unreleased alternate take of “The Inner Light,” and the previously unreleased “Almost Shankara,” a raga that was not used in the film or for the soundtrack LP. The booklet also includes a new essay of appreciation by the acclaimed musician, producer and composer Nitin Sawney and newly written historical notes by Kevin Howlett.

Tracklist:

01 - Microbes
02 - Red Lady Too
03 - Tabla And Pakavaj
04 - In The Park
05 - Drilling A Home
06 - Guru Vandana
07 - Greasy Legs
08 - Ski-ing
09 - Gat Kirwani
10 - Dream Scene
11 - Party Seacombe
12 - Love Scene
13 - Crying
14 - Cowboy Music
15 - Fantasy Sequins
16 - On The Bed
17 - Glass Box
18 - Wonderwall To Be Here
19 - Singing Om
20 - In The First Place (Bonus Track)
21 - Almost Shankara (Bonus Track)
22 - The Inner Light (Alternative Take Instrumental / Bonus Track)

As a direct result of The Beatles’ keen curiosity about experimental music and other avant-garde artistic expression, Apple Records launched its short-lived Zapple subsidiary in February 1969 as a forum for unfettered sonic exploration, or, as announced at the time, “more freaky sounds.” George’s Electronic Sound and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions, both released in May 1969, were Zapple’s only releases before it was closed down. Electronic Sound’s cover art, painted by George, depicts his Moog IIIP (which was later used on four tracks by The Beatles on their album Abbey Road) with the four modules from which the sound was synthesized. Each side of the Electronic Sound LP featured one exploratory long-form work. However, the American version of the album placed the pieces on opposite sides to the UK record, but with the same titles retained on the labels. Consequently, there has been confusion about which track is which. Research for the out-of-print album’s new release revealed that the UK LP was correct with “Under The Mersey Wall” on Side 1 and “No Time Or Space” on Side 2. The CD booklet includes new essays by The Chemical Brothers’ Tom Rowlands and Dhani Harrison, as well as newly written historical notes by Kevin Howlett.

Tracklist:

01 - Under The Mersey Wall
02 - No Time Or Space

All Things Must Pass was released by Apple Records in November 1970. Co-produced by Harrison and Phil Spector, many musicians contributed to the album, including Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Pete Drake, Gary Wright, Klaus Voormann, members of Badfinger, players from Delaney and Bonnie band, and John Barham. The triple-LP topped charts around the world and earned universal acclaim as a rock masterpiece. George became the first Beatle to have a solo number one single in both the UK and America with the album’s lead single, “My Sweet Lord,” which introduced his signature slide guitar playing. George co-wrote the album’s opening track, “I’d Have You Anytime” with his friend Bob Dylan, who also wrote another song on the landmark album, “If Not For You.” The new package includes the five additional tracks added to the album’s 2001 reissue: “I Live For You” (outtake), “Beware Of Darkness” (demo), “Let It Down” (alternative version), “What Is Life” (backing track), and “My Sweet Lord (2000)”.

Tracklist:

01 - I'd Have You Anytime
02 - My Sweet Lord
03 - Wah-Wah
04 - Isn't It A Pity
05 - What Is Life
06 - If Not For You
07 - Behind That Locked Door
08 - Let It Down
09 - Run Of The Mill
10 - I Live For You
11 - Beware Of Darkness (1st Version / Recorded At Abbey Road)
12 - Let It Down (Original Guitar And Vocal)
13 - What Is Life (Backing Track)
14 - My Sweet Lord (2000)
15 - Beware Of Darkness
16 - Apple Scruffs
17 - Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
18 - Awaiting On You All
19 - All Things Must Pass
20 - I Dig Love
21 - Art Of Dying
22 - Isn't It A Pity (Version Two)
23 - Hear Me Lord
24 - It's Johnny's Birthday
25 - Plug Me In
26 - I Remember Jeep
27 - Thanks For The Pepperoni
28 - Out Of The Blue

In May 1973 came the release of George’s second studio album of new songs, Living In The Material World. He was joined in the studio by several musician friends who had also played on All Things Must Pass and others like Jim Keltner, with whom he had worked during The Concert for Bangladesh concerts in 1971. The album and its lead single, “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” both reached number one in America and on charts around the world. The spiritual nature of Living In The Material World, described by Rolling Stone as “miraculous in its radiance,” is also reflected in the inclusion of an illustration from the Bhagavad-Gita in the artwork. The new release adds a remastered of the single version of “Bangla Desh,” which has previously been available only on The Best Of George Harrison (1976), as well as two B-sides included on the album’s 2006 reissue, “Deep Blue” and “Miss O’Dell”.

Tracklist:

01 - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
02 - Sue Me, Sue You Blues
03 - The Light That Has Lighted The World
04 - Don't Let Me Wait Too Long
05 - Who Can See It
06 - Living In The Material World
07 - The Lord Loves The One (That Loves The Lord)
08 - Be Here Now
09 - Try Some Buy Some
09 - The Day The World Gets 'Round
10 - That Is All
11 - Deep Blue (Bonus Track)
12 - Miss O'Dell (Bonus Track)
13 - Bangla Desh (Bonus Track)

Released in December 1974, Dark Horse capped a prolific year for George, during which he had established his own Dark Horse record label, built a recording studio in his Friar Park home in England, and completed an ambitious tour of North America. Throughout the year, Harrison produced albums for several artists while also recording his own. The songs on the LP document both George’s fallibility, in “Simply Shady,” and his spirituality, in “It Is ‘He’ (Jai Sri Krishna).” Dark Horse reached the top five in America, sounding a high note at the end of Harrison’s rather frenetic year. The new release adds “I Don’t Care Anymore,” a sought after B-side making its CD debut, and a previously unreleased early, acoustic take of “Dark Horse.” The CD booklet includes newly written historical notes by Kevin Howlett.

Tracklist:

01 - Hari's On Tour (Express)
02 - Simply Shady
03 - So Sad
04 - Bye Bye Love
05 - Maya Love
06 - Ding Dong, Ding Dong
07 - Dark Horse
08 - Far East Man
09 - It Is 'He' (Jai Sri Krishna)
10 - I Don't Care Anymore (Bonus Track)
11 - Dark Horse (Early Take / Bonus Track)

In late 1974, George returned to California to record his next album, the soul-tinged Extra Texture (Read All About It), his final album to be released through Apple Records. Leon Russell played piano on “Tired Of Midnight Blue,” and for some of the sessions, Harrison was joined by guitarist Jesse Ed Davis, plus Jim Keltner, Paul Stallworth, and David Foster from new band Attitudes, who were later signed by George’s newly formed Dark Horse label. Two of the LP’s songs date from 1974 sessions for Dark Horse at George’s home studio: the soulful love song “Can’t Stop Thinking About You” and the backing track of “His Name Is ‘Legs’ (Ladies & Gentlemen).” The new release adds “This Guitar (Can’t Keep From Crying),” a song Harrison rerecorded in 1992 as a demo for Dave Stewart, who plays electric guitar on it. More than ten years later, the track received overdubs by Ringo Starr on drums, Dhani Harrison on guitar, and vocalist Kara DioGuardi. The CD booklet includes newly written historical notes by Kevin Howlett.

Tracklist:

01 - You
02 - The Answer's At The End
03 - This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)
04 - Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You)
05 - World Of Stone
06 - A Bit More Of You
07 - Can't Stop Thinking About You
08 - Tired Of Midnight Blue
09 - Grey Cloudy Lies
10 - His Name Is Legs (Ladies And Gentleman)
11 - This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) (Platinum Weird Version / Bonus Track)


Thanks to the Original customer!
The booklet packed with "Extra Texture" album.