On Remembering George Harrison

An e-mail yesterday reminded me that, seven years ago today, George Harrison passed away.

I wrote to a friend of mine at the time:

My favorite Beatle depends as much upon what day of the week it is as it does upon my mood for that day. Some days my Beatles-sense revolves wholly around John, other days Paul, sometimes George, sometimes Ringo. I have a favorite Beatle to the same extent that I have a favorite Doctor; I like and appreciate each on their own terms. John could no more write “Something” as George could write “Yesterday.” Different songs, different styles, different states of mind.

I don’t know that I can write much on George Harrison. The words just don’t seem to be there. Even knowing that he was ill doesn’t make the loss any easier. The local Classic Hits radio station did a “Beatles A-Z” day today; I’ve had George’s first and last solo albums in the CD player.

For information on George’s illness.

For information on George’s final album.

The Beatles now number two. I’m tempted to watch A Hard Day’s Night, just to remember them all as they once were.

(NOTE: Those links may not necessarily work. They were fine in 2001, which was an epoch ago in ‘net terms.)

It was a George Harrison song that was atop the music charts on the day I was born. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth),” the lead single from Harrison’s second solo album, Living in the Material World. In these troubled times, that’s not a bad message for the world:

Give me love / Give me love / Give me peace on Earth