I was living in Turkey when I heard George died. I was teaching American Culture and Literature at a Turkish university. I went in and told my students that I was so sad over George’s passing. They started giving me gifts. Some of them cut out stories about George’s death from the Turkish press. They didn’t understand fully why I was so moved, but they determined it had something to do with a cultural icon so deeply embedded that it moved me like the passing of an important politician. They were right.

Since returning to the States, I’ve returned to listening to those artists I loved so deeply in my youth, and I’m so impressed by how good they are! Especially George. He’s become like a friend to me. Recently, I’ve been listening to his “George Harrison” album, which I really believe includes some of his best and most mature works after the Beatles.

Dark Sweet Lady — obviously, he was documenting his love with Olivia around the time of this album! The man who wrote this song was deeply in love, and it’s a thoughtful, respectful love of a unique woman

Soft Touch — an extension of the previous, and an extraordinary love song!

Here Comes The Moon – A really wonderful counter-melody to his earlier “Here Comes The Sun,” and reveals a maturing mysticism that is intensely in touch with the natural world that the material world masks for most of us.

Blow Away – sing this as a mantra, especially if you’re in love. It’ll put you in a good mood every time.

OK — I haven’t chosen five, only four from this album alone that deserve serious attention. The other place I’ve noticed a similar maturity is in the Traveling Wilbury’s first albun, especially “Handle With Care,” “Heading for the Light,” and “End of the Line”

Thanks for letting me share!

the chordal harmony is excellent,
as well as his voice right before he says “now” every time, makes my heart skip.

My favorite George songs are:

1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – the song that made me fall in love with the Beatles, no joke.

2. Here Comes the Sun – NEVER fails to put a smile on my face.

3. My Sweet Lord – The slide guitar solo in the middle is love.

4. Sour Milk Sea – I have no idea which album George’s recording of this song is from (one of the anthologies?), but his rendition is really simple and beautiful. His voice was very underrated IMHO.

5. I Me Mine – Possibly my favorite track on that album.

6. Bonus: “Piggies,” because dang, George had a sick sense of humor when he wanted to. I mean that in a good way.

I also have to say that George’s solo on “Run For Your Life” is one of my all-time favorites. It starts out kind of light and wheedling, but moves down the scale to sound downright menacing – it’s like meeting one of those people who is very charming, but your gut just tells you to RUN. Very fitting with the theme of the song itself. I love that he hit so many emotional notes with such a relatively simple solo. To me, THAT was his true gift as a guitarist. Lots of people can whammy up and down the scales, but George Harrison knew the power of a well-placed single note.

“If I needed someone”
“Within and Without you”
and particularly!–”Don’t bother me”

Solo: “What is Life” is one of the greatest songs in all of creation.

I confess I still laugh over the lyrics “There’s people standing round/Who screw you in the ground” on “Love You To” … :)

Ohhh, ain’t it the truth!?

Top five George Harrison songs:
1. My Sweet Lord
2. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. What is Life?
5. Here Comes the Sun, and Something (a tie: but we can count one of those as the sneaky sixth, although there’s at least a three-way tie for 6th, so I best stop here!)