To argue that any of the Fab Four were underappreciated would be absurd. In all honesty, the Beatles were the biggest band of the century.
On the other hand, we believe that George Harrison’s skill as a guitarist and songwriter has historically been rather underestimated. Let’s examine a couple George Harrison tunes to see how underappreciated he was as a guitarist!
1. “Dear Lord,”
Harrison’s 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass featured this song, which served as a fantastic introduction to his abilities outside of the shadow of his former Beatles teammates. All things considered, the record is a masterpiece overall. But “My Sweet Lord” stands out as the best potential lead single he could have selected. This song features an absolutely stunning guitar solo, and Harrison was no stranger to a fantastic, albeit subdued, guitar solo.
2. “Give Me Peace On Earth, Give Me Love.”
On this specific song, George Harrison’s guitar prowess is greatly underappreciated. The song “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” is taken from Living In The Material World, which was released in 1973. Both lyrically and melodically, it’s a well-composed, excellent piece of work.
At approximately two minutes in, Harrison launches into a complex and captivating guitar solo (replete with dual lines). When the writer was a child, she used to listen to the song and repeatedly wind back the cassette to hear the solo.
3. “Real Love”
Among the many wonderful songs on the 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3 is “True Love,” which also marked Harrison’s debut on Dark Horse Records. It’s a cheerful, enjoyable, and very happy rendition of a 1956 Cole Porter song. Harrison was a master at covers, particularly those that fit his manner of playing the guitar. Harrison’s glassy, sleazy Strat tone permeates this tune. It’s a notable song that exemplifies the unique inventiveness of guitarists in the late 1970s.
“Understanding How to Love You”
Thirty Three & 1/3 has another fantastic song called “Learning How To Love You.” Harrison is at his most imaginative and meticulous in this piece. This song features an especially creative use of the guitar throughout the jazz-inspired melody, including the steel string solo.
