(All Tracks Digitally Remastered 2009)
It’s about time…
Ladies and gentlemen of the music listening public, EMI is proud to announce the release of Let It Roll – a career-spanning collection offering the music of the quiet and highly underestimated former Beatle, George Harrison.
Under the supervision of EMI, Giles Martin (son of Beatles’ producer George Martin), and the atmosphere of the legendary Abbey Road Studios, a nineteen-track digital remastering of the quiet Beatle’s outstanding musical contributions finally exists. Reaching back to Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun,” from the Beatles’ [White] and Abbey Road albums, respectively, up through his 2002 solo album, Brainwashed, Let It Roll features an outstanding sampling of compositions that properly honor Harrison’s musical and compositional ability.
On the whole, during Harrison’s tenure in the Beatles, his compositions were beautiful, eclectic, and sometimes overlooked in favor of the more popular and toe-tapping Lennon/McCartney collaborations. Upon the Beatles’ split and the release of Harrison’s 1969 solo effort, All Things Must Pass (the first former-Beatle solo album to surface), it became quite clear that George’s compositions were more than able to hold their fair share of water; songs such as “My Sweet Lord” and “All Things Must Pass” provided memorable melodies over an identifiable Harrison/Phil Spector backdrop of sound. In addition to these Harrison selections, listeners are treated to samples from Living In the Material World, George Harrison, Somewhere In England, and Cloud Nine. As an added bonus, Giles Martin treats listeners to “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun” – all three are taken from a live Madison Square Garden concert; while the three live tracks are far from George’s finest live work, they are strongly representative of George’s live show experience.
In a time, like the present, when the public mindset is a bit crestfallen and the modern music industry is driving itself into the ground, it is positively uplifting to hear George’s music – his enduring messages of peace, love, and good-time rock and roll is just what the doctor ordered. For those who seek a tall glass of positive music, a dose of reality, and a healthy helping of George, take in an extremely careful listening to the lyrics of “Isn’t It A Pity” – a musical message written in 1969 is more than relevant in today’s world. While Harrison’s musical legacy has been set in stone by his best-known titles, it is just as important that the listening public (including the younger generation) take in his well, but lesser-known titles, many of which are found on this compilation. In terms of a proper George Harrison education, Let It Roll will teach listeners all they need to know.
Matt Jaworski – Staff Writer, Muzikreviews.com
June 28, 2009
