George HARRISON

Living In The Material World

(1973)

1. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) 3'38
2. Sue Me, Sue You Blues * 4'51
3. The Light That Has Lighted The World 3'32
4. Don't Let Me Wait Too Long 2'58
5. Who Can See It 3'53
6. Living In The Material World 5'30
7. The Lord Loves The One (That Loves The Lord) 4'38
8. Be Here Now 4'12
9. Try Some Buy Some * 4'11
10. The Day The World Gets 'Round 2'55
11. That Is All 3'51

Bonus Tracks

12. Deep Blue * 3'48
13. Miss O'Dell 2'33

Total Time: 50:31

LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD (1973)
  • George Harrison - Guitar, Vocals
  • Nicky Hopkins - Keyboards
  • Gary Wright - Keyboards
  • Klaus Voormann - Bass
  • Jim Keltner - Drums
  • Ringo Starr - Drums
  • Jim Gordon - Drums
  • Zakir Hussein - Tabla
  • John Barham - Strings

    "Try Some Buy Some" (Produced by George Harrison & Phil Spector)
    Recording and Remix Engineer: Phillip McDonald

    Special Thanks To:
    Ravi Shankar
    Klaus Voorman
    Eddie Klein
    Phil Spector
    Mal Evans
    Terry Doran
    Neil Aspinall
    Richard Perry & Derek Taylor

    Thank You:

    Doug Sax - MASTERING LAB
    Design: WILKES & BROUN Inc.
    Cover Photograph: Kendall L. Johnson
    Inside Photograph: Ken Marcus

    LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD (2006)
    Produced by Dhani & Oilvia Harrison
    Project Management: Jeff Kramer
    Production Co-ordinator: Rachel Cooper
    Re-Mastering: Sam Okell and Steve Rooke at     ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
    Project Co-ordinator for     ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS Allan Rouse
    Art Direction & Design: Drew Lorimer
    Additional Photographs: Mal Evans, Barry Feinstein
    Liner Notes: Kevin Howelett

    Special Thanks To:
    Linda Arias, Tim Berkenstadt, Leslie Boss, Cheryl Engels,
    John Etchetts, Simon Gibson, Mary and Melchior,
    Robbin Rothman, Wendy Day, Mike Heatley,
    Tony Wadsworth, & all at EMI / PARLOPHONE

    All Songs Written and Produced by
    George Harrison

    All Songs Composed by George Harrison

    All Songs Published by The MATERIAL WORLD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and Administered by HARRISONGS Ltd.
    Except     *Published by HARRISONGS Ltd.
    Digital Re-Mastered (p) 2006
    The Copyright in this Sound Recording is owned by     EMI RECORDS Ltd.
    Artwork ©2006 G.H.ESTATE Limited

    Recorded at APPLE RECORDS, Savile Row, London, W.I., England

    I think with us having all the material wealth that we need, then .. . you know, the average person feels that if they had a car and a telly and a house then that's where it's at. But if you get a car and a telly and a house ... and even a lot of money ... your life's still empty because it's still on this gross level. What we need isn't material, it's spiritual. We need some other form of peace and happiness.
    George Harrison said those words in September 1967. It was a remarkable insight from a 24-year old, whose recent investigation of Indian music had led to the discovery of a spiritual path that he would follow for the rest of his life,

    Living In The Material World was George's second solo album of new songs following The BEATLES' break-up in 1970 and its lyrial focus revealed his continuing mission to explore spiritual themes. Many people would hear his message. Five weeks after its release in May 1973, the LP and its single "Give Me Love {Give Me Peace On Earth)" simultaneously occupied the number one positions on the US albums and singles charts.

    For some, the early years of the seventies were a disappointing unravelling of the optimistic music scene of the previous decade, but George's career seemed to prove otherwise. His first post-BEATLES album All Things Must Pass - a triple LP set featuring the worldwide number one "My Sweet Lord"- topped the US chart at the beginning of 1971. In August of that year, George masterminded two extraordinary concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York to help raise awareness and money for the starving refugees from Bangladesh. The commercial success of the Concert For Bangladesh live album was emphatic and unprecedented - another triple LP box set that was a best seller around the world - and it won an 'Album Of The Year' GRAMMY AWARD. ROLLING STONE magazine described the achivement of the concert as a 'brief, incandescent revival of all that was best about the sixties'.

    Living In The Material World continued this successful first phase of George's solo career but it was clearly created without any thought of chasing any currently commercial trend. George simply sang about what was cm his mind and recorded with friends who had collaborated on his previous solo projects. The prelude to an album permeated by spiritual yearnings was 'Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)' - 'a prayer and a personal statement between me, the Lord and whoever likes it', Musically, it set the tone for the rest of the album. George would later reflect upon All Things Must Pass with the comment that 'all these years later I would like to liberate some of the songs from the big production'. But the sound of its successor was noticeably less 'big' with more restrained musical settings.

    However, there was one recording that dated back to the sessions co-produced by George and Phil Spector for All Things Must Pass. George had given his song 'Try Some Buy Some' to Ronnie Spector. one of his favourite female vocalists, for a single released on The BEATLES' APPLE label. A few years later, using the same backing track. George substituted his own vocal to create the version heard cn Living In The Material World. John Lennon generously recalled how he was inspired by the descending melody of the song's string arrangement to write "#9 Dream",

    For the remaining songs an the album, a core group was assembled in the APPLE STUDIO in London consisting of Nicky Hopkins and Gary Wright on keyboards, Klaus Voormann on bass and Jim Keltner on drums. They recorded backing tracks which received varying degrees of enhancement through subsequent overdubs. The most complex musical arrangement on the album is heard on the title track. Having played together at the Concert For Bangladesh, Ringo Starr and Jim Keltner perform their 'double drums" on "Living In The Material World" and the brass parts were played by Jim Horn with help from Klaus Voormann on tenor saxophone. The gentler sections of the song feature tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussein and Jim Horn on flute and recorders. The song's serious lyrical message is off-set by wry humour. As George pointed out, "It's also a comedy song with a few jokes in case you didn't notice!'. The slide guitar playing heard throughout All Things Must Pass had quickly become associated with the George Harrison 'solo' sound and it was equally prominent on

    Living In The Material World. The exquisite dual harmony slide guitar parts on "Give Me Love" were integral to that track's gentle power and on "Sue Me, Sue You Blues", George revealed a bluesy side to his playing - more bottleneck than Hawaiian in its style. Its gritty edge complemented the sardonic character of a song written during the period of lega! tussles sparked by The BEATLES' break-up.

    But for the most part, the songs on Living In The Material World were created to rise above secular distractions. Two of his biggest influences at this time - indeed, for always - were Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar. He was constantly reminded by Bob's work to express something that was not run of the mill, while Ravi's deep spirituality and musical virtuosity were always an inspiration. The four gentle ballads - "Be Here Now1, The Day The World Gets 'Round", "The Light That Has Lighted The World" and "Who Can See It" - are heartfelt reflections on how to iive a spiritual life in the turmoil of the material world - 'where there's so little chance to experience soul'. The joyous "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" picks up on the 'really want to see you' theme of "My Sweet Lord". The spiritual nature of these songs is mirrored in the artwork on the gatefoid LP sleeve, which featured an illustration from the Bhugavad-Gita.

    However, even in the less cynical time of 1973, there were critics who were disturbed by George's music taking this path. 'So damn holy I could scream' was the conciusion of a New Musical Express review. George's amiable response was that 'they feel threatened when you talk about something that isn't just "Be-Bop-A-Lula" ... and if you say the word God or Lord it makes some people's hair curl. They just can't come to terms with the idea that there may just be something else going on apart from their individual egos. So a lot of people had a bit of trouble with that album'.

    If your heart and mind are open while listening to Living In The Material World, you will detect that at its foundation are George's unwavering sincerity and integrity. These are rare qualities in mainstream popular music and should be treasured and nurtured wherever they are discovered. This is a welcome and timely re-issue.

    - Kevin Hewlett, May 2006

    ALL GLORIES TO SRI KRSHNA




    1. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)

      Give me love
      Give me love
      Give me peace on earth
      Give me light
      Give me life
      Keep me free from birth
      Give me hope
      Help me cope, with this heavy load
      Trying to, touch and reach you with,
      heart and soul
      OM M M M M M M M M M M M M M
      M M M My Lord . . .

      PLEASE take hold of my hand, that
      I might understand you

      Won't you please
      Oh won't you

      Give me love
      Give me love
      Give me peace on earth
      Give me light
      Give me life
      Keep me free from birth
      Give me hope
      Help me cope, with this heavy load
      Trying to, touch and reach you with,
      heart and soul

      OM M M M M M M M M M M M M M
      M M M My Lord . . .

      PLEASE take hold of my hand, that
      I might understand you

    2. Sue Me, Sue You Blues

      You serve me
      And I'll serve you
      Swing your partners, all get screwed
      Bring your lawyer
      And I'll bring mine
      Get together, and we could have
      a bad time

      It's affidavit swearing time
      Sign it on the dotted line
      Hold your Bible in your hand
      Now all that's left is to
      Find yourself a new band . . .

      We're gonna play the sue me, sue
      you blues
      We're gonna play the sue me, sue
      you blues

      Hold the block on money flow
      Move it into joint escrow
      Court receiver, laughs, and thrills
      But in the end we just pay those
      lawyers theit bills

      When you serve me
      And I serve you
      Swing your partners, all get screwed
      Bring your lawyer
      And I'll bring mine
      Get together, and we could have
      a bad time

      We're gonna play the sue me, sue
      you blues

      I'm tired of playing the
      Sue Me, Sue You Blues

    3. The Light That Has Lighted The World

      I've heard how some people, have said
      that I've changed
      That I'm not what I was
      How it really is a shame
      The thoughts in their heads,
      Manifest on their brow
      Like bad scars from ill feelings
      they themselves arouse
      So hateful of anyone that is happy
      or 'free'
      They live all their lives,
      without looking to see
      The light that has lighted the world

      It's funny how people, just won't
      accept change
      As if nature itself - they'd prefer
      re-arranged
      So hard to move on
      When you're down in a hole
      Where there's so little chance,
      to experience soul

      I'm greatful to anyone,
      that is happy or 'free'
      for giving me hope
      while I'm looking to see

      The light that has lighted the world

    4. Don't Let Me Wait Too Long

      How I love you baby
      So don't let me wait too long

      How I love you baby
      So don't let me wait too long

      How I miss you baby
      So don't let me wait too long

      How I miss you baby
      So don't let me wait too long

      'Till you're here by my side
      Now only you know how to dry up all
      of those tears that I've cried

      Here, with our love
      Now only you know how to lay it down
      like it came from above

      You know it's you that I love

      Now don't let me wait too long
      Now don't let me wait too long
      Now don't let me wait too long
      Now don't let me wait too long

      Till you're here by my side
      Now only you know how to dry eye up
      all of those tears that I've cried

      Here with your love
      Now only you know how to lay it there
      like it came from above

      You know that it's you that I love

      So don't let me wait too long
      So don't let me wait too long

      How I miss you baby
      So don't let me wait too long

      How I miss you baby
      So don't let me wait,

      Don't let me wait,
      Don't let me wait too long

    5. Who Can See It

      I've been held up,
      I've been run down
      I can see quite clearly now
      through those past years,
      when I played towing the line.
      I only ask, that what I feel,
      should not be denied me now,
      As it's been earned, and
      I have seen my life belongs to me
      My love belongs to who can see it

      I've lived in fear,
      I've been out there,
      I've been 'round and
      seen my share
      of this sad world
      And all the hate,
      that it's stirred
      I only ask,
      that what I know,
      should not be denied me now
      As it's been learned,
      And I have seen my life belongs to me
      My love belongs to who can see it

      I only ask, that what I feel,
      should not be denied me now
      As it's been earned, and
      I have seen my life belongs to me

      My love belongs to who can see it.

      My love belongs to who . . .

    6. Living In The Material World

      I'm living in the material world
      Living in the material world
      can't say what I'm doing here
      But I hope to see much clearer,
      after living in the material world

      I got born into the material world
      Getting worn out in the material world
      Use my body like a car,
      Taking me both near and far
      Met my friends all in the material world

      Met them all there in the material world
      John and Paul here in the material world
      Though we started out quite poor
      We got 'Richie' on a tour
      Got caught up in the material world

      From the Spiritual Sky,
      Such sweet memories have I
      To the Spiritual Sky
      How I pray
      Yes I pray
      that I won't get lost
      or go astray

      As I'm fated for the material world
      Get frustrated in the material world
      Senses never gratified
      Only swelling like a tide
      That could drown me in the
      material world

      From the Spiritual Sky,
      Such sweet memories have I
      To the Spiritual Sky
      How I pray
      Yes I pray
      that I won't get lost
      or go astray

      While I'm living in the material world
      Not much 'giving' in the material world
      Got a lot of work to do
      Try to get a message through
      And get back out of this material world

      I'm living in the material world
      Living in the material world
      I hope to get out of this place
      by the LORD SRI KRSNA'S GRACE
      My salvation from the material world
      Big Ending

    7. The Lord Loves The One (That Loves The Lord)

      The Lord loves the one that loves
      the Lord
      And the law says if you don't give,
      then you don't get loving

      Now the Lord helps those that help
      themselves
      And the law says whatever you do
      is going to come right back on you

      We all making out
      Like we own this whole world
      While the leaders of nations
      They're acting like big girls
      With no thoughts for their God
      Who provides us with all
      But when death comes to claim them
      Who will stand,
      and who will fall?

      The Lord loves the one that loves
      the Lord
      And the law says if you don't give,
      then you don't get loving

      Now the Lord helps those that help
      themselves
      And the law says whatever you do
      is going to come right back on you

      We all move around,
      with objectives in mind,
      to become rich or famous,
      With our reputations signed,
      But the few that can reach,
      to this coveted slot,
      don't escape old age creeping,
      through their bodies,
      like a rot

      While the Lord loves the one that loves
      the Lord
      And the law says if you don't give,
      then you don't get loving
      Now the Lord helps those that help
      themselves
      And the law says whatever you do
      is going to come right back on you

    8. Be Here Now

      Remember, Now, Be Here Now
      As it's not like it was before.
      The past, was, Be Here Now
      As it's not like it was before - it was

      Why try to live a life,
      that isn't real,
      no how
      A mind, that wants to wander,
      'round a corner,
      is an un-wise mind

      Now, Is, Be Here Now
      and it's not what it was before,
      Remember, Now, Be Here Now
      as it's not like it was before - it was

    9. Try Some Buy Some

      Way back in time
      Someone said try some
      I tried some
      Now buy some - I bought some . . .
      Oh Oh Oh
      After a while
      when I had tried them
      denied them
      I opened my eyes and
      I saw you . . .

      Not a thing did I have
      Not a thing did I see
      'Till I called on your love
      And your love came to me

      OH OH OH OH OH OH

      Through my life
      I've seen gray sky,
      met big fry,
      seen them die to get high . . .
      Oh Oh Oh
      And when it seemed that I would
      always be lonely
      I opened my eyes and I saw you

      Not a thing did I feel
      Not a thing did I know
      'Till I called on your love
      And your love sure did grow

      OH OH OH OH OH OH

      Won't you try some
      Baby won't you buy some

      Won't you try some
      Baby won't you buy some

    10. The Day The World Gets 'Round

      The day the world gets 'round
      to understanding where it is,
      Using all it's found,
      to help each other, hand in hand

      The day the world gets 'round
      to understanding where it's gone
      Losing so much ground
      killing each other, hand in hand
      Such foolishness in man
      I want no part of their plan - OH NO

      If you're the destructive kind
      Now I'm working from day to day
      As I don't want to be like you
      I look for the pure of heart
      And the ones that have made a start,

      But Lord, there are just a few
      who bow before you,
      in silence they pray,

      Oh how they pray for the day the
      world gets 'round

      Using all they've found
      To help each other, hand in hand

      The Day The World Gets 'Round

    11. That Is All

      That is all I want to say
      Our love could save the day
      That is all I'm waiting for
      To try to love you more -

      - and that is all I want to do
      To get right next to you
      That is all I'm living for,
      Your love and nothing more
      And that is all

      Times I find it hard to say
      With useless words getting in my way
      Silence often says much more
      Than trying to say what's been
      said before.

      That is all I want from you
      A smile when I feel blue

      That is all I'm waiting for
      Your love and nothing more

      And that is all

      Silence often says much more
      Than trying to say what's been
      said before.
      But that is all I want to do
      To give my love to you
      That is all I'm living for,
      Please let me love you more - and
      that is all

    12. Deep Blue

      When sunshine is not enough
      To make me feel bright
      It's got me suffering in the darkness
      That's so easy come by on the road-side
      Of one loong life-time

      It's got me deep blue
      You know I'm deep blue

      When you stand there, watch tired bodies
      Full of sickness and pain
      To show you just how helpless you really are
      When you get down to the truth
      It hurts me

      It's got me deep blue
      You know I'm deep blue

      When I think of the life I'm living
      Pray God help me; give me your light
      So I can love you and understand
      This repetition that keeps me here
      Feeling deep blue

      It's got me deep blue
      You know I'm deep blue

    13. Miss O'Dell

      I'm the only one down here
      Who's got nothing to say
      About the war
      Or the rice
      That keeps going astray on its way to Bombay.
      And the smog that keeps polluting up our shores
      Is boring me to tears.
      Why don't you call me, Miss O'Dell ?

      I'm the only one down here
      Who's got nothing to fear
      From the waves
      Or the night
      That keeps rolling on right up to my front porch.
      The record player's broken on the floor,
      And Ben, he can't restore it.
      Miss O'Dell.

      I can tell you
      Nothing new
      Has happened since I last saw you.

      And I'm the only one down here
      Who's got nothing to say
      About the hip
      Or the dope
      Or the cat with most hope to fill the Fillmore.
      And your pushing, shoving, ringing on my bell
      Is not for me tonight.
      So, won't you call me, Miss O'Dell ?

      Won't you call me, Miss O'Dell ?