Perceived wisdom has it that The Beatles will be forever known as John and Paul's group; a group in which George and Ringo did as they were told. You've only got to witness the infighting during the Let It Be rehearsals: 'I'll play whatever you want me to play. Or I won't play at all if you don't want me to play' George tells Paul.
But it was George who had the soul. George who kept it tight at the back. George who had the best songs. Perceived wisdom is just that. Perceived.
George is my favourite Beatle but 'the best songs'? Are you sure?
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ReplyDeleteTaxman, Something, Piggies, While My Guitar Gently Weeps; there's four to be going on with. George was hampered by the fact that he was the youngest. Not a big deal in most bands today, but when Lennon and McCartney took him on he hadn't even started shaving. It was only in later years that they took him seriously. What would have been intriguing is if he'd sat down and written jointly with Lennon.
ReplyDeleteIt took him a while to build up a head of steam, but when George got good, he got really good. If he'd been allocated more songs per album, however, could he have maintained the quality of the titles you mention, year after year? I doubt it. To use the example of his solo work, 'All Things Must Pass' is an absolute masterpiece, but things tailed off pretty sharpish thereafter.
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