Written by: Harrison
Recorded: 16 April; 2, 5 May; 11, 16 July; 15 August 1969
Producers: George Martin, Chris Thomas
Engineers: Jeff Jarratt, Glyn Johns, Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald
Released: 26 September 1969 (UK), 1 October 1969 (US)
George Harrison: vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
John Lennon: guitar, piano
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Billy Preston: Hammond organ
Unknown: 12 violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos, double bass
Available on:
Abbey Road
1
Anthology 3
Love
George Harrison's finest moment on the Abbey Road album was one of the record's undisputed highlights, and showed him finally leaving the songwriting shadow of Lennon and McCartney.
Something was written during the 1968 sessions for The Beatles (White Album), though it wasn't finished until the following year.
I had written Something on the piano during the recording of the White Album. There was a period during that album when we were all in different studios doing different things trying to get it finished, and I used to take some time out. So I went into an empty studio and wrote Something.
Anthology
A demo version of Something, recorded by Harrison on 25 February 1969, his 26th birthday, was included on Anthology 3. Although originally offered to Jackie Lomax, the guitar-and-vocals demo was given to Joe Cocker. Cocker's version was recorded before The Beatles', but not released until November 1969.
In her autobiography Wonderful Tonight, Harrison's former wife Pattie Boyd claimed the song was written about her. Harrison downplayed the sentiment, saying it was, in fact, written with Ray Charles in mind.
It has probably got a range of five notes, which fits most singers' needs best. When I wrote it, in my mind I heard Ray Charles singing it, and he did do it some years later. At the time I wasn't particularly thrilled that Frank Sinatra did Something. I'm more thrilled now than I was then. I wasn't really into Frank - he was the generation before me. I was more interested when Smokey Robinson did it and when James Brown did it. But I'm very pleased now, whoever's done it. I realise that the sign of a good song is when it has lots of cover versions.I met Michael Jackson somewhere at the BBC. The fellow interviewing us made a comment about Something, and Michael said: 'Oh, you wrote that? I thought it was a Lennon/McCartney'.
Anthology
The song took its first line from the James Taylor song Something In The Way She Moves.
I could never think of words for it. And also because there was a James Taylor song called Something In The Way She Moves which is the first line of that. And so then I thought of trying to change the words, but they were the words that came when I first wrote it, so in the end I just left it as that, and just called it Something.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney both rated the song highly. Lennon said, "I think that's about the best track on the album, actually," while McCartney said "For me I think it's the best he's written."
George had a smugness on his face when he came in with this one, and rightly so - he knew it was absolutely brilliant. And for the first time, John and Paul knew that George had risen to their level.
Music Radar
Something has been recorded by a range of performers, including Elvis Presley, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, James Brown and Smokey Robinson. It has become the second-most covered Beatles song after Yesterday. Sinatra called it "the greatest love song ever written," and made it a fixture of his live set.
I thought it was George's greatest track - with Here Comes The Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. They were possibly his best three. Until then he had only done one or two songs per album. I don't think he thought of himself very much as a songwriter, and John and I obviously would dominate - again, not really meaning to, but we were 'Lennon and McCartney'. So when an album comes up, Lennon and McCartney go and write some stuff - and maybe it wasn't easy for him to get into that wedge. But he finally came up with Something and a couple of other songs that were great, and I think everyone was very pleased for him. There was no jealousy. In fact, I think Frank Sinatra used to introduce Something as his favourite Lennon/McCartney song. Thanks Frank.
Anthology
In the studio
Following the 25 February solo demo, recording for Something began properly on 16 April 1969. The Beatles recorded 13 takes, with George Harrison on guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, Ringo Starr on drums and George Martin on piano. Although John Lennon was in the studio on the day, he didn't play on the recording, which also featured no vocals.
A re-make of Something was begun on 2 May. This time 36 takes were recorded, forming the basis of the eventually-released version. Again, on this day no vocals were recorded, but Lennon played piano, and Billy Preston contributed an organ part.
At this point the song was 7'48" long - a four-chord coda in 6/8 time, led by John Lennon on piano, nearly doubled the song's length. The chord pattern was later sped up by Lennon and used as the basis for the song Remember, which appeared on his 1970 album Plastic Ono Band.
On 5 May McCartney overdubbed another bass part, and Harrison taped his guitar solo. Something was then left until 11 July, when Harrison recorded his lead vocal, and the song was edited down to 5'32'.
Paul started playing a bass line that was a little elaborate, and George told him, 'No, I want it simple.' Paul complied. There wasn't any disagreement about it, but I did think that such a thing would never happened in years past. George telling Paul how to play the bass? Unthinkable! But this was George's baby, and everybody knew it was an instant classic.
Music Radar
It was later reported that Harrison re-recorded his lead guitar part during the 15 August orchestral overdub session. However, the take 37 reduction mix made on 11 July contains Harrison's final solo, indicating that it was in fact recorded on 5 May.
Handclaps and McCartney's backing vocals were added on 16 July. Recording was finally finished almost a month later, on 15 August, when the strings were overdubbed.
Something was completed on 19 August, when the extended instrumental jam was finally edited from the end.
Chart success
Initially released on Abbey Road, the song was issued in the US and UK as a double a-side single, along with Come Together, in October 1969. In the UK it was the only time that a single was taken from an already-released Beatles album; previously they had either released songs ahead of their albums, or on the same day.
Something was George's first single, released in October. It was a great song, and frankly I was surprised that George had it in him.
Anthology
Something peaked at number four in the UK. In America it fared better, topping the Billboard chart for a week. It also marked the first time a George Harrison song was the a-side of a Beatles single.
On a bootleg there's take 37, so there aren't only 36 takes.
True, but take 36 was, as I wrote, the basis of the version which ended up on the album. The Beatles did some reduction mixes to free up some extra space on the eight-track tapes; these were numbered 37-39 and contained a range of overdubs.
Where was filmed the Beatle's videoclip "SOMETHING", what locations? please I need the answer.
Oh, you're right, I'm sorry
By the way Ringo also overdubbed along with handclaps some percussions, like more toms and cymbals, and piano track was dropped from the master tape, there're only a little bits of piano which are left in the tape.
I have heard that John gave George some advice on the writing of this song and this advice was captured on tape during the recording sessions. Lennon also apparently insisted that Something should be the A side of the upcoming single when confering with manager Allen Klein.
I love the bootleg in which George is still working out the final lyric and is laughing at the ridiculousness of his temporary substitution of "...attracts me like a pomegranate"!
John did not give George advice on the writing of Something, he gave him advice on songwriting in general. He told him to try and finish a song in one sitting if he can. He had nothing to do with writing or advising on Something. Something is Harrison's "baby" alone.
My comment on the writing of Something is based on what I heard or read some time ago.
There are numerous comments on the Beatles Bible website that begin with "I have read..." or "I have heard..." without providing a source.
I believe George wrote the song in question, no doubt in my mind whatsoever.
I think this should help solve the question about the writing process of "Something". John comes up with the word "attracts" and some other things... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLq2duUROlc
You left out how Ol' Blue Eyes also frequently introduced Something as his "favorite Lennon/McCartney tune."
My absolute favorite song of all time.
I'm a little put off by George Martin's comment that he was surprised George had it in him. By 1967 George was writing songs as good as or even better than Lennon/McCartney, just my opinion of course. Not sure why he'd be surprised that George could write a great song in 1969.
I pretty much like all of George's songs. "I Need You" is one of my favorites. So, I don't get why he would say that either.
I think what he means is that it's in a completely different league than Taxman, Love You To and Within You.
Yes, George was starting to get good. Still, my favourite of his is his Lennon tribute: All those years ago. Although I'm not really much of a Lennon fan.
I also feel this is my favourite song of all time. My parents also love this song, and around the time it came out I used to lie in bed as a child and listen as it repeated on the record player in the lounge. 1969 was a magical year.
George had been writing good songs prior to 1967 but perhaps George Martin did not notice the gradual improvement that Harrison was making. Yes, Within You, Without You is a great song and so is Something but one or two great songs per album does not an album make. He admitted his frustrations at not being prolific in the Hunter Davies book. Lennon and McCartney were writing album after album of great songs. It was just as well that George had a backlog after the Beatles were finished or else All Things Must Pass would not have been the great album that it was. George Harrison had to put up with several years of "toeing the line" but on the other hand he was learning the craft of songwriting by witnessing the workings of the greatest songwriting team ever in pop music.
Isaac Hayes does a fantastic version. It's mad long.
I kind of wish John's piano wasn't so buried in the mix. You can hear it right before the solo starts.
The original basictrack take 37 can be found on youtube.You'll hear Lennons piano
all the way through. Many of Ringos fills are played with Lennon, so his ideas are still on the record, you might say.
To be honest, I don't care much for that piano part.
The deep notes are perfect before the solo, but all in all it's an out of tune "saloon" piano and doesn't fit.
Also his fast chords over the "I don't want to leave her now" part don't fit the rhythmic feeling, imo.
The final mix is just PERFECT!!
"Something" is the only song I have ever heard that I can replay over & over again and still have the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What a shame I was born in 1973.All the concerts I missed!!!!
The bass in "Something" is one of my favorites.
And right you are. Pure melodic genius by Paul, as usual on George's tracks.
McCartney really needed to stop showing off on Lennon's and Harrison's songs and play a majestic bass line on his compositions
Did Geoff say that the solo is in the same track of orchestra?
As I'm hearing Rock Band multitracks, I can say that the solo has his own track and there are two orchestra tracks.
George said about Something. "Actually, it's about Krishna. But I couldn't say he could I ? I had to say she, adding with a twickle in his eye, or they'd think I ws a poof ( British slang for Gay ).
A reporter once noted his inability to to tell if George was singing about Krishna or a woman. "That's good" , George replied, "I like that. I think individual love is just a little of universal love...Singing to the Lord, or an individual is, in a way, the same. I've done that consciously in some songs"
~ from Here Comes The Sun - The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison by Joshua M Greene p. 142
Another song that is about separation from Krishna which sounds like a love song to a woman is "Long , Long, Long"
The Patti Boyd book is titled "Wonderful Tonight", not "Wonderful Today"
Love the website.
In the UK (where I am, and where Pattie is from) it was published as Wonderful Today. Elsewhere it was published as Wonderful Tonight, though I'm not sure why. Incidentally, she's called Pattie not Patti.
Eric Clapton had a modest hit record with "Wonderful Tonight" in the '70s, which Wikipedia tells us was Pattie-inspired.
Yes, thanks. I'm aware of the song. What I'm not sure about is why the book title varies in different territories.
As a kid I had thought this was a Lennon/McCartney song sung by John or Paul. When I finally read the Abbey Road cover and saw George as the composer it peaked an interest in Harrison that I still have today. He is my favorite Beatle in part due to this classic song. Every bit deserving of the praise lauded on to it over the years. George's masterpiece!
Best song on Abbey Road. The best song on the White Album was "While my guitar gently weeps." Not bad considering Harrison was working with just the two greatest songwriters in the history of man.
What I don't understand is, if John played piano on the basic track. Who played the flanged guitar strumming on the verses? Is that just Harrison? Because I thought John and George both played guitar on this track. George being all the lead notes we hear and John being the wobbly "flanged" guitar strums we hear in the verses... Correct me if I'm wrong.
I always thought the same thing; Lennon on rhythm guitar and George on lead ... one of the greatest mysteries in life... the question of who plays the rhythm guitar...
George Harrison's guitar on You Never Give Me Your Money has some sort of rotating Leslie Speaker thing on it. Could that be also the case here? My thinking is, the rhythm guitar part on Something was played by George.
I laugh out loud at the comment about one take on the solo. George had never played any tone like this , feel like this or licks like this. It is one of the great solos of all time and is masterfully arranged. Every nuance is planned and carried out. Listen to some of his guitar work and solos and outakes, there is nothing close to this. He has never played it live and his couple attempts failed. I wish they would stop lying to us and admit that it's Clapton playing this solo , and surely not one take.
In fact, the sound is very much George's, for example that certain thin and whimsical tone and the fast vibrato.
But keep laughing, that's healthy!
It probably wasn't a single take. It's been written that Harrison redid the solo on the day the orchestra was added, but this is unlikely to be true - it was present in its final form in much earlier rough mixes. Also, there are possibly two punch-ins on the track, indicating it was recorded in stages. The punch-ins can be heard at around 1:56 and 2:03, but are much more audible in the 5.1 surround mix of Love.
Stunning bass in "Something". Beautiful and melodic. The bass line is a song in itself!
When does john's piano play, I just hear billy's organ. And does john play guitar too, yes lewissohn says he did but lewissohn also said it was billy on piano so he wasn't very informed about these takes. I read nowhere about a guitar overdub by john and i read many times that it was george on guitar, paul on guitar, ringo on drums, john on piano and billy on organ
The Beatles greatest love song, hands down. Masterpiece.
Despite the comment from Harrison, it doesn’t sound or feel like McCartney on bass. Listen to the isolated track on youtube. That bottom F isn’t characteristic of McCartney, even given his propensity for chameleonism!
After decades of listening to this song, finally I noticed how beautifully George's and Paul's voices blend together in harmony, especially on the line in the final verse, "and all I have to do is think of her." For a long time I've said my favorite Beatles voice is John and Paul in unison or harmony, but that line makes me not so sure.
Absolutely astounding guitar solo! Emerick claimed that it was performed with a slide but because of the perfect pitch I found that hard to believe (after all the story about layimg it down simultaneously with the orchestra is baloney). But George Harrison was an amazingly accurate slide guitarist and the evident punch-ins support the suggestion that it was performed with a bottleneck. Incidently the solo from the Bangla-Desh concert is equally soulful and heartfelt 'though played in the standard manner.
If you listen to the vocals only Youtube video you can hear Paul singing George's guitar solo buried in the mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oduyr8A70eE
Funny that it mentions Paul being asked to simplify his bass line..because of the reason stated. Unusual to see George that assertive over Paul (and a sign of reaching higher maturity). But also because the bass line that is used, is, well, really intricate and not obvious or simple. It is one of the things that attracts me to the song quite a lot and brings out some of the intended harmonies and the notes that change and stay the same from chord to chord. Although George's guitar solo does the same.
I will say that I also think that George gets insulted sometimes even when complimented. That is not to say that his songs on this album are not more epic and show more of the sophistication to come in his later recordings... but I like a lot of his stuff since the song "I need you" as someone mentioned. And Long, Long, Long is a favorite. But these songs are at least compositionally a little more complicated/mature, so I get the acknowledgement too.
The song is great because of how well it works as a whole. But I think that the first several chords are not some brilliant innovation in songwriting or anything. Unless this is the first song to use that progression. But I think I hear the same first 4 chords in lots of songs. Kind of like how stairway to heaven or Michelle follow similar voice leadings. It sounds complicated, yet, it is just using basic existing tried and true ideas, that just happen to be a little more complicated than I IV V. Still, it is the way that it is used that makes it so memorable, and the way it is followed up by the rest of the chords of the A section (actually the two chords after the first four are what make it for me... love that dominant II chord) and the bridge.