The first Beatles solo album, George Harrison’s Wonderwall Music, was released on this day in the United Kingdom.
The album was credited to George Harrison & Band/Indian Orchestra, and was written and produced by Harrison. Wonderwall Music was the first long player released by Apple Records, and the catalogue number was SAPCOR 1.
The tracklisting was:
- ‘Microbes’
- ‘Red Lady Too’
- ‘Tabla And Pakavaj’
- ‘In The Park’
- ‘Drilling A Home’
- ‘Guru Vandana’
- ‘Greasy Legs’
- ‘Ski-ing’
- ‘Gat Kirwani’
- ‘Dream Scene’
- ‘Party Seacombe’
- ‘Love Scene’
- ‘Crying’
- ‘Cowboy Music’
- ‘Fantasy Sequins’
- ‘On The Bed’
- ‘Glass Box’
- ‘Wonderwall To Be Here’
- ‘Singing Om’
The tracks, recorded in England in December 1967 and in Bombay, India in January 1968, were virtually all instrumentals. Among the musicians taking part were Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton, although both used pseudonyms – Richie Snare and Eddie Clayton respectively.
Wonderwall Music failed to chart in the UK, although it reached number 49 in the US in early 1969.
Also on this day...
- 2023: Paul McCartney live: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- 2017: Paul McCartney reveals photo inspiration for Lady Madonna
- 2010: Steinway announces John Lennon grand piano
- 2010: Paul McCartney and Wings’ Band On The Run is reissued
- 2004: Album release: Acoustic by John Lennon
- 1968: George Harrison produces Is This What You Want? by Jackie Lomax
- 1967: Recording, mixing, editing: Untitled Sound Effects, Hello, Goodbye, The Fool On The Hill
- 1967: Mixing: All You Need Is Love, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
- 1965: Television: The Music Of Lennon & McCartney
- 1964: Live: Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, London
- 1963: Live: Odeon Cinema, Cheltenham
- 1963: UK EP release: The Beatles No. 1
- 1962: Live: Star-Club, Hamburg
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1960: Bruno Koschmider terminates The Beatles’ Kaiserkeller contract
- 1960: Live: Kaiserkeller, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Wasn’t Paul’s “Family Way” the first solo album?
Family Way did come first, but it was considered a film score, not a stand-alone piece.