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8.55am
28 April 2020
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https://niche-appeal.com/george-harrisons-all-things-must-pass-the-biggest-fuck-up-of-the-classic-rock-era/
I saw this article a while back and do wonder how George’s reputation would be different if he had released his ATMP songs (omitting the ‘Apple Jams … these could have been released as bonus tracks in the CD era!) on 2 albums, say in 1970 and then 1971, just before Bangladesh concerts. As the articles says, he would have started his solo career with 2 blockbuster albums!
He would then have done the Bangladesh concerts, released the live album in 1972 and followed that up with the excellent ‘Living In The Material world’ album, in 1973. (Carrying on with the re-writing of history, if he didn’t get his hoarse voice and his 1974 concert tour was a resounding success … George would have been the biggest rock star on the planet!)
He obviously is ‘one of the greats’ but would his reputation and his place in the ‘rock star league’ be even higher, if he had released his ATMP songs on two albums, rather than one?
What do you think?
I think it is nice that he announced himself with a bang, but sort of agree that if he had released two albums of similar outstanding quality, his star would have risen higher, somehow. The two single albums would have been no less classic than releasing the songs all together.
4.59pm
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1 May 2011
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George was a massive high even going into ’73 for ‘LITMW’, two single albums would have made little difference. The problem was maintaining it.
As for the album; even if the Jam material was removed there is still a few tracks I think are not that great and these would be magnified by being on a single album where they would stand out more; double albums can hide the blemishes due to the sheer volume (something which ‘TWA’ has going for it). And regardless of reviews back then, nowadays Spector’s production would still affect the impact when listening to it. In truth, ‘ATMP ‘ would massively benefit from a demix to remove some of the overkill applied.
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Old Soak"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
7.26pm
14 June 2016
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meanmistermustard said
George was a massive high even going into ’73 for ‘LITMW’, two single albums would have made little difference. The problem was maintaining it.As for the album; even if the Jam material was removed there is still a few tracks I think are not that great and these would be magnified by being on a single album where they would stand out more; double albums can hide the blemishes due to the sheer volume (something which ‘TWA’ has going for it). And regardless of reviews back then, nowadays Spector’s production would still affect the impact when listening to it. In truth, ‘ATMP ‘ would massively benefit from a demix to remove some of the overkill applied.
Wasn’t the 2001 remix a demixed version of the album?
Here | There | Everywhere
It's ya boi! The one and only Billy Shears (AKA Paul's Replacement)
"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
5.38pm
Reviewers
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1 May 2011
Offline William Shears Campbell said
meanmistermustard said
George was a massive high even going into ’73 for ‘LITMW’, two single albums would have made little difference. The problem was maintaining it.
As for the album; even if the Jam material was removed there is still a few tracks I think are not that great and these would be magnified by being on a single album where they would stand out more; double albums can hide the blemishes due to the sheer volume (something which ‘TWA’ has going for it). And regardless of reviews back then, nowadays Spector’s production would still affect the impact when listening to it. In truth, ‘ATMP ‘ would massively benefit from a demix to remove some of the overkill applied.
Wasn’t the 2001 remix a demixed version of the album?
No. It was a remaster.
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William Shears Campbell"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
5.16am
28 April 2020
Offline In my opinion, I think ATMP is an album where there are no weak songs. ‘Apple Scruffs ‘ is maybe slight but not a bad song. He also wrote other good songs like ‘You’, ‘Beautiful Girl’ and ‘Woman Don’t You Cry For Me’ around this time.
I wonder if it would be possible to ‘demix’ some of the worst excesses from Spector’s production now? I’d imagine the tapes would be very cluttered? It would be interesting if Dhani and Olivia could get Giles Martin or Jeff Lynne (so long as he didn’t turn it into an ELO album) to have a look at them!
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The Hole Got Fixed6.19am
11 September 2018
Offline I’ve always loved ATMP as it is, though (like most people) I can easily live without the instrumental jams, but I’m not at the point of hoping I never want to hear them again.
As for the production, it’s (the 2001 remaster) never bothered me.
10.50pm
4 February 2021
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I have just posted my All Things Must Pass redux on the solo albums page. So reduxed the title track is missing! Check it out.
Unless Paul McCartney knocks on my door I am unlikely to be impressed.
9.48pm
4 September 2019
Offline The double album as it stands is often recognized as an all time great, even among non-Beatle fans. Splitting it up seems like it would dilute its effect. But it would presumably solve the problem of following it up.
I tend to like double albums (good ones, anyway), they have a unique charm of their own. So I’m seldom in favor of splitting them up.
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Vera Chuck and Dave, Rube12.36am
25 February 2020
Offline I think a double album would’ve been fine
maybe only have the first pressing come with Apple Jam or something, although I don’t mind that LP
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Rube11.59pm
4 September 2019
Offline alittlebitolder said
In my opinion, I think ATMP is an album where there are no weak songs. ‘Apple Scruffs ‘ is maybe slight but not a bad song.
Why does everyone always bag on Apple Scruffs ? I know the harmonica is not exactly virtuoso playing, but I think it sounds great. Excellent track, IMO.
1.27pm
2 May 2013
Offline I like most of the songs on ATMP but hate, absolutely hate Spector’s overbearing production which detracts from the quality of the album IMO. I’d love Giles to have a look at this, probably with the new de-mixing technology because I’m sure the use of ‘Wall of Sound’ production means every track is overcrowded with multiple instruments – everything just gets in the way of everything else and it sounds murky as a result. And don’t get me started on the reverb… The simplicity of the demos shows what could be achieved, much preferable to my ears. I don’t think splitting into single volumes would add anything, it’s a body of work, although the jams disc doesn’t add much to proceedings.
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Richard 