1970 saw the release of the final Beatles album, Let It Be, but also solo releases by each of the Fab Four.
Paul McCartney’s solo debut, McCartney, came out in April and went double platinum despite lukewarm critical response. John Lennon’s solo debut, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, dropped in December to considerably more acclaim. And overachiever Ringo Starr put out two albums that year, Sentimental Journey and Beaucoups of Blues.
The album I’m highlighting today came from the quiet Beatle, George Harrison, whose triple album All Things Must Pass, came out in November and was the biggest hit of them all.
It was also the most ambitious, combining songs turned down by The Beatles, collaborations with the likes of Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, and a third disc consisting entirely of guitar jams.
The only song I know from this album is the controversial first single, and today’s SOTD, ‘My Sweet Lord.’ The hit song was very similar to ‘He’s So Fine’ by The Chiffons and Harrison was sued by the owner of the latter song’s copyright. The suit went on for years, Harrison paid a high price both financially and creatively, and the case altered the face of musical copyright law.
My Lord
My Lord
I really wanna see you
I really wanna be with you
I really wanna to see you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord
My sweet Lord
My Lord
My Lord
I really wanna know you
I’d really like to go with you
I really wanna show you Lord
That it won’t take long, my Lord
(Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord
(Hallelujah)
My Lord
(Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord
(Hallelujah)
I really wanna see you
I really wanna see you
I really wanna see you Lord
I really wanna see you Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord
(Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord
(Hallelujah)
My Lord
(Hallelujah)
My my my Lord
(Hallelujah)
I really wanna know you
(Hallelujah)
I really wanna go with you
(Hallelujah)
I really wanna show you, Lord
(Hallelujah)
That it won’t take long, my Lord
(Hallelujah)
Mmmmm
(Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord
(Hallelujah)
My my Lord
(Hallelujah)
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Aah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
(My sweet Lord)
Hallelujah
(My sweet Lord)
Hare Krishna
(My sweet Lord)
Hare Krishna
(My, my, my)
Krishna, Krishna
(Hey, my sweet Lord)
Hare Hare
(My sweet Lord)
Gurur Brahma
(Oh my Lord)
Gurur Vishnu
(Oh my sweet Lord)
Gurur Devo
(My sweet Lord)
Maheshwara
(My sweet Lord)
Gurur Sakshaat
(My sweet Lord)
Parabrahma
(Oh my sweet Lord)
Tasmayi Shree
(My, my sweet Lord)
Guruve Namah
(My sweet Lord)
Hare Rama
(My sweet Lord)
My sweet Lord
Meet Me In Montauk 
Of the Beatles solo albums, I’m really most familiar with Lennon’s, at least as a whole album. Certainly, though, I know today’s song and have to side with the Chiffons on the copyright dispute. I recall hearing this song as a kid, without knowing anything about the controversy and thinking, “isn’t that the same as “She’s So Fine?” Sorry George, but you should have just given a songwriting credit and ended years of litigation.
I would HIGHLY recommend folks listen to the first two sides of this album (the side of jams is not memorable IMHO). I think I could make an argument that “My Sweet Lord” is the weakest track on the album. Songs like the title track (turned down by the Beatles), “Beware of Darkness”, “I’d Have You Anytime”, “What Is Life” (another single), and “Awaiting On You All” are comparable to any of the best tracks penned by Lennon and/or McCartney. I am a huge Beatle fan, and I truly believe in the ’69 through ’72 period, George Harrison was the better songwriter of the 3. This album is a masterpiece in a strong canon of work.