Today I listened to this album for the first time in it's entirety since probably the seventies. I was determined to listen to it "without prejudice" with my new grownup ears.
First - it's good. Sometimes very good. But a double album is hard for any act to carry off, and the strain does show here and there. I think too Mr Spectre deserves as much credit as Our Kid does. He really layers it on (too much but sometimes he needs to bury Georges weedy voice (sorry) or make a dreary melody a bit more interesting. (I would give examples, but I'm in The British Library and can't remember which song is which now.) Occassionaly I think the credit should have read "Phil Spectre featuring George Harrison."
It has some great moments - though  it suffers from George's overt seriousness. He rarely sounds like he's having fun, and that has a detrimental effect (to me at least.) A fine effort, but I can see why Lennon and McCartney weren't too keen on some of the songs. Mr Spectre - take a bow. You made mountains out of George's ideas.

It can get very heavy going at times. I don't think it's as great as it was made out to be at the time, more unexpected. I think no-one expected George to come out with so much good material. Personally I prefer Living In The Material World, though that's even more serious.

The re-issued version from a few years ago was de-Spectored to a degree, though it still bears the unmistakable mark of Phil. It's difficult to see how most of these songs could have slotted in on a Beatles album, which is presumably why George's songs were often vetoed.

Quoted from Kevin

I think the credit should have read "Phil Spectre featuring George Harrison."

*takes Kevin out back and beats him bloody with a two-by-four*

Sorry, I have only so much patience!   *smacks you again*

Well, everyone has their taste. You think these songs were molehills. Okay. No one has to like all the Beatles songs or all of their solo work. George's solo work is my favorite of the ex-Beatles and he accomplishes this because he brings so much of himself and his philosophy to his music. I don't want mindless chatter; I want something that is a lovely melody, beautifully orchestrated, and makes me think. Not much, I know, but I'm fussy. And based on this, Bing! George wins.  (For me. You of course can prefer whatever music you like to listen to in your own home.)

Just because you got me curious, I did my own  "overt seriousness" hunt on ATMP:

"I'd Have You Anytime" - sweet love song
"My Sweet Lord" – happy religious
"Wah-Wah" – pissed-off but really bouncy - is this overtly serious? Can you dance seriously?
"Isn't It a Pity" - reflective - could count as "overt seriousness" I suppose

"What Is Life" – wildly happy
"If Not for You" - more quietly happy  
"Behind That Locked Door" – sweet & friendly
"Let It Down" – wild sex
"Run of the Mill" – regretful and beautiful - is this overtly serious? I wouldn't say so. Is anything thoughtful serious?

"Beware of Darkness" – absolutely qualifies as "overt seriousness". Gorgeous song.
"Apple Scruffs" – happy/silly
"Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)" – happy/beautiful
"Awaiting on You All" – happy religious
"All Things Must Pass" – reflective philosophical, certainly more "overt seriousness"

"I Dig Love" – pure lustful sex
"Art of Dying" – upbeat philosophical, could count as "overt seriousness"
"Isn't It a Pity" - duplicate "overt seriousness" as Side 1
"Hear Me Lord" – orgasmically gorgeous song. Religious, overtly serious, and transcendent.

Random extras:

It's Johnny's Birthday - happy/silly
"I Live for You" - One of those strange ambiguous songs that could be friendship/love/religion. Could be considered "overt seriousness"???


So of the 20 songs with lyrics (I'm omitting the jams, which all could fall into the silly/happy realm), we have:

Wildly happy - 9

Sweet or wistful - 4

OVERTLY SERIOUS IN TONE OR SUBJECT MATTER OMG KEVIN RUN!!!! - 7


Hey, Kevin's right! About 1/3 of the album appears to deal with serious subjects. If this isn't your cup of tea, I can see how this wouldn't be your cup of tea. (Yes, I wrote that deliberately.)

I hope you don't mind my teasing you about this. Everyone has their favorite music, and I happen to adore this album, as well as George's vision, courage, and massive talent that went into making it. Remember, this was revolutionary stuff at the time. NO ONE was doing popular religious stuff. NO ONE was writing about Eastern philosophy; it was weird and crazy and kooky and even (if you're a fundamentalist chowderhead) demonic. Yet 20 years later these "weird" philosophies were mainstreamed to the point where my doctor told me to take a TM course to lower my blood pressure--because science had proved that it worked. Now, that's societal change! And we owe that to George. *gives him a flower*

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I don't think it's as great as it was made out to be at the time, more unexpected.

I agree it was unexpected. It was an exciting, new, fresh direction that knocked people for six. John and Paul had a lot of trouble getting their solo careers going, in part because they were trying to find their individual voices and people were listening for "old" Lennon-McCartney. George burst out with all this wild stuff that absolutely was fully developed in its own realm and definitely NOT Beatles. This was solo work.

I think this album was a product of its time. It was great then and remains great. The fact that it pushed the bounds of pop music still further (which is exactly why the Beatles are remembered as "great") absolutely ensures this album a place of honor for all time.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I think no-one expected George to come out with so much good material.

How could they? George was having to cramp his style to produce "Beatley" things that fit the Beatles' style (not his personal style) and were easy enough for John to play. I personally think that's why John quit playing on George's songs; he just couldn't keep up with the weird time signatures/chords etc. in his current condition.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Personally I prefer Living In The Material World, though that's even more serious.

I love them both, although I agree LITMW is more serious. It's gorgeous. I haven't been able to take it off the player yet from 2 weeks ago. I do love Phil Spector's production of "Try Some Buy Some" (I like the harp!), but George's songs clearly stand as great and moving songs on their own. I'm glad we have both of these excellent albums, so we can have the period feel of Phil's "wall of sound" along with the sparser production of LITMW, where the songs stand more on their own.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

It's difficult to see how most of these songs could have slotted in on a Beatles album, which is presumably why George's songs were often vetoed.

I absolutely agree. These are NOT Beatles songs. I wish the Beatles would have been open to the various guys running off and doing solo albums without breaking up, and then coming back together to do Beatles stuff. If wishes were feathers...

I listened to a bit more over the weekend and have softened a bit. Perhaps I was trying too hard to find the negative. It doesn't really have a bad tune on it, and most are superb.
Perhaps the greatest acid test - I played this while my non-Beatle girlfriend and I were playing scrabble (another glimpse into my rock and roll life style) and it caught her attention and she wants a copy. That has NEVER happened before.

Yeah Kev, its a good one. I dont think its overrated one bit. It is the best solo effort period.

Yay! Thanks, Tkitna. I would agree with you about it being the best solo effort, except I haven't yet listened to the other ex-Beatles' complete catalog. There might be one lurking out there that I'd like better, but the ATMP album had the same effect on me that it had on Kevin's girlfriend: must... own!!! And I still love it.

Kevin, I'm glad you listened again and found things to like. Life can be so overwhelming, it's a pleasure to find new things to enjoy. I'll put away my two-by-four and instead send you and your gf a nice bottle of wine. Thanks for being patient with me.

Quoted from harihead

Yay! Thanks, Tkitna. I would agree with you about it being the best solo effort, except I haven't yet listened to the other ex-Beatles' complete catalog. There might be one lurking out there that I'd like better, but the ATMP album had the same effect on me that it had on Kevin's girlfriend: must... own!!! And I still love it.

It doesnt matter if you've heard all the other solo albums or not (trust me), this one is better. I love 'RAM' and it's probably my favorite solo album from them, but 'ATMP' is better. (if you can understand that)

The album has no weaknesses. Its a 5 star production in my book.

I have only started really listening to George in the past few years ,and altough i had All Things Must Pass it was'nt played regular .
But since i started buying and playing his music more , i most say i really love him , he's different and his voice is very honest to my ears .
Unlike John and Paul in the 70's he did his own thing , and was'nt fussed about been an ex Beatle he just seemed to get on making music which seems pretty timeless and interesting  
All Things Must Pass and Thirty Three And A Third are as good as the best of John and Paul's solo albums , i get as much out of them as i do from Ram , Venus And  Mars , Imagine and Walls and Bridges  

Quoted from harihead

Kevin, I'm glad you listened again and found things to like. Life can be so overwhelming, it's a pleasure to find new things to enjoy. I'll put away my two-by-four and instead send you and your gf a nice bottle of wine. Thanks for being patient with me.

You're thanking me? I was in jerk mode - I went looking for faults, and if I couldn't find them then I might as well make them up. It's not my best trait I'm afraid. My girlfriend likes to refer to me as a "pretentious tosser". But then, am I to blame that a university trained school teacher can play scrabble but claim to have never heard  words such as "opine" and "id", but has the temerity to try and slip past "quo?" I ask you - sometimes my life is nothing but the suffering of fools.
You're an angel Mairi.

Well, I was feeling a bit guilty about the two-by-four remark-- it didn't seem very welcoming of other people's views. But since it produced such a fine apology, I think I'll drag it out more often.  

Quoted from tkitna

The album has no weaknesses. Its a 5 star production in my book.

Thanks, Tk. I think so, too. Not only are the songs all varied and interesting, the sound varies from spare to lush. It's tough for me to get tired of this album, because there's so much to choose from. It's a very mature offering, with a lot of thoughtfulness and craft behind it, but also fresh because, well, it was Georgie's first, and he wanted to do a good job. And did he.

Quoted from DaveRam

since i started buying and playing his music more , i most say i really love him , he's different and his voice is very honest to my ears .

He's addicting, isn't he? My list of enjoyable albums is long, because there are at least one or two wonderful songs on each, so I'll sometimes play those if not the whole thing. I haven't warmed up as well to Extra Texture, but I'm playing it today, and I'm struck by how sad many of the songs are. This guy truly wore his heart on his sleeve. You can call it foolish; it left him open to a lot of grief. But he was combining music with his search for personal development, and that's a kind of courage and honesty that resonates with me.

*gives DaveRam and Tkitna a nice box of chocolates*

All Things Must Pass is really, really good album. I love the feeling on it. I think the Spector's wall of sound" + George's vocal and guitar play made of this a exquisitely melancholic album, full of beautiful melodies, good rockers... but specially gorgeous sad ballads.
"Let It Roll", "Beware of Darkness", "If Not For You" (good for Zimmerman   ), "ATMP", "Hear Me Lord"... those are all eternal favourites.
The only thing I can get is the Apple Jam... I can't listen to that. I don't know. Jams are not my style, so long and boring. Someday I gonna give him another opportunity.  

the apple jam is always what ruined All Things Must Pass for me.

I have a Love/Hate relationship with this album... i absolutely LOVE these songs.. i absolutely HATE the production.. Wall of Sound works for Mono.. not for stereo.. and i will never forgive Spector for recording the effects directly to master.. that is a sin an absolute sin... when i watched Awaiting on you All in the Concert for Bangladesh i was so elated to hear this track but wait, i had heard it, under a layer of mud on ATMP... so i try my hardest now to get bootlegs live versions anything to compile something close to an enjoyable package.. it's a shame too that so many of these great songs have to be really held back by the sound of the time.. and one that was already on it's way out.. so many great performances throughout.. Ringo, Pete Drake's slide guitar, Eric, the first Dylan/Harrison tunes so and some real potential classics almost ruined..

As for the apple jams i enjoy em as a musician but it's almost like it's not part of the album just a little bonus that came out of recording for as long as they did.

I just think it's sad that nothing can be done to save these songs.

Quoted from Andy Smith

the apple jam is always what ruined All Things Must Pass for me.

I don't see how one song can ruin a whole album for you. If you don't like a song, skip it.  

I liked hearing your viewpoint, Bungalow Bill. It's funny, because Kevin started a thread by saying he loved the production and thought it was the best thing about the album. I have to say, I adore the power of the songs as well. Clearly this is a labor of love.

I'd like to hear some bootlegs without the heavy production as well. Do you know where I can get a mono version? Cheers.