“All Things Must Pass”

30th anniversary edition

In 1970, the popular record industry was vastly different than it is today. There were no multiple album sets (and certainly no 10 CD box sets). Even a double album was reviewed by the critics and treated by the public as somewhat indulgent. A triple album was unheard of. Ironically, the man who had previously only been allotted 1 or 2 songs per Beatles album was the person responsible for putting out rock’s first multidisc box set. Reviewing this album 30 years after it’s release may place it in a different historic perspective but does not lessen it’s sense of musical accomplishment.

Taking it’s importance into account, Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass” is certainly deemed worthy of the deluxe treatment. In fact, many fans feel that this reissue is long overdue.

With that in mind, the 30th anniversary edition of “All Things Must Pass” could easily be nicknamed “All Things To All People”. Since it provides not only the classic album in it’s entirety, [remastered (but not remixed)] but also includes a previously unreleased track (“I Live For You”) that was sweetened for release by George and his son, Dhani; a few sample demo tracks (“Beware Of Darkness” and “Let It Down”) previously only available on the “Beware Of ABKCO!” bootleg; a karioke version of “What Is Life” and a new track, in the form of “My Sweet Lord (2000) - a new take on the classic song which also represents Harrison’s first solo studio recording since 1987 (!).

Musically, ATMP holds up surprisingly well today, in spite of sounding a bit dated. Even the “Apple Jam” (renamed “Original Jam” for this reissue) sounds less superfluous to my ears than it did in 1970.

ATMP was remastered by Jon Astley with Harrison personally overseeing the production details. The results are somewhat mixed (no pun intended). Unlike last years’ reissue of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, ATMP lacks that “in the same room as the musicians” feel. Although the sound quality is greatly improved, especially compared to the 1987 CD, there is a muddiness and compressed quality that is still retained. Harrison decided against remixing the tracks, however, doing so may have added even more clarity and dynamic range to the finished product.

Like many fans, 30 years later, Harrison himself now has mixed views on the “Wall of Sound” production style. As he admits in the liner notes, he found it “difficult to resist remixing every track,” stating that he wanted to “liberate some of the songs from the big production that seemed appropriate at the time.” In the final analysis, it appears that Harrison decided to remain true to the original sound of ATMP, even if that meant retaining some of it’s sonic shortcomings.

However, Harrison did take a few liberties with the original artwork . In the 4 variations of the cover shot included in the package, graphic artists gradually add encroaching buildings, belching power plants and super highways -  Harrison’s statement on how the planet’s environment has changed in the 30 years since ATMP was first released. Also, the album’s cover is now colorized (which may offend some purists).

Summary: Improvement is improvement. The 30th anniversary reissue of ATMP is certainly worth acquiring. However, I recommend that potential buyers have a realistic expectation of the sound quality. Those expecting to hear a sonic miracle will be disappointed since the “Wall Of Noise” remains contentious. As a comparison, I would liken the new ATMP to a very clean vinyl copy heard on a very good sound system. Hearing the new 30th anniversary edition will cause most people to bury the 1987 CD forever.

The lavish repackaging is very impressive. In it’s own way, it’s as impressive as the original 3 album set. It would have been nice to have a high quality postcard replica of the poster that was included with the original vinyl version - along with it’s update. Both are included in the liner notes as thumbnail photos.

Final Comment: Don’t pass on the 30th anniversary reissue of  “All Things Must Pass”!

March 18, 2001 - Anglican Journal -- Classic album by George Harrison charts 'quiet Beatle's' spiritual quest .

March 8, 2001 - Welcome to eFortSmith.com: Joseph Self - a review of George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" reissue .

March 6, 2001 - More articles derived from the February 28th press release: Bergen Record: George Harrison emerges with a reissued solo set ; Evansville Courier & Press - Harrison eschews new pop, sticks with old favorites .

March 5, 2001 - George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (a review page) .

March 3, 2001 - The Times: George Harrison interview re F1 racing .

March 2, 2001 - NATIONAL POST ONLINE | George is back - and he's 'pretty cool' ; e-Broadband News: You Say You Want A(nother) Revolution .

February 21, 2001 - From Hollywwod and Vine: GEORGE HARRISON YAHOO CHAT TRANSCRIPT:"What does George miss most about John Lennon? How does he feel
about the controversial Eminem? And what's up with all those gnomes? Find out the answers to these questions and more, when you read the transcript to George Harrison's first chat ever." Mojo4Music.com: George Harrison Triumphs In Mojo4music Poll .

February 17, 2001 - MSN Chat: George Harrison Chat Transcript .

February 16, 2001 - ATMP 12+ minute EPK linked here: Yahoo! Music Shopping Featured Promotion: George Harrison: "All Things Must Pass" . The most "unique" review of ATMP that I've yet encountered: CD REVIEW: 'Must Pass' on George Harrison's latest .

February 14, 2001 - Observer-Eccentric.com: George Harrison proves timeless with CD re-release ; sonicnet.com: George Harrison To Chat Online Thursday: "Ex-Beatle's new Web site explores his spiritual, ecological interests, discusses re-release of All Things Must Pass." ; NME.com: George Harrison announces debut webchat ; dotmusic - News - George Harrison webchat ; Reuters: George Harrison swaps guitar for keyboard .

February 11, 2001 - Yahoo! Chat: George Harrison Celebrates "All Things Must Pass"  : "Celebrate the 30th anniversary of George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" in the first-ever live chat with George himself... Chat on Thursday, February 15 at 8pET/5pPT (1aGMT)."

February 9, 2001 - News Briefs: Denver Rocky Mountain News: 'Quiet Beatle' has much to say .

From the NY Times: "The Quiet Beatle Makes Playful Noise Online"
By MATTHEW MIRAPAUL

George Harrison, the "quiet Beatle," is making a lot of noise online. AllThingsMustPass.com, a Web site promoting the reissue of his 1970 solo album, is filled with weeping guitars, chirping birds, giggling gnomes and other playful audio elements. Beatle buffs will enjoy the handwritten lyrics for "My Sweet Lord," but the highly animated site is also stocked with goodies like a blue mushroom linked to a short cartoon for "Let It Down." Employees of @radical.media, a New York design firm, moved into Harrison's home to build the site. "For him, the lack of sound was clearly disturbing," said Jon Kamen, @radical's chairman."

February 2, 2001 - dotmusic - News - George Harrison promotional clip for "All Things Must Pass" . Also, ATMP is #4 on the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums chart.

February 1, 2001 -Evansville Courier & Press - There’s still something in the way Harrison does music .

January 30, 2001 - Philadelphia Daily News: It's George's turn now ; Wall of Sound Review: All Things Must Pass (Remastered) .

January 26, 2001 - USATODAY.com: Harrison revisits solo highlight ; dotmusic - Album Review - George Harrison - 'All Things Must Pass' (Parlophone) ; music365: ATMP review ; Undercover Music News George Harrsion recruits Sam Brown and son Dhani for new My Sweet Lord .

January 21, 2001 - henley-on-line: NEW LOOK AT 'ALL THINGS MUST PASS' ; Q4music.com: ATMP review .

January 20, 2001 - RollingStone.com: Harrison Talks Reissues: George Harrison discusses "All Things Must Pass," new album ; Jam!Music: GEORGE HARRISON: ALL THINGS MUST PASS ; Jam!Music: Harrison, Lopez top new CDs ; Mi2N Music Industry News Network: George Harrison's All Things Must Pass Is Restored With Five Previously Unreleased Additional Tracks ; LA Times: A Valuable Reminder From an Often Overlooked Beatle .

January 10, 2001 - Billboard Spotlight Reviews: George Harrison: All Things Must Pass reissue .

Wednesday February 28 12:02 PM ET
George Harrison Promotes Old Album

By DAVID BAUDER, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Don't ever count the Fabs out.

It's a lesson that bears repeating, as George Harrison patiently waits for a computer system that he's overwhelmed to come back to life. The former Beatle is participating in his first online chat, which has temporarily crashed under the weight of some 300,000 participants.

"They should call it more of a Web type because you don't actually chat,'' he said, wryly, in a telephone interview before it began. "Somebody here at Capitol Records is doing it. I'll just answer the questions and they'll type them in.''

If Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake were online, you could understand the crush. But this is a 58-year-old man who's been silent musically for more than a decade and is only appearing to promote the rerelease of a 30-year-old record.

Yet there's obviously a bottomless reservoir of good will toward the men who changed music during a brief, happy stretch of the 1960s. The stunning success of the Beatles' greatest hits CD, ''1,'' over the past few months made that plain.

The Beatles' reappearance at the top of the music charts is "very nice,'' Harrison said.

"The thing that pleases me the most about it is that young people like it,'' he said. "It's given kids from 6 to 16 an alternate view of music to what's been available for the past 20 years."

"I think the popular music has gone truly weird,'' he said. "It's either cutesy-wutesy or it's hard, nasty stuff. It's good that this has life again with the youth.''

The guitarist for the world's most famous rock 'n' roll band is now semiretired and spends most of his time at his mansion 25 miles west of London. He's an avid gardener who seems most animated on the Web chat when a fan asks about some of his favorite plants.

He listens mostly to music from the 1920s and 1930s these days and admits he "feels more fragile when it comes to music.''

"If a car comes past me in a traffic jam with a boom box going, I jump out of my skin,'' he said. "Those big booming basses. I'm just more sensitive to noise these days.''

It was Harrison, always the most private Beatle, who took note of the toll Beatlemania took on the four members' nervous systems. The comment became darkly ironic when a crazed man broke into Harrison's home on Dec. 30, 1999, almost killing him with a knife wound to the chest.

Harrison's family reacted angrily late last year when the man, Michael Abram, was found innocent of attempted murder by reason of insanity.

The round of interviews to promote "All Things Must Pass'' represents Harrison's public re-emergence since the attack.

"I feel pretty good,'' he said. "You know, it's a difficult thing to get over. But I feel like I've gotten over it physically. My breathing is a little bit less percentage than it used to be. Other than that, I'm pretty cool.''

A stab wound to the chest and a bout with throat cancer - it's hard to think of two tougher handicaps for a singer. Harrison, though, offers a newly recorded song in the album repackage by updating his hit single, "My Sweet Lord.'' The weakness in his voice is evident, though his cool guitar licks and new arrangement make the song musically more interesting than the original.

He resisted the temptation to rerecord a lot more of the album since its production, with Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and heavy echo on the voice, sounds dated today.

"At the time, it seemed right,'' he said.

"All Things Must Pass,'' a triple album compacted to two CDs, was Harrison's jailbreak record. He'd stockpiled most of the songs during the final few years of the Beatles, when competition with the Lennon-McCartney songwriting team allowed him to get only a few on record.

The album is notable for a songwriting collaboration with Bob Dylan - predating the Traveling Wilburys - and the then-uncredited work of Eric Clapton. Harrison said the pre-famous Phil Collins also appears, playing congas on "The Art of Dying''

The reissue has a handful of extra tracks, including the outtake "I Live For You'' and an acoustic version of "Beware of Darkness,'' recorded during a rehearsal by Spector without Harrison's knowledge.

Does Harrison consider it his best sustained work?

"No, not really,'' he said. "It was the biggest thrill in a way that it was my first record. To be able to do all my own songs on one record was a novelty at that point, you know.''

"My Sweet Lord'' gave Harrison the distinction of being the first solo Beatle to have a No. 1 single, and the album spent almost two months at the top of the charts.

"Only the fact that people have written about the reissue have I realized that it spent seven weeks at No. 1,'' he said. "At the time I did it, I can't remember even taking any notice of it.''

The top of the charts being, of course, a position to which a Beatle is accustomed.

Later, on his Web chat, Harrison is alternately funny, serious and spiritual - sometimes all three, like when a fan asks whether McCartney still angers him sometime.

"Tell us the truth,'' the fan implores.

Harrison replies: "Scan not a friend with a microscopic glass - you know his faults - then let his foibles pass. Old Victorian proverb. I'm sure there's enough about me that pisses him off, but I think we have now grown old enough to realize that we're both pretty damn cute!''

# # #

February 12, 2001 - GEORGE HARRISON INVADES CYBERSPACE WITH LAUNCH OF WEBSITE AND FIRST EVER ONLINE CHATS TO TALK TO FANS ABOUT 30TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE OF ALL THINGS MUST PASS

Back to back online chats on Yahoo! Chat and MSN Live scheduled for Thursday, February 15th beginning at 8:00 p.m. eastern/5:00 p.m. pacific

Celebrating the recent 30th Anniversary release of ALL THINGS MUST PASS, George Harrison announces his first official website, www.allthingsmustpass.com.
George will also embark on his first experience with online chats by participating in two 30-minute chats on Thursday, February 15th, 2001. The first one will begin at 8:00 p.m. eastern/5:00 p.m. pacific on Yahoo!Chat, located at http://chat.yahoo.com, and the
second at 9:00 p.m. eastern/6:00 p.m. pacific on MSN Live, located at http://www.msn.com. For a direct link to the chat log onto http://allthingsmustpass.com

George took special interest in the ALL THINGS MUST PASS website. Designed by @radicalmedia.com, the designers worked closely with the Harrison family to
build this rich media showcase of Harrison's experiences, humor, and unique sense of imagination. Users are invited to explore Harrison's world via quirky animations and
rich media showcases. The artwork features the elements from both the original 1971 cover as well as the 2001 version. Fans will recognize Harrison's garden gnomes,
who playfully roam through each of the sections on the site, including: George Harrison, where one can learn more about the musician; All Things Must Pass, where one can browse through album-related documents and view online videos for the songs "Let It Down" and "What Is Life?"; The Daily Bread, where one can view unique items from Harrison's personal archive; Cyril's Rare Guitar Shop, a look at Harrison's guitar collection; and Fun Stuff, where one can find various digital souvenirs.

"Websites for me are still new territory," said George Harrison. "I still don't really know what they are supposed to do. But it was fun thinking of ideas and seeing them put together on the screen. I hope people enjoy it."

Upon its original release, ALL THINGS MUST PASS, became the first #1 album with the first #1 single ("My Sweet Lord") by a solo Beatle. Featuring some legendary players including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and an uncredited Phil Collins, the 1970
release was produced by George Harrison and Phil Spector, was engineered by Ken Scott and Phil McDonald, and featured orchestral arrangements by John Barham. The 30th anniversary release was in stores on January 23rd and debuted at #4 on Soundscan's Catalog Chart. Now digitally re-mastered, it features five previously unreleased tracks, including "My Sweet Lord (2000)" - an updated version which George produced "to create something extra," a specially packaged 20 page booklet with rare photographs and newly written liner notes by George Harrison.

# # #

Wednesday December 6, 2:37 pm Eastern Time

Press Release:  George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass' is Restored With Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

Harrison oversees re-mixing and writes liner notes to commemorate 30th anniversary of his masterwork, the first #1 album and #1 single ("My Sweet Lord'') by a solo Beatle

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2000-- Double-CD edition of 1970
boxed-set - with Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, uncredited Phil Collins and others - is set for January 23rd in-store date

The 30th anniversary of George Harrison's ALL THINGS MUST PASS will be commemorated with a brand new double-CD configuration personally overseen by Harrison -including four previously unreleased tracks from the original 1970 recording sessions and "My Sweet Lord (2000),'' a newly-recorded version of the classic song that gave him the distinction of being the first solo Beatle to score a #1 single after the group's breakup. The new package has been set for January 23rd in-store date on Capitol Records.

Sure to pique the curiosity of long time fans are the previously unreleased tracks, presented at the end of disc one:

-- "I Live For You,'' an out-take from the sessions that was not used;
-- "Beware of Darkness,'' an alternate version of the song, "still missing a few lyrics," different from the take which was eventually included on the album;
-- "Let It Down,'' described as "the original guitar and vocal from the same tape as "Beware of Darkness'' with a little overdubbing circa 2000;
-- ''What Is Life," a rough mix of the backing track whose existence George had forgotten; -- "My Sweet Lord (2000),'' is an updated version which Harrison produced "to create something extra for the Anniversary issue.''
(For a complete track list, please see the attached).

ALL THINGS MUST PASS was produced by George Harrison and Phil Spector, was engineered by Ken Scott and Phil McDonald, and featured orchestral arrangements by John Barham. Originally released as a triple-LP boxed-set in November 1970 on Apple Records, it was a monumental work that attracted some legendary players to the sessions that officially began on May 26th. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was George's only former bandmate to attend, along with Apple artist Billy Preston on organ; long-time Beatles collaborator Klaus Voorman on bass; and Apple group Badfinger.

In the wake of Eric Clapton's 1969 busman's holiday U.S. tour with the Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett band (briefly attended by Harrison), the rhythm section of keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon had come to England to "hang out'' (in George's words) with Clapton. Soon to re-emerge together in mid-1970 as Derek & the Dominos, all four joined the sessions for ALL THINGS MUST PASS. Although Clapton's work went uncredited on U.K. editions of the boxed-set for contractual reasons, his name did appear on the U.S. version and is rightfully restored worldwide on this anniversary edition.

Likewise uncredited at the time was a 19-year old Phil Collins, who would unofficially join the band Genesis in September 1970. A former child actor ("Oliver'') who was in a crowd scene in the Beatles' 1964 film "A Hard Day's Night,'' Collins was at the sessions "allegedly playing congas on "The Art Of Dying,'' according to Harrison's recollections thirty years later.

Among the other musicians on-board were Dave Mason (formerly of Traffic) on guitar, who had played one fateful benefit gig in June as an almost-member of the Dominos; veteran Nashville session ace Pete Drake, whose pedal steel guitar was the lynchpin of Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding album of 1967; tenor saxophonist Bobby Keys and trumpeter Jim Price, Delaney & Bonnie refugees and veteran sidemen better known for their near-30 year association with the Rolling Stones; Plastic Ono Band drummer Alan White, who went on to replace Bill Bruford in Yes in 1972; keyboardist Gary Brooker of Procol Harum; and New Jersey-born keyboardist Gary Wright, of Spooky Tooth and later "Dream Weaver'' renown.

ALL THINGS MUST PASS was also the first major indication of George Harrison's relationship with Bob Dylan. The album's opening track, "I'd Have You Anytime,'' was co-written by Harrison and Dylan. The album's sixth track, "If Not For You,'' was given to Harrison by Dylan, who recorded it on his own New Morning album, released just a few weeks before Harrison's.

ALL THINGS MUST PASS is also unique for the all-star "Apple Jam'' that occupied both sides of the third LP in the boxed-set. Consisting of five tracks that were recorded during the course of the album sessions, they were sequenced to accommodate the time-lengths of the vinyl sides. Once again, aficionados will appreciate that Harrison has restored them to their true sequence, so that the 11-minute "Out Of the Blue'' - featuring Harrison, Clapton, his `Dominos,' plus Keys, Price, Wright, and visiting New York rock journalist Al Aronowitz - is now the fifth and closing track instead of the first.

ALL THINGS MUST PASS debuted on the Billboard Top LPs chart on December 19th. It hit the #1 spot on January 2, 1971. To date, the album is certified RIAA double-platinum in the U.S. and has sold more than three million copies worldwide.

For further information on George Harrison, please contact:

Michele Cucci, Capitol Records/NY 212.253.3190 michele.cucci@capitolrecords.com

Or:

Elizabeth Freund, EF/PR 212.864.8091 Zeliz@aol.com

ALL THINGS MUST PASS
(Capitol 72435-30475-2-8)

Disc one

1. I'd Have You Anytime (2:57)

2. My Sweet Lord (4:37)

3. Wah-Wah (5:35)

4. Isn't It a Pity (7:08)

5. What Is Life (4:22)

6. If Not For You (3:29)

7. Behind That Locked Door (3:05)

8. Let It Down (4:57)

9. Run of The Mill (2:51)

Additional tracks (previously unreleased):

10. I Live For You (3:36)

11. Beware of Darkness (3:20)

12. Let It Down (3:55)

13. What Is Life (4:22)

14. My Sweet Lord (2000) (4:58)

Disc two

1. Beware of Darkness (3:48)

2. Apple Scruffs (3:04)

3. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) (3:46)

4. Awaiting On You All (2:45)

5. All Things Must Pass (3:44)

6. I Dig Love (4:54)

7. Art of Dying (3:37)

8. Isn't It A Pity (version two) (4:45)

9. Hear Me Lord (5:48)

Original Jam (resequenced):

10. It's Johnny's Birthday (0:49)

11. Plug Me In (3:18)

12. I Remember Jeep (8:05)

13. Thanks For the Pepperoni (5:32)

14. Out Of the Blue (11:13)

Contact:

     Capitol Records/NY
     Michele Cucci, 212.253.3190
     michele.cucci@capitolrecords.com
                Or:
     EF/PR
     Elizabeth Freund, 212.864.8091
     Zeliz@aol.com