Album Review: George Harrison - Early Takes Volume 1

Albums made up of previously unreleased tracks by deceased artists should generally be approached with trepidation. Sometimes there is a reason the tracks had previously not been released. In the case of Early Takes Volume 1, no apprehension is required. The album contains ten songs by the most underrated of The Beatles.

Mainly demo or early takes of released songs, interspersed with Harrison's studio banter, the album doubles as a soundtrack for Martin Scorsese's 2011 documentary George Harrison: Living In The Material World. Unlike other albums of demos, this is not just for die-hard fans. Tracks like Let It Be Me and My Sweet Lord are stripped back to perfection, allowing Harrison's guitar playing and lyrics to take prominence. I'd Have You Any Time, co-written by Bob Dylan in the late 1960s, still contains Eric Clapton's distinctive lead guitar work. The track, as Harrison put it in his autobiography, is “Beautiful – and that was that”. The album also contains a song that was solely written by Dylan; Mama You've Been On My Mind. The poetic lyrics combining with Harrison's calming vocals make this one of the album's best tracks. A demo of one of Harrison's more famed songs, All Things Must Pass is another highlight.

Overall, the album is a great listen for new and old George Harrison fans alike. If you have been meaning to discover Harrison's solo work but have yet to get around to it, this isn't a bad place to start.