With just 13 studio albums, The Beatles were the most popular and influential band of all time. They sold an estimated 600 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling band in history, and they impacted several generations of musicians. However, John Lennon‘s decision to quit the band in 1970 ended the group’s ten years of touring. Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were thus compelled to concentrate solely on their own professions and other endeavors.
They didn’t see each other frequently after the band split up since their relationship wasn’t always happy, and they were very hostile toward each other when they were questioned about each other in the media in the 1970s. For instance, Harrison mentioned on several occasions how hard it was to convince McCartney to accept one of his tunes for The Beatles since the latter would always prioritize recording songs with Lennon.
As the years went by, their scars healed and they began to speak about each other with greater affection and less hate. Harrison even voiced his thoughts on McCartney’s solo career on a few occasions.
The opinion of George Harrison on Paul McCartney’s solo career
Harrison had several arguments with the other members of The Beatles and nearly quit the group before their formal breakup, yet oddly, he was the first to record solo studio albums before the band’s dissolution. His initial two were “Electronic Sound” (1969) and “Wonderwall Music” (1968), the latter of which served as the inspiration for Oasis’s popular song “Wonderwall” in the 1990s.
Only in 1970 did McCartney make his solo debut, which was his own recording and composition. He created the songs and recorded all of the vocals, guitar, bass, piano, drums, and other parts himself, just like he did several times during his career.
George Harrison became the first member of the Beatles to score a number one solo success, despite the fact that that first album included classics like “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Harrison released his legendary album “All Things Must Pass” (1970) in the same year, with the tune “My Sweet Lord” peaking at number one in several nations.
Harrison discussed his 1979 self-titled album, which was published, in an interview with Rolling Stone. When Paul was producing music at the time, someone asked him whether he liked it.
He commented: “I think it’s inoffensive. I’ve always preferred Paul’s good melodies to his screaming rock & roll tunes. The tune I thought was sensational on the London Town album was “I’m Carrying,”. But all the noisy, beaty things I’m not into at all. But then that’s not only with Paul’s music, that goes right across the board. I’m not a fan of that sort of punky, heavy, tinny stuff. I like a nice melody.”
Harrison wasn’t happy that took 30 years for Paul McCartney to ask him to write songs together
He was questioned about his thoughts on McCartney’s new renditions of Beatles songs during an interview in the 1980s. These were created specifically for the 1984 musical “Give My Regards to Broad Street.” He made a joke about not realizing they were updated versions. stated that it’s possible the Beatles ran out of original, quality tunes.
“We are long past all the squabbles now. I think they were ok (The new versions of Beatles songs), I didn’t notice that they were new versions (laughs). I only watched it once but I liked it. (But) I remember about ‘dancing’, ‘ballroom dancing’, all that stuff. I don’t remember the old ones.”
McCartney wants to “tackle some of the old songs,” the journalist said. Maybe a few of John Lennon’s songs, such as “Imagine” and “Beautiful Boy.” Harrison said, “That surprised me,” in response to the question. He also added, “Paul? Maybe because he ran out of good ones of his own (laughs)”.
Harrison chuckled and responded, “Well, it’s true,” as the interviewer chuckled and remarked, “Now we’ve got that on record.”
In another interview, he said, “Paul made the movie, which was a mistake.” They also made jokes about how Paul decided he wanted to create something with him about thirty years after they first met.
George Harrison continued: “But the idea of trying to write and do everything yourself, that’s the mistake. Paul had asked, you know, had suggested, maybe, the chance of me and him writing together something. (Laugh) It’s pretty funny, really. Because, I mean, I’ve only been there for about 30 years in Paul’s life. It’s like, now he wants to write with me. I think it may be quite interesting sometime to do it.”
George and Ray Cooper wrote the song “All Those Years Ago,” which was included on his 1981 album “Somewhere In England.” Paul, however, contributed backup vocals and bass on the tune. The song was a remembrance of John Lennon, who passed away at the age of forty the previous year. The drums in the song were also performed by Ringo Starr. Throughout their solo careers, George and Ringo collaborated often, frequently contributing to each other’s albums.
George and Paul remained friends even though their differences had grown over the years. They collaborated, for instance, on the song “Free as a Bird.” The song, which was an incomplete Lennon work, was released in 1995. McCartney’s solo career concerts still feature tributes to George. He frequently performs the song “Something” when George’s pictures are displayed.