Songs George Wrote (or co-wrote) For Others

[beatlebangs1964]

I thought it would be interesting to see what songs George wrote or co-wrote for others. It would also be interesting to see how many such works exist.

[lonely_rubber_peppers]

'Badge' with Eric Clapton

[Scouser]

'Badge' with Eric Clapton

I love the story about Badge.

He was helping Eric write it, and he was writing "Bridge" down on the sheet as they were getting to the bridge of the song, and Eric read the paper wrong and asked "What's Badge?!"

I think he helped Ringo write "Photograph" too

~Layla

[AnyRoad69]

the most songs written he for Doris Troy.

[FPSHOT]

He wrote some good ones with/for Doris Troy, however I would say what he did for a certain drummer exceeds his Doris writings..

[sourmilkpinky]

I don't know if it was quite written for him, but Soumilk Sea was given to Jackie Lomax :)

[beatlebangs1964]

Songs for Doris Troy?

[FPSHOT]

In 1970, "Doris Troy" the album is called.

George Harrison, Billy Preston, Peter Frampton, Stephen Stills, Klaus Voormann, Jackie Lomax, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, and Delaney & Bonnie all contributed, and Harrison, Stills, Lomax, Preston, Voormann, and Ringo Starr pitched in on the songwriting, though Troy wrote or co-wrote most of the songs.

1 Ain't That Cute Harrison, Troy 3:52
2 Special Care Stills 2:57
3 Give Me Back My Dynamite Harrison, Troy 4:54
4 You Tore Me up Inside Schinnery, Troy 2:27
5 Games People Play South 3:04
6 Gonna Get My Baby Back Harrison, Starr, Stills, Troy 2:17
7 I've Got to Be Strong Lomax, Troy 2:34
8 Hurry Carroll, Troy 3:10
9 So Far Troy, Voormann 4:25
10 Exactly Like You Fields, McHugh 3:06
11 You Give Me Joy Joy Harrison, Starr, Stills, Troy 3:38
12 Don't Call Me No More Schinnery, Troy 2:05
13 Jacob's Ladder Traditional 2:57
14 All That I've Got Preston, Troy 3:55
15 Get Back Lennon, McCartney 3:06
16 Dearest Darling Troy 2:50
17 What You Will Blues Troy 4:57
18 Vaya con Dios James, Pepper, Russell 3:29

[AnyRoad69]

http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~garp/hari/goff06.htm

[beatlebangs1964]

Thank you!

[lonely_rubber_peppers]

I love the story about Badge.

He was helping Eric write it, and he was writing "Bridge" down on the sheet as they were getting to the bridge of the song, and Eric read the paper wrong and asked "What's Badge?!"

I think he helped Ringo write "Photograph" too

~Layla

:teeth1: :teeth1: I hadn't heard that before!!

[FPSHOT]

I think he helped Ringo write "Photograph" too


Oh yes he very well did....George I mean..I believe Ringo said one time that on quite some songs of which Ringo had a little part done back then, George would just help him on some additional chords and then polish it all up as a producer, guitarist and background vocal singer.

[old_moon_shining]

Now very 'tongue in cheek' I must suggest 'Handle with Care' that he 'helped' write for the Traveling Wilburys.

Maybe this does not fit the criteria in other peoples minds.

[FPSHOT]

Depends which criteria you mean... the laugh side of my mind loves it hahahaha

[old_moon_shining]

Well sometimes I think he 'helped' more than he got credit for. How about Julian Lennon's 'Saltwater' and Carl Perkins' 'Distance Makes No Difference with Love'?

[twovirgins]

Another song for Clapper

Savory truffle

"Which George wrote as a playful tribute to his close friend Eric Clapton, who was a chocoholic. George saw a box of chocolates at Clapton's house, where the cover read, Mackintosh's Good News Double Centre Chocolate Assortment. Upon checking out the names of the various chocolates, George decided to write the song. All the names used in the lyrics were authentic from Mackintosh's, except cherry cream and coconut fudge, which George made up to fit the song."

[darkhorse]

Have we forgotten about "That Kind Of Woman" by Gary Moore? A rocky, bluesy one, I would've surely liked to hear George sing that. A demo must be around Friar Park, I think... :wink1:

That reminds me of "Run So Far", which was first given to Eric Clapton, who recorded a precious version with George on slide and background vocals for his Journeyman album. The Brainwashed version has always seemed to me like a demo, because it's missing a verse that the Clapton version does have, and it also misses the slide guitar. A 'mix' of those two versions (with George singing the lead, but with the musical background from the Clapton version), would be the ultimate version of that song. :smile1:

Songs he wrote for Ringo:
Photograph (Starkey/Harrison) (Ringo, 1973)
Sweet song, I think this was begun by Ringo and finished by George. Lovely.

Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond) (Harrison) (Ringo, 1973)
We didn't get a chance to hear 'country' George so often ("Miss O'Dell", "I Don't Care Anymore", B sides almost always)... this one was a good chance.

You And Me (Babe) (Harrison/Evans) (Ringo, 1973)
Written for Ringo, and it can only sound good when sung by him. Great "before-slide" solo.

I'll Still Love You (Harrison) (Ringo's Rotogravure, 1976)
I don't think George actually meant to give Ringo this song, I read somewhere that he used it without his actual permission, so there was kind of a struggle there. It's a lovely song, and the versions sung by George in the ATMP sessions showcase the beauty of his voice.

Wrack My Brain (Harrison) (Stop And Smell The Roses, 1982)
I wonder why didn't George wrote such a huge hit for himself in those years. Mainstream rock/pop at the best, with witty lyrics. Loved it. Ringo's last solo hit.


That surpasses, I think, the four he wrote for Doris Troy.

I also think he did something more than 'just singing and playing the instruments' in "Distance Makes No Difference". But we can only guess.

[old_moon_shining]

Well done darkhorse, this is obviously why we have you. I had forgotton That Kind of Woman....but you did not mention that Clapton was given this one as well, not just Gary Moore.

[FPSHOT]

“That Kind Of Woman” yeah is a great song which George wrote and was supposed to be on Journeyman and then went on the Romanian Appeal album. I prefer Gary’s version and oh yeah I would love to have a demo of it too.. Just as “Run So Far” I think Eric’s version is too soft. When Brainwashed came out we finally heard the true Run So Far (sorry Eric)

“Photograph” is probably one of the most favourite Ringo songs for me and yeah I also believe that Ringo came with the basics and then they worked on it to complete it. It was at the time that George worked with Ravi Shankar and his family and the spiritual feeling does come back in this one. I always thought it sounded lovely round Christmas time… add some Christmas bells in it and it goes perfect with a Xmas tree and happy memories.

“Sunshine Life For Me” is great, George playing with The Band and all these wonderful string instruments. George had a period where he was sailing quite a lot, I don’t recall when but I remember pictures. It also reminds me of what he says in the Brainwashed EPK about “but the moment I go out of the gate I think “what the heck am I doing here”.

“You And Me” .. oh yes that guitar solo.. what a way to finish one of the best non George Beatles solo albums..

“I’ll still love you” this song dates from the ATMP sessions. There is a demo of it from those sessions and sounds a bit like the Yodel song which became “Rocking Chair”. He probably had some good Heineken’s or Mal had been serving “Tea and sympathy” again. It went to Shirley Bassey, Ronnie Spector, Leon Russel and then there was also a session with Clapton, Ringo and George for Cilla Black. I believe there is a version of Cilla on one of her latest Compilation albums but I am not sure.

[twovirgins]

FPSHOT said :

“I’ll still love you” this song dates from the ATMP sessions. There is a demo of it from those sessions and sounds a bit like the Yodel song which became “Rocking Chair”.


I like the two versions on the ATMP accetate

[FPSHOT]

Well sometimes I think he 'helped' more than he got credit for. How about Julian Lennon's 'Saltwater'

I believe in this case George Harrison was supposed to help Julian for the song, but wasn't able to make it, or finish it, because he attended Eric Clapton son's funeral and obviously was not in the best of moods so instead, George sent Julian a few samples.

[FPSHOT]

"Cheer Down" btw actually also was written to be included on "Journeyman".

Selective guy, this Clapton dude...

[beatlebangs1964]

Yeah, that he was...:smile1:

[old_moon_shining]

I believe in this case George Harrison was supposed to help Julian for the song, but wasn't able to make it, or finish it, because he attended Eric Clapton son's funeral and obviously was not in the best of moods so instead, George sent Julian a few samples.

You see FPSHOT - this is my point exactly. This is what he got 'credit' for. So much more goes on that we do not actually hear about. George was very generous with his 'help' I believe and did not always demand that his name be officially included. This story about Julian, as far as I understand it, only refers to the recording, what about the earlier stages? - like the writing. I realise it is pure spectulation and like darkhorse said about 'Distance', we will probably never know.

[darkhorse]

Well done darkhorse, this is obviously why we have you. I had forgotton That Kind of Woman....but you did not mention that Clapton was given this one as well, not just Gary Moore.

Well I guess that's just because I like the Gary Moore version so much better... :wink1:

[FPSHOT]

Same here :smile1:

[old_moon_shining]

OK so I like Gary Moore's version best also - more 'pep' - but I have had a bit of a soft spot for Clappers on occasion so....felt it only fair to mention his effort.... :wink1:

[FPSHOT]

Oh when I bought the Romanian Appeal CD I remember that evening playing EC's version maybe 20 times in a row...

[old_moon_shining]

Oh when I bought the Romanian Appeal CD I remember that evening playing EC's version maybe 20 times in a row...

Ok well we have another closet Clapton fan. :wink1:


If we have exhausted the full songs list maybe we could enlarge with his 'supa-contributions' list.

I nominate his excellent slide on Belinda Carlisle's Runaway Horses album, the track 'Leave a Light On'. This is nothing short of magnificient and 'album saving'. Not even his usual style, much faster. Truly a moment of genius.