All Things Must Pass (song)
Encyclopedia
"All Things Must Pass" is a song written by George Harrison
. It is the title track to his triple album of the same name
.
During The Beatles
' Get Back sessions in January 1969, this was one of many songs the group rehearsed to be part of their new album. As the sessions progressed, the song was pushed to the side and never picked up again by the band.
Harrison recorded a solo demo of the song on multi-track tape on 25 February 1969. Harrison recorded two takes, then added extra guitar onto the second. This version was subsequently released in 1996 on The Beatles' collection Anthology 3
.
The song was never formally recorded by The Beatles by the time of their break-up, though at least one informal rehearsal take featuring the full group exists.
The song underwent a number of small changes from when it was first written in late 1968. The line "a mind can blow those clouds away" was originally written as the more literal "a wind can blow those clouds away," but bootlegs from the January 1969 Beatles sessions reveal John Lennon
suggesting the change to "mind" to include a bit of "psychedelia" in the song. Perspective on one line was slightly changed from "It's not always been this grey" (with The Beatles) on the demo to "It's not always gonna be this grey" (on his own) on the final recording.
When George Harrison was interviewed by VH1 in 1997, "All Things Must Pass" was one of three songs he performed (along with the Traveling Wilburys tune "If You Belonged to Me" and an early version of "Any Road").
The song was included on Harrison's 2009 career-spanning best of compilation Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
.
, who played keyboard during "Get Back/Let It Be" sessions and later performed with The Beatles at the Rooftop Concert, recorded his version of the song (as well as Harrison's "My Sweet Lord
") on the album Encouraging Words
before it surfaced on Harrison's triple album.
Paul McCartney
sang this song at the Concert for George
memorial for Harrison on 29 November 2002.
Jim James
covered the song on his Tribute To album in 2009.
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
. It is the title track to his triple album of the same name
All Things Must Pass
All Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison, recorded and released in 1970. The original vinyl release featured two LPs of rock songs as well as Apple Jam, a third LP of informal jams...
.
During The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Get Back sessions in January 1969, this was one of many songs the group rehearsed to be part of their new album. As the sessions progressed, the song was pushed to the side and never picked up again by the band.
Harrison recorded a solo demo of the song on multi-track tape on 25 February 1969. Harrison recorded two takes, then added extra guitar onto the second. This version was subsequently released in 1996 on The Beatles' collection Anthology 3
Anthology 3
Anthology 3 is a compilation album by The Beatles released in October 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. The album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles to the last...
.
The song was never formally recorded by The Beatles by the time of their break-up, though at least one informal rehearsal take featuring the full group exists.
The song underwent a number of small changes from when it was first written in late 1968. The line "a mind can blow those clouds away" was originally written as the more literal "a wind can blow those clouds away," but bootlegs from the January 1969 Beatles sessions reveal John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
suggesting the change to "mind" to include a bit of "psychedelia" in the song. Perspective on one line was slightly changed from "It's not always been this grey" (with The Beatles) on the demo to "It's not always gonna be this grey" (on his own) on the final recording.
When George Harrison was interviewed by VH1 in 1997, "All Things Must Pass" was one of three songs he performed (along with the Traveling Wilburys tune "If You Belonged to Me" and an early version of "Any Road").
The song was included on Harrison's 2009 career-spanning best of compilation Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is the third compilation of George Harrison's music, and the first to span his entire solo career after The Beatles era...
.
Personnel
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:- George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
– vocals, guitar - Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
– backing vocals, guitar - Pete DrakePete DrakePete Drake , born Roddis Franklin Drake, was a major Nashville, Tennessee-based record producer and pedal steel guitar player....
– pedal steel guitar - Bobby WhitlockBobby WhitlockRobert Stanley 'Bobby' Whitlock is a songwriter and performer, best known as a member of Derek and the Dominos.- Biography :...
– backing vocals, piano - Klaus VoormannKlaus VoormannKlaus Voormann is a German Grammy Award-winning artist, noted musician, and record producer. He designed artwork for many bands including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro. His most notable work as a producer was his work with the band Trio, including their worldwide hit "Da Da...
– bass guitar - Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, Jim GordonJim Gordon (musician)James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
– drums
Cover versions
Billy PrestonBilly Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
, who played keyboard during "Get Back/Let It Be" sessions and later performed with The Beatles at the Rooftop Concert, recorded his version of the song (as well as Harrison's "My Sweet Lord
My Sweet Lord
"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
") on the album Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words is the fifth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1970. Preston worked closely with George Harrison on the album, who contributed guitar, co-produced, co-wrote a song with Preston, and contributed two of his own songs which were yet to be released, as All Things Must Pass...
before it surfaced on Harrison's triple album.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
sang this song at the Concert for George
Concert for George
The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
memorial for Harrison on 29 November 2002.
Jim James
Jim James
James Edward Olliges Jr. , professionally known as Jim James or Yim Yames, is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Louisville, Kentucky-based rock band My Morning Jacket. James grew up in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, attended St. Martha grade school and graduated...
covered the song on his Tribute To album in 2009.