Pirate Songs

George Harrison

Number

Year

Format

VIGO 146

1995

CD / CDR

   Special Features

Comes with a 32 page booklet and slipcase-style box.
  
Packaging:

Box front
  

Box back
  

Front Cover

Back Cover

Disc Variations:

CD
 

"Silver CDR"
 

The Booklet:

The booklet included with this title features the following information:

19 Tracks - Total Time: 72:57

Box Back Text:

An exceptional collection of outtakes, demos and alternate mixes.   This package includes a booklet containing detailed track information, rare photos and a peek at George's personal guitar collection.

Liner Notes:

          After spending some time with Mr. McCartney last time around ("Good Times Comin'", Vigotone VT-121), it's time to turn our attention to the quiet Beatle, George Harrison, with this collection of his better outtakes and demos.
          Appropriately, our collection starts off with "The Pirate Song", which was recorded for "Rutland Weekend Television" in 1975.  Collectors will note that this is much better quality than previously available tapes of this performance.
          This is followed by a series of acetates.  "Bangla Desh" and "Deep Blue" come from a tape of acetates which were retrieved along with the original multi-track for "Deep Blue".  Unfortunately, we were unable to transfer the multi-track for this CD because of the condition of the original tape.  The version of "Miss O'Dell" was obtained courtesy of the lady herself.  Note that in this version George gets all the words right.
          Next up are a couple of demos, the first is "Dark Horse" (the only performance in which his voice isn't shot!), followed by a tune given to Jesse Ed Davis to record in 1972, "Sue Me Sue You Blues."
          "Mo" written in honor of then Warner Brothers president Mo Ostin's 50th birthday is possibly the highlight of this collection.  It was recorded in 1977 and slated for possible inclusion on the George Harrison album and later the Best Of Dark Horse album.  In both instances Mo Ostin asked George to remove the selection.  It was issued recently in a very limited promo only 6CD set given only to Warner Brothers employees.
          George plays all the instruments himself on the next track, a demo of "Life Itself" issued originally in 1992 with the expensive collector's edition book Songs By George Harrison 2.
          The next two tracks were recorded in Largo, MD on December 13, 1974 on George's 1974 tour of North America;   "Hari's On Tour (Express)" was another track issued with the book Songs By George Harrison 2 while "For You Blue" came with 1988's Songs By George Harrison.
          In another record company blunder, George's 1980 album Somewhere In England was rejected by Warners for not being commercial enough.  Accordingly, four of the best cuts were omitted from the official release.  "Sat Singing", "Lay His Head" and "Flying Hour" are sourced from remixes done by George and included with his song book Songs By George while "Tears Of The World", also remixed, comes from Songs By George 2.
          Also from that source is "Hottest Going In Town", originally recorded for "Shanghai Surprise" in the mid-80's.  In a similar vein is "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea", which appeared on U.K. TV on the program "Mr. Roadrunner" in 1992.
          Next, we have a couple of outtakes from George's work with The Wilburys.  "Maxine" was left off their most recent offering and would have been George's only solo song while "End Of The Line" is an outtake from their first album.
          Finally, we close our collection with George's classic "My Sweet Lord".  This is the 45 mix, shamelessly lifted from a rare Capitol promo (where it was undoubtedly placed by accident!).

Piero D'Ox

Track Notes:

Real Vigotone

Fake Vigotone

The original Pirate Songs came with a box & booklet.  The fake doesn't.  The copy may or may not have an "import" sticker on it.  The original was on CD & CDR (but always with the box & booklet).  The fake is a CD.