We all know Neil was nursed on the milk of the Beatles. And we can hear the effects of that early exposure everywhere in his music: Dream Date sounds like an outtake from Lennon's last album; Four Seasons In One Day sounds like a lost McCartney classic; and so on. Because "Lennon/McCartney" has become so synonymous with the Beatles' musical legacy, though, it's easy to neglect poor George Harrison and his potential influence on Neil. I'm beginning to think this influence may be bigger -- if only subliminally, perhaps -- than we usually recognize.

Recently I've been listening a lot to Harrison's early '70s solo output. Some of it is spotty; but there is much that is gorgeous. And songs like Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) remind me why Harrison's music may have a special resonance for New Zealand musicians in general and Neil in particular. Harrison's trademark slide guitar sound may draw on those of American blues and country-rock guitarists. But his sweet, gently weeping slide has always sounded a little different from theirs. His more liquid style was doubtless affected by his immersion in Indian classical music; but to my Kiwi ears, it often sounds surprisingly Pacific.

The Polynesian-style slide and/or lapsteel guitar that you hear everywhere in New Zealand pop music from the 1940s to now -- Daphne Walker's Haere Mai to Tim Finn's Couldn't Be Done, Ruru Karataina's Blue Smoke to Don McGlashan's Queen of the Night -- can at times sound startlingly close to Harrison's style. The convergence is most close on Kiwi band Goldenhorse's hit song Maybe Tomorrow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a1try9_sZo

In its chord structure but also in its use of slide guitar, Maybe Tomorrow is a barely disguised reworking of George's All Things Must Pass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GytPv_v29lc

So what's all this got to do with Neil? His melodic sensibility, and his penchant for Pacific sounds (Mark's lapsteel in Kare Kare and Help is Coming), channel Harrison more than either Lennon or McCartney. Just listen to the early, pre-samba-ized versions of Either Side of the World; its chord progressions and weeping lapsteel notes would sit happily on an early Harrison album.

Anyone else hear the ghost of Harrison in Neil's music and songwriting? If so, where and how?

I put forward the idea in another thread that George would've been Neil's favourite beatle.. i thoroughly enjoy all of the beatles' work but George is my personal favourite, just because it's usually... unusual.. haha
I agree with you that you can hear Harrison in Neil's writing.. although i'll have to get back to you as to where/when/how

Of course Wilco's You Never Know, accompanied by Neil in the 7WCII version, is a pure Harrison pastiche -- again because of that slide guitar. And your forum signature, Vereor, reminds me that English Trees, with its slightly sad country feel, has elements of a Harrison song too.

George is my favourite too

For some reason 'You Don't Know' from Rain reminds me very much of George

.....and what was the 'cover of choice' (albeit possibly that of Garth Jennings (ukelele) at Dingwalls last August :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHS_z2ya8kQ

Nice ... in bits! Thanks for posting, Bart.

Which George Harrison song would you most want to hear Neil or Crowded House cover?

I'd love to hear CH take a crack at Harrison's sublimely beautiful Don't Let Me Wait Too Long!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNJitSrxwWk

To me it sounds *very* Neil, and the slide line sounds like something Mark would and should play.

- I'd like to hear Crowded House have a stab at
I Live For You (also including Mark on the slide!). I can hear Neil singing that one, especially the verses.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2zRCXmLsNE

Someplace Else

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpliJuLjIkY

I think Neil would do a stupendous take on Wreck Of The Hesperus.

I've always loved Here Comes The Sun.

Neil actually *did* attempt George's "Something" in Vancouver during one of his last solo shows before EIH.

He apparently did it in response to someone yelling out a request...which...afterwards he worried that perhaps the person was yelling out "Something So Strong"...but got the Beatles' "Something" instead

'This Is Love'

quote:

Neil actually *did* attempt George's "Something" in Vancouver during one of his last solo shows before EIH.

Played at Dingwalls

Wasn't there a recent discussion commenting on the similarity between the piano staccato @ beginning of 'While My Guitar...' & the opening riff to 'WWY'? Don't think it was a deliberate 'borrow'.....

Neil needs to cover Savoy Truffle.