Saturday, January 7, 2017

Seven Ways George Harrison's potential masterpiece, "When Every Song Is Sung," was lost

Here's an unreleased George Harrison track, "I'll Still Love You" (aka "When Every Song Is Sung"). This tune has a tortured history, being recorded for "All Things Must Pass" but never seeing release. Apple artists Mary Hopkin and Ronnie Spector each attempted a recording in the early 1970s, as did Beatle-friends Cilla Black (on two occasions) and Leon & Mary Russell (with George's help). None of these ever panned out.

The song was apparently written for Shirley Bassey (as "Whenever"), after she released a hit cover of "Something" in 1969. However, she never recorded it, either, and the only released version for many years was by Ringo Starr, from his 1976 LP "Ringo's Rotogravure." Most reviewers feel Ringo -- and the others, some of whose versions have been released -- never did the song justice, and that it's George's lost masterpiece. You be the judge, based on this recording with guide vocal:


Incidentally, this was recorded by Ronnie Spector, along with several other songs ("You," "Love Me Lady Day," "I Love Him Like I Love My Very Life"), for her planned solo album, produced by her husband, Phil, along with George. The only tunes to see release were on a single -- "Try Some, Buy Some"/"Tandoori Chicken" -- which flopped. George eventually released his own versions of "Try Some" (on 1973's "Living in the Material World") and "You" (1975's "Extra Texture" LP, giving him his last hit single on Apple). If you're not into Ronnie's solo LP, at least click on the article to see a copy of Paul McCartney's terse memo to Allen Klein about Phil Spector's treatment of "The Long and Winding Road." Nice to see Paul standing up for himself.

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