George gets a star and an album

George Harrison got his own Walk-Of-Fame star outside the Capitol Records building today, and Paul McCartney was present, to dust off some invisible dust from his mate’s star. George’s widow Olivia Harrison was also there, together with their son, Dhani, as well as a few of George’s friends from the industry, actor Tom Hanks, two Traveling Wilburys: Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, and a Rutle! Eric Idle of Monty Python fame was a good friend of George, and played several characters in the Beatles spoof, among them Dirk McQuickly, the Rutles equivalent of The Beatles’ Paul McCartney.

No, those are not two Paul’s that’s Dirk and Paul! And Olivia, Tom Hanks and Dhani.

Capitol / EMI used the occasion to announce a forthcoming album of George’s songs, “Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison”, due out June 16th. the new title will feature digitally remastered tracks in deluxe packaging, including an extensive booklet featuring previously unseen and rare photos. The collection will also be available for download from all major digital service providers.

Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is the first release that will span his entire solo recording career, including the hit singles “My Sweet Lord,” “Isn’t It A Pity,” “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” and the surprise 1987 Billboard #1 hit “Got My Mind Set On You.” Like his seventies collection, “The Best of George Harrison”, the new title will also feature his best known Beatles compositions, but only three of them, “Something,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Here Comes The Sun”. These will not be the versions recorded by the Beatles, but concert versions from the Concert For Bangladesh benefit at Madison Square Garden back in 1971. The complete track list will be announced later.
George Harrison left Capitol / EMI in the mid-seventies and released his later albums on his own Dark Horse Records label, distributed by A&M Records and later Warner. Shortly before his death, George reverted to the old Beatles label, Parlophone Records, who released his posthumous studio album, “Brainwashed”. We miss George a lot.