Somewhere in England
Somewhere in England | ||||
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FPSHOT (Oxfordshire) | ||||
Genre | rock, pop rock, jazz | |||
Length | 39:43 | |||
Label | Dark Horse | |||
Producer | ||||
George Harrison chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from Somewhere in England | ||||
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Somewhere in England is the ninth studio album by the English musician
Recording
Harrison began recording Somewhere in England in March 1980 and continued sporadically,
Returning to the project in November, Harrison was joined in his Friar Park studio in Henley-on-Thames by Ringo Starr, who arrived specifically to have Harrison produce some songs for him. They recorded two Harrison originals – "Wrack My Brain" and "All Those Years Ago" – plus a cover of "You Belong to Me" for Starr's album Can't Fight Lightning (later released as Stop and Smell the Roses). The two other songs were completed but "All Those Years Ago" was left unfinished.[clarification needed] Starr later admitted that the key was too high for him to sing.[citation needed]
On 8 December 1980,
Along with "All Those Years Ago", three more songs were added to the album: "
Release and critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Elsewhere | [4] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
Goldmine | (favourable)[6] |
Mojo | [7] |
The Music Box | [8] |
Music Story | [9] |
Rolling Stone | [10] |
Uncut | [11] |
The Village Voice | C−[12] |
"All Those Years Ago" was released as the lead single in May 1981 to a strong response, reaching number 13 in the United Kingdom and number 2 in the United States. It was Harrison's biggest hit since "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" in 1973, and Somewhere in England benefited from the song's popularity. The album was released on June 1 in the US and June 5 in the UK.[13] It peaked at number 11 in the US, and at number 13 in the UK, giving the artist his highest-charting album there since 1973.[14]
Somewhere in England's chart run was relatively brief in America, however, and it became Harrison's first album since the Beatles' break-up not to reach gold status there. The second single, "Teardrops", peaked at only number 102 on Billboard's singles listings.
Reviewing the album favourably in 1981, People magazine called it one of Harrison's best and highlighted the "moving" tribute to Lennon.[15] Robert Christgau was less receptive in The Village Voice, dismissing the songs as "sappy plaints". He applauded "All Those Years Ago" as Harrison's "catchiest tune in years", however, although he said that Lennon had yet to comment from the grave on the album sleeve's Krishna-esque message of eternal life.[12]
Aftermath and later releases
"Lay His Head" was first issued in October 1987 as the B-side of Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You" single. The song was remixed for this release. All four songs omitted from the 1981 Somewhere in England were then included on the EPs accompanying the Genesis Publications books Songs by George Harrison and Songs by George Harrison 2. These two titles were available only in deluxe limited editions, published in 1988 and 1992, respectively.
In 2004, Somewhere in England was remastered and reissued, both separately and as part of the box set The Dark Horse Years 1976–1992, on Dark Horse Records with new distribution by EMI. The reissue included the original mix of "Unconsciousness Rules" and, as a bonus track, Harrison's demo of "Save the World", recorded in early 1980. In addition, the rejected artwork was reinstated, replacing that used for the 1981 release. An alternative mix of "Tears of the World" from that submitted in 1980 was included as a bonus track on the Dark Horse Years reissue of Harrison's 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3.
The
In 2006, a survey was conducted on the GeorgeHarrison.com message boards to find the artist's 50 most popular songs. The results featured only one track from the album: "Life Itself", at number 29. The same survey included three of the four rejected songs: "Flying Hour", at number 14; "Lay His Head", number 27; and "Sat Singing", number 41.
Track listing
Official release
All songs composed by George Harrison, except where noted.
Side one
- "Blood from a Clone" – 4:03
- "Unconsciousness Rules" – 3:05
- "Life Itself" – 4:25
- "All Those Years Ago" – 3:45
- "Baltimore Oriole" (Hoagy Carmichael) – 3:57
Side two
- "Teardrops" – 4:09
- "That Which I Have Lost" – 3:47
- "Writing's on the Wall" – 3:59
- "Hong Kong Blues" (Carmichael) – 2:55
- "Save the World" – 4:54
2004 reissue bonus track
- "Save the World" (Acoustic demo version) – 4:31
iTunes-edition bonus track
- "Flying Hour" (Harrison, Mick Ralphs) – 4:35
Original (rejected) track listing
- "Hong Kong Blues" (Carmichael) – 2:53
- "Writing's on the Wall" – 3:58
- "Flying Hour" (Harrison, Mick Ralphs) – 4:04
- "Lay His Head" – 3:43
- "Unconsciousness Rules" – 3:36
- "Sat Singing" – 4:28
- "Life Itself" – 4:24
- "Tears of the World" – 4:00
- "Baltimore Oriole" (Carmichael) – 3:57
- "Save the World" – 4:56
Personnel
Musicians
- George Harrison – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, synthesisers, gubgubbi[16]
- Willie Weeks – bass
- Herbie Flowers – tuba, bass
- Neil Larsen – keyboards, synthesisers
- Al Kooper – keyboards, synthesisers
- Mike Moran – keyboards, synthesisers (6)
- Gary Brooker – keyboards, synthesisers (8)
- Ray Cooper – keyboards, synthesisers, percussion, drums
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Ringo Starr – drums (4)
- Dave Mattacks – drums (6)
- Alla Rakha – tabla
- Tom Scott – lyricon, horns
- Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine – backing vocals (4)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Weekly charts (reissue)
Year-end charts
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References
- ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
- ^ Ginell, Richard S. "Somewhere in England – George Harrison". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ Graham Reid, "George Harrison (2011): Ten years after, a dark horse reconsidered" > "Somewhere in England" Archived 26 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Elsewhere, 22 November 2011 (retrieved 14 August 2014).
- ISBN 0-19-531373-9), p. 158.
- ^ Dave Thompson, "The Music of George Harrison: An album-by-album guide", Goldmine, 25 January 2002, pp. 18, 53.
- ^ John Harris, "Beware of Darkness", Mojo, November 2011, p. 83.
- ^ John Metzger, "George Harrison The Dark Horse Years (Part Three: Somewhere in England)" Archived 23 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Music Box, vol. 11 (5), May 2004 (retrieved 14 August 2014).
- ^ "George Harrison" > "Discographie de George Harrison" (in French), Music Story (archived version from 5 October 2015, retrieved 29 December 2016).
- ^ Thomas, Harry (6 August 1981). "George Harrison: Somewhere in England". Rolling Stone. p. 44. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ Nigel Williamson, "All Things Must Pass: George Harrison's post-Beatles solo albums", Uncut, February 2002, p. 61.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (4 August 1981). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ISBN 978-0711983076.
- Ultimate Classic Rock. Archivedfrom the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Somewhere in England". People. 27 July 1981. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ISBN 1-4234-0609-5), pp. 218–25.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "austriancharts.at George Harrison - Somewhere in England" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "RPM 50 Albums (July 4, 1981)" (PHP). Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- MegaCharts. Archivedfrom the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archivedfrom the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com George Harrison - Somewhere in England" (ASP). Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com George Harrison - Somewhere in England" (ASP) (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "George Harrison > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Somewhere in England > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 200 Albums". Cash Box. 18 July 1981. p. 46.
- ^ "Album Search: George Harrison - Somewhere in England" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ ジョージ・ハリスン-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of Somewhere in England by George Harrison". oricon.co.jp. Oricon Style. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
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value (help) - ^ "Top 100 Albums of 1981". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
External links
- Somewhere in England at Discogs (list of releases)