It would be a wild statement to say that any of the Fab Four were underrated. The Beatles were the biggest band of the century, realistically. However, we think that George Harrison has historically been a bit underrated when it comes to his guitar-playing and songwriting prowess. Let’s look at just a few George Harrison songs that prove how underrated of a guitarist he was!
1. “My Sweet Lord”
This track from Harrison’s 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass was a great introduction to what Harrison could do when not in the shadow of his former Beatles bandmates. The album as a whole is a masterpiece, in one way or another. But “My Sweet Lord” stands out as the best possible lead single he could have chosen. The guitar solo on this song is nothing short of beautiful; and Harrison was no stranger to a killer, though low-key guitar solo.
2. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)”
George Harrison’s guitar skills are quite underrated on this particular track. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” comes from the 1973 release Living In The Material World. It’s a cohesive, high-quality piece of work, both in its lyricism and melody.
At around the two-minute mark, Harrison descends into a guitar solo (complete with twin lines) that is both intricate and addicting to listen to. This writer remembers listening to the song as a kid and rewinding the tape back to hear the solo again and again.
3. “True Love”
“True Love” is one of a few great tunes from the 1976 record Thirty Three & 1/3, which also happened to be Harrison’s debut on Dark Horse Records. It’s an upbeat, delightful, and notably joyful cover of a Cole Porter song from 1956. Harrison was great at covers, especially ones that suited his guitar-playing style. This song is thick with Harrison’s glassy, sleazy Strat tone. It’s a noteworthy song that displays the particular creative energy of late 1970s guitarists.
4. “Learning How To Love You”
“Learning How To Love You” is another great song from Thirty Three & 1/3. It is Harrison at his most creative and detailed. The steel string solo on this track is particularly inventive, as is the overall use of the guitar throughout the jazz-inspired tune.
