George Harrison--All Those Years Ago (1981)

     Over the years there has been many songs written either referencing or directly dealing with John Lennon. After his shocking death in December of 1980, the musical world attempted to come to grips with his legacy. There are several song that stand out, the first (and in my mind the best) was Elton John's "Empty Garden" off of the 1982 album, "Jump Up". Paul McCartney came in with "Here Today" from his album, "Tug of War", and this song by George Harrison.
     Of the three songs mentioned, this was the first one released ("Here Today" was never released as a single). George had written a song for Ringo, but Starr never cared much for it because it was a bit high in pitch for the drummer. Harrison took the song back and in the meantime, when Lennon died, he put new lyrics to song. He took Ringo's voice off of the song, but kept his drumming track, then invited Paul and Linda McCartney with former Wings member Denny Lane to come and provide backing vocals.
     At the time the single was released, some critics found it a bit trite because of the bouncy music, but lyrically it spoke of George's loss. With it's release in May of 1981 it was the first of many tributes to the fallen Beatle. It was the third of four top five hits for Harrison who would not be heard from on the American charts again until 1987's, "Got My Mind Set On You"

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Paul/Linda McCartney--Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (1971)

     It's hard to imagine now the atomic blast that was the break-up of the Beatles. Although not a true fan of their music at the time (or anyone elses), I distinctly remember at the age of 9 hearing about the breakup. Having been a rabid fan over the years since, reading as many accounts as I could get my hands on, it's sad that something so totally unmusical caused the break up, at the same time it being so inevitable. Those first few years afterward the microscope on their lives was as intense as ever, as each of them dealt with it in totally different (and predictable) ways. 

     Many of the fans were looking for outside sources to blame for the breakup. Yoko took heaps of abuse for her perceived role, in a lesser way Linda did as well. However, the press seemed to take dead aim at Paul. Maybe it was because he was the first one to "officially" leave, this despite the Ringo and George quitting for brief periods of time and John being begged not to break the band up during a time where a new record deal was being negotiated. His leaving, along with leaving behind a debut album that was as much therapy session as it was album gave many in the media a boatload of reason to take dead aim at Paul AND Linda.  

     The album, "McCartney" came across then (as now) as a lot of unfinished ideas and one brilliant song (Maybe I'm Amazed). It wasn't bad at all, it just seemed so un-Paul like that it was jarring in it's own way. The second album which was much more filled out, included Linda on some of the background vocals. It also gave more of a template (for better or worse) of the kind of music that Paul was to make over the next decade. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey according to McCartney was based on an uncle of his while Admiral Halsey was built on a real General, William Halsey Jr who fought in the Pacific theater during World War 2.

     The album, "Ram" had mixed reviews at the time, but over the last 40 years has aged well. The single was his first of seven #1 hits in the decade (in the US), and at least for me, one of his most creative....

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