WHY GEORGE MATTERED

Today sees the release of George Harrison's back catalogue (the Dark Horse Years) on CD. It's fair to say that none of his major work is here, though there are good songs on all of the albums I've heard.

Though he was not the best musician nor the most outspoken member of the Beatles, George actually - unintentionally -changed the culture. When he began his personal "Journey to the East" by asking Ravi Shankar for sitar lessons, he became the most celebrated Western figure up to then to have shown an interest in Eastern music and philosophy. And within a few months of a sitar appearing on Norwegian Wood, one of the key themes of the late 60s counter-culture really got going.

On the collage cover of the Wonderwall album, a missing brick in the wall might just allow the grim City gent in his bowler hat to hear the music and laughter of the Indian girls' dance on the other side of the wall.

Now, decades later, you can find yoga and tai chi classes in every drab suburb, as well as festivals and radio stations given over to "world" music (a dubious term, if you think about it.) A stream of ideas from the East continues to fertilise a spiritually barren West.

Are there any musicians today who can wield such an influence?

Recommended Dark Horse albums: George Harrsion, Gone Troppo


the George Harrison official website