Another unreleased George Harrison track hits internet

consequenceofsound.net
Listen to an alternate version of George Harrison’s “The Inner Light”
BY CHRIS COPLANON
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Next week, the first six solo albums from George Harrison will be released as a deluxe box set. Spanning eight discs, George Harrison: The Apple Years 1968-1975 features the newly remastered LPs accompanied by a bevy of unreleased live recordings and various demos and outtakes. Already the Harrison estate has shared a demo version of 1974’s “Dark Horse”; now, its unveiled a previously unreleased alternate take of “The Inner Light”.

The original version of “The Inner Light” was actually recorded by The Beatles, and served as the B-side to 1968’s “Lady Madonna” 7-inch. While in Mumbai that same year working on his debut solo release — the soundtrack to the film Wonderwall — Harrison gathered a group of Indian musicians to tackle an instrumental version.

This alternate version is still just as lithe and majestic as the eventual final product, but because it lacks Harrison’s folksy vocals, it seems to more readily embrace the traditions of purer Indian raga. Listen in below .


George Harrison: The Apple Years 1968-1975 is due out September 23rd via Capitol Records. Pre-orders are ongoing.

In addition to the throngs of archival material, the set includes a DVD of several video features, notably a short film by Harrison’s widow Olivia, and a book of essays and unpublished photos. Other standout tracks include a previously-unreleased alternate take of the previously-unreleased “Almost Shankara”, the CD debut of “I Don’t Care Anymore”, and much more.

The box set isn’t the only Harrison tribute in the works. During the week of September 22nd – 25th, artists such as Beck, Norah Jones, and Harrison’s son, Dhani, will appear on Conan to perform songs from Harrison’s solo catalog. Then, on September 28th, an all-star tribute concert will take place at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre featuring The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd, Spoon’s Britt Daniel, Brian Wilson, “Weird” Al Yankovic, and many more.