"Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison" to be released on June 16

Order "Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison" from Amazon.com.

"Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison" to be released on June 16: Comments continue

Update (6/21/09)

In an interview with Spinner, Olivia Harrison talks more about "Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison," saying she originally wanted the set to be two discs. "Everyone was fighting and pushing and pulling. Dhani had a list, of course, and he was, "No, you can't have this; you gotta have this." Then the record company has ideas ... I had a two-CD set; we really honed it down [to one] ... We tried to pick something from every era." She also says "Dark Horse" will be remastered and the quote attributed to Dhani Harrison about unreleased music in "The Beatles: Rock Band" may be inaccurate.

Update (6/19/09)

If you've been wondering about recording information for the "Isn't It a Pity" demo, all we could find out from a source was it is from 1969, which, of course, possibly ties in with Mark Lewisohn's entry. Then it's a Beatles entry, we asked? No, a George Harrison one, our source said. And there's also no discussion at present about making the song available separately.

Update (6/18/09)

In an interview with the UK Herald, Olivia Harrison admits she was the reason "Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison" happened. "I instigated this one, and I consulted lots of friends and family until it was just the problem of diversity. Everyone had a different list, and at some point I just had to draw the line," she told the paper. She also wishes, though, there was more to it. "It should have been twice this. To me it's missing huge chunks. It had started out as a larger collection, but for now this is the right thing to do. It's a great way for people to get reacquainted with George's music and a place to start for those who don't know it. It goes through all the phases of his life."

Update (6/17/09)

All of our Beatles Examiner posts Tuesday had to do with the addition of an unreleased demo of "Isn't It a Pity" to the iTunes version of the album. The track is not available separately, only by purchasing the album. Which seems unfair, especially for those who have bought the hard CD. Here are the posts:

Beatles Examiner: Beatle news briefs: Isn't it a pity or isn't it a shame?

Beatles Examiner: Walmart will have "Let It Roll" in stores, says company, EMI

Beatles Examiner: New 'Isn't It a Pity' demo is stark, gorgeous, but $12.99 is a lot to pay

Beatles Examiner: EMI issues official announcement of added demo to iTunes version of new Harrison CD

Update (5/23/09)

More comments on "Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison." They support our comments that the CD is not a greatest hits collection. It is, as it's titled, songs by George Harrison. First, from Dennis Mitchell, host of 'Dennis Mitchell's 'Breakfast With the Beatles'":

I got my advance, too. I like the fact that they're not in chronological order or presented in an "anthology-like" format. Always like a fresh approach to the familiar, and these tracks are fun to listen to in this order, not to mention how good they sound. Will be featuring on BWTB as soon as I can work some of them in.

And from Matt Hurwitz:

At first, after seeing the track list announced several weeks ago, I felt that for a "best of," it seemed to be missing a few of my favorite tracks from George's career. It wasn't until listening to the disc that I realized what this album is - it's not a "best of," but something totally different. As I listened to the CD, I found it really to be more of an introduction to George the artist, rather a collection of Harrison hits. If you put it on and have a listen, it more takes you through George's musical psyche than the way a track-by-track set of hit singles would. I was pleasantly surprised, song after song, what a cool George experience this album gives you.

Update (5/21/09)

We previewed the new CD "Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison" on Wednesday. The track listing was as expected. You can find our impressions on it on Examiner.com. By the way, "The Best of George Harrison" will still remain in print. (Thanks to Capitol Records and Matt Hurwitz for the word.)

Update (5/8/09)

HwyCDRev posted a new blog with comments on the tracklist.

Update (5/6/09)

The final track list for "Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison" was released Tuesday. We have the scoop here. We have mixed feelings about this. We wish it was more than a single disc, but when you think about it, this is like George's version of "One." Maybe it'll inaugurate a few people into George's music.

Update (5/2/09)

The debate over the not-final track listings for "Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison" continues to blaze. Comments continue to come in to the two columns we posted (here and here). Plus, there are several threads in the Just George section of the George Harrison.com message board (here, here and here, to name three and there are others). There's very little satisfaction with the two early track listings. No indication on when the final track list will be announced.

(5/1/09)

The comments continue to come in on our post with the Amazon.com George Harrison CD track list and the followup with the Tower Records Japan list that's a bit different. We got a lengthy note from Beatlefan/Beatle Brunch's Tom Frangione. Here's an excerpt:

It's high time for EMI to celebrate George's rich catalog with a meaningful retrospective. Sure, all the hits should be there, but inasmuch as George was not a "singles" artist, the examination should dig considerably deeper. This is to say nothing of the LONG overdue and much talked about rarities / archival box set. George's music - and his fans - deserve better.

(Tom's full comment is in the comments section of our followup column.)

(4/30/2009) We published a track listing Wednesday on Examiner.com from a listing (with artwork) on Amazon.com. We learned from a spokesman at Capitol/EMI that the listing was not final. The track listing provoked a lot of discussion because it was only one disc.

We later found a second and slightly different track listing that came from Tower Records website in Japan. We'll see what happens from here on out. (We'd be interested in your comments. Please leave them in the comment section on the Examiner site.)

(4/14/2009)

Here's the press release for the new CD:

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 14 CA-Capitol-EMI-George CD and Digital Collection Features Harrison's Solo Hits, Remastered, Plus Live Recordings from 1971 Concert For Bangladesh George Harrison Honored Today with Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Presentation
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 14 -- As music legend George Harrison is celebrated today with a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Capitol/EMI announces Harrison's first ever career-spanning solo hits collection, "Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison." To be released June 16, the new title will feature digitally remastered tracks in deluxe packaging, including an extensive booklet featuring previously unseen and rare photos. The collection will also be available for download from all major digital service providers.
"Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison" is the first release that will span his entire solo recording career, including the #1 Billboard Pop singles "My Sweet Lord," "Isn't It A Pity," "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)," and "Got My Mind Set On You." The new title will also feature live recordings of three Harrison-penned Beatles songs, "Something," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and "Here Comes The Sun" from his 1971 all-star Concert For Bangladesh benefit at Madison Square Garden. The complete track list will soon be announced.
George Harrison is a twice-inducted member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a solo artist and as a member of The Beatles, and an 11-time Grammy Award winner for his recordings with The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys and as a solo artist.
www.georgeharrison.com
Source: Capitol/EMI.

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