George Harrison thought his 1975 album, Additional Texture, was “grubby.” The previous Beatle didn’t take pleasure in his sixth studio album. Granted, the album was not as groundbreaking as his first post-Beatles solo document, All Issues Should Go, nor his second, Residing within the Materials World.
Nevertheless, Additional Texture isn’t as gloomy as George thought.
Through the years, George hardly commented on Additional Texture. Though, he did give some perception into what he thought of his album throughout a 1987 interview with Timothy White at Musician Journal. George referred to as the album “grubby.”
“The production left a lot to be desired, as did my performance,” George stated. “I used to be in an actual down place. Some songs I like, but on reflection I wasn’t very pleased about it. ‘Grey Cloudy Lies’ described clouds of gloom that used to come back down on me. An issue I had.
“I’ve found over the years that I’m more about to keep them away, and am quite a happy person now.”
George had quite a bit to be gloomy about throughout the recording of Additional Texture. For example, “This Guitar (Can’t Keep From Crying)” happened as a result of of the press’ harsh criticism of his 1974 solo tour of America. They bashed George, who selected to carry out obscure songs and had a foul case of laryngitis.
With solely three post-Beatles solo albums to his identify, George was additionally beginning to get sick of the music trade. Plus, his first marriage to Pattie Boyd lately crumbled.
He wrote “World of Stone,” “Grey Cloudy Lies,” and “Can’t Stop Thinking About You” in 1973 and will’ve aimed the latter at Boyd. The interval was darkish for George. Fortunately, he met his second spouse, Olivia, in 1974. In 1979, George informed Rolling Stone that he felt like he had virtually no voice and no physique earlier than assembly her.
No matter George felt in 1975, although, Additional Texture is something but gloomy or grubby. It’s soulful.
George is soulful on ‘Extra Texture’
It’s true; Additional Texture is in contrast to any of George’s different albums. After releasing three albums with largely rock and people songs, followers will need to have been confused after they heard the album. Nevertheless, it’s not gloomy; it’s soulful.
On George’s website, his widow, Olivia, calls the album “moody.” She wrote, “The songs on Additional Texture are as introspective as any of George’s albums. The primary observe is what he would name a pop track and the final track is an eccentric homage to Bonzo Canine ‘Legs’ Larry Smith.
“But in between are tracks with strong melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. They are moody and personal and some of my favourites.”
Whereas Bob Dylan and a few of George’s rock idols impressed All Issues Should Go, one of George’s different inspirations clearly made him diverge from his typical type, Smokey Robinson. What’s the very best type of music to hearken to after a breakup and through an particularly grueling time? R&B and soul do the trick. Plus, George positively adored Robinson’s music.
Throughout a press convention in 1974 (per George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters), George stated he had a onerous time liking standard music but beloved Robinson.
“Smokey Robinson, I’m madly in love with Smokey Robinson,” George stated.
In a 1975 interview with WNEW-FM’s Dave Herman, George stated Robinson’s music made him really feel good, not uptight like different music.
“I’m a big fan of Smokey Robinson just because musically he is so sweet, he makes you feel nice, he makes me feel good, whereas a lot of music I listen to, which is popular music, just makes me uptight.”
It’s onerous to mistake the Motown influences on “You.” “Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You)” might’ve been a Robinson track. Plus, the album may be very keyboard-heavy, making some ballads really feel like church songs. Though Additional Texture is void of spiritual lyrics, spirituality lurks deep down.
The album is religious
Since George grew to become religious within the mid-Sixties, he added spiritual themes to his songs. There’s The Beatles’ “Within You Without You,” “Long Long Long,” and his solo hits like “My Sweet Lord” and “Awaiting on You All.”
None of the songs on Additional Texture ooze faith, but the album is spiritual deep down. George believed that one confirmed their love of God by loving somebody wholeheartedly. Most of the songs on Additional Texture are love songs geared toward somebody, but possibly they’re about God.
In the meantime, in “The Answer’s at the End,” George sings, “Life is one long enigma, my friend/ So read on, read on, the answer’s at the end.” He may very well be singing that one will discover the solutions they’re in search of after they go away the fabric world.
George was religious in all the pieces he did, so it’s onerous to think about he wouldn’t have added refined spiritual tones and double meanings in Additional Texture. The album was completely different than something he ever did, but it wasn’t that completely different.