Revisiting 'The Best Of Dark Horse 1976-1989' by George Harrison

Following the huge success of his 1987 'comeback' album 'Cloud 9' and the first Traveling Wilburys LP, George Harrison confounded fans' expectations by doing not very much at all....apart from releasing an almost instantly forgotten compilation record showcasing the music he'd released on his own Dark Horse label between 1976 and 1989.
In this video I look back on this slightly uneven but often majestic and beautiful selection of songs, which these days is as rare as hens' teeth.

[@philgascoigne5467]

An interesting video James, thanks for highlighting this album. I think George’s back catalogue has been ill served on the compilation front, even 2009’s ‘Let it Roll’ barely touched on the studio albums released between All Things Must Pass and Cloud Nine. His work deserves a definitive collection, along the lines of Paul’s ‘Wing Span’ and John’s ‘Working Class Hero’ double cd collections, that includes singles, album tracks and rarities that spans his solo career from Wonderwall Music to Brainwashed.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Agreed Phil, I don't think Olivia and Dhani really do a first-rate job with curating George's catalogue. Either that or they're just following whatever instructions he left in his will!

[@frommetoyou1981]

Couldnt agree more James. Great compilation & my first George Harrison cd! As soon as 'Blow away' came on - track 2 i was hooked! There are so many great songs across that run of albums from 75-82, the self titled album is superb to my ears.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks! I like the way you resisted saying you were 'blown away' by hearing Blow Away!

[@timshearn8203]

Great video James. I am lucky enough to have this album on both vinyl (bought at time of release) and CD (found on ebay at reasonable price). I have very fond memories of listening to this as it introduced me to much of George's back catalogue. Poor Little Girl is such a great track and am so glad to have it. Criminal that this track and Lay His Head are nowhere to be seen on albums or streaming. Two of his best in my opinion.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Agreed Tim! By the way, I just managed to find a copy of the CD on ebay!

[@timshearn8203]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic nice one James!

[@patgibbons1011]

Fun look at what was also a Gateway to George for me as well.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Nice one Pat. I think this record probably served that function for a lot of listeners after Cloud 9.

[@grahampratchett8207]

Hi James I've just found this album on vinyl through Discogs. In excellent condition. Great Album

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Nice one Graham. I really must track down a copy. Enjoy!

[@llewellynGS1]

James; I think it’s a shame this album didn’t do well and has been forgotten. In retrospect, maybe it would have been good if George would have done a follow up to cloud nine instead; but it seems he wasn’t interested. I agree with you about all your suggestions for what was missing (except life itself); and perhaps also “when we was fab”.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Llewellyn. Not a fan of 'Life Itself' then? In the Graeme Thompson biography of George, he dismisses it as sounding like a Cliff Richard song!

[@cheerdown87]

Loved your video. Best of Dark Horse was my first CD ever. I had just bought a CD player and will a,ways remember how Poor Little Girl just blew me away, coming out of my old boombox, and it kind of reminded me of Think for Yourself….from there this CD really grabbed me all the way to the spiraling Cheer Down

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Glad you enjoyed it! I had one of those boom boxes too! I have a small portable CD player now, and George is often on it. I picked up the blue Dark Horse CD for a tenner shortly after making this video.

[@robison5396]

I know very little about Georges' career during this period..never listened to many of those albums. My initiation to Georges' solo work was that 1976 Best of comp with his Beatles hits. I first heard ' My Sweet Lord' on that comp ( probably around 1980/ 81??.) I really like Got My Mind Set On You and imo was deservedly a huge hit and like many, probably got me back into his music. It's no surprise to me that George collaborated with Jeff Lynne, as i think his sound most resembles George. Grest video James, I really must give some attention to this period of his career .

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Rob. I'm not sure what you'd think of George's mid seventies work - it's not Roy Harper, put it that way. George's work is best characterised as 'nice' really - and that is meant in a good way! I think he released a lot of things that were a lot better than 'Got My Mind Set On You 'though....check out 'Love Comes To Everyone' from '79. A beautiful sentiment and melody and great keyboard work from the boy Winwood!

[@Bobmacca64]

Hi there, James. Great video. George's discography is still underrated to me, to this day. All Things Must Pass and Living In The Material World seem to get all the attention, and don't get me wrong, these are wonderful albums, with the former being a masterpiece. But the rest of his albums tend to be lost in the mix, which is a shame because you always have at least 4 or 5 classics on every one of them. Anyway, to me, George had the second most interesting solo career after that of Paul. Take care, James!

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Bob, great to hear from you. I agree that the Warners albums tend to get overlooked. George has also been my second-favourite Beatle too!

[@Bobmacca64]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic I mean, we can't deny the quality of Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Walls And Bridges or even half of Double Fantasy, from John Lennon. But unfortunately, because of the jerk of all jerks Mark David Chapman, John only made so many albums. That's why on the whole I think George's output rises above John's. Anyway, keep the great stuff coming and take care, James!

[@matthewmedley8532]

Great video James. Big fan of George’s work. All things must pass,thirty three and a third and cloud 9 especially. Great talent and very consistent.

[@jameswheelock1799]

Glaring omission. This is Love. I remember Wake up my when it came out. Got some early airplay in America but stalled at number 53.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Yes, absolutely should have been on there. Love the video in Hawaii.

[@FatCityVinyl]

Have never seen this compilation or remember it coming out...my first introduction to George would have been the 45 of My Sweet Lord which was one of the very few rock records my dad owned when I was growing up, then discovering the Beatles of course. Cloud Nine came out, blew up and was all over the radio and TV, Devil's Radio, that's a deep cut I had forgotten about, sure I had it taped to cassette off the radio originally - several of the album tracks seemed to get played regularly whether they were singles or not. Then years later getting back into records and finding bits and bobs by George about such as All Things, Concert For Bangladesh and so on. Thirty Three is one I've never picked up, Crackerbox Palace came on the radio a while back when the kids and I were in the car waiting for my wife to do her shopping, I'd never heard it before and I was struck by it, such a good song in the classic George mould. Cheers James!

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

The compilation did seem to 'come and go' somewhat. 'Devil's Radio' was a great song that should have been a single really. The 'Cloud 9' era was indeed the era of home taping - I had a great little home-taped George cassette in the car in '89-90 myself. Cheers Doug!

[@RossGoodallMusic]

Hi James, great look at an overlooked compilation. A few years ago I found a copy on vinyl at a record fair, think it was only £15 so quite a steal! The track list is pretty spot on I think, would have swapped Cloud 9 for This Is Love and maybe Wake Up My Love with something else from that era as the synthy production does jarr especially when put alongside the other songs on this album

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Ross. Since making the video I have finally tracked down the CD! I should have waited...

[@CookieMusic43]

Hi James, a really enjoyable look through the first George Harrison album I ever bought. I agree that it would have been better if Beautiful Girl and Fish on the Sand had been included. I would also shout out Faster and If You Believe. Poor Little Girl I think is brilliant and the best of the three new tracks.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Richard. I wish I'd enthused more about Poor Little Girl as it is really good actually - the tympani rolls in it remind me of 'The Way Life's Meant To Be'!

[@CookieMusic43]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic It does, I never realised that. It's probably why I like it lol

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Jeff probably used them on the song because they'd been so good on the ELO track. He used them yet again going into each chorus of 'You Got It' as well!

[@bazza5699]

you know James, i watch your videos and think 'are we twins???' when i saw the thumbnail i thought oOo that was my first real introduction to george harrisons back catalogue. i remember in 1987, my dad played sgt pepper as it was '20 years ago today' and like everyone I skipped within you without you.. favouring the mccartney songs.. then when I heard Lynne was working with harrison on cloud 9 i went back and played the harrison beatles stuff and started to really appreciate it. after the wilburys vol 1 was released I was hungry for more and the best of darkhorse was such a great mix of old and new songs.. cheer down, poor little girl, really filled a gap until wilburys vol3.. that and mystery girl, full moon fever, armchair theatre and the b-side song zig zag.. which i love so much.. such a productive period for them all.. from memory wasn't when we was fab on best of darkhorse?

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Great stuff Baz, it's good to find a musical twin! I checked the track list on line for Dark Horse and I didn't notice Fab, but I could be mistaken. Happy ending by the way - shortly after making this video, I found a copy of the CD on ebay for a tenner!

[@bazza5699]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic actually after watching your vid i jumped on ebay and saw it for a tenner too, but i've binged on ebay far too much this month, buying old atari st computer games.. so i couldn't justify it. darkhorse is such a great album.. I miss georges cynicism and sarcasm. I remember it was released at the same time the Jeff Lynne compilation album A Message from the Country - The Jeff Lynne Years 1968/1973, which, to me, is a bit of a twin to the Darkhorse album.. similar cover. Equally great introduction to early Lynne/Move and ELO.

[@SteveWhitty1965]

Hi James, I never really delved into George Harrison's solo career despite owning several albums. I found this video to be informative. This comp could do with a reissue.

[@johnheaton5667]

It's an OK album as compilations go....Poor Little Girl is the stand out track for me 'cos it was unreleased and is top tier George for me! cheers

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks John. Yes I undersold Poor Little Girl, it is great.

[@Dan147Danny]

I found the cd (in excellent condition) on ebay for about £15, still reasonably priced if you look hard enough.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Dan...I just found it on ebay for a tenner!

[@Dan147Danny]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic excellent 👌

[@gorvo31]

Hey James, Good to catch up and hear of your history with this. I still haven't heard nearly enough solo George, so here's further incentive. What from this period would you recommend to me personally the most? By the way, I finally got hold of your Queen book and enjoying it very much! Reading it in the evenings and savoring it slowly. 🙂Hope all's well your way across the pond. -Carm

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Great to hear from you Carm, and so grateful that you have invested in my Queen book! I hope it is proving enjoyable. My George recommendation for you is the self-titled album from 1979 as it is very gentle and light with some lovely keyboard work throughout by Steve Winwood. I think you would enjoy it. Take care, speak soon!

[@derekroberts6654]

Out of all the compilations George had, this is the best! I only wish Volume 1 was like this starting from 1970-1976 (33&1/rd” had one more single than “Crackerbox Palace”)

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Agree Derek, easily the best George comp.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

How could anyone forget "This Song".

[@TonyMaronie]

This album was also my introduction to George Harrisons music when i was lucky enough, just by chance, to pick up a vinyl copy back in the early 90s at a second hand market stall. I wasn't looking for it at the time and i didn't even know that album existed but it intrigued me enough at the time to buy it at a very reasonable price of just a few mere pounds if that! It looked like the album had hardly been played as well. I feel quite privileged therefore when you say its hard to get a vinyl copy of this album! I am just playing it now after many years and its still in very good condition. Its the only vinyl album of George Harrisons that i have got actually. The rest are on CD although i haven't got every single of his albums to be fair. I do intend to get them all though eventually. I feel it was a shame he never did a follow up album to Cloud 9 because he was in hot form judging by the follow up songs on this album and of course with the Travelling Wilburys.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Tony...don't forget there was Brainwashed after Cloud 9!

[@Suburbangeek]

Lots of good stuff on this one.

[@dixielandfarm]

I never picked up this comp, but remember seeing it on CD all the time. I remember a lot of the singles of this time, and this would also scratch the itch I have for them since I stayed away from the LPs knowing the can be dodgy.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

I love all George's albums subjectively, but objectively they are patchy. Keep meaning to do a rankings video...

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

Hey James. This was a comp I bought on tape around the time it came out. This remains my only real exploration of Harrison's music. It's interesting to note that McCartney's All The Best came out in 1987, the soundtrack compilation which accompanied the John Lennon documentary Imagine was released a year later in 1988 and The Best Of The Dark Horse Years arrived in 1989. I had all three, and like the Harrison comp, they were my starting point for all of the ex Beatles. Apparently Ringo released a second "Best of" volume in 1989, but it was a US only thing. What was it about that point in time which led to all four Beatles releasing comps? Did McCartney set the ball rolling?

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Hedley...interesting. I think it's extremely unlikely that any of the three surviving Beatles would have been coordinating greatest hits comps at around this time, mired as they still were in business troubles. In George's case I think it was his way of not having to come up with a follow-up to Cloud 9 which he couldn't face doing after having been forced to whore himself across the world's media for months selling it. From a business sense it didn't really add up in the end though as it was a flop and basically consigned George to oblivion for the rest of his career!

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

​@@jamesgriffithsmusicIt might well have been a flop, but it must've done better than Ringo's comp. It only saw a US release, died without trace and was deleted shortly after.

[@crungefactory]

⁠oblivion? Hardly. Traveling Wilbury's were HUGE. Millions of albums sold.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

I meant oblivion (by his own self-choosing) as a solo artist. He didn't do another solo record after Cloud 9 (in his life-time).

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Yes Ringo's career had died a commercial death some years before!

[@stevecarlsonvinylcommunity9147]

Nice overview James, I am in with the masses that bought Cloud 9 and then moved on to something else. As always you add a lot of nice little stories to bring the albums to life

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Steve...it is helpful to move on sometimes.

[@jasonardler8373]

Agree, this is a pretty good compilation. I remember buying it on vinyl on release and played it on high rotation primarily for the 3 new tracks, which appear largely forgotten now. I agree 33 1/3 is unforgivably underrepresented and I would have preferred This Is Love over Cloud 9. My only other quibble was the absence of I Don’t Want to Do It which I otherwise only had as a 7”.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks Jason.

[@johnsreviewsofmovies6289]

thanks for this - i historically have just dabbed with harrison solo work - his best songs are 5star but a whole album has always led me to a feeling that too much sameness - all things must pass yeh strong start but... also james i am still having problems with youtube about notifications so i'll leave you links to my last 2 uploads - no pressure to watch of course - just want you to know they exist 1968 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWvdahsgryEhZI top 10 ranking video and Taking My Time Bonnie Raitt kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHLLXqKGnZeioZI happy new year

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks John. Yeah George could be a bit samey for sure. Thanks for your links.

[@6758pasi]

I bought this comp. in the early 90's and it was my introduction to George's solo stuff except for Cloud Nine.I thought it was really good record. To be a bit more precise i had heard Gone Troppo and disliked it. I think your assessment of his songs being a bit samey was the reason along with Gone Troppo and never hearing anything positive about his solo albums except for All Things Must Pass that i didn't buy more than ATMP and Living In The Material World. It really took me many many years before i bought self titled and even more later 33 1/3 which i do like both. Over all i have to say i don't see George's solo career as a master example of a great record making. He made great and he made good, but i think he made too many just okay albums to be seen as a great album legacy. I doubt there's any reason to expect a reissue for it since compilations aren't usually reissued, but replaced with another. I could foresee another compilation with maybe more tracks, but this particular i don't see being reissued. Pasi

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Pasi. Agreed, I think George's Dark Horse years in the main are characterised by albums with great tracks on them rather than 'great albums'.

[@trevordixon1427]

Cd has more tracks