More songs on the Come and Get It: The Best of Apple Records, released in 2010.
“Launched by The Beatles in 1968, Apple served as the new outlet for their own recordings as well as the music of an eclectic roster of artists who were all personally brought to the label by The Beatles (individually and/or collectively).
“In the revolutionary spirit of the times, Apple’s utopian artist-orientated mission celebrated diversity in a friendly creative environment. The result was a rainbow spectrum of music, from folk, rock, and soul to The Modern Jazz Quartet and the work of contemporary British classical composer John Tavener.”
Come And Get It / Badfinger (1969, written and produced by Paul)
Created for The Magic Christian film starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, the first record issued by The Iveys under their new name. A worldwide hit (#7 US).
Ain’t That Cute / Doris Troy (1970, co-written, with Doris Troy, by George; produced by George)
Soul singer-songwriter had hits before coming to Apple in 1969, and she and George wrote this song from scratch in the studio.
My Sweet Lord / Billy Preston (1970, written by George; co-produced, with Billy Preston, by George)
George gave this to Billy before he had recorded it and released it himself. Billy’s version went only to #90 in the US. Of course, George’s version, which was #1 for four weeks in the US, appeared on his massive All Things Must Pass album.
Try Some Buy Some / Ronnie Spector (1971, written by George; co-produced, with Phil Spector, by George)
George later re-cut it himself for Living In The Material World, using the exact same backing as Ronnie’s single.
Govinda / Radha Krishna Temple (1970, produced by George, who also plays bass and accordion)
‘Govinda’ is a Sanskrit hymn to Krishna, and was a UK Top 30 hit. But if it were released in the US, it never charted.
We’re On Our Way / Chris Hodge (1972) – signed to Apple by Ringo Starr
#44 in the U.S.
Saturday Nite Special / The Sundown Playboys (1971)
A lover’s lament sung in Cajun French. The teenage accordionist sent in the song to Apple on a whim.
God Save Us / Bill Elliot & The Elastic Oz Band (1971, written by John, and Yoko Ono; produced by John, Yoko, Mal Evans, and Phil Spector)
This was a fundraiser for the defense in the famous Oz Obscenity Trial of 1971 Vocalist Bill Elliot later signed to George’s Dark Horse label. A version with John’s vocal shows up on John Lennon Anthology.
Sweet Music / Lon & Derrek Van Eaton(1972, produced by George; Ringo played drums)
One of the last acts to sign to Apple.
Day After Day / Badfinger or HERE (produced by George Harrison)
The band’s third single for Apple. George played a duet with the band’s Pete Ham on the slide guitar solo. It went UK Top 10 in 1972, and peaked at No. 4 Billboard in the US, in the same week that Nilsson’s cover of Badfinger’s ‘Without You’ was at No. 1.
You ever listen to something familiar and hear it anew? I played this album recently, and this final song I realized was absolutely gorgeous.
