THE MAKING OF ALL THINGS MUST PASS

A day-by-day account of the recording of George Harrison’s epic first solo album as it sees a 50th anniversary remix and deluxe edition release.

- Matt Hurwitz

GEORGE HARRISON HAD A stockpile—fantastic compositions overlooked by his bandmates over the years, along with some written more recently following The Beatles’ official breakup. The band’s final album release, Let It Be, came on May 8, 1970. But by that time, George had already put the ball in motion to begin recording his first true solo album later that month: All Things Must Pass, a triple-album set released in November that year. The album featured 17 new songs, along with a bonus disc of jams recorded mostly during the sessions, Apple Jam.

ATMP's 50th anniversary is now being feted with a suite of new special editions, which include a brand-new remix from the original multitrack tapes by Grammy-winning engineer Paul Hicks and executive-produced by George’s son, Dhani Harrison. The special editions feature everything from 2-CD to 5-disc sets (as well as multiple-disc vinyl pressings) containing not only Hicks’s new remixes, but George’s demos (described below), outtakes, and a Blu-ray disc with 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos mixes. There’s even an “Uber Deluxe” set packaged in a beautifully crafted wooden crate containing all of the vinyl and CD/Blu-ray sets plus an All Things Must Pass scrapbook curated by Olivia Harrison (which also appears in other deluxe sets) with George’s lyrics, tape box images, and more. The Uber set also includes a “Making of All Things Must Pass” volume, a set of replica garden gnomes (as featured on the LP’s cover), and a limited-edition lithograph by bassist Klaus Voormann, who played on the album. (For details, visit www.georgeharrison.com.)

The Right Staff