My Sweet Lord - Citizendia

"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatle lead guitarist, the late George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author All Things Must Pass is a Triple album by George Harrison recorded and released after the break-up of The Beatles. A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s The United States of America —commonly referred to as the " What Is Life " is a Riff-driven song by George Harrison and is the first track on side two of his 1970 solo Album All Things Must The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. A gramophone A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing Harvey Philip Spector (born December 26 1940) is an American Record producer and Songwriter. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author " What Is Life " is a Riff-driven song by George Harrison and is the first track on side two of his 1970 solo Album All Things Must George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author " Cheer Down " is a song with music written by George Harrison and lyrics written by Harrison and Tom Petty. " Any Road " is a song by George Harrison and is the opening track to his posthumous Album Brainwashed. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author All Things Must Pass is a Triple album by George Harrison recorded and released after the break-up of The Beatles. Session musicians on the track included Eric Clapton. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer The song is primarily about God, and features repetitions of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, the preserving deva in Hinduism. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is ranked #454 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published

1 Writing and recording
2 Single release
3 Legal controversy
4 Vaisnava prayers
5 Other versions
6 Notes
7 External links

Writing and recording

The song was originally intended for Billy Preston, who had a minor hit with it in early 1970, in his album Encouraging Words. William Everett Preston ( September 2 1946 – June 6 2006) was an American Soul musician from Houston Texas, Encouraging Words is an Album by Billy Preston released in 1970 It was written in December 1969, when Harrison and Billy Preston were in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The recording of the song took place in London. Preston was the principal musician while Harrison was engineering the sessions. The drumming was performed by Alan White, now better known for his long association with Yes. Alan White (born 14 June 1949 is an English Rock and roll Drummer best known for his 34 years of work with the Progressive rock band Yes are an English Progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968. White was introduced to Harrison by John Lennon, after he had worked with the Plastic Ono Band and on Lennon's second solo album, Imagine. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born The Plastic Ono Band was a conceptual supergroup formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969 before the dissolution of The Beatles. Imagine is John Lennon 's second solo Album and is considered the most popular of his solo works

Single release

When released as a single, "My Sweet Lord" topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. In October, 1970, Harrison told the British press that it was going to be his first solo single, but a few days later he changed his mind and said it would not be made available thus, as he did not want sales in that format to detract from those of the album. (The other three former Beatles had also released solo albums earlier that year, without releasing a single in Britain from any of them). It was released as a single in the US on 23 November 1970. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Within a few weeks, EMI and Apple Records bowed to media and public demand, and the UK release followed on 15 January 1971. The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar.

Entering the British charts in the first week at No. 7 and then hitting the summit for five weeks, it was the first single by an ex-Beatle to reach No. 1. It did so again in the UK when reissued in January 2002 after Harrison's death from cancer. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It also reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 26, 1970. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

In Britain, the original single was officially a double-A Side with "What Is Life", so both sides had a full Apple label. In the US it was paired with "Isn't It a Pity", which was not included on the 2002 re-release. The latter, on CD only, included "My Sweet Lord (2000)" and "Let It Down" as additional tracks.

Legal controversy

Following the song's release, musical similarities between "My Sweet Lord" and The Chiffons' hit "He's So Fine" led to a lengthy legal battle over the rights to the composition. The Chiffons was an all Girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960. " He's So Fine " is a 1963 song written by Ronald Mack and recorded by girl-group The Chiffons. Billboard magazine, in an article dated 6 March 1971, stated that Harrison's royalty payments from the recording had been halted worldwide. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Royalties (sometimes running royalties) are usage-based payments made by one party (the "licensee" to another (the "licensor" for ongoing use of an Harrison stated that he was inspired to write "My Sweet Lord" after hearing the Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day". Edwin Hawkins (born 18 August 1943, Oakland, California) is a Grammy Award -winning American gospel and "Oh Happy Day" is a 1967 Gospel music Arrangement of an 18th century Hymn.

In the U. S. federal court decision in the case, known as Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music,^[1] Harrison was found to have unintentionally copied the earlier song. Cryptomnesia, or inadvertent plagiarism is a Memory bias whereby a person falsely recalls generating a thought an idea a song or a joke when the thought was actually generated He was ordered to surrender the majority of royalties from "My Sweet Lord" and partial royalties from All Things Must Pass. Former manager Allen Klein, who earlier had supported Harrison's case, became the owner of Bright Tunes, after they parted ways. Allen Klein (born December 18, 1931) is a controversial American businessman and record label executive In the long run this worked against Klein, but it resulted in the case continuing for years in court.

The Chiffons would later record "My Sweet Lord" to capitalize on the publicity generated by the lawsuit.

Shortly thereafter, Harrison (who would eventually buy the rights to "He's So Fine")^[2] wrote and recorded a song about the court case named "This Song", which includes "This song, there's nothing 'Bright' about it. " This Song " is the fourth track on George Harrison 's 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3. " "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Rescue Me" are also mentioned in the record. " I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch " is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label later re-recorded by American singer " Rescue Me " is a song written by Raynard Miner and Carl Smith

Vaisnava prayers

Early in the song, the background singers repeat the Christian and Jewish word of praise, "Hallelujah". Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Hallelujah, Halleluyah, or Alleluia, is a Transliteration of the Hebrew word he הַלְלוּיָהּ ( Standard Later, the background singers chant two Vaisnava 'Hindu' prayers:

Hare Krishna/Hare Krishna/Krishna Krishna/Hare Hare/Hare Rama/Hare Rama

This prayer consists of part of the principal mantra of devotees of the Gaudiya Vaisnavite faith, popularised in the Western world by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), colloquially known as the 'Hare Krishnas'. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The Hare Krishna Mantra, also referred to reverentially as the Maha Mantra ("Great Mantra" is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra made well Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language Gaudiya Vaishnavism (also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism) is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 in India The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups Harrison was a devotee of this religious path.

The mantra in full is "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare. "

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu/Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha/Gurur Saakshat Para Brahma/Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha

This prayer is chanted by Hindu devotees prior to beginning any action. A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is typically used when the devotee is not recognizing any guru in particular but to the Creator in general (as opposed to specific avatars of the Creator). In Harrison's case the Supreme Creator is recognised as Krishna. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism

Gurur Brahmā, gurur Viṣṇur, gurur devo Maheśvaraḥ
gurus sākṣāt paraṃ Brahma, tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ

This prayer is chanted by Hindu devotees prior to beginning any action, after hymns to Ganesha and Sarasvati. Ganesha ( Sanskrit: sa गणेश Gaṇeśa) also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar Saraswati (pronounced as; Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati Thai: สุรัสวดี is the The prayer is dedicated to the spiritual teacher of the devotee which is equalled with the Hindu Trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (Maheshvara) and with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit or Absolute Reality (Brahman). Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. The prayer translates as:

The teacher is Brahmā, the teacher is Viṣṇu, the teacher is the Lord Maheśvara, Verily the teacher is the supreme Brahman, to that respected teacher I bow down.

The prayer is the first verse of the Guru stotram, a fourteen verse hymn dedicated to the spiritual teacher. ^[3]

Other versions

Peggy Lee recorded the song in April 1971 for her album Where Did They Go?, released that year by Capitol Records. Peggy Lee ( May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American Jazz and popular music singer and Songwriter April holidays and events National Poetry Month - in United States National Sexual Assault Awareness Month - in United Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as Lee's version was arranged by Don Sebesky. Don Sebesky (b Dec 10 1937 Perth Amboy, New Jersey) is an American Jazz trombonist and arranger It was released on CD in 2008. ^[4]

In 1972, pianist and singer-songwriter Nina Simone performed a 18-minute version of "My Sweet Lord" at Fort Dix before a group of black soldiers (recorded on Emergency Ward). Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known by her Stage name Nina Simone ( IPA: ninɐ sʌmɞnɑ (February 21 1933 – April 21 2003 was a fifteen-time Fort Dix is a United States Army installation located in parts of New Hanover Township, Pemberton Emergency Ward is the title of an album released by Nina Simone. She mingled the song with the David Nelson poem "Today is a killer", in which at the end God is accused of being a killer, giving the otherwise exuberant atmosphere of the performance an apocalyptic ending. David Nelson may refer to David Nelson (British Army officer, an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross David Nelson (actor, an American God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. No references to Krishna were used.

Soul singer John Gary Williams covered the song for Stax-Volt.

When All Things Must Pass was re-issued for its thirtieth anniversary in 2000, Harrison recorded a new version of the song as a bonus track, sharing vocals with Sam Brown. Sam Brown (born Samantha Brown, 7 October 1964, Stratford London, England) is an English female Singer-songwriter

After Harrison's death, at the tribute Concert for George in November 2002, the song was performed by Preston, with Sam Brown joining on background vocals. The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first Sam Brown may refer to Sam Brown (singer (born 1964 singer/songwriter daughter of the singer Joe Brown Sam Brown (artist, artist

Rilo Kiley's song "Silver Lining" has a guitar riff which is structurally similar to "My Sweet Lord".

Notes

^ 420 F. Supp. 177 (SDNY 1976). http://www.columbia.edu/ccnmtl/projects/law/library/cases/case_brightharrisongs.html
^ Huntley, Elliot J. (2004). Mystical One: George Harrison: After the Breakup of the Beatles. Guernica Editions Inc. Guernica Editions is a Canadian independent publisher established in Montreal, Quebec, in 1978, specializing in Canadian literature, poetry and ISBN 1-55071-197-0
^ Hymns and Prayers to Gods and Godesses, Advaita Ashrama, 2005, Compiled by Swami Pavitrananda.
^ Iván Santiago, Peggy Lee Discography and Videography http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Lee/capitolee2c.html

External links

Preceded by The Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles	Billboard Hot 100 number one single December 26, 1970	Succeeded by Knock Three Times by Dawn
Preceded by Grandad by Clive Dunn	UK number one single January 30, 1971 - March 5, 1971	Succeeded by Baby Jump by Mungo Jerry
Preceded by More Than a Woman by Aaliyah	UK number one single January 20, 2002 - January 26, 2002	Succeeded by Hero by Enrique Iglesias

"The Tears of a Clown" is a 1967 song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla ( Motown) label originally released on the 1967 album The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable Pre-Hot 100 era 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. " Knock Three Times " is a Popular song recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn. Tony Orlando and Dawn (originally known as Dawn, and later as Dawn featuring Tony Orlando) is a Pop music group that was popular in the 1970s "Grandad" is a popular song by Clive Dunn. While starring in the long running BBC Situation comedy Dad's Army, Dunn Clive Robert Dunn OBE (born 9 This is a list of the number one hits in the UK Singles Chart, from its inception in 1952 to the present Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Baby Jump is a popular song by Mungo Jerry. Written by the group's lead vocalist and guitarist Ray Dorset and produced by Barry Murray it was the band's Mungo Jerry are an English folk/classic rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16 1979 – August 25 2001 better known as Aaliyah (əˈliːə was a Grammy -nominated American Singer This is a list of the number one hits in the UK Singles Chart, from its inception in 1952 to the present Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. " Hero " is a single released by Enrique Iglesias from his second English album Escape. Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born 8 May 1975 is a Spanish pop Singer-songwriter and Model.

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