Beatles ’73 pt5

Nearly three years had passed since George Harrison's mammoth opus All Things Must Pass burned up the charts and cemented the quiet Beatle as one of the premiere voices of 1970's rock and roll. In the summer months of 1973, a follow-up at last arrived in the form of the ambitious, eclectic and (some would say) righteous new LP titled Living In the Material World. Once again, Harrison's hooky licks and serene lyrical imagery shot right to the top of the charts, helped in part by the corresponding #1 single Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth), which dethroned the reigning #1 record, McCartney's Red Rose Speedway. Unlike the power-pop singalong songs from Red Rose, Material World focused on matters of the spirit and the burdens of corporeal life in a record that, even though successful, turned many fans and critics off with its preachiness. Scathing digs at former bandmate McCartney scorched through tracks like Sue Me, Sue You Blues and Miss O'Dell, in addition to the open mockery of the Wings Fun Club on its back cover. George had a bone to pick, and pick he did at just about everything wrong with humanity from his vantage point. This record marked a new era for Harrison, one which would alienate many fans, while the target of his ire, McCartney, would go on to score hit after hit despite the attacks. In fact, McCartney's next hit single ALSO debuted in those dog days of summer, as a certain secret agent would be forced to Live And Let Die...