I know the critics will never agree but I’ve always loved this album for its sarcastic feel, sad-ish songs disguised as happy tracks. Like teardrops, unconsciousness rules, save the world, and even the big hit all those years ago
I love "That Which I have Lost", a catchy melody with playful twangy country style guitar picking...kind of an earworm. Never quite understood why it does not register more with GH fans.
My darkest secret is that Teardrops is one of my favorite George songs. For some reason when I tell people that they assume I’m not a “real” Harrison fan 😐😂
Lay His Head is a lovely song. I certainly do not understand its omission, as it is my favourite of the lot. It turned up later as the B-side to Got My Mind Set On You.
Sat Singing is a great song and spiritually uplifting for me. I have a joy of eastern philosophy that I can feel within the composition and melody. However, most of the rest is forgettable and really I am a devout and fanatical George Harrison fan so saying it...it don’t come easy!
Interesting video. "Blood From a Clone" isn't one of George's greatest solo songs, but I think it works well as an opening track. And yes, "Teardrops" is a nice guilty pleasure. If I had been a WB executive, I would've voted for this as the track order. Cheers! 1. Blood From a Clone 2. Writing's on the Wall 3. Flying Hour 4. Lay His Head 5. All Those Years Ago 6. Teardrops 7. Sat Singing 8. That Which I Have Lost 9. Life Itself 10. Baltimore Oriole
I will always defend the Dark Horse and even Extra Texture, but really cannot get into George's early 80's music. He produced some great movies during this time though
It’s important to realize this was the first solo Beatles album after John’s death. So there’s gonna be some sadddish philosophical songs besides of course “All Those Years Ago”
Not necessarily. Most of this material was recorded before John's death. The record company only demanded 4 new tunes, of which "All Those Years Ago" was one of them.
i guess i was thinking more of the impact it must’ve made to fans after suddenly losing John Lennon in such a horrific way. it seemed Paul’s “Tug Of War” got a better reception maybe because Paul actually wrote songs with John and not just being in the Beatles with him.
Revisiting Somewhere in England after finally sitting down and listening to the rejected version. I have to say I kinda liked the production and feel of the album than the bright and cheery official release, which I owned all those years ago already (pun intended). Of course All Those Years Ago wouldn't have happened if the original album was released but I'm sure in Beatles tradition, if George ever decide to rewrite a for-Ringo tune into a tribute to John, it would be released as a single only. Screw Teardrops, Blood from a Clone. I'd rather have those Hoagy tunes over those. If there's any consolation, I wouldn't have stumbled unto your channel had it not been for this album.
I love baltimore oriole......its one of my favourite george songs. Hong kong blues is great too. Flying hour should have been on the album. Writings on the wall is good. That which i have lost, life itself and yes, teardrops (after the initial shock regarding the over produced sound!) Has grown on me through the years! Plenty to enjoy here.
Strong disagree here. George worshipped Hoagy, who was sort of the George of his day (wrote Stardust, Georgia, and scores of other classics). Impossible to say how much this album meant after John's death. Life Itself is a classic - one of George's greatest for those who can hear him. Not crazy about Blood From a Clone, Unconsciousness Rules, and That Which I Have Lost. But if this album had included the four masterpieces that were cut, it might be second only to ATMP in my book. About Save the World - it was like Ballad of John and Yoko (which you hate): a timely rant that wasn't intended to have a shelf life.
Another great JT review - perhaps your review would have made a better opening track. Interesting, wordy writing on some tracks - eg That Which We Have Lost - but the album lacks flow, with some jarring moments - eg from track 2 into track 3. The revised side two peters out badly, but, as you say, Flying Hour should have made the revised album. I'm less keen on All Those Years Ago - the tribute gets all mixed up with George's spirituality, although nice tune.
The original is the best and it's a damn good album. To me it's up there and even sounds a bit like the George Harrison album that preceded it. Fine album. Warners should have left it alone.
I have a similar rating for George Harrison albums. I would have put Somewhere in England higher, had he kept the original version of the album and kept All Those years Ago. Recently, I purchsed a CD version of the original 1980 version and have been playing in my car this week. I had purchased a vynl version of the rejected version. I would have too, replaced the 2 cover versions on this album. However, I like quite a bit the original version. Sat Singing is my favorite of both versions of the album. I feel mixing and matching the 2 versions of the album would have created a good album.
I actually like the omitted songs on the original release that wasn't released lol! If you were to take the original album and then make the new tracks on the second version as bonus tracks at the end of the CD in other words have everything all together as a longer album, I guess that might be okay! But the weird thing is the second mix of the album has the original cover on it now??
100% agreed with the review. The ideas behind the songs are not THAT bad but the actual songs that came out are soooo overproduced (and so badly). Flying Hour’s exclusion is totally nonsense
I really like the opener, it may not have been the best choice to open the album with but it’s a really cool sound that I had never heard him discover. I thought the guitar work on that which I have lost was really great as well. Unconsciousness rules has a really sweet truth to it, I could’ve done without the saxophone. I meant groove not true. I’m using dictation on my phone and it keeps screwing up the spelling.
I personally really love Blood From A Clone. There's a few other really good songs, but otherwise it's not a favourite. I actually enjoy Hong Kong Blues a lot too, it's a fun little story song.
Compared to the version of the album you wanted, The things I changed were Unconsciousness Rules and Life Itself being swapped, plus Teardrops getting swapped out for That Which I Have Lost and putting it at track 9. And like George always intended, end the album with Save The World.
if the album had Sat Sitting, Lay His Head, Flying Hour, Mo's Song, and Tears of The World instead of some of the weaker songs on the album, I think Somewhere In England would rank close to my top 5 George Harrison Albums
After a couple more listens to the album, it honestly isn't as bad as the other mediocre solo Beatles album; Some Time in New York City by John Lennon. I'd take George's Synth-Pop ballads over Yoko's pretentious mating calls in "We're All Water" or Lennon's exaggerated peace protests like "Woman is the N...... of the world"
I believe they should’ve removed the Hoagy Carmichael songs from this album as well. They’re not good at all. Here’s my track listing: 1. Lay His Head 2. Flying Hour 3. All Those Years Ago 4. Life Itself 5. Sat Singing 6. Writing’s on the Wall 7. Teardrops 8. Unconsciousness Rules 9. Tears of the World 10. Save the World
when this video came out I listened to Flying Hour cause I the clip you showed it sounded like a catchy tune and I got really surprised that that was a great song and it wasn't even on the album I mean instead Teardrops is on and not Flying Hour.
Probably my favorite eighties album even though Cloud Nine is the better album and the better single but Somewhere in England isn’t overly eighties and some of the songs are just fun
having grown up in Baltimore i often forget and alwasy get a kick out of his Baltimore Oriole cover tho its mediocre....but i sitll play it on my lil community radio show when i do Baltimore theme segments....lol
This Song, I mean this album is not really memorable. I do find myself listening to "All Those Years Ago" for the most part because that's what really saves it, at east a little bit. All of the Hoagy Carmichael stuff is pointless, like you said, JT, the album is called "Somewhere In England", not "Somewhere In England/Hong Kong/USA". And "Teardrops" is a sad excuse for a song. You get songs like "My Sweet Lord", "Isn't It A Pity", "Give Me Love", "This Song", some of George's best material, but then we get an over-the-top, synthy mess called "Teardrops". What I'm getting at is that this album is extremely underwhelming.
I really love life itself. But it is a super religious song so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But I like the guitar on it a lot as well. I could’ve done without the Baltimore oriole song. I thought the other Cover song was pretty good. I kind of saw save the world as being serious but also being funny. I guess that’s why I did not think of it as preachy. But I can definitely see how it could come across that way it just did not for me.
Hi JtCurtis One question Where you found this original album of somewhere in england (4:05) I know is on RU-vid but i can't found it There's link of that video?
I can't find the link as of now, might have been taken down, but there are also playlists organized to be in the same playing order as the original album.
These videos are hilarious. "All Those Years Ago" is the only song on this album that I enjoy. Not a fan of this album at all. Can't really put together a track listing for it because I can't really get through the album. Ha
After All Things Must Pass… you can take most of the 1st tracks on his albums to make one solid record and have session musicians fix the rest to make them better…strip away horns…too much slide…more background vocals layered to lift up his droning whiny falsetto. Not a good solo artist but a great band musician.
Are you actually watching these reviews? I say LIFE ITSELF is a "Nice ballad with some beautiful slide guitar work." I've literally played his solos on Broadway, believe me, I "get it".
