George Harrison once referred to himself as “the economy Beatle.” Standing on the edge of a spotlight directed at his bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney, he played a valuable—if somewhat muted—role. Thus he became known as “the quiet Beatle,” an oversimplification of his personality—“He won’t shut up,” proclaimed his friend Eric Idle—which shunned the spotlight. Author Philip Norman takes on this slippery subject with his latest work, George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle.
Harrison was born into a humble, lower working class family. He quickly picked up guitar and it became his only real interest; a poor student, he took no interest in school activities, and when he discovered his musical abilities, that became the sole focus of his attention. Even though he was young, he made friends with older musicians, and found himself the schoolboy guitarist for The Quarrymen. His early years are examined here, offering a refreshing look at the young man who became the Beatles’ secret weapon.
Much of George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle will be familiar to those with an interest in The Beatles, and that’s par for the course with such a well-researched subject. When the book takes its focus off of the band and into Harrison’s personal history—such as his trips to India during the Sgt. Pepper era—it’s a refreshing addition to the well-trod story. And Harrison’s solo career is given a good overview, even when Harrison receded from the spotlight and focused on his personal interests.
Harrison’s insistence on keeping his personal life private doesn’t help the biographer, as there’s little insight into what Harrison was doing during his quiet years, other than tending his garden, playing ukuleles, racing, and the occasional (questionable) romantic liaison. Thus, when the end comes, it feels almost anticlimactic, something you know is coming but when it comes it feels perfunctory. It would be nice to hear more about what Harrison was up to in his last decade, but considering Harrison’s low-key life, it is what it is.
Philip Norman has done a good job of telling the story of a slippery subject, and even if the later years feel a bit lightweight in terms of content, George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle gives the reader an insightful and engaging look at a talent worthy of examination.
Purchase: https://www.amazon.com/George-Harrison-Reluctant-Philip-Norman/dp/198219586X/ref=asc_df_198219586X/
The Recoup 
Leave a Reply