"My Sweet Lord"
Single by George Harrison from the album All Things Must Pass
A-side	"My Sweet Lord"
B-side	* "Isn't It a Pity" (U.S.) "What Is Life" (U.K.) "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" (1997 re-release) "Let It Down (acoustic)" and "My Sweet Lord (2000) (2002 re-release)
Released	January 15, 1971 Reissued January 14, 2002
Format	7"
Genre	Rock
Length	4:39
Label	Apple Records
Producer	George Harrison, Phil Spector
George Harrison singles chronology
"My Sweet Lord" (1971) "What Is Life" (1971)
Alternate cover
[[Image:|200px|2002 reissue cover|200px]] 2002 reissue cover
George Harrison singles chronology
"Cheer Down" (1989)	"My Sweet Lord" (2002)	"Any Road" (2003)

"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatle George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. Session musicians on the track included Eric Clapton. The song is primarily about God, and features repetitions of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, the preserving god in Hinduism. My Sweet Lord may refer to: Song My Sweet Lord, a song recorded separately by Billy Preston first in 1970 and later George Harrison My Sweet Lord, reggae cover by Keith Lynn released on Mellow Dubmarine double album My Sweet Lord, a song recorded by The Chiffons My Sweet Lord... Image File history File links Mysweetlord1971single. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... Alternate cover Cover of 2001 remaster All Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison recorded and released after the break-up of The Beatles. ... “B-Sides” redirects here. ... “B-Sides” redirects here. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... What is Life is on the George Harrison solo album All Things Must Pass. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and a member of the European Union. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Apple Records logo, featuring a Granny Smith apple. ... 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 and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Harvey Philip Spector (born December 26, 1939) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... What is Life is on the George Harrison solo album All Things Must Pass. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... 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 from his final album Brainwashed. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... Alternate cover Cover of 2001 remaster All Things Must Pass is a triple album by George Harrison recorded and released after the break-up of The Beatles. ... Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... See Avatar (disambiguation) for other meanings. ... Vishnu (Hindi: (विष्‍णु) is a form of God, whom Hindus pray to. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ...

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. Within a few weeks, EMI and Apple Records bowed to media and public demand, and the UK release followed on 15 January 1971. The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see EMI (disambiguation). ... Apple Records logo, featuring a Granny Smith apple. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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 song was originally intended for Billy Preston, who had a minor hit with it in early 1970, in his album Encouraging Words. It was written in December 1969, when Harrison and Preston were in Copenhagen, Denmark. William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California. ... Encouraging Words is an album by Billy Preston released in 1970. ...

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. 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. Yes drummer Alan White Alan White (born June 14, 1949 in Pelton, County Durham, England and now resident in Seattle, USA) is a rock and roll drummer best known for his 34 years of work with the progressive rock band Yes. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... The Plastic Ono Band is the band John Lennon formed after he left the Beatles. ... Imagine is John Lennons second solo album and is the most popular of his solo works. ...

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 October 12th, 1964 in London), daughter of RocknRoll star Joe Brown and singer Vicki Brown, is a British female singer-songwriter best known for her work in the late 1980s, although she has continued to release material since then. ...

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.

After Harrison's death, at the tribute Concert for George in November 2002, the song was performed by Billy Preston, with Sam Brown joining on background vocals. DVD Cover For the released album, see Concert for George (album). ... William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California. ... Sam Brown is the name of several notable people: A singer/songwriter, daughter of Joe Brown; see Sam Brown (musician) An artist of explodingdog fame; see Sam Brown (artist) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

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. Billboard magazine, in an article dated 6 March 1971, stated that Harrison's royalty payments from the recording had been halted worldwide. Harrison stated that he was inspired to write "My Sweet Lord" after hearing the Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day". The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960. ... Hes So Fine is a 1963 song recorded by girl-group, The Chiffons. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Edwin Hawkins (born August 18, 1943 in Oakland, California) is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir leader, composer and arranger. ... 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. 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. In the long run this worked against Klein, but it resulted in the case continuing for years in court. Cryptomnesia, or concealed recollection, is the name for a theoretical phenomenon involving suppressed or forgotten memories. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

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." "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Rescue Me" are also mentioned in the record. This Song is the fourth track on George Harrisons 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3. ... I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Hindu Prayers

The background singers chant two Hindu prayers in addition to the Christian prayer "Hallelujah."

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 religion of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as The Hare Krishnas. Harrison was a follower of this religion. The full mantra is "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare." Founder of ISKCON: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ...

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. 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). The prayer translates as:

"The God of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva creates, sustains knowledge, and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a God."

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Oasis song "Supersonic" contains a riff that is similar to "My Sweet Lord". Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher are noted Beatles fans.
• Harrison, a lifelong Monty Python fan and supporter, himself parodied the song while guest-starring in Eric Idle's Rutland Weekend Television.
• "My Sweet Lord" was a favoured headline used especially in the British media about a life-sized chocolate model of Jesus on the cross, which in 2007 was to open in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, coinciding with Easter, but was ultimately pulled from exhibit due to protests.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Oasis is an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991. ... Supersonic is a song by British rock band Oasis written by Noel Gallagher. ... Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Longsight, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... Liam Gallagher (born William John Paul Gallagher on September 21, 1972, Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English singer and tambourine player of the band Oasis. ... The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as part of their first tour of the United States, promoting their first hit single there, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ... Monty Python, or The Pythons, is the collective name of the creators of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. ... Eric Idle (born March 29, 1943) is a British comedian, actor, author and writer of comedic songs. ... RWT logo. ...

Notes

External links

• Plagiarism Suit
• George Harrison Super 70s
• BBC entertainment