George Harrison's 10 best solo songs, ranked

26 February 2026, 13:43

George Harrison in his solo years. Picture: Alamy

By Mayer Nissim

After the break-up of The Beatles, George Harrison had an explosion of creativity.

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George Harrison was one of the best songwriters of the 1960s, not that he had much chance to show it.

As the junior partner in The Beatles as a songwriting endeavour, he was only given a few spots on albums that were dominated by Lennon/McCartney numbers.

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It's fair to say that he absolutely made it count though, with many of his 22 Beatles songs being every bit the equal of John and Paul's numbers.

But it did mean that when The Beatles broke up, he had a hell of a lot of songs burning a hole in his back pocket, as well as a few covers he could put his own stamp on.

Below, we round up George Harrison's ten very best solo songs (well, nine solo songs and one he made with a little help from his friends).

If Not For You

George Harrison & Bob Dylan - If Not For You (Live)

The Beatles and Bob Dylan swirled around each other in the 1960s, personally and musically.
And after the breakup, Harrison and Dylan connected and bonded over this Dylan love song for his first wife Sara.
Bob had recorded his own version for New Morning and actually recorded a duet with George that would stay unreleased until his 1991's The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased).
But George released his own gorgeous version on on his triple album All Things Must Past.
What Is Life

George Harrison - What Is Life

Another track from All Things Must Pass, 'What is Life' was released as the B-side to 'My Sweet Lord' in the UK and a standalone single in the US, where it became a top ten hit.
It showed George's willingness to collaborate, featuring pal Eric Clapton, the Delaney & Bonnie and Friends band, and Badfinger.
One of Harrison's many love/god focused songs, it's popped up in countless movies over the years, from Goodfellas to Big Daddy.
Dark Horse

George Harrison - Dark Horse

The title track from George's 1974 album flopped in the UK, becoming his first single not to chart over here. It went top 20 in the US though, which would have taken the sting out of that.
Who was the Dark Horse? "The one nobody's bothered to put any money on," Harrison later said. "That's me I guess." But the lyrics were really about someone having some secret affairs.
I'd Have You Anytime

George Harrison - I'd Have You Anytime

While 'If Not For You' was borrowed from Bob Dylan and the duo recorded a(n originally unreleased) duet, 'I'd Have You Anytime' was an even deeper collaboration from All Things Must Pass.
The opener of the ambitious triple album dated back to the Beatles era, when the pair wrote together at Bob's home in November 1968.
A gentle love ballad on the face of it ("Let me into your heart... I'm glad to hold you in my arms"), it's also plainly a song about the deep respect and friendship of these two prickly musical characters who had gone through a tumultuous decade.
All Those Years Ago

George Harrison 'All Those Years Ago' (Official Video)

For a while, it was the closest thing we ever got to a Beatles reunion.
Harrison and Ringo had recorded the song together in November 1980 with the legendary Al Kooper, Herbie Flowers and Ray Cooper lending a hand.
Then tragedy struck, with the murder of John Lennon the following month.
In tribute, Harrison returned to the song to sing new lyrics in memory of John. What's more, Paul McCartney (and Linda and Denny Laine) swung by and recorded backing vocals
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)

George Harrison - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) [Official Video]

The opening track of Living In the Material World, 'Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)' was proof that All Things Must Pass was no one-off.
It not only went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, it did so by pushing Paul McCartney and Wings 'My Love' off the top, which must have been fun for George.
Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner, Klaus Voormann and Gary Wright filled out the sound while George showed off his slide guitar skills on the letter to god, pleading for release, peace and love.
When We Was Fab

George Harrison - When We Was Fab

Of all The Beatles, George was always the one who seemed to have the most complicated relationship with being one of the Fab Four (yes, even more than John).
During the Anthology reunion he seemed the most reticent, and was the one who shut down the first attempt at 'Now and Then' before Paul and Ringo eventually resurrected it.
But he put all that aside for the beautiful Cloud Nine single 'When We Was Fab', a nostalgic hazy reflection of those days of Beatlemania.
Packed with musical and lyrical references to The Beatles, the song also featured Ringo on drums and backing vocals.
Got My Mind Set On You

George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You (Version II)

Most of the songs on this list are George Harrison originals, but this cover deserves its lofty position for just how fizzy and brilliant it is.
Written by Rudy Clark, it was originally recorded and released as 'I've Got My Mind Set on You'.
The song was relatively forgotten when George got his hands on it and turned it into an absolutely massive hit, going to number two in the UK and all the way to number one in the US
Handle With Care (with the Traveling Wilburys)

The Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care

The Traveling Wilburys: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. Wow.
The most super of supergroups only released two albums and maybe didn't quite deliver on the promise of that lineup (realistically nothing could), but their very best moments were at least the sum of their magnificent parts.
Their debut single (and opening track of The Traveling Wilburys Vol 1) was one of those examples.
Written by the Wilburys, it was originally meant to be a Harrison solo B-side but the record label loved it so much it led to the formal establishment of the group. It was the band's biggest hit, going to 45 in the US and 21 in the UK.
My Sweet Lord

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

Harrison's first solo single after The Beatles has remained his biggest and arguably best hit, despite a whiff of controversy.
A lovely, swinging, beauty of a song, it eschewed division (melding Hallelujah and Hare Krishna) as a prayer for peace, love and god (Harrison standards).
It featured not just Harrison's trademark slide guitar, but all star friends Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Gary Brooker, Bobby Whitlock, as well as members of the group Badfinger.
The only down note was its similarity to Ronnie Mack's 'He's So Fine', a major hit for The Chiffons in 1963.

He's So Fine (Remastered 2000)

"Did Harrison deliberately use the music of 'He's So Fine'? I do not believe he did so deliberately," said judge Richard Owen.
"Nevertheless, it is clear that 'My Sweet Lord' is the very same song as 'He's So Fine' with different words, and Harrison had access to 'He's So Fine'. This is, under the law, infringement of copyright, and is no less so even though subconsciously accomplished."
The influence (and borrowing) was clear, but Owen overstepped by saying it's "the very same song". 'My Sweet Lord' is a beautiful statement all on its own. and its enduring power is testament to that.