Extra Texture [Import]

In the wake of the Scorcese film on George, my interest in Extra Texture was rekindled. I'd owned it on vinyl, and decided to get it on CD. The album still has not been remastered, and it could benefit from a bit of work. That said, I have been amazed at coming back to these songs some twenty five years on from first knowing them. Maybe it is me that's changed, and in my middle age I can discern things that in my mid twenties I didn't resonate with so much.

Like several reviewers here, Extra Texture has become synonomous with George's most depressing period (marriage break up, hepatitis, fallout from 'disastrous' US Tour...) played out on an album. I am finding this NOT to be the case now. Yes, the material does reflect lyrically and musically on occasions this downbeat frame of exhaustion - Grey Cloudy Lies most overtly. Yet there's not a stuckness in the depression, more of a decision and resolve to move on to somewhere better. Tired of Midnight Blue is really positive - it seems to describe George's realisation that Olivia's and his love for each other is the way out of the world of late night drinking and depression. 'Made me wish that I'd stayed home, with you' is pretty much the compass point that would turn George's life around back towards domestic bliss and soon to follow fatherhood.

However, what has really struck me on rediscovering Extra Texture has been the soulfulness of George's vocals, the care that has been lavished on the arrangements, and of course the top quality musicianship on show here. The strings, prominant bass and sometimes a little too distant vocals would all benefit from the remastering process. But the present production doesn't place ET at a severe disadvantage to the modern ear.

I am finding there to be more life and oodles more passion on these tracks than I had previously been aware of. It's a little more slow burning, but passion and conviction nevertheless. I can hear the album more in it's chronology now too, and several tracks could also have been placed on 33 and a Third - there's the soulfulness of Ooh Baby, which is a very close relation to Pure Smokey - and the band is probably pretty much the same. I'd have liked to have known what western music George was checking out in '74-'75. Surely he can't have just been listening to Krishna chants! The Fabs never hid their love of rhythm and blues, and my ears hear more than a little black soul, deep south gospel and even funk influences going on here.

I wouldn't suggest this should be the first port of call for someone just getting aquainted with solo George, but I'd certainly say it's definitely more worthy of investigation than some would tell you, and you may even find it becomes one of your unexpected faves!

Perhaps a shade off his best, Extra Texture is nevertheless a well-crafted George Harrison album. Certainly the first three songs, "You," "The Answer's At The End" and "This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)" are all top quality. Other noteworthy songs are "Tired of Midnight Blue" and "Ladies and Gentlemen (His Name Is Legs)."

This is one album that would really benefit from a reissue. I would like to hear George's voice more "up front" in the mix, because I feel he is a soulful and perhaps underrated singer. He really puts a lot of feeling into his vocals.

As for bonus tracks, I wouldn't mind hearing "Lay His Head," "Sat Singing" and "Flying Hour" --- three songs that were excluded from his Somewhere In England album. ("Tears of the World," as Harrison fans know, was added to the excellent reissue of Thirty-Three and a Third.)

By the way, does anyone know when, and if, Extra Texture (and/or Dark Horse) is scheduled for reissue? What are the bonus tracks? Dark Horse and Extra Texture were two of the first albums I ever purchased, and am hoping that Olivia and Dhani Harrison will continue their trend of giving Harrison fans something to be proud of!

Some of the criticism levelled at this album is, I cant help feeling, a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to a hasty listening

To claim this as the career low point is hardly fair. I have listened to this album a number of times and until reading some of the other reviews online I had never once thought of it as 'dark'. It is certainly no 'darker' than All Things Must Pass as far as meaningful lyrics are concerned. I believe some reviewers may be mistaking 'dark' for songwriting with meaning.

The album title itself ' Extra Texture ' implies that there is more to it than meets the eye, and to get the most out of it you need to give it more than one hastened listen.

Some of George's best songs are written in minor keys or with at least a 'minor' flavour to them! (Taxman, The Art of Dying, While My Guitar Gently Weeps etc...) No one complained that they were 'too dark'.

As it is one of only 2 mainstream albums that have yet to be reissued, it is easy to see why Extra Texture is left on the shelf along with Dark Horse. I am sure that when the time eventually comes to reissue it (along with the obligatory bonus track or two) then interest and criticism may take a bit of a u-turn.

...and although I firmly believe you should never judge a CD by it's cover, this one really doesn't do George any favours. It looks more like a IKEA Value product every time I glance at it!

3 and a half stars is more than fair...It still has substantially more 'texture' than any McCartney solo effort!