Recording Studio: In 1978, Harrison, newly married to Olivia Arias and the father of a young son, Dhani, returned to the studio to record his eighth solo album, George Harrison, which was released the following year. It was followed two years later with Somewhere in England, which was still being worked on at the time of John Lennon’s assassination on December 8, 1980. The record eventually included the Lennon tribute track, “All Those Years Ago,” a song that incorporated contributions McCartney and Starr.
While the song was a hit, the album, its predecessor, and its successor, Gone Troppo (1982), weren’t. For Harrison, the lack of commercial appeal and the constant battles with music executives proved draining, and they prompted another studio hiatus.
Recording Studio: Another Comeback
But a comeback of sorts arrived in 1987, with the release of his album Cloud Nine. The record featured a pair of hits and led to Harrison linking up with Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan to form what was dubbed a “super group” in the form of the Traveling Wilburys. Encouraged by the commercial success of the Wilburys two studio albums, Harrison took to the road in 1992, embarking on his first solo tour in 18 years.
Recording Studio: Beatles Reunion
Not long after, George Harrison reunited with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney for the creation of an exhaustive three-part release of The Beatles Anthology, which featured alternate takes, rare tracks and a previously unreleased John Lennon demo. Originally recorded by Lennon in 1977, the demo, titled “Free as a Bird,” was completed in the studio by the three surviving Beatles. The song went on to become the group’s 34th Top 10 single.
From there, however, Harrison largely became a homebody, keeping himself busy with gardening and his cars at his expansive and restored estate in Henley-on-Thames in south Oxfordshire, England.
