In the only occasion two posthumously released records (by two different artists) have made #1 consecutively, George Harrison replaces Aaliyah…
My Sweet Lord, by George Harrison (his 2nd and final #1)
1 week, from 20th – 27th January 2002
It would feel odd to review the song, as I already did so five years ago: ‘My Sweet Lord’ having spent five weeks at #1 in 1971. So, I’d rather direct you towards my original post, despite the fact that I was a bit harsh on it. I claimed it ‘doesn’t really go anywhere’ and, while I get what I meant, I now realise that that is entirely the point of the song. It’s a euphoric chant, a mantra, an incantation. It is a beautiful song, despite my complete irreligiosity. In my book, it is by far the best solo-Beatle number one.
Harrison had died from cancer in November 2001, and thus ‘My Sweet Lord’ was given a rerelease. It means that the line I really wanna see you Lord, But it takes so long, My Lord… now hits differently, assuming that it originally referred to a religious awakening. But it is a fitting, and obvious tribute.
And it is the fact that it was a deliberate release, as a tribute, that means I’m featuring this as the 918th number one single, and not a belated return for the 296th. Like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ before it, again rereleased following the death of its creator, ‘My Sweet Lord’ becomes only the second song to return to #1 in a rerelease (though BoRap was paired with ‘These Are the Days of Our Lives’).
This is something that needs clarifying as we move further into the 21st century. Soon there will be a series of Elvis rereleases making the top of the charts, and again they’ll be treated as ‘new’ number ones. However, when ‘Three Lions’, and then two Christmas perennials, return to number one later in the century they will not be gifted such special status as they are simply a case of the original hit returning to the charts. In fact, the streaming era has basically killed off the idea of the rerelease, as (almost) everything is now on permanent release via your streaming platform of choice.
Hope that makes sense. Anyway, let’s just enjoy this classic re-appearing at number one, completely out of place in the early ‘00s soundscape. It is also worth noting this fact: ‘My Sweet Lord’ remains one of only two truly solo UK #1s that any of the four Beatles enjoyed during their lifetimes!
The UK Number Ones Blog 
Having just re-read the original post and comments, there’s not a lot to add. It’s worth noting that even a lot of people who, like myself, admit George is their favourite of the Fab Four, readily agreee that ‘My Sweet Lord’ was not his best song by a long way, there’s something very arresting about the simplicity of it. It’s basically a chant, somewhat hymn-like, that doesn’t really go anywhere beyond the guitar solo after the intro that resurfaces as a kind of substitute bridge. But it still has that charm, that indelible force. I’ve known people who wouldn’t call them selves religious, but they still attest to the power of the song, even if they agreed that the original B-side ‘What is Life’ was far far better. As George showed with ‘Back off Boogaloo’ a year later, George had this uncanny knack of making a wonderful single out of what was little more than a basic mantra, a riff, a single idea, whatever. And it’s rather like ’Spirit in the Sky’. You don’t have to be religious to love it!
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I still adore this track, and it has a lot in common with Hare Krishna Mantra, I would say. That’s also a chant, but George’s is emotional on top. Variation on a theme is everything, and the production is amazing to boot. Still my fave George track, and has it really been 5 years since the first review!? Crikey!
I know, time flies… It’ll be eight years in January since I started this whole thing.
While this is not my personal favourite George Harrison solo song – that’d be either “What is Life” or the title track of All Things Must Pass – it’s an absolutely marvellous song. Definitely No. 3. Gorgeous, and honestly, timeless. A perfect song really. It’s in a class of it’s own. If George is only remembered for this, I don’t think either I or he would be that pissed (obviously “Here Comes the Sun” will be the song he’s most remembered for considering it’s by far the most popular Beatles song of the streaming era).
I definitely agree of the UK solo No. 1s achieved by The Beatles – I always found it very odd and bizarre they collectively had far less No. 1s in the UK their home country than in the US – it’s pretty comfortably the best of the lot (even including Wings and Paul’s collabs).
‘What is Life’ and ‘All Things Must Pass’ are without doubt the best George solo tracks, one an astonishingly simple (again) but catchy song with epic production, and the latter is unbelievably moving. I’d also put in a good word for ‘This Song’, which was a moderate US hit 1976/77, and a very clever riposte to the ‘My Sweet Lord’ plagiarism case. To appreciate it properly, you have to read the lyrics and watch the video, set in a courtroom with George, wife-to-be Olivia, Ronnie Wood (in drag) and Eric Idle among others, which I think is priceless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0i9rjTxhpY
I have to disagree with everyone so far. This is a poor song, a truly feeble attempt…
Only kidding. Honestly, this song makes me cry every single time. The simplicity, the luminosity, the intensity, the yearning. I am a religious person and I think few songs express the soul’s deep yearning for the divine as powerfully as this one, which is made only deeper by the repeated line: “But it takes so long, oh Lord”. And it seems to gather in intensity with every repetition.
Many of the best Beatles moments, and solo Beatles moments, seem to come from magnificent simplicity. Such as “Jealous Guy” by Lennon, “Arrow Through Me” by McCartney, “Working Class Hero”, “Don’t Let Me Down”…but I don’t think any Beatle ever did simplicity better than George did it here.
I also rather like the fact that the British record-buying public didn’t give the individual Beatles an easy ride after the break-up, that they had to earn their success. Which is rather diminished by Westlife getting fourteen number ones…
Maolsheachlann
Yes I agree that ‘takes so long’ line is key. I’m not a religious person, so a religious song that expresses doubt, or frustration, or anything other than happy-clappy devotion, I can still connect with.
Pretty much all the great hymns that have survived do actually do this. There needs to be some dramatic tension. It’s exactly what the twee hymns that don’t survive lack, most of the time. (There are some exceptions I can think of, such as “All Things Bright and Beautiful”).
Maolsheachlann
I knew he was a Beatle, but didn’t know anything about Harrison’s music when this was (re)released. Such a beautiful song. It might not be his best, but it’s certainly the one of his that’s closest to my heart.
I don’t remember it being re-released here. Never really went away though.
I like this song but I liked the original B side more. Isn’t It A Pity is just great. You know, it seems George has got more love recently than any of them. It’s like people are just now appreciating him. This one is not his best to me…much like Imagine is not John’s best. In fact…if I never hear Imagine again I’d probably be happy.
I have to admit not being much of an expert on any of the Beatles’ solo work. I know John’s the best, probably. I need to explore George’s more, beyond the hits.
John is my favorite! George has collected MANY new fans. I’ve noticed it on my blog as well and in Beatle reddit posts and other things.