"My Sweet Lord" was released on November 23, 1970 for
the triple album All Things Must Pass (1970). It was the first
Harrison single as a solo artist. Originally he gave the song to
his fellow Apple Records artist Billy Preston to record. This
version, which Harrison co-produced, appeared on Preston's
Encouraging Words album in September 1970. Harrison wrote "My
Sweet Lord" in praise of the Hindu god Krishna, while intending
the lyrics as a call to abandon religious sectarianism through
his blending of the Hebrew word hallelujah with chants of Hare
Krishna and Vedic prayer. Later in the 1970s, "My Sweet Lord"
was at the centre of a heavily publicised copyright infringement
suit due to its similarity to the Ronnie Mack song "He's So
Fine", also a global no.1 smash in April 1963 for the Chiffons.
"My Sweet Lord" was one of the biggest hits in the 1970s,
reached the top positions in almost all countries around the
world. |