The Beatles: 10 Incredible Rarities You Can Listen To Right Now
3. Not Guilty
Much has been written over the years about the rest of the band’s seething resentment of Paul McCartney as he lead them through take after punishing take of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Less attention has been devoted to the staggering 107 attempts they made at nailing this White Album era George Harrison tune. Even then they weren’t happy, giving up entirely and leaving it off the record.
Which is a real shame because it’s a great song. Much better in fact than Piggies, a George Harrison track that did make the cut. Plus it has a lyric all about the band’s internal bickering and legal difficulties, the sort of thing that is catnip for Beatles fans looking for a peek behind the curtain.
Fans of George Harrison’s solo work might recognise this song from his 1979 self titled album but frankly The Beatles’ version is much better. Distorted electric guitars add an edge lacking from the mellower solo effort. Check it out on Anthology 3 and The Beatles 50th Anniversary Edition (Super Deluxe).