On this day (June 30), in 1973, George Harrison earned his second solo No. 1 when “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” topped the Billboard Hot 100. The song features a series of unforgettable slide guitar solos from Harrison and remains one of his most popular songs. It also knocked “Me Love” by Paul McCartney and Wings off the top of the Hot 100.
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Harrison wrote “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” and released it as the lead single from the album Living in the Material World in May 1973. At the end of June, McCartney’s post-Beatles band Wings was atop the Hot 100 with their song “My Love.” Then, the sole single from Harrison’s sophomore solo album took the top spot. “My Love” moved to No. 2. This was the only time that two former members of the Beatles held the top two spots on the Hot 100.
[RELATED: 4 George Harrison Songs That Directly Reference His Beatles Days]
Harrison wrote about the song in his autobiography, I Me Mine. “Sometimes you open your mouth and you don’t know what you’re going to say, and whatever comes out is the starting point. If that happens and you are lucky, it can usually be turned into a song,” he explained. “This song is a prayer and personal statement between me, the Lord, and whoever likes it.”
George Harrison Was the First to Find Success After the Beatles
George Harrison was the first to release a solo album after the Beatles broke up. He was also the first to get a solo No. 1. He released his first solo album, Wonderwall Music, in 1968, two years before the band split. Then, a year later, he released his sophomore album, Electronic Sound. Neither of his first albums was particularly successful.
Then, in November 1970, months after John Lennon announced the end of the band, Harrison shared his third album. All Things Must Pass was a massive Phil Spector-produced triple LP. It topped charts in multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. “My Sweet Lord,” a single from the album, became his first No. 1 as a solo performer.
Harrison released his self-produced Living in the Material World in 1973. It was also an international hit. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” was his last No. 1 of the 1970s. “Got My Mind Set on You” topped the Hot 100 in 1988. It was his third and final trip to the top of the chart.
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