My 15th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 15th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is George’s 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3, his first in the Dark Horse catalogue. I call this one a comeback album even though he had not stopped performing. George was not in the best of health when he recorded his two previous albums (Dark Horse and Extra Texture), and Thirty Three & 1/3 was a return to form. Released when he was 33 and a third years old, the album showed George to be in a happier and less sullen mood. The worst thing to happen to him was that he was sued for plagiarism over his hit, “My Sweet Lord,” because it sounded similar to The Chiffons’ hit, “He’s So Fine.” George's “This Song” is a cheeky response to the whole court case (featuring a cameo from Eric Idle). “Crackerbox Palace” is another highlight, written about the estate of eccentric American comedian Lord (Richard) Buckley. “Pure Smokey” is dedicated to Smokey Robinson, and “Dear One” is dedicated to Paramahansa Yogananda, author of The Art of Yogi. George wrote “Learning How to Love You” for Herb Alpert when Alpert sued him for not delivering the album on schedule. (When Alpert’s A&M label stopped distributing the Dark Horse catalogue, it was transferred over to Warner Bros.) A major reason why George sounded upbeat was because during this period he met Olivia Arias, the woman who would become his second wife.