My 8th nomination for best Beatles solo album released between 1981 and 2020 is George Harrison's Brainwashed. It is George's 12th and final solo album. Released posthumously in 2002, the tracks on Brainwashed were recorded between 1988 and 2001. Jeff Lynne and George’s son Dhani produced and completed the album when George’s advanced cancer claimed his life on November 29, 2001. “Any Road,” one of the last songs he finished and recorded, is an excellent opener. “Marwa Blues” is another album highlight. For those of you deep in musicology, this instrumental is named after Raga Marwa, an Indian classical raga traditionally played at sunset. The album’s title track expresses how different forces in the world, including the media, tend to influence and manipulate our thoughts and views. (The track tacked on at the end, “Namah Parvati,” is a traditional Hindu prayer.)Brainwashed sold well as an album when released on November 18, 2002. This was followed up by the all-star Concert for George at the Royal Albert Hall on the first anniversary of his death. “Marwa Blues” won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Performance in 2004. Later that year, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the second time, in recognition of his achievements as a solo artist.
