George Harrison - Run Of The Mill - Demo Version (cover by Luis Gomes)

“Run Of The Mill” is another great song which is definitely one of my favourites George Harrison’s compositions and that makes part of his first solo album All Things Must Pass, released 50 years ago.

The song has been described as an essay on karma, a tale of lost friendship and a love song to the Beatles. He once described the lyrics as the first song he ever wrote that looked like a poem on paper. Speaking in February 2001 during promotion for the 30th anniversary reissue of All Things Must Pass, Harrison named "Run of the Mill" first among his three favourite tracks on the album. Olivia Harrison also has named it among her favourites of all her late husband’s compositions.
George Harrison wrote this tune shortly after the Beatles’ troubled Get Back sessions in early 1969, during a period when his growth as a brilliant songwriter had inadvertenly contributed to the dysfunction within the group dynamics. It’s appropriate to say that “Run Of The Mill” is one of several Harrison’s compositions to provide an insight into events behind the Beatles’ break-up, particularly the difficulties surrounding Apple Corps.

Despite its melancholic and philosophical content, the song was beautifully arranged in the “minimalist tradition” style of the Band’s work in the late 60s, featuring the keyboard player Gary Wright and all former members of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, with whom he had toured briefly in December 1969. This union resulted in a wonderful backing track that accurately reflects the feeling of the lyrics and his interpretation.

However, in the 2000s, I was introduced to a 1970 demo version of “Run Of The Mill”, available since the 1990s on bootleg collections such as Beware of ABKCO! Wow!!! Although, I was listening to a very early take, it was one of the most beautiful and most sincere auditions I had ever heard. I can't explain it, but the way George Harrison presented his songs still in its simplicity is something that touches me deeply. Just him and his acoustic guitar... is truly a gem!!!

This solo demo was only issued officially in the UK in November 2011, with the deluxe edition DVD release of Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living In The Material World documentary. Six months later, it received worldwide release on the Early Takes: Volume 1 compilation.

Well... it’s almost impossible to transmit someone’s feeling, but I hope you enjoy my humble and sincere attempt.

God bless George Harrison!!!