"Brainwashed" is the twelfth and final studio album by English rock musician George Harrison, released posthumously on November 19, 2002, almost a year after his death at the age of 58. The album was a long time in the making, with recordings starting as early as 1988, though the majority of the work took place between July 1999 and October 2001. However, the project faced multiple delays due to business issues with his former manager, his commitments with the Traveling Wilburys and Ravi Shankar, and his involvement in The Beatles Anthology. Harrison had also faced health issues during this time, including a battle with throat cancer in 1997 and surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung in 2001. Despite these challenges, Harrison continued to work on the album until shortly before his death.
Harrison’s son, Dhani, played a pivotal role in completing Brainwashed after his father’s passing. Harrison had shared detailed ideas about the album's sound, its arrangements, and even the artwork with Dhani, which helped guide the completion process. The final overdubs and mixing were done by Dhani, session drummer Jim Keltner, and longtime collaborator Jeff Lynne, who had worked with Harrison on previous projects. The album features the singles "Stuck Inside a Cloud" and "Any Road." "Marwa Blues," an instrumental track from the album, won a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, while "Any Road" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
The album reached the top 30 in the UK and the top 20 in the US, and was generally well-received by critics. A limited edition of Brainwashed was also released, including a bonus DVD and other memorabilia such as a poster and a guitar pick with Harrison's signature. The album's release coincided with the Concert for George, a tribute show held at London's Royal Albert Hall, which celebrated Harrison's life and music with performances by many of his musical peers.
Although Harrison had spoken about the album for years, including revealing some of the song titles and concepts, he was unable to finish it before his death. His final contributions were made in a recording studio in Switzerland, just before he traveled to the United States for further cancer treatment. After his passing, Dhani and Lynne worked together to add the finishing touches to the album. They used the exact session bookings and timetable that Harrison had planned, ensuring that the project stayed as true to his vision as possible.
One of the songs, "Run So Far," had previously appeared on Eric Clapton’s 1989 album Journeyman with Harrison playing on it. The version on Brainwashed features Harrison’s vocals and omits a third verse that was present in Clapton's original recording. The album was well-received commercially, selling respectably worldwide and earning gold certification in the US. The track "Any Road" became a top 40 hit in the UK in 2003.
Harrison's passing left Brainwashed as his musical farewell, showcasing the personal and reflective nature of his final songs. The album captures Harrison’s experiences, his introspective nature, and his love of life, with lyrics touching on personal events and philosophical themes.
