"The Best of George Harrison" is a 1976 compilation album by George Harrison, released following the expiration of his contract with EMI/Apple Records. The album is notable for being one of the few compilations that mixes Harrison’s songs from his time with The Beatles and his solo career. While the release includes some of his best-known Beatles tracks, such as "Something," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and "Here Comes the Sun," it also highlights Harrison's solo hits like "My Sweet Lord," "What Is Life," and "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)."
The release of The Best of George Harrison was somewhat contentious. First, it came out during a time of heightened Beatles nostalgia, as former Beatles were releasing solo material and EMI had just re-signed Paul McCartney. Harrison, who had grown disillusioned with Capitol Records since the early '70s, was less than thrilled with the final selection. The album was released shortly before Harrison’s debut album on Warner Bros., Thirty Three & ⅓, and critics noted that the compilation seemed to downplay Harrison’s solo achievements during the 1970-75 period, even though he had been one of the most successful ex-Beatles artistically and commercially during that time.
The selection of tracks also caused some criticism for failing to reflect Harrison's broader musical contributions, particularly his Indian music influences, which were absent from the compilation. As a result, key songs like "Within You, Without You" and "The Inner Light," which were central to his identity both as a Beatle and a solo artist, were overlooked.
The album was split into two sides: Side One focused on Harrison’s Beatles tracks, including iconic songs like "Taxman," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Here Comes the Sun," and "Something." However, the compilation missed the opportunity to include some of Harrison's more experimental or influential work, such as his Indian compositions, which were a cornerstone of his legacy. Side Two featured Harrison's solo hits, including "My Sweet Lord," "What Is Life," "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)," "You," and the non-album single "Bangla Desh," a song inspired by the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the Concert for Bangladesh, which was one of the first large-scale charity concerts in history.
Harrison voiced his displeasure with the compilation, particularly the choice to include so many Beatles songs and the lack of representation for his solo work. He felt that more of his personal material should have been showcased, comparing the album unfavorably to the solo compilations of Lennon and Starr, which had more direct input from the artists themselves.
In the U.S., The Best of George Harrison reached No. 31 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA in February 1977. Despite its moderate success in the U.S., the album didn’t perform as well in the U.K., where it failed to chart in the Top 60.
The album's release coincided with Harrison's promotion of Thirty Three & ⅓, but Capitol's decision to release this compilation alongside other Beatles-related products may have limited its potential impact, especially since it was overshadowed by Wings Over America (Paul McCartney's live album) and the Rock 'n' Roll Music compilation of Beatles tracks.
The album art varied depending on the region. In North America, the cover featured small black-and-white images of Harrison set against a cosmic background, while the UK version showed a color photo of Harrison sitting in front of an antique car. The artwork for both editions was designed by different teams, with the U.S. version having a more abstract, space-themed aesthetic, while the British edition featured a more grounded, portrait-style design.
The album was first issued on CD in 1987 and became one of Harrison’s most sought-after compilations after his death in 2001. In the wake of his passing, The Best of George Harrison was re-appreciated, with fans eager to collect his work in a more accessible format. The album reached No. 9 on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog chart in December 2001, and it also made its way back onto the UK Albums Chart in January 2002.
Despite newer compilations like Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison (2009), The Best of George Harrison remained the only album to feature Bangla Desh until its inclusion as a bonus track in the 2014 reissue of Living in the Material World.
The Best of George Harrison is a compilation that, while commercially successful, failed to capture the full scope of Harrison's musical evolution. For fans of his solo work, it may have been a bittersweet reminder of what was excluded, while for casual listeners, it remains a key entry in Harrison's catalog. The album’s release reflects both the appeal and limitations of Harrison's post-Beatles legacy, as well as the complex relationship he had with the music industry.
