"Wonderwall Music" is George Harrison's debut solo album and serves as the soundtrack to the 1968 film "Wonderwall," directed by Joe Massot. Released in November 1968, it holds the distinction of being the first solo album by any member of the Beatles, and also marks the inaugural release on the band's Apple record label. The album features instrumental compositions, interspersed with occasional non-English vocals, showcasing a blend of Indian classical music and Western genres like psychedelic rock, experimental, country, and ragtime.
Harrison recorded the album between November 1967 and February 1968, splitting sessions between London and Bombay. Collaborators include classical pianist John Barham, Indian musicians like Aashish Khan and Shivkumar Sharma, and Western artists such as Tony Ashton, Eric Clapton, and Ringo Starr. The album's cover art, by Bob Gill, mirrors the film's theme of two contrasting worlds separated by a wall.
Initially credited anonymously on the album, Harrison's musical contributions were later acknowledged on reissues. Despite being seen as a curiosity by some critics at the time, "Wonderwall Music" is noted for its innovative fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions and is considered a precursor to the world music trend of the 1980s. The album's title also inspired the name of Oasis' hit song "Wonderwall" in 1995.
