Cloud Nine (George Harrison album) -1987
Cloud Nine is the eleventh studio album by English musician George Harrison. The album was recorded and released in 1987 after Harrison had taken a five-year hiatus from his career as a solo artist. The hit single “Got My Mind Set on You” from this album re-established Harrison as a critically acclaimed and commercially significant recording artist. Cloud Nine was the last studio solo album released during Harrison’s lifetime.
Frustrated with the changing musical climate, George Harrison suspended his recording career in the early 1980s. Instead of recording, he opted to pursue other interests, including film production with his own company, Handmade Films. The odd soundtrack or charity song would surface during this period, but otherwise, it was a musically silent period for Harrison.
By late 1986, after a substantial break, Harrison felt the desire to make music again. He asked former Electric Light Orchestra leader and fellow musician Jeff Lynne to co-produce a new album with him.
Besides Harrison and Lynne, other artists involved in the sessions included Jim Keltner and Ringo Starr on drums, Eric Clapton on guitar and both Gary Wright and Elton John on piano. (John was recovering from his vocal surgery at the time.) With new-found enthusiasm, Harrison actively promoted the album, even appearing with Starr at the Prince’s Trust Concert that June to perform “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.
The cover features Harrison’s first American-made guitar, a 1957 Gretsch 6128 that he purchased in Liverpool in 1961. Harrison called it his “old black Gretsch”. Harrison gave the guitar to his longtime friend, Klaus Voormann who kept it for 20 years. The guitar had been left in Los Angeles and had been modified. Harrison asked for the return of the guitar, had it restored and used it for the cover shoot.
Track listing[edit]
All songs by George Harrison, except where noted.
Original Release
Side one
“Cloud 9” – 3:15
“That’s What It Takes” (Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Gary Wright) – 3:59
“Fish on the Sand” – 3:22
“Just for Today” – 4:06
“This Is Love” (Harrison, Lynne) – 3:48
“When We Was Fab” (Harrison, Lynne) – 3:57
Side two
“Devil’s Radio” – 3:52
“Someplace Else” – 3:51
“Wreck of the Hesperus” – 3:31
“Breath Away from Heaven” – 3:36
“Got My Mind Set on You” (Rudy Clark) – 3:52
2004 reissue[edit]
Bonus tracks
“Shanghai Surprise” – 5:09
Duet with Vicki Brown
“Zig Zag” (Harrison, Lynne) – 2:45
B-side to “When We Was Fab” single
iTunes Store bonus track
“Got My Mind Set on You (Extended Version)” (Clark) – 5:17
Originally from “Got My Mind Set on You” single
Personnel
The following personnel were credited in the liner notes.
George Harrison – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, sitar, backing vocals
Jeff Lynne – acoustic, electric and bass guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Eric Clapton – electric guitar on “Cloud 9”, “That’s What It Takes”, “Devil’s Radio” and “Wreck of the Hesperus”
Elton John – piano on “Cloud 9”, “Devil’s Radio” and “Wreck of the Hesperus”
Gary Wright – piano on “Just For Today” and “When We Was Fab”
Jim Horn – baritone and tenor sax on “Cloud 9” and “Got My Mind Set On You”
Ringo Starr – drums
Jim Keltner – drums
Ray Cooper – drums, percussion
Bobby Kok – cello
Vicki Brown – lead vocals on “Shanghai Surprise”