| "Isn't It a Pity" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by George Harrison | ||||
| from the album All Things Must Pass | ||||
| A-side |
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| Released | 23 November 1970 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 7:10 | |||
| Label | Apple | |||
| Songwriter(s) | George Harrison | |||
| Producer(s) | George Harrison, Phil Spector | |||
| George Harrison singles chronology | ||||
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| "Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)" | |
|---|---|
| Song by George Harrison | |
| from the album All Things Must Pass | |
| Released | 27 November 1970 |
| Genre | Folk rock |
| Length | 4:45 |
| Label | Apple |
| Songwriter(s) | George Harrison |
| Producer(s) | George Harrison, Phil Spector |
"Isn't It a Pity" is a song by English rock musician George Harrison from his 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass. It appears in two variations there: one the well-known, seven-minute version; the other a reprise, titled "Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)". Harrison wrote the song in 1966, but it was rejected for inclusion on releases by the Beatles. In many countries around the world, the song was also issued on a double A-side single with "My Sweet Lord". In America, Billboard magazine listed it with "My Sweet Lord" when the single topped the Hot 100 chart, while in Canada, "Isn't It a Pity" reached number 1 as the preferred side.
An anthemic ballad and one of Harrison's most celebrated compositions, "Isn't It a Pity" has been described as the emotional and musical centrepiece of All Things Must Pass[1] and "a poignant reflection on The Beatles' coarse ending".[2] Co-produced by Phil Spector, the recording employs multiple keyboard players, rhythm guitarists and percussionists, as well as orchestral and choral arrangements by John Barham. The track also serves as a showcase for Harrison's slide guitar playing, a technique he introduced with All Things Must Pass. In its long fadeout, the song references the closing refrain of the Beatles' 1968 hit "Hey Jude". Other musicians on the recording include Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Gary Wright and the band Badfinger, while the reprise version features Eric Clapton on lead guitar.
The song appeared as the closing track on Harrison's career-spanning compilation Let It Roll (2009), and a live version, from his 1991 tour with Clapton, was included on Live in Japan (1992). Clapton and Preston performed the song together at the Concert for George tribute in November 2002. "Isn't It a Pity" has been covered by numerous artists, including Nina Simone, Dana, Matt Monro, Galaxie 500, Cowboy Junkies and Peter Frampton.