Here Comes the Sun

Zoo Freaks, get ready to soak up the good vibes as The Zoo Crew spins Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles from their iconic Abbey Road album. This George Harrison-penned gem was born in a moment of pure relief, as Harrison recalled in his autobiography, I Me Mine. Fed up with the stressful business meetings at Apple Corps, he skipped out and headed to Eric Clapton’s garden in Surrey, where the song’s seeds were planted. Strumming an acoustic guitar, Harrison found inspiration in the arrival of spring after a long English winter, crafting a track that radiates hope and renewal. As he put it, “The relief of not having to go see all those dopey accountants was wonderful,” and that freedom shines through in the song’s uplifting melody.

The recording of Here Comes the Sun kicked off on July 7, 1969, at EMI Studios, coincidentally on Ringo Starr’s 29th birthday. Without John Lennon, who was recovering from a car accident, Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Starr laid down 13 takes, with Harrison’s Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar leading the charge. The song’s innovative use of the Moog synthesizer, which Harrison had recently acquired, added a distinctive texture, making it a standout on Abbey Road. Posts on X from Beatles Bible note that Harrison recorded his lead vocals on July 8, 1969, with McCartney adding lush harmony backing vocals, double-tracked for that signature Beatles fullness. The track’s complex time signature changes, influenced by Harrison’s love for Indian classical music, also caught the ear of critics, who hailed it as one of his finest compositions.

In a 1969 interview with David Wigg, Harrison downplayed the song’s commercial appeal, saying it and Something were “maybe a bit more commercial” than his earlier work but “not much better” as songs. Yet, its universal appeal has proven him wrong—by May 2023, it became the first Beatles song to hit one billion streams on a major platform, a fact celebrated across The Beatles’ Facebook and Instagram pages. The song’s cultural impact is undeniable, used to promote Abbey Road’s 50th anniversary reissue in 2019 and covered by artists like Richie Havens and Booker T. & the M.G.’s. A Reddit post on r/beatles even sparked chatter about Harrison’s 1979 song Here Comes the Moon, showing how his sunny legacy endures in fan discussions.

The Beatles, formed in Liverpool in 1960, started as a scrappy skiffle group called The Quarrymen, with John Lennon at the helm. Paul McCartney joined in 1957, followed by George Harrison in 1958, bringing their classic lineup together. By 1960, with Ringo Starr replacing Pete Best on drums, they became The Beatles, honing their craft in Hamburg’s gritty clubs. Their early sound, rooted in 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, evolved through relentless gigging and the genius of Lennon and McCartney’s songwriting. Manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin polished their raw energy, launching them to global fame with hits like I Want to Hold Your Hand by 1964. Their innovative studio work, blending pop, folk, and psychedelia, revolutionized music, with Abbey Road showcasing their peak artistry.

Connect with The Beatles on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Fans can dive deeper at Beatles Wiki or join vibrant discussions on the r/beatles subreddit. For more community vibes, check out The Beatles Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can share their love for the Fab Four’s timeless tunes.