Two playlists for a sad anniversary.

Well, it's been eight years now since we lost George Harrison to cancer. On this day in 2001, I remember being in my still-fairly-new Boston apartment, pacing around the bedroom and trying to get some writing done (I was in a grad program for creative writing) and just being completely blocked, so I turned on the radio to procrastinate a little and suddenly it was all George all the time. There was not much hope of getting any writing done once I heard the news.

Remember George however you wish today. I'm offering two playlists to help you out. Here's a playlist of what I feel to be some of the happiest performances of a not-always-totally-happy guy: George at his youngest, cutest, and liveliest. Most alive, if you'd like.

1. Glad All Over

2. Here Comes the Sun

3. Savoy Truffle

4. Young Blood

5. For You Blue

6. Nothin' Shakin'

7. It's All Too Much

8. Something

9. All Things Must Pass

10. Don't Ever Change

But I thought I should also do a playlist of some of my favorite George guitar moments. If it hadn't been for George, all these Lennon-McCartney songs would have been vastly inferior to what they turned out to be. If these seem obvious, it's because they largely ARE-- but still, they're fun to listen to.

1. A Hard Day's Night

2. She Said She Said

3. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) **(okay, not strictly a guitar moment. sue me.)

4. And I Love Her

5. And Your Bird Can Sing

6. Sun King

7. Can't Buy Me Love

8. It Won't Be Long

9. Paperback Writer

10. The End

11. Let It Be

And finally, because I cannot help myself (and because I secretly have sometimes questionable taste), the video for the first song by George I ever remember liking. You could not stop my eight-year-old self from dancing around to this one. Yeah, it's a cover, but who even remembers the original anymore? George's version rules. Enjoy!