Summary

“Something” stands as George Harrison’s masterpiece and one of The Beatles’ most beloved recordings. Released in September 1969 on the Abbey Road album, this elegant love ballad broke new ground as the first Harrison composition to appear as an A-side single for the band. Frank Sinatra declared it “the greatest love song of the past 50 years,” and it became one of the most covered songs in music history with over 150 recorded versions. The song showcases Harrison’s evolution from “the quiet Beatle” into a world-class songwriter, combining sophisticated chord progressions, tender lyrics, and an iconic guitar solo that remains a benchmark for melodic rock guitar playing.

Core Facts

Attribute	Details
Song Title	Something
Artist	The Beatles
Writer	George Harrison
Producer	George Martin
Album	Abbey Road
Release Date	September 26, 1969 (album); October 6, 1969 (US single)
Record Label	Apple Records
Duration	3:03
Genre	Rock, Pop, Ballad
US Chart Peak	#1 (Billboard Hot 100)
UK Chart Peak	#4
Key	C major
Recording Location	EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London

Timeline

• September 1968 – George Harrison begins writing “Something” during sessions for The White Album at Abbey Road Studios.
• Late 1968 – Harrison offers the song to Jackie Lomax, who doesn’t record it. Joe Cocker records an early version that appears on his album With a Little Help from My Friends.
• February–August 1969 – The Beatles record “Something” during the Abbey Road sessions, with intensive work on April 16 and May 2, 1969.
• August 4, 1969 – Final orchestral overdubs added, with George Martin’s string arrangement completed.
• September 26, 1969 – Abbey Road album released in the UK, featuring “Something” as the second track on Side One.
• October 6, 1969 – “Something” released as a double A-side single with “Come Together” in the United States.
• October 31, 1969 – Single released in the UK.
• November 29, 1969 – “Something” reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
• 1970s – Frank Sinatra begins performing “Something” regularly, calling it the greatest love song in 50 years.
• 2004 – Rolling Stone ranks “Something” at #278 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Historical Context

By 1969, The Beatles were in a state of creative tension and internal conflict. The troubled Get Back sessions (later released as Let It Be) had nearly broken the band apart, but they reunited for one final collaborative effort: Abbey Road. Within this context, George Harrison emerged from the shadows of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership with two career-defining compositions: “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun.”

Harrison had struggled for years to get his songs onto Beatles records. Lennon and McCartney dominated the songwriting credits, and Harrison’s contributions were often limited to one or two tracks per album. “Something” changed everything. John Lennon himself acknowledged that it was “the best track on the album,” and Paul McCartney later admitted he wished he had written it.

The song’s title and opening line were inspired by James Taylor’s “Something in the Way She Moves,” which Harrison heard while Taylor was signed to Apple Records in 1968. Harrison initially used the phrase as a placeholder while developing the melody, but eventually crafted original lyrics around it. The romantic nature of the song was widely attributed to Harrison’s love for his wife Pattie Boyd, though Harrison himself remained ambiguous about the song’s subject, suggesting it could be about any woman—or even a divine presence, reflecting his spiritual interests.

The decision to release “Something” as an A-side was unprecedented for a Harrison composition. Apple Records paired it with “Come Together” as a double A-side, giving both tracks equal billing. This strategic choice acknowledged Harrison’s growing stature and the song’s undeniable commercial appeal.

Musical Significance & Innovation

“Something” demonstrates Harrison’s sophisticated approach to songwriting, blending classic pop sensibilities with subtle harmonic complexity. The song opens with one of rock’s most recognizable guitar figures—a descending chromatic line that immediately establishes the song’s romantic atmosphere.

The harmonic structure moves through unexpected chord changes that give the song its emotional depth. The verse progression in C major features a chromatic descent in the bass that creates tension and release, while the bridge modulates to A major, providing a dramatic shift that intensifies the emotional impact before returning to the home key.

Harrison’s guitar solo, played on his Gibson Les Paul through a Leslie speaker, stands as one of rock’s most melodic instrumental passages. Rather than relying on technical fireworks, Harrison constructed a solo that functions almost as a vocal melody, singing through his instrument with restraint and taste. The use of the Leslie speaker—typically associated with organ sounds—gave the guitar a distinctive swirling quality that became part of the song’s sonic signature.

George Martin’s string arrangement adds orchestral grandeur without overwhelming the song’s intimate character. The strings enter gradually, building through the second verse and chorus before reaching full bloom in the final section. This careful layering exemplifies the production values that made Abbey Road a technical benchmark for rock recording.

Paul McCartney’s bass performance deserves special recognition. Rather than simply holding down the root notes, McCartney crafted melodic bass lines that weave counterpoint throughout the arrangement, adding another layer of musicality to the recording.

Cultural Impact & Legacy

“Something” transcended its era to become a timeless standard. Frank Sinatra’s endorsement—calling it “the greatest love song of the past 50 years”—introduced the song to audiences beyond rock fans and cemented its place in the Great American Songbook tradition. Sinatra performed the song regularly throughout the 1970s and beyond, though he famously misattributed it to Lennon-McCartney before learning of Harrison’s authorship.

The song has been covered by over 150 artists across multiple genres, including Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, James Brown, Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, and Smokey Robinson. This remarkable diversity of interpretations speaks to the song’s universal appeal and its structural strength—a melody and chord progression that works equally well as a rock ballad, a jazz standard, or a soul showcase.

For George Harrison personally, “Something” represented a breakthrough that validated his abilities alongside Lennon and McCartney. The song’s success gave him confidence to pursue a solo career after The Beatles’ dissolution, culminating in his acclaimed triple album All Things Must Pass (1970).

The song has been used in countless wedding ceremonies, becoming a modern standard for expressing romantic devotion. Its opening line—”Something in the way she moves”—has entered common parlance as an expression of indefinable attraction.

In 2021, director Peter Jackson’s documentary The Beatles: Get Back provided new footage of The Beatles working on “Something,” offering intimate glimpses of Harrison’s creative process and the band’s collaborative dynamics during their final years together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote “Something” by The Beatles?

George Harrison wrote “Something,” making it the first Harrison composition to appear as an A-side single for The Beatles. It was released as a double A-side with “Come Together” in October 1969.

What inspired George Harrison to write “Something”?

Harrison began writing “Something” during the White Album sessions in 1968. He was inspired by the song “Something in the Way She Moves” by James Taylor. The lyrics were initially a placeholder, but Harrison developed them into a love song, widely believed to be about his wife Pattie Boyd, though Harrison later said it could be about any woman or even a divine presence.

What did Frank Sinatra say about “Something”?

Frank Sinatra famously called “Something” “the greatest love song of the past 50 years.” He frequently performed the song in his live shows, though he initially and incorrectly attributed it to Lennon-McCartney before learning it was written by George Harrison.

How did “Something” perform on the charts?

“Something” reached number one in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the UK, it peaked at number four. The song became The Beatles’ best-selling single worldwide and has been covered by over 150 artists.

What is significant about the guitar solo in “Something”?

George Harrison’s guitar solo in “Something” is considered one of the finest in rock history. He crafted a melodic, emotionally expressive solo that complements the romantic nature of the song, demonstrating his maturity as both a songwriter and guitarist.

Was “Something” The Beatles’ first George Harrison A-side?

Yes, “Something” was the first George Harrison composition released as an A-side single by The Beatles. Previously, his songs had only appeared as album tracks or B-sides, making this release a significant milestone in his career within the band.

What instruments are featured on “Something”?

The recording features George Harrison on lead vocals and lead guitar, John Lennon on rhythm guitar and piano, Paul McCartney on bass guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums. The song also features a lush string arrangement by George Martin, adding orchestral depth to the production.

Sources & Verification

• Emerick, Geoff, and Howard Massey. Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles. Gotham Books, 2006.
• Harrison, George. I Me Mine. Chronicle Books, 1980 (extended edition 2002).
• Lewisohn, Mark. The Beatles Recording Sessions. Harmony Books, 1988.
• MacDonald, Ian. Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties. Vintage, 1994 (revised 2005).
• Miles, Barry. The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years. Omnibus Press, 2001.
• Official Charts Company. “The Beatles Chart History.” officialcharts.com.
• Billboard. “The Beatles Chart History.” billboard.com.
• Rolling Stone. “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” rollingstone.com.
• Winn, John C. That Magic Feeling: The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970. Three Rivers Press, 2009.
• The Beatles. Abbey Road (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition liner notes). Apple Records, 2019.