George Harrison's Wife Olivia Reflects on Rare Photos of Late Beatle Featured in New Book — See the Pics! (Exclusive)

The super deluxe box set of 'Living in the Material World,' in honor of its 50th anniversary, is out now

George Harrison posing with a statue in Friar Park, Henley On Thames
Photo:

 All artwork is owned by G.H. Estate Ltd.

George Harrison was just three years out of the Beatles when he released Living in the Material World in 1973, a moving rumination on the star's struggle to find spiritual enlightenment amid the excess of stardom.

Now, more than five decades later, the record is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a suite of new editions (out now). Among those is a super deluxe edition box set that includes a 60-page hardcover book curated by the Harrison Estate, including his wife, Olivia.

The book features never-before-seen photos of Harrison, who died in 2001 at age 58, spending time at his Friar Park property in England. It was a period in the star's life that he later called "very emotional," as he felt desperate to help the refugee crisis in Bangladesh.

He ultimately launched the Concert for Bangladesh and The Material World Foundation, and donated all of Material World's publishing royalties to the organization.

Here, Olivia Harrison reflects on rare and never-before-seen photos of her husband.

01 of 05

A Pensive Troubadour

George Harrison sitting on outdoor steps with guitar in hand.
George Harrison in 1973.

 All artwork is owned by G.H. Estate Ltd.

"George wearing the outfit and shoes he had on when I met him. He called these his 'vegetarian shoes.' He borrowed a house he thought was quite grand at the time, as an example of living in the material world."

02 of 05

Cheers!

George Harrison with a bishops hat on 1973
George Harrison in 1973.

 All artwork is owned by G.H. Estate Ltd.

"Obviously the theme of Living In the Material World was the dilemma of navigating both material and spiritual worlds in unison. Here is George illustrating both at the same time."

03 of 05

A Musician's Wish

Handwritten Give Me Love Lyrics by George Harrison
Handwritten lyrics to Harrison's "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)".

 All artwork is owned by G.H. Estate Ltd.

"I hope you revisit Living in the Material World, or discover it for the first time, and as you listen, share George’s wish for himself and mankind…..

Give me Love

Give me Love

Give me Peace on Earth."

04 of 05

Say Cheese

George Harrison posing with a statue in Friar Park, Henley On Thames
George Harrison in 1973.

 All artwork is owned by G.H. Estate Ltd.

"George in 1973 in the topiary at Friar Park. Unfortunately, one morning the statue was missing – taken by some local rapscallions."

05 of 05

Green Gardens

topiary garden Friar Park, Henley On Thames

Sue Flood

Friar Park was Harrison's Victorian neo-Gothic mansion in Henley-on-Thames, England, which he bought in 1970. He restored many of the home's gardens, including this Topiary Garden.

His and Olivia's son Dhani wrote in Olivia's book George Harrison: Living in the Material World that his earliest memories of his father were of the star "somewhere in a garden covered in dirt... just continuously planting trees. I think that's what I thought he did for the first seven years of my life."

Comments
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. PEOPLE does not endorse the opinions and views shared by readers in our comment sections.

Related Articles