George Harrison Only Released Two Live Albums, And One Hits The Charts This Week

Throughout his career as a soloist, George Harrison only released two live albums. The first, The Concert for Bangladesh, was credited to Harrison and friends, and it became an unexpectedly massive success. The fundraising project was released in 1971 and would go on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

The former Beatle didn’t deliver another live project until two decades later. Live in Japan dropped in the summer of 1992. The project, which is in many instances attached to both Harrison and Eric Clapton and his band – although that is not the case on the charts of the United Kingdom – debuts on two tallies years after the musician’s death, as interest in all things related to every member of The Beatles remains incredibly high.

George Harrison’s Live in Japan Debuts in the U.K.

Harrison’s Live in Japan becomes a top 40 bestseller on only one of the two tallies where it launches this frame. The project opens at No. 38 on the Official Physical Albums chart, which focuses entirely on the bestselling releases that consumers can actually hold in their hands. Live in Japan also manages to start at No. 44 on the Official Albums Sales ranking, which is not specific to any one style or format.

George Harrison Earns a Milestone Win With Live in Japan

On the Official Physical Albums chart, Harrison scores his milestone tenth win on his own. He first appeared on the roster just over a quarter-century ago when All Things Must Pass launched in February 2001. That title would go on to become his highest-ranking success, as it missed out on ruling by just one spot.

Harrison has now racked up half a dozen placements on the even-more-competitive Official Albums Sales tally. All Things Must Pass also earned the rocker his initial chart appearance, although the set did not make it to the main sales roster until 20 years after it became a top performer on the Official Physical Albums rundown.

Live in Japan Marked a Goodbye for George Harrison

Live in Japan was not a huge commercial hit at the time it was released. In fact, this week appears to be its biggest yet on the rankings in Harrison’s home country of the U.K.

Live in Japan marked the singer-songwriter’s last release before his death in November 2001. By that point, he hadn’t delivered a solo collection on his own since 1987’s Cloud Nine. After that era, he helped form The Traveling Wilburys, which produced two semi-self-titled albums, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 and Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3. Those projects became both commercially successful and adored by critics, though the supergroup did not last long.

Less than a year after Harrison’s death, his estate released what has turned out to be his only posthumous studio album, Brainwashed. Several compilations and reissues – including this latest one – have also arrived, and there may be more collectors items coming down the pipeline, considering how well Live in Japan performs this week.