George Harrison · 1987 · Behind the Songs
“Got My Mind Set on You” gave George Harrison an unexpected late-career triumph, and it remains one of his most joyful recordings.
“Got My Mind Set on You” gave George Harrison an unexpected late-career triumph, and it remains one of his most joyful recordings. Released in 1987 on the album Cloud Nine, it is a cover of a song first recorded by James Ray in 1962. Harrison’s version, produced with Jeff Lynne, reached No. 1 in the United States, making him one of the few artists to top the American chart in three different decades as a solo performer and group member.
The song is pure pleasure. Harrison’s vocal performance is relaxed and confident, his slide guitar sparkles throughout, and the arrangement has a clean, modern sheen that suited the late 1980s without sounding dated. It is a love song about determination — about knowing what you want and not being distracted — and Harrison sings it with a grin you can hear.
What makes the recording special is its sense of renewal. After several years away from the spotlight, Harrison sounded like a man enjoying music again, free from expectation. “Got My Mind Set on You” introduced him to a new audience and reminded longtime listeners why his voice, and his guitar, were so distinctive. It is a reminder that a great song, in the right hands, can feel brand new — and that George Harrison, more than a decade after his solo breakthrough, still had surprises left.