The pace throughout is languid and deliberate, giving the album a slightly dour feel. From the outset, "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" and "Living in the Material World" create a contrast with deceptive brightness. However, songs like "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" and "Try Some, Buy Some" disguise their slower tempos with rich arrangements. Ultimately, the album is composed mostly of ballads that could easily be mistaken for dirges due to their slow pace.
Harrison's production adds a layer of suppleness which tempers the album's air of introspection. Initially, he planned to collaborate once more with Phil Spector, but Spector was incapacitated. Therefore, Harrison took charge, nominally leading the sessions at Apple's new Savile Row studios but primarily recording at his home studio, FPSHOT. He assembled a close-knit group including Klaus Voorman, Nicky Hopkins, Gary Wright, Jim Keltner, and sometimes, Ringo Starr, leading to a profoundly intimate sound.
The 50th Anniversary edition showcases this intimacy through a remixed version of the original album by Paul Hicks, along with a bonus disc that comprises alternate takes of every track. The additional songs, including the B-side "Miss O'Dell" and "Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)," reveal subtle differences, but notably absent is the Indian instrumentation from the middle section of some tracks, further emphasizing the emotional core of the album.
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