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Rating: When this album was released in December 1974, it was presented to the buyer with almost pietistic notes asking reviewers to treat it with care and delicacy because it was made exclusively for the pleasure of those who would listen to it.
In "Dark Horse," George Harrison's crisis of inspiration is profound. We are very far from the excellent quality of "All Things Must Pass," the triumphs of the concert for Bangladesh, and the fairly pleasant "Living In The Material World." At the time, Harrison was going through a turbulent period in his life. He was dealing with a severe laryngitis and his marriage to Pattie Boyd was in deep crisis. The couple's problems, due to Boyd's flirts first with Ron Wood and then with Eric Clapton, emerge in the lyrics of various songs. Certainly, "Simply Shady," "Far East Man" and the depressing "So Sad", evoke the moods of a betrayed lover. Even the cover of "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers turns into a bitter reflection on the end of his relationship with his wife. "Maya Love" is flat and colorless while the title track of the album works well and removed from the general context, is effective. But it's too little. "It Is He" with its Anglo-Hindi lyrics, has no reason to exist and "Ding, Dong" is an empty and meaningless little song. Unfortunately, at the time it was released as a single, contributing to tarnish the image that Harrison had built in the years following the separation from the famous original group.
"Dark Horse" is a truly boring and idea-less album. The beauty and compositional mastery of songs like "Isn't It A Pity" and "Beware Of Darkness," here seem lost forever. The album is played impeccably by the usual session men who accompany George in the recording studio, but his voice is terribly hoarse and expressionless. It is one of his lowest creative moments, even though later "Extra Texture" and "Gone Troppo" would manage to do worse. It's a pity that a former Beatle has made an album like this.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 Ding Dong, Ding Dong (03:41)
Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the false
Ring in the true
Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Yesterday, today was tomorrow
And tomorrow, today will be yesterday
So ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the false
Ring in the true
Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Ding-dong, ding-dong
07 Dark Horse (03:55)
You thought that you knew where I was and when
But it looks like they've been foolin' you again
You thought that you'd got me all steaked out
But baby looks like I've been breaking out
I'm a dark horse
Running on a dark race course
I'm a blue moon
Since I stepped from out of the womb
I've been a cool jerk
Looking for the source
I'm a dark horse
You thought you had got me in your grip
Baby looks like you was not so smart
And I became too slippery for you
But let me say that was nothing new
I'm a dark horse
Running on a dark race course
I'm a blue moon
Since I picked up my first spoon
I've been a cool jerk
Looking for the source
I'm a dark horse
I thought that you knew it all along
Until you started getting me not right
Seems as if you heared a little late
But I warned you when
We both were at the starting gate
I'm a dark horse
Running on a dark race course
I'm a blue moon
Since I stepped from out of the womb
I've been a cool jerk
Who's looking for his perks
I'm a dark horse
I'm a dark horse
Running on a dark race course
I'm a blue moon
Since I stepped from out of the womb
I've been a cool jerk
Cooking at the source
I'm a dark horse
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