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Read the original blog post12.10pm
31 March 2008
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Recorded: 24 May – 13 September 1976
Producers: George Harrison, Tom Scott
Released: 19 November 1976 (UK), 24 November 1976 (US)
Thirty Three & ?, George Harrison ’s seventh solo album, was his first release on his Dark Horse record label.
In addition to making reference to the speed at which an LP revolves on a turntable – 33 ? revolutions per minute – the album’s title was inspired by Harrison’s age during the album’s genesis. He turned 33 on 25 February 1976, and recorded Thirty Three & ? between May and September that year. See more…
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5.42pm
15 May 2015
Offline I went through all eleven pages in the George Harrison section and to my surprise saw no one had started this topic.
I like the sound engineering and the instrumental arranging on these songs — quite pleasing.
One song, “Pure Smokey”, has some odd lyrics — for example:
And I thank You Lord
For giving to us pure smokey, pure smokey
Smokey, pure smokey
What did George mean by “smokey”?
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6.04pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
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@Pineapple Records As I understand it’s referring to Smokey Robinson.
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6.20pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline As Silly Girl said ‘Pure Smokey’ is a tribute to Smokey Robinson of who(m) George was a huge fan of.
Not my favourite George album (or in my top 5) but a welcome return to form after the dismal and uninspiring releases that were ‘Dark Horse ‘ (the title song is fabulous but thats it) and ‘Extra Texture (Read All About It)’. George was in a better place spiritually, physically and mentally and the album is all the better for it.
‘Woman Don’t You Cry For Me’ is probably my favourite track on the album but ‘Beautiful Girl’ would be close.
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6.25pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline It was George’s second tribute to Smokey Robinson – the first being Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You) on Extra Texture .
I’ve always liked Smokey Robinson and he’s probably one of the best songwriters around … I’m trying to make the point — if I like someone I want to say “I like you”. I don’t want [for them] to die and then to think “Oh, I forgot to tell them I liked them” … So this song turned into an all purpose thing of generally trying to show appreciation, and then to focus on my appreciation of Smokey. (1979)
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1.44am
15 May 2015
Offline Ah thanks Ron Nasty — why didn’t I think of that! All I could think of was “On Top of Old Smokey”, Smokey Bear, and cigarettes…
Last year, a whole bunch of musicians put out an album with Smokey (still alive and kicking), including Elton John and James Taylor.
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8.59am
28 March 2014
Offline I prefer 45’s myself… 
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6.11am
12 May 2015
Offline I actually prefer “Extra Texture ” this comes off as a bit uninspired and the production is dreary. George had been quite ill though during the sessions.
I do like “beautiful girl” and “Pure smokey” though.
8.05am
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline I like dis album. 
When I first heard it, I wasn’t keen on the production, but it grew on me. It’s a happy record, with some very amusing tunes, and it doesn’t drag. Plus ‘Beautiful Girl’ is beautiful. 
And Crackerbox Palace is grand too.
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8.50am
11 June 2015
Offline Pineapple Records said
Ah thanks Ron Nasty — why didn’t I think of that! All I could think of was “On Top of Old Smokey”, Smokey Bear, and cigarettes…Last year, a whole bunch of musicians put out an album with Smokey (still alive and kicking), including Elton John and James Taylor.
I believe John quoted Smokey several times in his song writing. For one, the first lines of Sexy Sadie are a direct reference to “I’ve Been Good To You”.
You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
9.37am
Members
18 March 2013
Offline Thirty Three & 1/3 is a solid album. I love listening to it when I’m on a beach (along with Gone Troppo ).
I love Woman Don’t You Cry For Me, Dear One, This Song and Crackerbox Palace.
I had a really weird experience when I was listening to Dear One before (I think I mentioned it here).
I was listening to it in my old bedroom where an entire wall was devoted to posters, pictures from magazines/books that I cut out etc.
While ‘Dear One’ was playing, it got to the part “you hear my spirit sing to you” and one of my George posters just fell to the ground, scared the living bejaysus out of me!
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9.54am
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline AppleScruffJunior sang
Thirty Three & 1/3 is a solid album. I love listening to it when I’m on a beach (along with Gone Troppo ).
Ooh, there’s an idea. I must remember to take them along next time I go to the shore.
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6.20pm
15 November 2018
Offline Fantastic album which I love dearly. My favorites are probably Woman Don’t You Cry For Me, Beautiful Girl, This Song, and Crackerbox Palace.
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4.48pm
28 April 2020
Offline 33 1/3 was the current George album, when I became a Beatles fan … I think I bought it a year or so after it was released, so I have always had a soft spot for it. It is enjoyable to listen to, with no poor songs and has always been a favourite.
I always thought it was interesting, that apart from the speed of the vinyl album, 33 1/3 was Georges age when it was released, or it should have been but the release was delayed by a few months!
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Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline ^It was really very serendipitous. One of my favorite things about the record, actually. 
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12.41pm
14 June 2016
Offline alittlebitolder said
33 1/3 was the current George album, when I became a Beatles fan … I think I bought it a year or so after it was released, so I have always had a soft spot for it. It is enjoyable to listen to, with no poor songs and has always been a favourite.I always thought it was interesting, that apart from the speed of the vinyl album, 33 1/3 was Georges age when it was released, or it should have been but the release was delayed by a few months!
Wow, thanks for stealing what I was going to say about this album after seeing it pop up in the recent forums list due to you making this post stealing the post idea that I had not yet come up with.
In all seriousness. I’ve always thought that was neat too. The title is both the speed of the record and George’s age at the time. I didn’t make the record speed connection until I was a senior in high school and first started collecting records. It was at the moment I first held a vinyl copy of the album in my hand that I realized the double meaning.
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