George Harrison hit rejected as Beatles song by Lennon and McCartney | Music | Entertainment

It was 35 years ago when Got My Mind Set On You became Harrison’s third solo No 1 hit, the last chart-topping single by any of The Beatles. The track was the only one of former Beatle’s three US No 1 singles that he did not write or compose and that featured no religious overtones.

After scoring his third chart-topper, he surpassed his three-way tie with John Lennon and Ringo Starr for two No 1 singles as solo artists. As for why The Beatles originally turned down the song when originally suggested by Harrison, there was really only one specific reason.

The story goes that he pitched Got My Mind Set On You but Lennon and McCartney weren’t keen on it, simply because it was a cover, despite putting their own stamp on songs like Twist and Shout in the early days. Seems like a missed opportunity, although it’s hardly surprising given that the duo are the most successful original songwriting partnership in the history of music.

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