Did George really write 'Got My Mind Set On You'?

[BigGeorge]

Did George Harrison really write this song or was it John Lennon? I heard from a trusted source that John Lennon gave this song to George Harrison as a gift on his 31st birthday (Lennons birthday that is, not Harrisons LOL) because right before the party Paul McCartney and Lennon discovered that they both had bought Harrison the same top, so in a panic Lennon dumped the top and gave him this song instead.

Discuss.

[2 of 3]

Neither wrote it. I was a cover tune. From Wiki: "Got My Mind Set on You" is a song written by Rudy Clark and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962.

I still can't figure out why a "Beatle" would release a cover tune as a single.

[Kylenz]

Neither! That 'trusted source' is a load of rubbish!   Sorry to say!

Got My Mind Set On You was written by Rudy Clark and recorded by James Ray in 1962. George plucked the song from relative obscurity and covered it on his Cloud 9 album.

Here's the original James Ray version, on YouTube:


Unless this thread is a wind-up, and in that case, oops I'll back away slowly, hehe!  

[Kylenz]

Snap, 2of3! haha

[mervap]

Thanks for posting that vid....I'd never heard the original...

[DazedOblivion]

I never knew that either about James Ray's song. Can't say it's surprising though. Thanks.

@2 of 3: I spent a couple seconds last night trying to kill your avatar! *lol*

[oldasSoul]

Thank you for posting that song. Great singer, but the choral backing is a little too enthusiastic!

Perhaps the Lads thought about covering this one way back when, or George suggested doing it, but they couldn't get the right arrangement/sound/feel. Would have been a great question to ask George.