My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity

"My Sweet Lord", George Harrison's signature song, was his debut single as a solo artist. It topped charts worldwide; it was the biggest-selling single of 1971 in the UK. In USA and UK, the song was the first #1 single by an ex-Beatle. It was issued in many countries around the world on a double A-side single with "Isn't It A Pity".
Originally, the intention had been to release "Isn't It a Pity" as the lead single from "All Things Must Pass" in October 1970 but, on co-producer Phil Spector's insistence, it was eventually issued as a double A-side single on 23 November 1970 in the US, four days ahead of the album.
Reflecting the equal status of the two tracks, both sides of the single's picture sleeve featured the same Barry Feinstein photo of Harrison, taken through a window at his recently purchased Friar Park home.
Principal recording for "My Sweet Lord" took place at EMI Studios. Phil McDonald was the recording engineer for the basic track. It was taped on 28 May 1970. Take 16 of "My Sweet Lord" was selected for overdubs. From late July onwards, Harrison and Peter Frampton added further acoustic guitars to the song. The chorus vocals were all sung by Harrison and credited to the George O'Hara-Smith Singers. These contributions, together with Harrison's slide guitar parts and John Barham's orchestral arrangement, were overdubbed during the next two months, partly at Trident Studios with engineer Ken Scott.
The single mix of the song differs from that found on the album by featuring less echo and a slightly altered backing-vocal track.
Harrison wrote "Isn't It A Pity" in 1966, but it was rejected for inclusion on releases by The Beatles.
Recording began on 2 June 1970 at EMI Studios. The song provided a showcase for Harrison's newly adopted slide guitar style.