When We Was Fab
"When We Was Fab" is a song by English musician George Harrison, which he released on his 1987 album "Cloud Nine". It was also issued as the second single from the album, in January 1988. The lyrics serve as a nostalgic reflection by Harrison on the days of Beatlemania during the 1960s, when the Beatles were first referred to as "the Fab Four". Harrison co-wrote the song with Jeff Lynne, who also co-produced the track. The recording references the psychedelic sound that the Beatles had helped popularise in 1967, through its use of sitar , cello, and backwards-relayed effects. Harrison's former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr is among the other musicians on the track. The single was accompanied by an innovative music video, directed by the partnership of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. One of Harrison's most popular songs, "When We Was Fab" has appeared on the compilations "Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989" (1989) and "" (2009). Music. "When We Was Fab" has similarities to songs by the Beatles, such as "I Am the Walrus" (1967). It uses a string quartet and psychedelic effects as did many Beatles songs. Release. In the United Kingdom , it peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart, and in the United States, the song peaked at number 23 on "Billboard" magazine's Hot 100 chart. It was Harrison's last top 40 hit in the US, and the second such hit in which the lyrics reflect on his years as a Beatle – the other being "All Those Years Ago" (1981). In 2010, AOL radio listeners chose "When We Was Fab" as one of the "10 Best George Harrison Songs", placing it number 9 on the list. Cover art. The single cover incorporates Klaus Voormann's 1966 line  drawing of Harrison, which was used in the album art for the Beatles's 1966 album "Revolver", and on which the letters ER from the title are visible, along with a similar, updated drawing of Harrison 22 years later. Music video. The music video that accompanied the song was directed by Godley & Creme. It features a many-armed Harrison busking in front of a brick wall, as numerous people on the street pass him by, including many British musicians with whom Harrison had previously collaborated. Most prominent amongst these are Ringo Starr, who appears first as Harrison's roadie and  then as a drummer, and Jeff Lynne, both of whom also played on the track. Elton John makes an appearance, putting a coin in Harrison's cup, as does percussionist Ray Cooper, and Neil Aspinall, the Beatles' former road manager, assistant, and later head of Apple Corps, holding a copy of John Lennon's 1971 "Imagine" album. Paul McCartney was for a long time rumoured to have appeared in the walrus suit, playing the bass, after Harrison stated in a televised interview that it was indeed McCartney in the video, "but he was camera shy that day and he kept  his walrus mask on." The bassist in the video is playing left handed, thus implying that it is at least intended as a reference to McCartney; however, in a 1995 interview, McCartney said, "George wanted me to be in it but I wasn't available. So I suggested that he put someone else in the walrus and tell everyone that it was me." Though Paul Simon has been rumoured to be the figure pushing a cart, in 2020 director Kevin Godley told the "Nothing Is Real" podcast he had no recollection of Simon being involved. The video includes numerous visual  metaphors and references to Harrison's time with the Beatles, including a green apple (the logo of Apple Records, the Beatles' label), Harrison wearing his iconic outfit from the cover of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", and having multiple arms, evoking the many-armed gods of Hindu traditions. The video received six nominations at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards, including best art director for Sid Bartholomew.