Here Comes the Sun — George Harrison’s track lit up The Beatles’ Abbey Road album

Harrison and McCartney sang the winsome vocal harmonies while producer George Martin added an 18-piece orchestral arrangement. Perhaps sensing the song’s simple charm, Martin mixed the orchestra’s contribution low. “Here Comes the Sun” joined Harrison’s “Something” on Abbey Road; those two songs would be widely considered as among the album’s high points — and establish Harrison as an equal to Lennon-McCartney as a songwriter — when the album was released in late September. 

While never released as a single, “Here Comes the Sun” was quickly picked up by musicians, with more Black singers embracing it than any previous Beatles song. Richie Havens recorded a live version that, when released as a single in 1971, reached number 16 in the US singles chart. Havens strums his guitar at an up-tempo pace, while another acoustic guitarist picks out the melody; Havens sings quietly and with affection.

Nina Simone, who by now was regularly recording popular rock/pop songs, also cut Harrison’s song in 1971, including it on an album called Here Comes the Sun. Simone sings in a gentle, reflective manner over a cha-cha rhythm; only an overly busy string section detracts. Peter Tosh released his version as a single in Jamaica in 1971 while still a member of The Wailers (alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer). Tosh sings the track slowly and rather ominously over a huge bass line. If you own a copy of Tosh’s 45 then you should be in a sunny mood as reggae collectors now pay around £200 for it. In 2022 the British singer Joss Stone also recorded a reggae version on a Simone tribute album. Her recording matches neither Tosh or Simone’s efforts.

In 1972 Charles Wright, the Los Angeles funk merchant best known for “Express Yourself”, included it on his album Rhythm & Poetry. This is a soulful version that finds Wright’s gruff voice cracking as his band heat up the tempo, creating a big, warm hug of a song.

In contrast, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s shouty, jerky rock workout should be avoided (though it went top 10 in the UK during 1976’s hot summer). Many versions followed — there are well over 300 recordings of “Here Comes the Sun” — and it is the first recording made in the 1960s to top 1bn streams. Its warm melody and gentle sense of optimism — the mantra-like chant of “Sun, sun, sun, here it comes” and optimistic lyrics, “Little darling, the smile’s returning to the faces” — have made it a popular standard, beloved of buskers and choirs. 

There are myriad versions to choose from, but a personal favourite is the one by Womack & Womack — the husband-and-wife duo who hailed from US R&B royalty (Linda was Sam Cooke’s daughter, Cecil was Bobby Womack’s younger brother). They chose “Here Comes the Sun” to close their 1985 album Radio M.U.S.C. Man, employing a gentle reggae rhythm, gorgeous harmonies and chants of “good day sunshine” (referencing the song from The Beatles’ Revolver album), creating a soulful, loving interpretation akin to a hymn — which is just how George Harrison said he saw his song.