Release
The album was released on 27 November 1970 in the United States, and on 30 November 1970 in the UK, with the rare distinction of having the same Apple catalogue number (STCH 639) in both countries. "My Sweet Lord" was issued as the first single, and was highly successful, topping national singles charts all around the world during the first few months of 1971.
The album itself was number 1 in the UK for eight weeks, although it would take decades before this was officially acknowledged. (Due to a two-month postal strike in Britain over the winter of 1970−71, and the resultant delay in receiving sales data from record retailers, All Things Must Pass was originally listed as having reached number 4. It was only in 2006 that the Official UK Charts Company changed its records to show that Harrison's was the top-selling album throughout that time.)
In America, All Things Must Pass spent seven weeks at number 1 on the Billboard 200, from 2 January 1971 until 20 February, part of which coincided with "My Sweet Lord" holding the top spot on the singles chart. Not only was Harrison the first Beatle to achieve the prestigious double − holding the top positions on Billboard's albums and singles listings during the same week(s) − but it was a feat that none of the others would equal for another two-and-a-half years, when Paul McCartney & Wings repeated the achievement. All Things Must Pass was awarded a gold disc on 17 December 1970 and has since been certified six times platinum, making it Harrison's most commercially successful album.
Read more about this topic: All Things Must Pass
Famous quotes containing the word release:
“If I were to be taken hostage, I would not plead for release nor would I want my government to be blackmailed. I think certain government officials, industrialists and celebrated persons should make it clear they are prepared to be sacrificed if taken hostage. If that were done, what gain would there be for terrorists in taking hostages?”
—Margaret Mead (1901–1978)
“The near touch of death may be a release into life; if only it will break the egoistic will, and release that other flow.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“As nature requires whirlwinds and cyclones to release its excessive force in a violent revolt against its own existence, so the spirit requires a demonic human being from time to time whose excessive strength rebels against the community of thought and the monotony of morality ... only by looking at those beyond its limits does humanity come to know its own utmost limits.”
—Stefan Zweig (18811942)