Andy Smith (June 11, 2006)

I think this album is often quite overlooked. It has some great songs on it including So Sad, Maya Love, Far East Man & the title track.
George was quite tired by this stage of his carear & possibly needed a good break from recording but went ahead. His voice shows how fed up he possibly was but overall it is not a bad album.
Some of his great melodies are on here & the guitar work is pretty good.
As a guitarist George was a genius who had an incredible tone. he was very very underated!
The front cover of the album is quite impressive though and the inlay is a funny tribute to the Mel Brooks film The Producers.

Bruce Beatlefan (February 10, 2006)

At the time the Beatles broke up, I would have predicted that an album like this one (and the next several, as well) would be the George Harrison solo output. Unfortunately, with the superb albums All Things Must Pass and Living in the Material World, George had raised the bar so high that this album comes in as a disappointment. Some of the blame can be laid on the unwell condition of his voice, but really the only songs in the album that suffer from this are "So Sad", "Ding Dong Ding Dong", and maybe "Bye Bye Love"--one may argue that "Dark Horse" is actually a better song for the unusual, strained vocals. An okay album.

Bobber (January 18, 2006)

This album is easy to skip. There's nothing new and nothing special compared to All Things Must Pass and Living In The Material World. Not a memorable song on it.

Graeme Gerrard (November 21, 2005)

BeatleBeatle and I disagree on everything. I think George spread himself a little thin here. There are only 9 songs, one of which is a cover/rip off (ByeByeLove) with bitter undertones toward Patty and Eric Clapton, one is an instrumental (Hari's On Tour) without half the charm of later instrumental songs Greece or Marwa Blues, and one is a co-written flop with Ron Wood. (Far East Man)

It is however, better than anything else released by a Beatle in the mid 1970's so who cares.

BeatleBeatle (April 2, 2005)

Despite a sickened voice, George delivers a strong album with some of his best guitar work ever.

I'm strangely tempted to purchase another Harrison CD. Is this the one? (June 24, 2010)

You are here, undoubtedly, with a certain question. Now that you have All Things Must Pass (unquestionably one of the tops of any post Beatles effort, by anyone) should my collection include even one more Harrison album. YES!! That one is Dark Horse. (For the record, I like '73's "Living in the Material World" a lot (Dark Horse is better). I think that '76's "Thirty Three and a Third" is okay, too. (75's "Extra Texture" is a disaster.)
In 1974, "Paul" released "Band on the Run" and the critics and radio stations seemed determined to make it Paul's masterpiece (and it is a way cool cd). To do so, they wrongly seemed determined to prevent "Dark Horse" from competing with it. Although the songs "Ding Dong, Ding Dong" and "Dark Horse" got a lot of airplay and were successful top 40 hits, the album received no acclaim at the time and critics and DJs seemed to be disgusted with George's voice hoarceness. You'll likely agree with me that his hoarceness likely improves George's voice! I never thought that Geo had a particularly strong or great voice and i like the character that his hoarceness adds. The critics simply had an agenda and their antenna were down. Don't repeat their mistake and don't miss out any longer on this 70s era classic.
In retrospect, Dark Horse has incredible song writing and musicianship and is definitely within the top ten post-Beatles music, by "anyone." :) Enjoy!!
Note: Musician credits on the cd include: George and Ringo, Tom Scott, Max Bennett (bass), Robin Ford (guitar), Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins Billy Preston, Andy Newmark, Gary Wright and others.

C'mon, get real - this is a bad album. (February 16, 2010)

If this album wasn't by an ex-Beatle it would have quickly been relegated to the dust bin. There are exactly three songs on this that are tolerable - Hari's On Tour(no vocal!-good) - Simply Shady, and Dark Horse. The cover of Bye Bye Love is one of the most pathetic covers I have ever heard. Maya Love is boring, and Ding Dong is just about as dumb as the song title implies. A real misfire for Geroge on this one.

Dark Hoarse (November 9, 2009)

this actually has pretty good songs marred only that George recorded some with a sore throat. i wish he'd have waited 6 months after his throat healed & his 1974 tour. then this would be one of his classics.

at the time, George said its only a rock & roll lp, so he used his injured voice but many years later and for all generations, we are stuck with a flawed recording.

such were the times & short sightedness of all involved then.

Dark Horse Years (July 19, 2009)

Hari's on tour is an instramental piece that is upbeat new york sound, with a nice touch of the sax.
Simply Shady dark lyrics is an expression of George's personal struggles at the time.
So Sad, is my favorite song, with a wonderful 12 string guitar shows the special Harrison sound. The Lyrics are story telling like "Let it roll"
Bye Bye, Love a remake of the Everly Brothers song, would be a good B-side on a 45.
Maya Love, sounds a bit like Bye Bye, Love, nothing special.
Ding Dong, Ding Dong, I love this song, would be a good new years song, or new beginings song. Like Lennon's Happy Xmas song.
Dark Horse, George's raspy voice, very different from his other softer songs.
Far East Man, is a very nice song, "this is Franks song, we love you Frank." Nice Saxaphone. A soft laid back continuation of "Bangladesh"
It is "HE" (Jai Sri Krishna) A Hindu religous theme.

Jai Sri Krishna (May 29, 2009)

Loved this album in my twenties, just bought the CD version and love it in my late 40's. If you have a leaning towards eastern music and Krishna referencing you will like this album. Best tracks Hari's on Tour, Bye Bye Love, Ding Dong, Dark Horse, Far East Man and It is He.