Faster (George Harrison song)
Encyclopedia
"Faster" is the third single from George Harrison
's 1979 eponymous album George Harrison
. Faster begins the second side of the LP, and is the sixth track on the CD. It was released as the third single
of the album but was not issued as a 45 in the USA.
races instead of writing any songs.
Harrison had been talking to Niki Lauda
after the Watkins Glen Race
, and became inspired to write a song "that Niki
-Jody
-Emerson
and the gang could enjoy". Harrison got the title of the song from Jackie Stewart
's book, and then wrote the chorus. He wrote the rest of the song in a way that did not limit it to only motor cars, the only car-related word being machinery. However, when sound effects from the 1978 British Grand Prix
were added to the song, it was clearly associated to motor cars.
Harrison later stated that
The song was dedicated to "the Entire Formula One Circus" and in memory of Ronnie Peterson
. The single was released by Harrison to assist the fundraising for the "Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Fund", a fund started after the death of the Swedish driver Gunnar Nilsson
in 1978, caused by cancer. The single however failed to chart.
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
's 1979 eponymous album George Harrison
George Harrison (album)
George Harrison is the eponymous album release by George Harrison in 1979. It was recorded during a period of domestic happiness in which Harrison married Olivia Trinidad Arias and his son Dhani was born.-History:...
. Faster begins the second side of the LP, and is the sixth track on the CD. It was released as the third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
of the album but was not issued as a 45 in the USA.
History
During 1977 Harrison went to a lot of Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
races instead of writing any songs.
Harrison had been talking to Niki Lauda
Niki Lauda
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda is an Austrian former Formula One racing driver and three-time F1 World Champion. More recently an aviation entrepreneur, he has founded and run two airlines and was manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years.- Early years in racing :Born in Vienna,...
after the Watkins Glen Race
1977 United States Grand Prix
The 1977 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 2, 1977 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York...
, and became inspired to write a song "that Niki
Niki Lauda
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda is an Austrian former Formula One racing driver and three-time F1 World Champion. More recently an aviation entrepreneur, he has founded and run two airlines and was manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years.- Early years in racing :Born in Vienna,...
-Jody
Jody Scheckter
Jody David Scheckter is a South African former auto racing driver, the Formula One World Drivers Champion.-Career:Scheckter was born in East London, South Africa and educated at Selborne College.-Formula One:...
-Emerson
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi |São Paulo]], Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver who throughout a long and successful career won the Indianapolis 500 twice and championships in both Formula One and CART.-Early and personal life:...
and the gang could enjoy". Harrison got the title of the song from Jackie Stewart
Jackie Stewart
Sir John Young Stewart, OBE , better known as Jackie Stewart, and nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, is a Scottish former racing driver and team owner. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships. He also competed in Can-Am...
's book, and then wrote the chorus. He wrote the rest of the song in a way that did not limit it to only motor cars, the only car-related word being machinery. However, when sound effects from the 1978 British Grand Prix
1978 British Grand Prix
The 1978 British Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 16 July 1978 at Brands Hatch.-Report:Lotus took the front row, with Ronnie Peterson beating Mario Andretti to pole, with Jody Scheckter next up on the second row. Andretti took the lead at the start from Peterson, and the two Lotus cars...
were added to the song, it was clearly associated to motor cars.
Harrison later stated that
The song was dedicated to "the Entire Formula One Circus" and in memory of Ronnie Peterson
Ronnie Peterson
Bengt Ronnie Peterson was a Swedish racing driver. He was a two-time runner-up in the FIA Formula One World Drivers' Championship.Peterson began his motor racing career in kart racing, traditionally the discipline where the majority of race drivers begin their careers in open-wheel racing...
. The single was released by Harrison to assist the fundraising for the "Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Fund", a fund started after the death of the Swedish driver Gunnar Nilsson
Gunnar Nilsson
Gunnar Nilsson was a Swedish racing driver, born in Helsingborg. Before entering Formula One, he won the 1975 British Formula Three Championship....
in 1978, caused by cancer. The single however failed to chart.