Got My Mind Set on You
Encyclopedia
"Got My Mind Set on You" is a song written by Rudy Clark
and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962.
It is best known for the cover version
released by George Harrison
in 1987.
and Ringo Starr
, all of whom had two #1 hit singles as solo artists. Paul McCartney
leads in this category, with nine #1 hits in the U.S. The single's B-side is "Lay His Head", written by Harrison. The 12-inch version of the single also adds an extended version of "Got My Mind Set On You". The single was also featured on his October, 1988 album Cloud Nine
.
In the UK the single spent four weeks at number two. It was kept off the #1 spot by T'Pau
's "China in Your Hand
".
The song was also included in the Harrison compilation albums Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989
(1989) and Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
(2009).
A live version was recorded for his Live in Japan (1992) album.
In 2010, AOL radio listeners chose "Got My Mind Set on You" as one of the 10 Best George Harrison Songs, appearing at #4 on the list.
s were released for the cover version.
The first (directed by Gary Weis
) starred a young Alexis Denisof
vying for the heart of a girl in an amusement arcade.
The second, also directed by Weis, is Harrison sitting and playing in a study
. As the song progresses, furniture and knick-knacks (like a stuffed squirrel and mounted warthog
) begin to dance along with the song. In the middle of the video, Harrison (through the use of a stunt double) performs a backflip from his chair and follows it with a dance routine before jumping back to his seat.
The second received significant airplay, and was nominated for three MTV VMAs
.
on his 1988 album Even Worse
, as "(This Song's Just) Six Words Long".
Shakin' Stevens
recorded the song for his 2006 album Now Listen.
Rudy Clark
Rudy Clark is an American songwriter about whom little biographical information seems to be known. Supposedly a former mail carrier hailing from New York City, he was most active from the early 1960s through the early 1970s...
and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962.
It is best known for the cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
released by George Harrison
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...
in 1987.
George Harrison version
Of Harrison's three number-one singles in the U.S., it was the only song not written by Harrison and the only one without religious overtones. Not only was this the last US number-one hit by Harrison, but of any from the other Ex-Beatles in the US. When the song hit #1, it broke a three-way tie among Harrison, John LennonJohn Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, all of whom had two #1 hit singles as solo artists. Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
leads in this category, with nine #1 hits in the U.S. The single's B-side is "Lay His Head", written by Harrison. The 12-inch version of the single also adds an extended version of "Got My Mind Set On You". The single was also featured on his October, 1988 album Cloud Nine
Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)
-Personnel:The following personnel was credited in the liner notes.*George Harrison – vocals, guitars, keyboards, sitar*Jeff Lynne – guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards*Eric Clapton – guitar*Elton John – piano*Gary Wright – piano*Ringo Starr – drums...
.
In the UK the single spent four weeks at number two. It was kept off the #1 spot by T'Pau
T'Pau (band)
T'Pau was a 1980s British Rock group led by singer Carol Decker. They had a string of Top 40 hits in the UK, and several hits in the United States and Europe...
's "China in Your Hand
China in Your Hand
"China in Your Hand" is a song by British band T'Pau, released from their album Bridge of Spies. A re-recorded version was released as a single in October 1987, spending five weeks at number 1 in the UK and is arguably the song for which the group is best known in their native Britain, though...
".
The song was also included in the Harrison compilation albums Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989
Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989
- Chart positions :- Sales :...
(1989) and Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is the third compilation of George Harrison's music, and the first to span his entire solo career after The Beatles era...
(2009).
A live version was recorded for his Live in Japan (1992) album.
In 2010, AOL radio listeners chose "Got My Mind Set on You" as one of the 10 Best George Harrison Songs, appearing at #4 on the list.
Music videos
Two music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s were released for the cover version.
The first (directed by Gary Weis
Gary Weis
Gary Weis is a movie and television director. He was the second creator of short films for Saturday Night Live .-Selected Filmography:*Jimi Hendrix *Saturday Night Live...
) starred a young Alexis Denisof
Alexis Denisof
Alexis Denisof is an American actor who is known for playing Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.-Early life:...
vying for the heart of a girl in an amusement arcade.
The second, also directed by Weis, is Harrison sitting and playing in a study
Study (room)
A study is a room in a house which is used for paperwork, computer work, or reading. Historically, the study of a house was reserved for use as the private office and reading room of a family father as the formal head of a household, but today studies are generally either used to operate a home...
. As the song progresses, furniture and knick-knacks (like a stuffed squirrel and mounted warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
) begin to dance along with the song. In the middle of the video, Harrison (through the use of a stunt double) performs a backflip from his chair and follows it with a dance routine before jumping back to his seat.
The second received significant airplay, and was nominated for three MTV VMAs
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
.
Other covers and parodies
Harrison's version of the song was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
on his 1988 album Even Worse
Even Worse
Even Worse is the fifth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1988. The album was the fifth produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
, as "(This Song's Just) Six Words Long".
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
recorded the song for his 2006 album Now Listen.
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
1 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 8 |
| French SNEP Top 100 Singles Chart | 19 |
| German Singles Chart | 7 |
| Japanese Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... Singles Chart |
64 |
| Norway VG-lista VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... Singles Chart |
10 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 10 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
1 |