1. George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord"
Originally By: Billy Preston
Technicalities once again enter the situation on this one, because George Harrison and Billy Preston worked closely writing this track together, Preston actually recorded it first. Preston's versions appeared on his album Encouraging Words that came out in 1970 and was co-produced by Harrison. Preston's version incorporates a much more gospel feel into the chorus, and includes far less repetitions of the mantra "Hare Krishna" that Harrison uses in his version—at the time the ex-Beatle was attempting to write songs that married the Christian faith with that of the Indian Hare Krishna movement. It's interesting to note Preston also sang "All Things Must Pass" for this album, but that it was mostly a commercial flop. Guess that Beatles' star power was just impossible to compete with, even with Harrison on his side.
Original version:
