"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.
A cover version by former Beatle George Harrison from his
album
Cloud Ninereached number one on the Hot 100 in January
1988. Produced by Harrison and former ELO member Jeff Lynne,
the song was his third and last solo US number one, after "My
Sweet Lord" in 1970 and "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)"
in 1973. It was also the last number one single, to date, by
any of the solo Beatles in the United States. As Harrison's
third post-Beatles #1 hit in the U.S., he broke a three-way tie
among himself, John Lennon and Ringo Starr as ex-Beatles with
two #1 solo singles, and moved Harrison into second place
behind Paul McCartney's nine #1 songs. 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. The single's B-side is "Lay His Head", written by
Harrison. The 12" version of the single also adds an extended
version of "Got My Mind Set On You".
Two music videos 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 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's stunt double
performs a stunning backflip from his chair and follows with a
dance routine before jumping back to his seat. The second
received significant airplay, and was nominated for three MTV
VMAs.
In the UK the single spent four weeks at number two.
Harrison's version of the song was parodied by "Weird Al"
Yankovic 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.
1970: "My Sweet Lord" ·
"Isn't It a
Pity" ·
1971: "What Is
Life" ·
"Bangla Desh" ·
1973: "Give Me Love (Give Me
Peace on Earth)" ·
1974: "Ding Dong, Ding
Dong" ·
1975: "Dark
Horse" ·
"You" ·
"This Guitar (Can't Keep from
Crying)" ·
1976: "This
Song" ·
1977: "Crackerbox
Palace" ·
"True Love" ·
"It's What You
Value" ·
1979: "Blow
Away" ·
"Love Comes to
Everyone" ·
"Faster" 1981: "All Those
Years Ago" ·
"Teardrops" ·
1982: "Wake Up My
Love" ·
"I Really Love
You" ·
1985: "I Don't Want To Do
It" ·
1987: "
Got My Mind Set on You
" ·
1988: "When We Was
Fab" ·
"This Is Love" ·
1989: "Cheer Down" 2002: "My
Sweet Lord" ·
"Stuck Inside a
Cloud" ·
2003: "Any Road"