Harrison's last songs to be released

The last songs recorded by George Harrison are to be released in time for the first anniversary of his death, raising the prospect of a posthumous number one album.

Brainwashed, the first album of new recordings made by Harrison for more than a decade, was recorded two months before his death from cancer last November.

It has 12 tracks co-produced with his son Dhani and the former Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne, who performed with Harrison in the Travelling Wilburys.

The album will be the second release since the former Beatle's death, after his biggest solo hit "My Sweet Lord" was rereleased for charity this year, but the first album of new recordings since Cloud Nine in 1987.

Lynne said: "Before we started working on the album, George and Dhani had collaborated extensively on pre-production. George would come round my house and he'd always have a new song with him. He would strum them on a guitar or ukulele. The songs just knocked me out.

"George constantly talked about how he wanted the album to sound and there was always that spiritual energy that went into the lyrics as well as the music."

Lynne, who helped to produce the Beatles' smash-hit anthology album in the mid-Nineties, has spent most of this year working with Dhani Harrison to complete Brainwashed.

It will be released through Harrison's Dark Horse label on 18 November, and is widely tipped to reach number one by the anniversary of his death on 29 November.

David Munns, the vice- chairman of EMI Recorded Music said: "EMI is thrilled to have this new affiliation with Dark Horse. George Harrison is an absolutely legendary artist and this is an extraordinary record and a testament to his genius."