Five Pop Songs Bearing the Influence of Ravi Shankar

Academy Award nominee and four-time Grammy winner Ravi Shankar was a sitar virtuoso, and one of the most important figures in Indian classical music. Born in India in 1920, Shankar would become highly influential in Western pop music as well, mentoring George Harrison and taking part in some of the 1960s’ and ‘70s most high-profile concert events. Shankar was a featured performer at the landmark 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and the 1971 Concert for Bangla Desh.

Shankar recorded and released nearly 100 albums during his lifetime before passing away in 2012 at the age of 92. His progeny – most notably Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones – have continued the family tradition of music. Here are five pop songs featuring the Indian instrument Shankar helped popularize in the West.

“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” from The Beatles’ Rubber Soul (1965)
Likely the first Western pop song to feature the sitar, the John Lennon composition “Norwegian Wood” features a notable sitar part by guitarist George Harrison. Legend holds that George first encountered the instrument on the set of Help!, but however he happened upon the sitar, it was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with the unique and historical stringed instrument.

“Sunshine Superman” from Donovan’s Sunshine Superman (1966)
Once The Beatles introduced the sitar to pop music, the floodgates opened; countless other musicians would incorporate its twangy and exotic textures into their music. Scottish folk rocker Donovan Leitch made the sitar a centerpiece of this 1966 LP Sunshine Superman. But the instrument wasn’t played by him; instead, American multi-instrumentalist Shawn Phillips took on that role. Phillips also co-composed the album’s title track, but was not credited.

“Paint it Black” from The Rolling Stones’ Aftermath (1966)
Despite their significant ability to craft original music, The Rolling Stones often seemed to be following The Beatles’ lead (Lennon and McCartney gave the band their second single, “I Wanna Be Your Man”). Though not known as a songwriter, Brian Jones was noted for his ability to pick up most any instrument and play it in credible fashion. He did just that on sitar for the Jagger/Richards composition “Paint it Black,” A #1 single in the UK, U.S. and several other countries.

“The Rain, The Park, and Other Things” from The Cowsills’ The Cowsills (1967)
Newport, Rhode Island’s The Cowsills were a popular family band of brothers, sisters and their mom. The group was the inspiration for television’s Partridge Family. The Cowsills scored many hits of their own, and the first of those, 1967’s “The Rain, The Park, and Other things” is a sunshine pop classic of the first order. Co-written by the band’s producer Artie Kornfeld (later one of the prime movers behind the Woodstock Festival), the Billboard #2 hit song features trademark Cowsills harmonies backed by a lush arrangement featuring harp, strings and sitar.

“In the Past” from The Chocolate Watch Band’s The Inner Mystique (1968)
Heroes of American garage rock, The Chocolate Watch Band had a convoluted history, with producers employing session players to cut tracks for their albums without the band’s involvement or approval. But the group still managed to turn out a number of classics. Among those is their reading of “In the Past,” a cover of a song first recorded by Orlando, Florida band We the People. The song features an exceptional – and comparatively lengthy for its time – sitar-based melodic line. Even though the band didn’t play on the recording itself, “In the Past” would become a popular staple in their live sets.