McCartney Times

Released in November 1970, “My Sweet Lord” made George Harrison the first of the Beatles to have a solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was an appeal for a closer relationship with God. Harrison would need it.A few months after its release, Harrison was sued for copyright infringement by the publisher of “He’s So Fine,” a 1963 hit for the Chiffons. On Aug. 31, 1976, Judge Richard Owen of the United States District Court found Harrison had “subconsciously” copied the Chiffons’ tune.Harrison was, in fact, inspired by “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers when he wrote “My Sweet Lord” during a December 1969 European tour with Delaney & Bonnie. Harrison first offered “My Sweet Lord” to Billy Preston, who recorded it for his Encouraging Words LP. After the Beatles split up, Harrison recorded his own version, which became the first single from the triple-disc All Things Must Pass.

Source: 40 Years Ago: George Harrison Found Guilty of ‘My Sweet Lord’ Plagiarism