On this day in music history: June 30, 1973 - “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” by George Harrison hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written and produced by George Harrison, it is the second US chart topper for the former lead guitarist of The Beatles. Following the break up of The Beatles in 1970, George Harrison’s post band activity keep him extremely busy, including the release of his triple album set “All Things Must Pass” as well as organizing the landmark “Concert For Bangladesh” benefit concerts, triple album set and film. He takes a break from the spotlight throughout most of 1972 before returning to the studio in the Fall of that year to record his fourth solo album. After working with Phil Spector on the “All Things Must Pass” and “Bangladesh” albums, Harrison makes a conscious decision to scale back the large production of those works, producing the album himself as well as working with small core group of musicians which include keyboardists Leon Russell, Nicky Hopkins (The Jeff Beck Group, The Rolling Stones), Gary Wright (Spooky Tooth), Klaus Voorman (bass), Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner and Jim Gordon (drums). Many of the songs that appear on the “Living In The Material World” focuses around Harrison’s quest for “spiritual enlightenment”, inner peace and contentment. With much of the world in turmoil in the early 1970’s, “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” is written as a prayer for his spirit “to be free of karma and the constant cycle of rebirth”. Issued as the lone single from “Material World” in May of 1973, it quickly becomes a smash. Entering the Hot 100 at #59 on May 19, 1973, it streaks to the top of the chart six weeks later, unseating his former band mate Paul McCartney’s “My Love” from the top of the chart. “Living In The Material World” also replaces McCartney & Wings’ “Red Rose Speedway” at the top of the Billboard Top 200 album chart the previous week on June 23, 1973.