 Work resumed on Living in the Material World over January and February , with Hussain and Jim Horn among those making contributions to the overdubs on the title track . Over the two " spiritual sky " sections , Hussain added tabla , replacing the rock rhythm section , while Horn played flute and Harrison played sitar . Author Alan Clayson likens Harrison 's production style on Material World to that of Beatles producer George Martin and notes that " this moderation resulted in arrangements flexible enough for the title track to flit smoothly " between the contrasting rock and " celestial " Indian sections . The use of Indian instrumentation recalls Harrison 's work with the Beatles during 1966 – 68 , following which , Harrison admitted , he rarely played the sitar . Adding to the pun behind the " Richie " line in the verse referencing the Beatles , Starr provides a drum fill ; later in the track , Horn 's flute similarly acknowledges the mention of Krishna – flute being synonymous with Krishna in the Hindu faith . 
