Concert
For George - By Friends of George Harrison (DVD)
Rating:
Review No: 237
Added 5th August 2005
Artists
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This DVD concert never comes across as a sad memorial concert for the late great George Harrison, more of a celebration of the life, love, music, and most of all faith of a wonderful human being. During George Harrison's tragically short life he touched many people. Obviously he was one of the lovable Moptops from Liverpool, whose music and attitude changed the world as we know it. He also started the charity music culture with his concert for Bangladesh in 1971. (Would there have been a Live Aid, etc., without the charity concert held for the starving people of Bangladesh if it had not been for George Harrison's groundbreaking concert a decade before?) He almost single-handedly made the world AWARE of whole new cultures from Asia; not forgetting his own solo career.
He was the first and most successful Beatle to go solo. His first release back in 1970, his magnificent triple album ‘All Things Must Pass’, went to number one all over the world with its single "My Sweet Lord''.
George also formed handmade movies, which saved the masterpiece ‘The Life of Brian’ by Monty Python (George actually has a walk-on part as the Mayor - look closely). The world would definitely be a sadder place without that little Python masterpiece.
This double DVD package has the first DVD devoted to the whole concert in its correct running order. So all of us who were not able to be there on that magical night at the Albert Hall in London on November 29th, 2002, can get an inkling of what was going on. The second DVD gives you snippets of the concert interspersed with interviews from George’s friends, rehearsals, and backstage footage; interesting and sometimes hilarious stuff. There is over 2 hours and twenty minutes of material on this second DVD, while the concert on disc one lasts for nearly two and a half hours.
There are too many musical highlights to mention them
all, but before I list the group of friends that turned up to celebrate
George’s life and what songs they decided to play, I shall try to
point out a few.
The concert starts out with a specially composed piece by Ravi Shankar,
written for George 'Aspan', where, what I can only call a blend of Asian
folk/orchestra meets western influences, the results are quite stunning.
Ravi's daughter is playing the sitar as beautifully as she looks, and
she is indeed very beautiful, matching Eric Clapton when he joins her
on acoustic guitar.
And the songs sung.
1. Sitar Solo - Your Eyes - Anoushka Shankar
2. Arpan conducted by Anoushka Shankar
3. The Inner Light - Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar
4. Sit On My Face, The Lumberjack Song - Monty Python
5. I Want To Tell You, Give Me Love - Jeff Lynne
6. Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
7. If I Needed Someone, Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
8. Here Comes The Sun, That’s The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
9. Horse To The Water - Jools Holland and Sam Brown
10. Taxman, I Need You - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
11. Handle With Care - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne
and Dhani Harrison
12. My Sweet Lord, Isn’t It A Pity - Billy Preston
13. Photograph, Honey Don’t - Ringo Starr
14. For You Blue, All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
15. Something, While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney and Eric
Clapton
16. Wah Wah - Eric Clapton and Band
17. I’ll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown
The Monty Python team gets on stage for two songs. The wonderful irreverence of the songs would have had George rolling around the aisles in laughter. Notice also Tom Hanks the movie star having the time of his life as a Mounty in the chorus line.
Eric Clapton does a wonderful job as musical director as well as contributor of some stunning guitar work, especially in recreating his solo from ‘My Guitar Gently Weeps’ from the Beatles’ White Album.
Poor Ringo, he can barely keep his emotions under control while singing 'Photograph'. It is also the first time that Paul McCartney, Billy Preston, and Ringo Starr have performed on the same stage together since a certain legendary roof top concert over thirty years ago. Although the concert would not of been the same without Paul McCartney, he, for once, does not dominate proceedings, leaving plenty of room for others to shine - and shine they do.
George Harrison's son Dhani, himself a fine musician, is often allowed center stage, while George Harrison's old mucker, Joe Brown, brings the concert to an emotional climax.
The set from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in the middle of the second section is simply stunning. Tom Petty was in George Harrison's other group, the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison.
Look out for the guitar solo from Albert Lee during ‘Honey Don't’, it raises the Albert Hall roof a few inches higher.
The singing of Sam Brown and Gary Brooker are as ever highlights of any concert.
This DVD delivers in every possible aspect and does not disappoint anybody with even a passing interest in the life and times of George Harrison. There is also a double CD of this concert, which is nice to have whilst driving the car, but you get so much more with this set of DVD’s.
Mott
the Dog resides at Jameson's the Irish Pub
