Concert for George (album)

Tribute concert

Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 – the first anniversary of Harrison's death – the performance features a wealth of talents who knew Harrison well. Eric Clapton, one of Harrison's closest friends, served as the musical director of the show, which was advertised as the Concert for George. Representing Indian music, an important influence on Harrison's life, is Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka Shankar. Among Harrison's rock and roll cohorts are Jeff Lynne, Gary Brooker, Joe Brown, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Billy Preston and Jim Keltner, together with Harrison's former Beatles bandmates, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

Release and reception

Concert for George was issued on 17 November 2003 in Britain, with a US release following on 18 November. A double album, it was warmly received by the public, reaching number 97 on America's Billboard chart.

Uncut magazine's reviewer wrote: "Concerts like these are usually long on sentiment and short on worthwhile content. But under the directorship of Eric Clapton, the concert for George Harrison at the Albert Hall in November 2002 was an exception. The event exudes a powerful atmosphere and genuine musicality …" Writing in The Word, Paul Du Noyer described the posthumous tribute to Harrison as "the grandest send-off that he could possibly have wished for". Du Noyer said of the live album, "Its sins are only those of omission", and recommended the accompanying DVD release, before concluding: "In either format, however, [Joe Brown's] show-closing 'I’ll See You In My Dreams' is an exquisitely poignant note to end upon."

In 2005, the Concert for George DVD won the Best Long Form Video Grammy. Directed by David Leland, it contains material not found on the album, including "Sit on My Face" and "The Lumberjack Song" by Monty Python, and "Horse to the Water", featuring Jools Holland with vocals by Sam Brown, daughter of English singer Joe Brown.

iTunes released Concert for George in 2008 with "Horse to the Water" added to the album. iTunes incorrectly attributes McCartney as a main performer on "Your Eyes". McCartney does not play on the track.

Track listing

All songs written by George Harrison, except where noted.

1. "Sarve Shaam" (traditional) – 3:18
2. "Your Eyes (Sitar Solo)" (Ravi Shankar), performed by Anoushka Shankar – 8:23
3. "The Inner Light", performed by Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison and Anoushka Shankar – 3:02
4. Originally the B-side to The Beatles' "Lady Madonna" in 1968
5. "Arpan" (Ravi Shankar), performed by Anoushka Shankar – 23:02

1. "I Want to Tell You", performed by Jeff Lynne – 2:53
2. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1966 album Revolver
3. "If I Needed Someone", performed by Eric Clapton – 2:29
4. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul
5. "Old Brown Shoe", performed by Gary Brooker – 3:48
6. Originally the B-side to The Beatles' "The Ballad of John and Yoko" in 1969
7. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)", performed by Jeff Lynne – 3:29
8. Originally heard on Harrison's 1973 album Living in the Material World
9. "Beware of Darkness", performed by Eric Clapton – 4:01
10. Originally heard on Harrison's 1970 album All Things Must Pass
11. "Here Comes the Sun", performed by Joe Brown – 3:09
12. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road
13. "That's the Way It Goes", performed by Joe Brown – 3:40
14. Originally heard on Harrison's 1982 album Gone Troppo
15. "Taxman", performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – 3:11
16. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1966 album Revolver
17. "I Need You", performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – 3:00
18. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1965 album Help!
19. "Handle With Care" (Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison), performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison – 3:27
20. Originally heard on Traveling Wilburys' 1988 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
21. "Isn't It a Pity", performed by Billy Preston & Eric Clapton – 6:58
22. Originally heard on Harrison's 1970 album All Things Must Pass
23. "Photograph" (Harrison, Richard Starkey), performed by Ringo Starr – 3:57
24. Originally heard on Ringo Starr's 1973 album Ringo
25. "Honey Don't" (Carl Perkins), performed by Ringo Starr – 3:04
26. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1964 album Beatles for Sale
27. "For You Blue", performed by Paul McCartney – 3:05
28. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1970 album Let It Be
29. "Something", performed by Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton – 4:26
30. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road
31. "All Things Must Pass", performed by Paul McCartney – 3:33
32. Originally heard on Harrison's 1970 album All Things Must Pass
33. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", performed by Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton – 5:57
34. Originally heard on The Beatles' 1968 double album The Beatles
35. "My Sweet Lord", performed by Billy Preston – 5:03
36. Originally heard on Harrison's 1970 album All Things Must Pass
37. "Wah-Wah", performed by Eric Clapton and Band – 6:06
38. Originally heard on Harrison's 1970 album All Things Must Pass
39. "I'll See You in My Dreams" (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn), performed by Joe Brown – 4:02