Reviews of books that have held my interest. And things that happen along the way.
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Showing posts with label George Harrison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Harrison. Show all posts
Happy 74th to Ringo Starr. He has kept that back beat for along time, providing the pulse to our lives along the way. It's down to him and Paul McCartney now to keep the legacy of the Beatles alive. Paul does his thing and Ringo his, but there are always Beatles songs included in both their sets. How could it be otherwise?
Here Ringo performs a very heartfelt tribute to George Harrison, his dear friend and band mate for so many years, who had just passed away from cancer at the all too young age of 55. It was actually George who brought Ringo into the band just in time for their first record, "Love Me Do", in the fall of 1962. The irony was that Ringo never got to play on that record. I believe they used a session drummer named Allan White.
Ringo has always gotten short shrift for his accomplishments with the Beatles. But he's the one responsible for all the malapropisms such as "A Hard Day's Night", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Eight Day's A Week", and the title for the album "Rubber Soul", along with quite a few others. A very witty man, Ringo is.
His wife, Barbara Bach; along with Olivia, the widow of the late George Harrison; have both been the driving force behind a project in Romania which has been going on since the days after the fall of the communists. They have sponsored orphanages for the children of rape; most of whom had AIDS. Some of those children are now alive and disease free due to the work of these two remarkable women and the support of their husbands.
Ringo Starr is still performing his summer concerts with the ever changing "All Star Band". If you've never been to one of those concerts you're missing out. Happy Birthday Ringo- with a little help from your friends...
This may be the best rock biopic you will ever see about
George Harrison. It shouldn’t surprise you as it was produced by Martin Scorsese
and Olivia Harrison. It is filled with personal photos and film footage taken
by Harrison and the other Beatles, and is narrated throughout by some of the people
who knew and loved him the most.
That’s not to say that this is a marathon of celebrities
stating how “Beatle George” affected, or influenced, them. Rather it is a film
made by those closest to him, about him. Along the way Mr. Scorsese manages to
extract the most telling interviews with George concerning fame, fortune and
religion. Mr. Harrison’s take on religion was not so far removed from what he
terms the concept of God being “a man in the sky”, which he originally
rejected.
After delving into the sitar Mr. Harrison also embarked on a
spiritual journey. He began in San Francisco, where he expected to see an
enlightened community populated by people who had found some sort of inner
peace. Instead he found sloth, rampant recreational use of LSD, and commercialism
beyond belief. He promptly fled the scene after his famous walk through Golden
Gate Park.
When he got to India he was lured into the Hindu teachings in
a very simple way. He had always been taught, from birth, that you only needed
to have Faith in God’s existence. But in India it was accepted that one cannot
believe what he cannot see or feel for themselves. And, further, that this
belief was valid.
His relationship with Ravi Shankar is explored and there is
some film of George and Ravi weaving together on the sitar and guitar, melding
the East and West into one. The film is so insightful and informative that you
come away from it feeling as if you have met Mr. Harrison for the very first
time; having misunderstood him for all these years.
Eric Clapton pays homage to not only his friend, but also to
the creativity of the Beatles. He even tells the story of how he got to be on “While
My Guitar Gently Weeps”, and the anxiety he felt about performing with them.
Klaus Voorman and Astrid Kirchherr, the two German friends
from Hamburg days, give their first impressions of meeting both the Beatles and
George, and how that relationship affected them, as well as influenced their
own artistry. Their descriptions of the friendship post Hamburg; including the
LSD trip which led to John writing “I Am the Walrus”; make this film even
better. Klaus went on to do the cover for the Beatles album “Revolver” and also
became the bass player in the original Plastic Ono Band.
Yoko Ono weighs in with some delightfully unguarded comments
about meeting George and how he perceived her as a fellow artist, rather than
an enemy. George Martin is fatherly in his affection for Mr. Harrison, and Paul
McCartney talks of their first meeting and how he convinced John to hear George
play.When he performed “Raunchy”; atop a double decker Liverpool bus one night;
he was in the group.
This film is a delightful treat. I am the type who usually
gets up several times during a film, either to eat or stretch. This film had me
in my chair for the entire first disc, which runs about 94 minutes. There is
also a second disc with bonus features and performances which runs about 2
hours.
Whether or not you were ever a fan of the Beatles; or even
George Harrison; you will not leave this film “empty handed.” This film will
lift you up while also making you take a closer look at your own system of
beliefs. Surprisingly; whether you are an atheist, a Christian, a Jew, or even
a Buddhist; this film will touch you in a very personal way.
George Harrison would have turned 70 years old today. Born
on February 25, 1943 in Liverpool, Mr. Harrison was often referred to as “the
quiet Beatle” for his studious appearance on stage. But in many respects his
voice, and influence, have rung louder than any of the other Fab Four since his
untimely passing from cancer on November 29, 2001.
Even more than the
platitudes and anthems extolled by John Lennon’s iconic “Give Peace a Chance”,
or “All You Need is Love”, and even beyond the foolishness of “Imagine”; which
had John Lennon asking you to forgo your possessions, even as he lived a life
of luxury himself; George Harrison eschewed the limelight of politics, choosing
instead to champion Peace by his own actions. His wife, Olivia, along with Ringo's wife, Barbara Bach, have quietly funded the AIDS orphanages in Romania for over 20 years without any fanfare.
The Concert for Bangla Desh in August of 1971 was the first benefit
concert of its kind, and they have now become the “norm” as a way to raise
money after various disasters. Farm Aid, Feed the World; you name the benefit
and it all started with George making a phone call or two for Ravi Shankar and
the plight of the citizens of Bangla Desh.
His interest in a sitar on the set of the Beatle movie “Help”
sparked an interest in all things Eastern, including Transcendental Meditation
and the practice of Yoga. The spiritual aspects of Mr. Harrison’s later, solo
efforts cannot be ignored. His album “Living In the Material World” will go
down as one of the most beautiful musical tributes to spiritual beliefs ever
recorded. You can read them as simply love songs, or you can delve the deeper
meaning as Mr. Harrison sings his spiritual beliefs, shedding some of his
personal pain as he does.
This video is of the Traveling Wilburys doing “It’s All
Right” from their second album, “Traveling Wilburys Volume 3”, which was
released in October 1990 when my daughter was about two years old. She loved
this song; I think she still does. I’ll have to ask her. The
point is that George Harrison; like all of the Beatles; transcended the
boundaries imposed by generational differences. The bouncy and sometimes instospective nature of the songs are reminiscent of the Beatle's albums in the music of this highly unusual group, which released it's first album, "Traveling Wilburys Volume 1" in 1988.
Not since the advent of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had
there been such a collection of guitarists in one group. And what a group it
was! With ex-Beatle George Harrison collaborating with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Geoff Lynn of the Electric
Light orchestra; along with rock legend Roy Orbison; this album just couldn’t
miss. They followed it up in October of 1990 with the curiously titled “Traveling
Wilburys Volume 3”. That album lacked the remarkable voice of Mr. Orbison, who had passed away just a
year earlier, after scoring his last solo hit record in 1989. In some of the videos from
this second Wilburys album; as in the one above; you can see the empty chair left in tribute to him by the other
band members.
Former band mates Lennon and McCartney said it best when
they wrote, “And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make…”
By those standards, George Harrison dwells in perfect peace and harmony;
probably laughing at us all.
It was 41 years ago today when the Concert for Bangla Desh was held at New York's Madison Square Garden. I never knew how, but Michael Held got tickets to this
concert. For weeks the city had been abuzz with rumors of a hastily arranged
concert for the victims of the disasters which were then taking place in Bangladesh
(originally spelled as two separate words) a province located in India. Together
with the fleeing refugees from Pakistan, there had also been a devastating
cyclone in 1970; and coupled with these two tragedies, there was a Civil War
going on, with massive atrocities committed against innocent civilians.
After
seeing the power of Woodstock in 1969, George Harrison’s friend Ravi Shankar;
who was originally from the affected area; approached him, asking if he thought
that something could be done within the world of entertainment to help
alleviate the misery and devastation being experienced by the hundreds of
thousands of victims.
There were two concerts held that day, which was a Sunday.
The first show was at noon, with the second show beginning at 7 PM. 40,000
lucky people got to see this historic event, and contribute to the relief of
the people in Bangladesh.
The stage was alive with all of rock and roll’s royalty. But
the intimate video above is one of my favorite parts of the concert. Bob Dylan
being backed by Leon Russell on bass, with George Harrison on his white Fender
Stratocaster, accompanied by Ringo Starr on a tambourine, playing Dylan’s “Just
Like a Woman.” Does it ever get better than that?
This concert was the blueprint for all of the benefit
concerts since then. From Live Aid to Farm Aid, all have their roots in this
one event. The immediate effect was over $250,000 being administered by UNICEF,
for relief in Bangladesh. After some of the initial problems had been ironed
out, the concert continued to generate revenue for the agency, through movie
and recording royalties, all of which found its way to the victims for whom it
was intended.
But I still don’t know how the hell Michael got that ticket!
I love the process involved in making records. It's "magic", mixed in with a bit of technology, and a ton of emotions. In this clip from You Tube, John Lennon records "Oh, My Love" for his second solo album, "Imagine", with a little help from George Harrison on guitar, and Nicky Hopkins on electric piano. John played the acoustic piano on the recording. Phil Spector is also present, although he seems to contribute nothing of value to the session. This was a few years before he got mad and fired a pistol into the studio ceiling, which caused John Lennon to ban him forever as his producer.
The real meat of this video is in the transformation which the song takes; from a discussion about the meaning of love, to the first; and unorganized, version of the recording; and then through a bit of anger, before emerging, beginning at 2 minutes and 55 seconds into the film, as the wonderfully sensitive ballad which it is. Especially of interest to me is watching George Harrison effortlessly move about the neck of his guitar, totally at peace with himself, as well as his instrument. I'm still trying, on both accounts.
Happy Leap Year! See you tomorrow with an actual review of something....
Old, abandoned roads have always held my interest. I like to imagine what was there, if anything, before the new road came in to pass it by. This is International Drive,in Statesville, just past the barrier which separates it from the existing road. I was looking for a different road, which is visible from Interstate 77, but no one seems to be able to remember how to get there! So, I'm going to keep looking for it. It's my current "El Dorado". But while I was walking, I was thinking of this song by George Harrison, which was recorded live on MTV sometime in the late '90's. I thought I'd share it with you here while I continue to look for the other road.
"Any Road Will Take You There" by George Harrison
But I've been traveling on a boat and a plane, In a car on a bike with a bus and a train. Traveling there, traveling here, Everywhere, in every gear.
But oh Lord, we pay the price. With the spin of the wheel, with the roll of the dice. Ah yeah you pay your fare, And if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there.
And I've been traveling through the dirt and the grime, From the past to the future through the space and the time. Traveling deep beneath the waves, In watery grottoes and mountainous caves.
But oh Lord we've got to fight, With the thoughts in the head, with the dark and the light. No use to stop and stare, And if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there.
You may not know where you came from, May not know who you are, May not have even wondered, How you got this far.
I've been traveling on a wing and a prayer, By the skin of my teeth, by the breadth of a hair. Traveling where the four winds blow, With the sun on my face, in the ice and the snow.
But oooeeee it's a game, Sometimes you're cool, sometimes you're lame. Ah yeah it's somewhere, And if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there.
But oh Lord we pay the price, With the spin of the wheel with the roll of the dice. Ah yeah you pay your fare, And if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there.
I keep traveling around the bend, There was no beginning, there is no end. It wasn't born and never dies, There are no edges, there is no sides.
Oh yeah you just don't win, It's so far out, the way out is in. Bow to God and call him Sir, But if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there. And if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there. If you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there.
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Concert for Bangla Desh. In comparison to today, the concert is almost dated, but it is arguably the first of the "benefit" concerts, as defined by today's standards. This clip is a great example of the mixing and matching of different musicians, irrespective of record company contracts, which was almost normal for the times. Musicians were starting to really assert themselves in taking control, and direction, of their own careers. This is one of the best "pick up" bands ever assembled for a song or two. Leon Russell is on bass, Bob Dylan and George Harrison are trading ryhthm; note that Harrison is transposing by sight, while Dylan is using s capo; and Ringo is just thrilled to be there, letting everyone know, just by his presence, that everything would be alright, "with a little help" from his friends.
1969 was a pivotal year for Eric Clapton. It was the year he learned to sing. It happened on the Delaney and Bonnie and Freinds tour,which at times included George Harrison, who was still with The Beatles. The comparative luxury of playing with a band, on tour, without all the fanfare generated by The Beatles, was one of the things which influenced him in his decision to leave the band briefly in January 1969 during the filming of "Get Back."
Clapton had not sung while a lot while in Cream, leaving that task to Jack Bruce, and it wasn't until the Blind Faith Album on which he began to sing. But still, for the most part, the singing was left to Steve Windwood.
Listen to the vocals on this video and see if it's not the same vocal style as Eric Clapton. Not only was this association with Delaney and Bonnie beneficial to Clapton as a vocalist, but as you will note in the video, it also marks his first association with Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon, who would become the nucleus of Derek and the Dominoes, along with Clapton and Duane Allman. Their album "Layla", recorded a mere 2 years later, would go on to make musical history.
It's hard to believe that George Harrison, my favorite Beatle, has been dead almost ten years this coming December. Always known as the "serious" Beatle, Mr. Harrison contributed quite a lot to the sucess of the band. And after they broke up, his last recording with The Beatles was done in July of 1969 for the "Abbey Road" album, he went on to establish a quiet, and varied career, touring the world with many different incarnations of a band. His most notable sucess came in the late 1980's when he teamed up with Jeff Lynne, of The Electric Light Orchestra, and old friend Bob Dylan, along with new friend Tom Petty, and an old influence, Roy Orbison, with whom the Beatles had toured Germany in 1962, to form The Traveling Wilbury's. They made two albums, one before Mr. Orbison passed away, for which he received a Best Vocalist Award, and the second one without him.
This song, "Handle me with Care", takes a hard look at the price of fame and fortune. The vocals are tight, and yet both Roy Orbison and George Harrison each come off as distinctly different vocalists in this song. That was the beauty of this band, it's sheer wealth of writing and performance talents, coupled with no egos. This was also a very unique band, centered as it was,around George Harrison, the man whose curiosity about a sitar on the set of the movie "Help" began a radical shift in pop music, as well as a resurgence in the Art of Yoga. We were lucky to have him for awhile. He would have been 68 years old today. Happy Birthday, George!
I hope that if you have the time, and inclination, you will take a few moments today to view the wealth of music that this quiet man left as a legacy. Here's a link to get you in the slip stream. It features George on his favorite instrument, the ukelele. The song is "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" by Ted Koehler. Mr. Harrison was a big fan of 1930's music, once responding to a news reporters question about what he had been listening to in his car that day with a very unexpected answer; "Barnacle Bill the Sailor and some Hoagie Carmichael." When asked if he was joking, he looked slightly annoyed as he answered, "No. are you?"
