Product Description
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Filmed on November 29, 2002 before a sold-out audience at Royal
Albert Hall in London, "The Concert For George" is a beautifully
filmed, joyous celebration of some of the most significant music
of the 20th Century. Friends including Eric Clapton, Paul
McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty & The
Heartbreakers, Ravi & Anoushka Shankar, the cast of Monty Python
and other artists who worked with George Harrison throughout his
lifetime, present his music in a special concert to commemorate
the first anniversary of his passing. This 2 DVD set includes the
full 2 hour & 40 minute concert and the 1 hour 40 minute
documentary filmed in high definition by David Leland ("Band Of
Brothers") featuring concert footage and interviews with the
artists about George's life and music. Documentary produced by
Ray Cooper, Olivia Harrison and Jon Kamen.
.com
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Exceptionally moving but not the least bit sentimental, Concert
for George is a splendid tribute to the late George Harrison,
whose contributions to the Beatles were so often hidden in the
long shadows of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. A year to the day
after Harrison's November 29, 2001 death, Eric Clapton assembled
some musicians--people who had played with Harrison and known him
ly, including McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Tom Petty--to
perform his music at London's Royal Albert Hall. They take on not
just the predictable ("My Sweet Lord" and "Something,"
beautifully sung by Billy Preston and Sir Paul, respectively),
but also lesser-known fare like "Old Brown Shoe" and "Beware of
Darkness," all to superbly empathetic effect. But the tune most
likely to make you misty-eyed is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps,"
which brings together three of the five musicians who played on
the original : Ringo on drums, Clapton replicating his
own classic solo, and McCartney playing piano and harmonizing
with Clapton's lead vocal. Concert for George enjoyed a brief
theatrical release, but even those who caught it on the big
screen will delight in this two-disc DVD edition. Disc 1 features
the complete concert (sans interview and rehearsal footage, but
with a few additional songs and in the original running order),
while disc 2 contains the theatrical version and some additional
backstage and photo material. All in all, a beautiful piece of
work. Wish you were here, George--but man, what a way to be
missed. --Sam Graham
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From the Back Cover
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On November 29, 2002-one year after the passing of music legend
George Harrison-wife Olivia Harrison and longtime friend Eric
Clapton organized a performance tribute in his honor. Held at
London's Royal Albert Hall, the momentous evening featured
George's songs, and music he loved, performed by an all-star
lineup that included Clapton, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul
McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi and
Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr, and many more. Warner Strategic
Marketing (WSM) celebrates that magical night with the DVD
release of CONCERT FOR GEORGE, a double-disc set highlighting the
gala event, which was beautifully filmed for ity and
recently released in a limited theatrical run. Disc one of the
DVD contains the complete concert, including performances not
featured in the theatrical version. Disc two contains the
theatrical version featuring concert highlights, interviews with
the performers, rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes footage. Each
of the performers had a personal friendship or history with
Harrison, and the backstage moments and interviews give a sense
of how deeply they felt for him. Directed by David Leland (whose
credits include the feature Wish You Were Here, HBO's Band Of
Brothers and the Traveling Wilburys video "Handle With Care"),
the CONCERT FOR GEORGE DVD captures stunning renditions of some
of the most significant music of the 20th century, including
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (featuring Clapton on guitar,
McCartney on piano and Starr on drums), "Taxman" (performed by
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and "The Inner Light" (covered
by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar). Lynne, Harrison's longtime
friend and collaborator, produced the audio elements of the
concert, while Clapton oversaw the entire proceedings as Musical
Director. In one memorable segment, Anoushka Shankar conducted a
full orchestra of musicians performing a special composition by
her her and Harrison's mentor, Ravi Shankar, celebrating
Harrison's love of Indian classical music. The piece, entitled
"Arpan," means "offering." Among the other high points are
McCartney and Clapton performing a duet of "Something," with
Starr on drums; Starr performing his #1 hit "Photograph" (which
was cowritten by Harrison); and O-winner Tom Hanks sitting in
with Monty Python (featuring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry
Gilliam, and Neil Innes) for a hysterical version of "The
Lumberjack Song," one of Harrison's favorites. Harrison's friend
Joe Brown played the old standard "I'll See You In My Dreams" to
close the emotional evening. "The Concert For George was all I
hoped it would be," said Olivia Harrison. "I don't think I've
ever heard a band play with so much emotion and respect." CONCERT
FOR GEORGE captures the majesty of Royal Albert Hall from more
than a dozen camera locations. The film was in high
definition and digitally mastered with sound recorded in 5.1
Surround.
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