Concert for George

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 often hidden by 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 and entertainers, ranging from Monty Python and Ravi Shankar (with daughter Anoushka and a host of other Indian players) to rockers such as Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty, to perform at London's Royal Albert Hall. They take on not just the predictable hits (“My Sweet Lord” and “Something,” beautifully sung by Billy Preston and McCartney, respectively), but also lesser-known fare such as “The Inner Light” 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 recording: Ringo Starr 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, and that version is found on the second disc of this double-disc set, along with some additional backstage material and photos. The first disc features the complete concert (sans interview and rehearsal footage, but with a few additional songs, and in the original running order). All in all, a beautiful piece of work. Wish you were here, George--but man, what a way to be missed. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (S. Graham)