Editing Concert for George

{{Short description|2002 concert held in memory of George Harrison}}
{{About|the concert|the album|Concert for George (album)|the film|Concert for George (film)}}
{{use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}

The '''Concert for George''' was held at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in [[London]] on 29 November 2002 as a [[Tributes to the Beatles|memorial]] to [[George Harrison]] on the first anniversary of his death.<ref>The Concert for George, Catalogue number: 0349702412</ref> The event was organised by Harrison's widow, [[Olivia Harrison|Olivia]], and his son, [[Dhani Harrison|Dhani]], and arranged under the musical direction of [[Eric Clapton]]. The profits from the event went to the [[Material World Charitable Foundation]], an organisation founded by Harrison.

==Performances==
The concert opened with a traditional [[Sanskrit]] invocation, the ''Sarvesham'' [[chant]], followed by [[Music of India|Indian music]] starting with [[Anoushka Shankar]], daughter of [[Ravi Shankar]], playing "Your Eyes". Next, Anoushka Shankar, Dhani Harrison, and [[Jeff Lynne]] performed "[[The Inner Light (song)|The Inner Light]]", followed by a Ravi Shankar composition "Arpan" (Sanskrit for 'to give'), specially written for the occasion.

Next, there was a comedy interlude with four of the surviving members of the [[Monty Python]] troupe ([[Eric Idle]], [[Terry Gilliam]], [[Terry Jones]] along with Python contributor [[Neil Innes]]) performing "[[Sit on My Face]]". Then, [[Michael Palin]] came out as an over-the-top announcer who eventually states that he only ever wanted to be a lumberjack. He was then joined by the Pythons, Innes, [[Carol Cleveland]], [[Tom Hanks]], and [[Fred Tomlinson (singer)|The Fred Tomlinson Singers]] to perform "[[The Lumberjack Song]]".<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>

The remainder of the concert featured "George's Band" and included the surviving members of [[the Beatles]] ([[Paul McCartney]] and [[Ringo Starr]]), Harrison's son [[Dhani Harrison]], as well as musicians [[Eric Clapton]], [[Jeff Lynne]], [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]], [[Billy Preston]], [[Jools Holland]], [[Albert Lee]], [[Sam Brown (singer)|Sam Brown]], [[Gary Brooker]], [[Joe Brown (singer)|Joe Brown]], [[Ray Cooper]], [[Andy Fairweather-Low]], [[Marc Mann]], Dave Bronze, [[Klaus Voormann]],  [[Jim Keltner]] and several other musicians who had appeared on Harrison's recordings over the years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://concertforgeorge.com/performers/ |title=Concert for George. Performers |website=Concertforgeorge.com |access-date=24 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707035917/http://concertforgeorge.com/performers/ |archive-date=7 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

They played a selection of mostly Harrison's songs, from both Beatles and post-Beatles eras, generally staying faithful to Harrison's arrangements. Performances included Lynne on "[[I Want to Tell You]]" and "[[Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)]]"; Clapton on "[[If I Needed Someone]]" and "[[Beware of Darkness (song)|Beware of Darkness]]"; Petty on "[[I Need You (Beatles song)|I Need You]]" and "[[Taxman]]"; Petty, Lynne, Dhani Harrison, and Keltner on "[[Handle with Care (song)|Handle With Care]]" (reuniting most of the surviving [[Traveling Wilburys]] except for [[Bob Dylan]]); Clapton and Preston on "[[Isn't It a Pity]]"; Starr on "[[Photograph (Ringo Starr song)|Photograph]]" and "[[Honey Don't]]"; McCartney on "[[For You Blue]]" and "[[All Things Must Pass (song)|All Things Must Pass]]"; McCartney and Clapton on "[[Something (Beatles song)|Something]]" (McCartney opening with a solo ukulele accompaniment that shifts into a full band version featuring Clapton); Clapton, McCartney, and Starr reuniting on "[[While My Guitar Gently Weeps]]". Preston on "[[My Sweet Lord]]"; and the group performance of "[[Wah-Wah (George Harrison song)|Wah-Wah]]".

Joe Brown closed the show with a rendition of "[[I'll See You in My Dreams (1924 song)|I'll See You in My Dreams]]" on [[ukulele]], one of Harrison's favourite instruments.

The event was filmed and a [[Concert for George (film)|motion picture version]], directed by [[David Leland]] and photographed by [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning cinematographer [[Chris Menges]], was released on DVD on 17 November 2003. A [[Concert for George (album)|compact disc version]] was also released on the same date although the Monty Python and Sam Brown tracks were not included on the CD. A Blu-ray version was released by [[Rhino Records]] on 22 March 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Concert-for-George-Blu-ray/19429/#Review |title=Blu-ray.com Review|website=Blu-ray.com\accessdate=2017-07-09}}</ref>

In 2018, to honour what would have been Harrison's 75th birthday, the concert made its debut on streaming services, and was issued on a vinyl LP set for the first time.<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/all-star-george-harrison-tribute-concert-gets-vinyl-reissue-w515522|title=All-Star George Harrison Tribute Concert Gets Massive Vinyl Reissue|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=17 January 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

==Set list==
#"Sarveshaam"
#*Traditional prayer&nbsp;– including a dedication by Ravi Shankar
#"Your Eyes" (Ravi Shankar)&nbsp;– 8:22
#*Anoushka Shankar: sitar; Tanmoy Bose: tabla
#"[[The Inner Light (song)|The Inner Light]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:01
#*Anoushka Shankar: sitar; Jeff Lynne: vocals, acoustic guitar; Dhani Harrison: backing vocals, piano; Rajendara Prasanna: shahnai; Tanmoy Bose: tabla; Sunil Gupta: flute; M. Balanchandar: mridangam; Unidentified musicians: other instruments
#"Arpan" (Ravi Shankar)&nbsp;– 23:01
#*Anoushka Shankar: conductor; Sukanya Shankar: vocal-shloka;  M. Balanchandar: mridangam; Rajendara Prasanna: shahnai; Vishwa Mohan Bhatt: mohan vina; Tanmoy Bose: tabla, dholak; Chandrasekhar, Balu Raghuraman: violins; Eric Clapton: acoustic guitar; [[Pedro Eustache]]: wind instruments; Sunil Gupta: flute; Anuradha Krishamurthi, O.S. Arun: vocals; Jane Lister: harp; Gaurav Mazumdar: sitar; Snehashish Mzumdar: mandolin; Ramesh Mishra: sarangi; Pirashanna Thevarajah: percussion; Kenji Ota: tanpura; Barry Phillips: cello; Emil Richards: marimba; Partho Sarathy: sarod; Hari Sivanesan, Sivaskti Sivanesan: veena; Boys and Girls Choir courtesy of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; English Chamber Choir; [[London Metropolitan Orchestra]] (Andrew Brown, Roger Chase, Chris Fish, Helen Hathorn,  Lynda Houghton, Ian Humphries, Zoe Martlew, Stella Page, Debbie Widdup)
#*[[Michael Kamen]]&nbsp;– string conductor, string arrangement
#Comedy Interlude including four members of Monty Python: Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.  Also performing: Neil Innes, Carol Cleveland, Tom Hanks, and The Fred Tomlinson Singers.
#*"[[Sit on My Face]]" (Eric Idle / Harry Parr-Davies)&nbsp;– 0:44
#*"[[The Lumberjack Song]]" (Terry Jones / Michael Palin / Fred Tomlinson)&nbsp;– 4:09
#"[[I Want to Tell You]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 2:52
#*Jeff Lynne: vocals, guitar
#"[[If I Needed Someone]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 2:28
#*Eric Clapton: vocals, guitar
#"[[Old Brown Shoe]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:48
#*Gary Brooker: vocals, electric piano
#"[[Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:29
#*Jeff Lynne: vocals, acoustic guitar
#"[[Beware of Darkness (song)|Beware of Darkness]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 4:00
#*Eric Clapton: vocals, guitar
#"[[Here Comes the Sun]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:09
#*Joe Brown: vocals, acoustic guitar; Neil Gauntlett: acoustic guitar; Dave "Rico" Niles: bass; Phil Capaldi: drums; Andy Fairweather-Low: electric guitar
#"[[That's the Way It Goes (George Harrison song)|That's the Way It Goes]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:39
#*Joe Brown: vocals, mandolin; Neil Gauntlett: acoustic guitar; Dave "Rico" Niles: bass; Phil Capaldi: drums; Andy Fairweather-Low: slide electric guitar
#"[[Horse to the Water]]" (George Harrison / Dhani Harrison)&nbsp;– 5:08
#*Sam Brown: vocals; Jools Holland: piano; [[Jim Capaldi]]: drums
#"[[Taxman]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:10
#*Tom Petty: vocals, guitar; [[Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell]]: guitar; [[Benmont Tench]]: electric piano; [[Ron Blair]]: bass; [[Steve Ferrone]]: drums; [[Scott Thurston]]: backing vocals, guitar
#"[[I Need You (The Beatles song)|I Need You]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:00
#*Tom Petty: vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar; Mike Campbell: guitar; Benmont Tench: electric piano; Ron Blair: bass; Steve Ferrone: drums; Scott Thurston: backing vocals, guitar
#"[[Handle with Care (song)|Handle with Care]]" (George Harrison / Jeff Lynne / Roy Orbison / Tom Petty / Bob Dylan)&nbsp;– 3:27
#*Tom Petty: vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar; Jeff Lynne: vocals, guitar; Dhani Harrison: acoustic guitar; Scott Thurston: backing vocals, guitar, harmonica; Mike Campbell: guitar; Benmont Tench: electric piano; Ron Blair: bass; Steve Ferrone: drums; Jim Keltner: drums
#"[[Isn't It a Pity]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 6:58
#*Billy Preston: vocals, Hammond organ; Eric Clapton: vocals, guitar solos; Marc Mann: slide guitar
#"[[Photograph (Ringo Starr song)|Photograph]]" (George Harrison / Richard Starkey)&nbsp;– 3:56
#*Ringo Starr: vocals; Jim Horn: sax solo
#"[[Honey Don't]]" ([[Carl Perkins]])&nbsp;– 3:03
#*Ringo Starr: vocals; Albert Lee: guitar solo; Gary Brooker: piano solo; Billy Preston: Hammond organ
#"[[For You Blue]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:04
#*Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar; Ringo Starr: drums; Marc Mann: slide guitar; Gary Brooker: piano solo
#"[[Something (Beatles song)|Something]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 4:25
#*Paul McCartney: vocals, ukulele, acoustic guitar; Ringo Starr: drums; Eric Clapton: vocals, guitar; Marc Mann: guitar
#"[[All Things Must Pass (song)|All Things Must Pass]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 3:33
#*Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar; Ringo Starr: drums; Eric Clapton: 12-string acoustic guitar; Dhani Harrison: electric guitar; Klaus Voormann: bass; Marc Mann: slide guitar
#"[[While My Guitar Gently Weeps]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 5:57
#*Eric Clapton: vocals, guitar; Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, piano; Ringo Starr: drums; Dhani Harrison: acoustic guitar; Marc Mann: guitar
#"[[My Sweet Lord]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 5:02
#*Billy Preston: vocals, Hammond organ; Paul McCartney: piano; Ringo Starr: drums; Eric Clapton: 12-string acoustic guitar; Dhani Harrison: backing vocals, acoustic guitar; Marc Mann: slide guitar; Jeff Lynne: acoustic guitar
#"[[Wah-Wah (song)|Wah-Wah]]" (Harrison)&nbsp;– 6:06
#*Eric Clapton: vocals, guitar; Jeff Lynne: vocals, acoustic guitar; Paul McCartney: piano; Ringo Starr: drums; Andy Fairweather-Low: vocals, guitar; Supergroup of Guest Musicians: other instruments
#"[[I'll See You in My Dreams (1924 song)|I'll See You in My Dreams]]" ([[Isham Jones]] / [[Gus Kahn]])&nbsp;– 4:01
#*Joe Brown: vocals, ukulele; Neil Gauntlett: acoustic guitar; Dave "Rico" Niles: bass; Phil Capaldi: drums.
Digital keyboard: Chris Stainton.

==George's Band (after interlude) and guests==
*[[Eric Clapton]] – guitars, musical director
*[[Jeff Lynne]], [[Marc Mann]], [[Andy Fairweather Low]], [[Dhani Harrison]], [[Albert Lee]], [[Tom Petty]], [[Joe Brown (singer)|Joe Brown]], [[Paul McCartney]] – guitars
*[[Gary Brooker]], [[Chris Stainton]], [[Billy Preston]], [[Jools Holland]], Paul McCartney – keyboards
*Dave Bronze, [[Klaus Voormann]] – bass
*[[Henry Spinetti]], [[Jim Keltner]], [[Ringo Starr]], [[Jim Capaldi]] – drums
*[[Ray Cooper]], [[Emil Richards]], [[Jim Capaldi]] – percussion
*[[Jim Horn]]&nbsp;– tenor saxophone
*[[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]] – alto saxophone
*[[Katie Kissoon]], [[Tessa Niles]], [[Sam Brown (singer)|Sam Brown]] – backing vocals

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.concertforgeorge.com/ Official website]
*[https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2003-10-01-george_x.htm ''USA Today'' review]
*[https://sandiegotroubadour.com/ill-see-you-in-my-dreams-looking-back-at-the-concert-for-george/ ''Looking Back at the Concert for George'' review]
{{George Harrison}}
{{Anoushka Shankar}}
{{Monty Python}}

[[Category:George Harrison]]
[[Category:Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall]]
[[Category:2002 in British music]]
[[Category:2002 in London]]
[[Category:Tribute concerts in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:November 2002 in the United Kingdom]]