Product Description

A tribute to George Harrison under the musical direction of Eric Clapton.
Genre: Music Video: Concerts
Rating: NR
Release Date: 18-NOV-2003
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5933 in DVD
• Brand: Unknown
• Published on: 2003
• Released on: 2003-11-18
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Compilation, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Live, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 286 minutes

Amazon.com
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 intimately, 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 recording: 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

From the Back Cover
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 posterity 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 father 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 Oscar-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 shot in high definition and digitally mastered with sound recorded in 5.1 Surround.

Customer Reviews

A Tribute to George
This was a wonderful tribute to George Harrison. The music was really good performed by his good friends and a great variety of what he had written.

A wonderful Benifit/Memoriam For George Harrison
When I viewed this concert for the first time, I was awe struck as to how well made it was. Perfect in every way. George would have loved this! Great preformances,sound quality perfection. a real delightful piece of music history you will want to watch again and again! (Realy)

It was great
My husband love it so much we order a 2nd for a friend for his birthday