The Beatles: February 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

25 Days of Harrison Day 25- What Is Life

George Harrison was born on the 25 February, 1943, making today his 71st birthday. Although, his birthday was argued that it was on the 24th being born near the turning of the day but there are no documents proving whether it was defiantly the 24th or the 25th, his birth certificate states it's the 25th but family records say it was the 24th. During an interview in 2007, Olivia Harrison mentioned that If you wished George a Happy Birthday on the 24th he'd tell you you were a day too early. If you wished him a Happy Birthday on the 25th he'd tell you you were a day late. Just like 9 Days Of Lennon, the last day is dedicated to tributes and remembrances of the artist (read John's tributes by clicking here).

“If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there”- George Harrison

Fifty-eight years is all it took for one person to change not only themselves but to change and shake the world through music, inspiration, stories, humor, and words of wisdom. To many fans George is the ex-Beatle, a musician, and a celebrity but he was much more to that. He even says himself he'd rather be successful than famous. He wasn't just a musician in fact he was a gardener, a racing fan, a father, husband, a friend. Throughout his fifty-eight years in his earthly body as George he had became friends with hundreds of people who can't say anything bad about him, one being later band mate, Tom Petty also known as Charlie T Wilbury Jr or Muddy Wilbury;

"I would assure all his fans that George was just really as beautiful as they pictured him. And maybe more."

George had met Tom Petty in 1974 in Los Angeles. During an interview with Rolling Stone magazine Tom Petty had said that it's very scary meeting a Beatle; by1974 he had not only met one Beatle but he had also met Ringo.

"George was so nice to me and included me in everything.",Tom Petty remembers.

The two didn't see each other until Tom Petty's mid 1980s tour with Bob Dylan where George had came to see them in Birmingham. Tom says he reminded George that they had met before and

"It felt like we had known each other all our lives, and in a personal way."

Tom had became part of The Traveling Wilburys, a band featuring George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison, with drummer Jim Keltner ( read about The Traveling Wilburys by clicking here and here ). The two became very close, Tom even says that The Traveling Wilburys was George's baby and considered himself a Wilbury for the rest of his life, he loved the band and he loved the people in it. Petty and Harrison had even written "Cheer Down" together, a song that came from an Olivia Harrison saying when George got too happy. The following video is "Cheer Down";

"Oh, I feel blessed. And it's the only time in my life, really, that I had been that close to somebody - outside of like my mom dying or something. I loved him so much, and if he had never played a note, I would have been so blessed to have him in my life." Tom Petty goes on to say, "I'm just blessed by God to have known him. He had so much love in him."

Jeff Lynne, or as others may know him as Otis or Clayton Wilbury, had became close friends with George Harrison who even had Jeff work on his Cloud Nine album which would lead to the start of The Traveling Wilburys. The following video is Jeff Lynne from Martin Scorsese's Living In The Material World documentary;

"You always knew where you stood with George, he was totally honest. I feel blessed to have been so close to him. He was a great friend. Some of the happiest days of my life were spent in the studio with George."- Jeff Lynne

Jeff and Tom were there to induct George into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The two were also present when George was given a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009 along with Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison, Paul McCartney, Eric Idle, Tom Hanks and hundreds of Beatles/ Harrison fans., the following video is of the two inducting George into the Hall of Fame;

Jeff and Tom also sang "While My Guitar Gentle Weeps" and "Handle With Care" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoring their good friend. On 9 February, 2014, Jeff Lynne preformed twice at the Grammy's Salute To The Beatles, singing "Something", one of George's most famous works, with George's son Dhani Harrison, and musician Joe Walsh. He had also preformed "Hey Bulldog" with Dave Ghrol.

Bob Dylan, also known as Lucky or Boo Wilbury says;

"George was a giant, a great, great soul, with all of the humanity, all of the wit and humor, all the wisdom, the spirituality, the common sense of a man and compassion for people. The world is a profoundly emptier place without him."

Bob and George had met in 1964 where Dylan had introduced the group to marijuana after hearing The Beatles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" thinking that they were singing "I Get High" instead of "I Can't Hide". The Beatles were all in awe and huge fans of Bob Dylan's and later when George and Bob were in The Traveling Wilburys Tom had said,

"I think George frightened Bob. When the Wilburys started, George was so reverent of Bob. At the end of the first day he said, 'We know that you're Bob Dylan and everything, but we're going to just treat you and talk to you like we would anybody else.' and Bob went, 'Well, great. Believe it or not, I'm in awe of you guys, and it's the same for me.'"

Harrison would work together later on a song called 'I'd Have You Anytime", George also covered Bob's "If Not For You" for his All Things Must Pass album. In George's autobiography, I Me Mine, Olivia says that in times when George was trying to write about reflection and trying to give a message he'd try to write in a style of Dylan's lyrics. George also wrote "Behind That Locked Door" about Bob Dylan. The following video is George Harrison's "I'd Have You Anytime"

Jim Keltner had drummed for George (also with John).

"To me he was just George. He was just George, my beautiful, beautiful friend, who I kind of took for granted over the years."- Jim Keltner

Jim had gotten to know George throughout the years and said he was really like a brother, calling it a cliché but true. George had even created a fan club for Jim Keltner which is featured on the back of Harrison's album "Living In The Material World", when Jim asked why George told him that if he had to create a fan club he was going to make it of one he was a fan of. The following video is Jim Keltner talking about the fan club;

"The guy just had a way of handling everything so beautifully. He was deep with his religion, with his spiritual side, and even though we don't share the same religion, I believe that God must be blessing him immensely right now. And he never changed, he never wavered. He was always talking about how great one of these days it's going to be to get out of these old bodies. "- Jim Keltner

"I was the same all along, I talked when I felt like it, and I shut up when I didn't feel like talking."- George Harrison

George Harrison had paid for Monty Python's "Life Of Brian" to be made, which started George's company, HandMade Films.

"Still the most anybody has ever paid for a Cinema ticket."- Eric Idle

Eric and George had become close friends, Eric still attends as much awards for George as he can. When George was honored with a place in the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, Eric was there giving a speech about his friend saying how George was 'special', not just for his music and guitar playing but how he went to achieve everything, what he did with his life, and his search for truth and preparing himself for death.

"Which is a bit weird for someone in rock and roll. They're not suppose to be that smart. They're supposed to be out there looking for Sharon. Not the meaning of life."

Idle also says that George had a great sense of humor, even up to the day he died he'd be in the hospital asking if they could put fish and chips in his IV.

On accepting the award, which was given to Olivia Harrison, Eric said the following;

"Which I know is a heresy here in Hollywood, and I’m sorry to bring it up here in the very Bowel of Hollywood but I can hear his voice saying 'oh very nice, very useful, a posthumous award – where am I supposed to put it? What’s next for me then? A posthumous Grammy? An ex-Knighthood? An After-Lifetime Achievement Award?'
He’s going to need a whole new shelf up there.
So: posthumously inducted – sounds rather unpleasant: sounds like some kind of after-life enema.
But Induct – in case you are wondering – comes from the word induce – meaning to bring on labor by the use of drugs.
And Posthumous is actually from the Latin post meaning after and hummus meaning Greek food.
So I like to think that George is still out there somewhere – pregnant and breaking plates at a Greek restaurant."

Jim Keltner says he visited George the Sunday before he passed away (George parted the following Thursday), he remembers Eric visiting once and says;

"Eric Idle was there one night. When Eric walked in, George just beamed. He started laughing, and he raised his hand to Eric and held his hand, and was actually laughing. I will never forget that moment in my entire life. He was such a huge Eric Idle fan. Just the thought of Eric made him laugh. He was always quoting Eric. And so to see Eric walk in and have George just brighten up like that and start laughing, it was just fantastic."

“I remember thinking I just want more. This isn't it. Fame is not the goal. Money is not the goal. To be able to know how to get peace of mind, how to be happy, is something you don't just stumble across. You've got to search for it.” -George Harrison

Motor racing was one of George's many hobbies, he loved watching the races and had later became friends with driver, Jackie Stewart (read about George and Jackie here ). Harrison and Stewart began a long friendship with family trips to Scotland and Friar Park, George even wrote "Faster" about racing and about Jackie Stewart among other racers.

"George had a great soul. His instinct was to forgive rather than to condemn and, when people behaved badly, he would make excuses for them. I learnt so much from him."- Jackie Stewart

“Your own space, man, it's so important. That's why we were doomed because we didn't have any. It is like monkeys in a zoo. They die. You know, everything needs to be left alone.”

-George Harrison

Ravi Shankar (read about Ravi by clicking here) became not only George's mentor in the Indian culture but one of George's best friends. The two had became global activist with their concert, The Concert for Bangladesh,

"Within twenty-four hours, the name Bangladesh became known to everyone. It was my conception, but I couldn't have done it in this huge scale. Thanks to George it was such a wonderful event, first of its kind."- Ravi Shankar

George would later became heavily influenced by the Indian culture, after picking up the sitar in the mid 1960s, and became what he called "A Closet Krishna", read about George's Hinduism and Indian influences by clicking here.

“His vision was very altruistic, and that’s what really interested me very, very much, and which I loved in him.”- Ravi Shankar

“Sometimes I feel like I’m actually on the wrong planet. It’s great when I’m in my garden, but the minute I go out the gate I think, ‘What the hell am I doing here?” - George Harrison

The Concert for George.

It was 29 November, 2002, one year after George Harrison had lost his battle with cancer. Olivia Harrison and Eric Clapton, a good close friend of George's had got the idea to put on a concert to remember George. The concert was filled with friends and musicians on stage honoring their friend, people like Ravi Shankar, Jeff Lynne, Joe Brown, Gary Brooker, Sam Brown, Tom Petty (with Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Ron Blair, Steve Ferrone, Scott Thurston), Jim Keltner, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Dhani Harrison, and other artist, even The Monty Python
crew, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, including Neil Innes, Carol Cleveland, and Tom Hanks. The even was held at The Royal Albert Hall.
The night started with Anoushka Shankar preforming a song composed by her father, Ravi Shankar called "Arpan", which translated means 'offering' or 'to give', which was written for the event and includes Eric Clapton playing an acoustic solo.
As the night went on having friends and fellow musicians like Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton and more preforming song by George Harrison during The Beatles, Solo, and even The Traveling Wilburys. Songs like Jeff Lynne's version of "I Want to Tell You", Eric Clapton singing "If I Needed Someone", "Beware of Darkness" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", Joe Brown's version of "Here Comes the Sun" and "That's The Way It Goes", Tom Petty singing "Taxman", " I Need You", and "Handle With Care", while Billy Preston sang "My Sweet Lord".
The night carried on with performances of Paul McCartney singing "For You Blue" and "All Things Must Pass" with Ringo Starr on drums. Ringo Starr sang "Honey Don't" and "Photograph"Paul singing "Something" playing a ukulele George had given him while Eric Clapton sang with Paul and played with Marc Mann on guitar. Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne then shared vocals singing "Wah-Wah".
The night closed with Joe Brown singing "I'll See You In My Dreams" The following video is Joe Brown singing "I"ll See You In My Dreams" ;

Question: "Hi, you're not married?"
George Harrison: "No, I'm George"

From Life To Life, A Garden For George

George was an active gardener, as can be seen in his home at Friar Park. He would attend Chelsea Flower Shows, along with his wife Olivia. After George's passing Olivia thought it was the perfect idea for a garden to be made in his memory.
The Garden for George consists of four gardens going through the stages of George's life, starting with a redbrick section representing Arnold Grove, where he was born and moves onto a psychedelic colourful garden representing the 60s. There's a spring where the following lyrics float above;

"Floating down the stream of time, from life with me"- George Harrison

The garden ends on a marble terrace that leads to crystal circles surrounded by flowers.

"As George dedicated his autobiography "to gardeners everywhere" we do the same along with love and gratitude to George for the music, gardens and thoughtful legacy he left behind. "- Olivia Harrison

" Sometimes I feel like I’m actually on the wrong planet. It’s great when I’m in my garden, but the minute I go out the gate I think, ‘What the hell am I doing here?- George Harrison

The Quiet One, was a nickname given to George during The Beatles, because he was less outspoken than the rest,

"Well, he never shut up. George had a lot to say. Boy, did he have a lot to say. That's hysterical to me, you know, that he was known as the quiet one. "- Tom Petty

"This is the Quiet One? He never shut up"- Eric Idle

"...so far from being the Quiet Beatles, a very talkative man, with as much interest in expressing himself as anyone else and more than most."-Derek Taylor

“The only thing we really have to work at in this life is how to manifest love."- George Harrison

All 25 Days of Harrison are listed below;

"As long as you hate, there will be people to hate."- George Harrison

Dhani was George's only child born in 1978, read all about him by clicking here.

"I was an only child. I hung out with my parents."

Dhani and George's relationship was extremely close to the point where George had told Dhani to skip school and the two would just hang out, Dhani wouldn't though because rebelling in his family was to go to school, so that's what he did. The following video is Dhani Harrison from the Living In The Material World documentary;

"You've got as many lives as you like, and more, even ones you don't want."- George Harrison

Ringo Starr had met George in the late 50s and started a life long friendship, some say the best friendship in The Beatles. Ringo reflects on his last days with George saying he was in a hurry to get his daughter, Lee Starkey, to Boston hospital and wished he could stay longer. George, battling cancer was ready to get up saying"Do you want me to come with you?". The below video is Ringo's interview from Living In The Material World;

Ringo also remembers during the White Album, he had left The Beatles and when he came back George had had his whole studio covered with flowers welcoming Ringo back. After hearing that George had passed away Ringo started dedicating one of his more popular songs "Photograph", which was written with George, to George. Also, after his passing Ringo had written (with help from Mark Hudson and Gary Nicholson), and recorded (featuring Eric Clapton) "Never Without You" for his youngest brother, with lines about the early days;

We were young, it was fun
And we couldn't lose
Time were right, overnight
We were headline news
Crazy days and reckless nights
Limousines and bright spotlights
We were brothers through it all

Lyrics saying "All Things Must Pass" and ending with "I think love is about you". The following video is "Never Without You";

On 9 February, 2014 at The Grammy Salute To The Beatles, Ringo preformed "Yellow Submarine", "Boys", and "Photograph". As the night went on he preformed with Paul McCartney on "With A Little Help From My Friends" where he said,

"We were in a band, it was called The Beatles and whenever we play, John and George are always with us. It was always John, Paul, George and Ringo."

"We were the Spice Boys"- George Harrison

Paul was the first member of The Beatles George had met, in fact Paul had introduced George to John which lead to him joining the band. The two spent much time together playing their guitars and Paul even called George his little brother and looked after him as a brother. The two would became best friends, going on hitch hiking trip,riding the bus together, even sneaking over to The Liverpool Art College to see John. Paul remembers going for The Beatles Decca auditions

"And I remember sitting at the bar with George and it became kind of a fun thing for us for years later. I would say, When you sang (Goffin & King’s) “Take Good Care Of My Baby,” it was amazin’ man!’ I’m not sure we said ‘man’ or even ‘amazing’ in those days, but… That was a special little moment and it just became a thing between me and him: [awed voice again] ‘When you sang Take Good Care Of My Baby’...’"

At concerts George is honored with Paul playing "Something" on George's ukulele, that was given to Paul. While preforming a video of pictures filled with George Harrison alone and pictures of Paul and George plays on the stage screen.

Paul remembers his last days with George that the two sat there just holding hands. Paul later said something on the lines of , "You don't see grown men just sitting there holding hands". It was their relationship, Eric Clapton in an interview with Rolling Stone says that they were never good about saying how much they loved each other but Paul loved George and missed him, maybe more than anyone. The following video is Paul McCartney playing "Something";

"Writing a song is like going to confession"- George Harrison

Olivia had met George in 1974 and the two were married in 1978. After George's parting Olivia had organized The Concert For George, helped with Life to Life, A Garden For George, Living In The Material World Documentary, wrote a book about George and kept up with the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF. The two were married up till George passing and had their only child, Dhani. In the 2007 edition of I Me Mine, Olivia had written the foreword with words all about living with George. The following video is from Living In The Material World documentary;

" During out life together the issues of possessions, attachment and identification with the ego were in the forefront of our awareness and George was always quick to point out that in reality there is no I, Me or Mine. George was relentless at keeping our spiritual aim true. We were only humans walking a long roads towards our shared goal of enlightenment and I, for one, welcomed any reminders." -Olivia Harrison, I Me Mine

From war time in Liverpool to somewhere floating down the Ganges River, George Harrison has honestly ruined my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. You don't have to know someone to love them, and I love George Harrison. You're sorely missed and this world won't forget about you.

"I have had to find one word to say what the man is. 'Brave' comes near, but it has too close a relationship with suffering and I therefore concluded that, pirate as he is, he deserves the word 'bold' for he is, in truth, quite the boldest man I have ever met."- Derek Taylor

"While I'm living in the material world
Not much giving in the material world
Got a lot of work to do
Try to get a message through
And get back out of this material world"

You've got as many lives as you like, and more, even ones you don't want.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_harrison.html#KvYe00rYZI2JwHkb.99

Monday, February 24, 2014

25 Days of Harrison Day 24- Sue Me, Sue You Blues

"My Sweet Lord" was released on George Harrison's first solo album (outside of The Beatles break-up, excluding Wonderwall), All Things Must Pass. The song maybe one of George Harrison's most recognizable songs from his solo career with his "Hare Krishna" and "Hallelujah". The song said being thought of while George was with friends like Billy Preston in Copenhagen, Denmark, December 1969, saying he became conscious of the song after he caught a break from a press conference. It was the following week that Harrison and Preston were back in London to start an album of Preston's that was later issued by The Beatles Apple Records. It was here that the song "My Sweet Lord" was brought into conversation, it was unfinished at this time and George had wanted to finish it, they worked on trying to finish the song.

"My Sweet Lord" was released on George's 1970 album, All Things Must Pass and was released as a single, where it became a number one hit immediately in America. It lasted in charts for fourteen weeks before 10 February, 1971 hit. That was the day that Bright Tunes Music Corp. had filed a lawsuit against George Harrison, Apple Records, BMI, Harrisongs Music, Ltd., Harrisongs Music, Inc., and Hansen Publications for plagiarizing a song written and arranged by Ronald Mack recorded by the Chiffons in 1962 called "He's So Fine" a widely popular song in the early 1960s, Harrison even had admitted he had listening and knew the song.The following video is the Chiffon's "He's So Fine":

Allen Klein was manager of George at the time, had been since he had became The Beatles second manager after Brian Epstein had passed away. Klein had met with president and stockholder of the Bright Tunes company, Seymour Barash, in hopes to solve the lawsuit. Klein even recommended that George should just buy the entire Bright Tunes company while Seymour Barah had proposed that Bright Tunes would buy the rights to "My Sweet Lord" having George receiving half of the proceeds that "My Sweet Lord" made and potentially will make.

"I even tried to give "My Sweet Lord" away to get the thing settled - just let 'em have it; it doesn't matter to me." -George says in his autobiography, I Me Mine. He continues to say,

"I'm concerned the effect the song has had far exceeds any bitching that's been going on between copyright people; it's just greed and jealousy and all that. Give them the song- I don't care. But my lawyers said "Oh no, you can't do that; it's impossible...." So, it drags on, but it's certainly not giving me any sleepless nights."

After a long fight with Bright Tunes and just a few weeks before the first trial for the case, on January 1976 George Harrison had offered $148,000, which was 40% of the writer and publisher's royalties on the "My Sweet Lord" earning in the United States. It would also say that George would retain the copyright for the song. "A good one" is what Bright attorneys called the offer, but the declined it and raised their demand for half of the Untied States royalties to 75% of the worldwide profits, also to give up the copyrights of the song. While this was all going on Allen Klein and George had had a bit of a falling out, a bitter one too. The Beatles had broken up and the contract was just a few years shy of ending. As George made his "good" offer Klein had returned back to the picture except now trying to purchase Bright Tunes stocks, not for Harrison but for ABKCO. Klein's offer would had put himself in charge of Bright Tune's copyrights and in charge of the lawsuit. Allen Klein had become an insider, giving Bright information about the song, the royalties, the overseas earnings, and his idea of what the song would cost and be worth in the future. The following video is George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord";

In court experts where called as witnesses, George himself even testified about his writing for the song. The Judge had then found George's "My Sweet Lord" violate Mack's "He's So Fine" copyright. It was also shown in court how "He's So Fine" had two basic musical phases, or Motif A and Motif B. The two songs were foggy mirror of each other but George's consisted of Motif A four times and then Motif B only being used three times, not four. To fill in for the fourth Harrison had a transitional phase. After counting syllables of songs and identifing the songs down to the structure the judge ruled that the songs were 'virtually identical'. George defended himself saying he didn't intentionally copy the song, but the court had already made the decision that Harrison had improperly used the "He's So Fine" copyright.

Now where was Allen Klein? Allen Klein had pruchased the copyright to "He's So Fine" with ABKCO Industries and with it he had tried neogtiating with George Harrison to sell the song. It was on the 19th of February in the year of 1981 when the court had decided that because of Klein's dishonesty in the case George had to pay $587,000 (the amount Klein paid for the rights for "He's So Fine" from Bright Tunes) to ABKCO instead of an original $1.6 million Harrison was going to pay. George was given the rights to "He's So Fine".

Although lawsuits aren't always the greatest things, this case happended to lead to George writing "This Song" a song about "My Sweet Lord" and the "He's So Fine" case. With lines many lines about the trails; one that reads,

"This song, There's nothing Bright about it."

The following video is George Harrison's "This Song";

Sunday, February 23, 2014

25 Days of Harrison Day 23- Living In The Material World Documentary

On the fifth of October, 2011 Martin Scorsese, an American director who has been called the greatest director of all time, had released a documentary about the life of George Harrison.

"I will never forget the first time I heard All Things Must Pass, the overwhelming feeling of taking in all that glorious music for the first time. It was like walking into a cathedral. George was making spiritually awake music - we all heard and felt it - and I think that was the reason that he came to occupy a very special place in our lives. So when I was offered the chance to make this picture, I jumped at it. Spending time with Olivia, interviewing so many of George's closest friends, reviewing all that footage, some of it never seen before, and listening to all of that magnificent music - it was a joy, and an experience I'll always treasure."- Martin Scorsese

The documentary was produced by Olivia Harrison, Nigel Sinclair, and Martin Scorsese and lasts a total of 208 minutes. 208 minutes of the life of one of the worlds most loved musicians, from his early days with interviews of his brothers Peter and Harry, to school, meeting Paul and John, The Beatles, Solo work, Dark Horse Tour, India, to gardening and motor racing, and beyond. Scorsese does a beautiful job on starting from George being born during war time in Liverpool up to his final earthly days. The following video is the movie trailer:

The film is filled with interviews of friends and family talking about what George meant to them and all their memories, amongst them were; Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Peter Harrison, Harry Harrison, Pattie Boyd, Olivia Arias Trinidad, Dhani Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Eric Idle, Jackie Stewart, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Joan Taylor, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector.

Living In The Material World is separated in two parts, Part One starts off with an interview by his son, Dhani Harrison. When the interviewer asked

"Is there anything you would say to George if he were around today?

Dhani Harrison: Were have you been? I had a dream and that was what I said to him in the dream, so I guess that’s what would be the question. Where have you been since I last saw you? And he answered it, so I can tell you the answer as well, which was, “Here, the whole time.” "

Then moves onto the early childhood of George Harrison, getting into music, how he met Paul McCartney and how George had been asked to join The Quarrymen led by John Lennon. The film continues to go in depth about The Quarrymen to The Beatles with Stewart Sutcliffe and Pete Best and their Hamburg experiences with interviews from Astrid Kirchherr and Klaus Voormann. Then onto how Ringo Starr had joined the band and how the Fab Four became The Fab Four. Through the height of Beatlemania to the end of it with many interviews in between.

Part Two showed George after The Beatles, through Friar Park, to Olivia, his new wife, his unsuccessful Dark Horse Tour in 1974, even through his help with Monty Python where interviews with Eric Idle who said,

"This is the quiet one? He never shut up!"

Also showing the viewers through George's Hinduism and interest in the Indian culture with videos of George in India and videos of Ravi Shankar. Also, early Beatles films from their trip to India for a Meditation camp. Part Two is just or even more interesting than part, as George is often viewed as guitar player for The Beatles, Part two shows that he was more to that and had other interests than just music, like gardening and his love for motor-racing. The second half of the film has interviews with Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd who talk about heir love for each other leading to the divorce of Pattie and George. The Friar Park break-in and knife attack are also mentioned in part two with Olivia describing their whole experience. Son, Dhani reflects on his dad and their strong relationship.

The DVD was released on 5 October, 2011 in the US and 10 October, 2011 in the UK on both DVD, Blu-Ray, and Limited Deluxe Edition (which includes the DVD, Blu-Ray, book of unseen photographs and illustrations, and a CD of unheard tracks sung by George). The film included Bonus Features with interviews from Paul McCartney talking about George and his hitch hiking experiences, Jeff Lynne on a bit about The Traveling Wilburys Volume I and Volume II and Ukulele, George Martin with his song Giles Martin and Dhani Harrison playing with George's "Here Comes The Sun" on an eight-track tape, and pieces of one of the most inspirational, notable concerts of all time, The Concert for Bangla Desh. The Following video is George Harrison's "Living In The Material World"

Saturday, February 22, 2014

25 Days of Harrison Day 22- The Traveling Wilburys Volume III

The above video is Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, and Tom Petty talking about the passing of their friend and fellow musician, Roy Orbison. Before reading about The Traveling Wilburys Volume III, read about a prior description about the formation of The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys Volume I, and their chart history by clicking here.

Producers: Spike and Clayton Wilbury
Recorded: April- May 1990
Released: 29 October, 1990
Spike Wilbury: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, sitar, lead vocals, backing vocals
Clayton Wilbury: Acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, lead vocals, backing vocals
Boo Wilbury: Acoustic guitar, harmonica, lead vocals, backing vocals
Muddy Wilbury: acoustic guitar, bass guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals
Jim Keltner: Drums, Percussion
Jim Horn: Saxophones
Ray Cooper: Percussion
Gary Moore: lead guitar on "She's My Baby"

It was two years after the passing of Roy Orbison and two years after The Traveling Wilburys had released their first album. In April of 1990, the remaining brothers returned to the studio after Bob Dylan had returned to touring in the late 80s, doing thirteen gigs with Tom Petty, some with the Grateful Dead, and then onto his Never Ending Tour in 1988. Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were working on Roy's last album, Mystery Girl, which was released in 1989. Jeff had also produced Tom Petty's solo album, Full Moon Fever, also in 1989. Bob was working on his new album in 1990, Under the Red Sky, which George Harrison played on. Also, Jeff Lynne was working on his album, Armchair Theatre, which Tom and George worked on in 1990. It was time for the four to get back together to record a second album; Traveling Wilburys Volume III, was the result.

Instead of using their old persona; Nelson, Otis, Lucky, and Charlie T Jr. Volume III introduced a new band of brothers, George was now known as Spike Wilbury, Jeff as Clayton, Bob had became Boo, and Tom as Muddy. The recording for the album went from April to May and was released on 29 October, 1990, being produced by their own Spike and Clayton.

Track List:

Bonus tracks released on The Traveling Wilburys Collection box set in 2007:

Nobody's Child (Cy Coben, Mel Foree)
Run Away (Max Crook, Del Shannon)

"Nobody's Child" was recorded and released for a charity for the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, founded by George's second wife, Olivia. The song appeared on the album, Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal. The group also recorded a brilliant cover of Del Shannon's "Run Away". The above video is the full Volume III album.

Although the album didn't do as great as the first, it placed 11th in The Billboard 200 charts. Singles like Inside Out place 16 in Mainstream Rock. She's My Baby received spot number 2 in Mainstream Rock chart.

It all started with one musician looking to write a B-side for his new album, that turned into a band full of brothers.

"Just when you thought that real music was gone forever..... there came The Traveling Wilburys"

To see a great interview with Tom, Jeff, and George click here.

Friday, February 21, 2014

25 Days Of Harrison Day 21- The Traveling Wilburys Volume I

"What I'd really like to do next is... to do an album with me and some of my mates... a few tunes, you know. Maybe The Traveling Wilburys... it's this new group I got: it's called the Traveling Wilburys, I'd like to do an album with them and later we can all do our own albums again."-George Harrison

It was the year 1988 when George Harrison was working on his album Cloud Nine, an album who was created by Harrison himself, singer/songwriter and friend, Jeff Lynne and was being produced and distributed by Warner Bros Records.Warner Brothers had asked George to write a B-side for his single called "This Is Love".

George had figured he'd go to a studio and record a song, good friend of George's and one of the most influential musicians of all time, Bob Dylan, had a studio. George and Jeff called Bob up asking if they could use his studio, Bob allowed it and it was just the three of them; Harrison, Lynne, and Dylan. Jeff at the time was working with the legendary musician, Roy Orbison, who Jeff had mentioned his record he was making with George and Roy wanted to help. It was during one night that George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Bob Dylan, were eating together in Bob's home studio in Malibu, California. Now it was the four of them, George, Jeff, Bob, and Roy who immediately went to start working, but George had forgotten his guitar at a friends house, it was then the young heart-breaker, Tom Petty had joined the group. George had left to get his guitar at Tom's house and returned to Bob's studio accompanied by Tom Petty.

"...and so I just thought I'll just go into the studio tomorrow and do one, and it happened that Jeff was working with Roy and Roy wanted to come. My guitar was at Tom's house for some reason and I had to go round and get it. And the only studio that we could find available was Bob's. So we thought, Bobs got one, we'll just call him up."

The group worked a few days on a song, getting it right. It was one of those situation that you had five brilliant musicians in a room and a line would be tossed out, written down on a piece of paper until the song was complete. Someone had asked, "What are we going to call it?", George had looked at a packaging box that read "Handle With Care". Thus, George's B-Side was born. But, it wasn't a song based for George's vocals, and George didn't want it to be,

"So everybody was there and I thought I'm not gonna just sing it myself, I've got Roy Orbison standing there. I'm gonna write a bit for Roy to sing. And Then as it progressed then I started doing the vocals and I just thought I might as well push it a bit and get Tom and Bob to sing the bridge."-George Harrison on writing "Handle With Care"

"A couple of days later George came by my office to play the new 'B-side.' We went next door to A&R head Lenny Waronker's office so he could hear it too. George played us 'Handle With Care.' Our reaction was immediate. This was a song we knew could not be wasted on some B-side. Roy Orbison's vocal was tremendous. I really loved the beautiful guitar figure that George played. The guys had really nailed it. Lenny and I stumbled over each others' words, asking, 'Can't we somehow turn this into an album?' (I also had a suspicion that perhaps George had been hungering for another band experience.)" -Mo Ostin of Warner Bros. Records

The name Traveling Wilbury's came from a joke between George and Jeff who called the studio equipment "wilburys". The original name for the group was The Trembling Wilbury's , it was Jeff who suggested "Traveling". The group went on to record The Traveling Wilburys Volume I, but not under their own names. The Traveling Wilburys had became brothers, George becoming Nelson Wilbury, Jeff being Otis, Roy becoming Lefty, Bob had taken on the persona as Lucky, and Tom, being the youngest became Charlie T. Wilbury Jr. The group used drummer Jim Keltner on their songs. The Following video is "The True Story of The Traveling Wilburys":

Traveling Wilburys Volume I track list:

The album was released on 18 October, 1988 and went to number three in The Billboard 200 charts. Singles like End Of The Line, peaked number 28 in Adult Contemporary charts, 2 in Mainstream Rock, 63 in The Billboard Hot 100. Handle with Care reached 2 in Mainstream Rock, 45 in The Billboard Hot 100. Heading For The Light peaked at number 7 in Mainstream Rock charts. Last Night reached 5 in Mainstream Rock. The album also was awarded Grammy Award for Best Rock Preformance by Duo or Group with Vocal.

6 December 1988 the world wept at the passing of the legacy of the beautiful man, Roy Orbison who had passed away of a heart attack. He was remembered in the Traveling Wilbury's video for "End Of The Line", where they're on a steam engine train, during Lefty's refrain the video focuses on a rocking chair holding his guitar and a picture of Orbison standing next to it. Roy will be remembered as a true music inspiration, but not only as that but as a friend to many and for those who knew him as an overall great guy, there's really no words good enough to describe him.

"All I can really say about him is, you know, we loved him. We told him, fortunately, at any given opportunity, you know any time we had we always told him we loved him. We always hugged him. And said, 'Roy, you're so great.' I once said to him, 'Roy, you're probably the greatest singer in the world.' and he said '...probably.'"-Tom Petty

The following video is the Traveling Wilbury's "End Of The Line":

25 Days Of Harrison Day 20- Styles

From the teddy boy look in the 1950s, to the suits in early 1960s, psychedelic patterns that influenced the late 1960s, long hair and beard look, the Dark Horse style, the lovable perm, and the many more styles George Harrison had pulled off throughout his life time. This post is dedicated to most of the style changes that happened throughout the years with a quick description of them.

In the late teenage years George Harrison had what was called Teddy Boy look. With the leather jackets and greased hair. Paul McCartney had described in Martin Scorsese's Living In The Material World Documentary that George's hair was described as a turban. McCartney's friend would say "It's like a fucking turban".

"I must of looked pretty good, because Mimi didn't like me at all. She was really shocked and said, 'Look at him! Why have you brought this boy round to my house? He looks dreadful, like a Teddy boy.'"- George Harrison on John Lennon's Aunt Mimi's reaction.

The Teddy Boy look stuck till The Beatles met Brian Epstein, owner of NEMS records who had soon became The Beatles manager. Brian got rid of the Teddy Boy look and put the boys in smart suits, changing their hair and getting rid of the leather. This look was from 1961-1962.

In 1963 The group wore a grey collarless Pierre Cardin Suit, as well as other suits. The picture to the left is George wearing the Pierre Cardin Suit. The Cardin suit can be see in Beatles in most of The Beatles photos throughout 1963 into 1964.

The Turnip look as Paul McCartney called it. The Beatles had their photo shoot with Robert Freeman in Hyde Park for their fourth album, Beatles For Sale.

"I was quite impressed by George's hair there. He managed to create his little turnip top."- Paul McCartney

The picture to the right is The Beatles, Beatles for Sale album cover photographed by Robert Freeman who also photographed the Please Please Me Album, With The Beatles, A Hard Days Night, Help! and Rubber Soul.

The Beatles played probably their biggest concert in August of 1965, Shea Stadium. The Group wore Wells Fargo badges in a deputy style. The boys had were staying in the Warwick Hotel in Manhattan where they had Wells Fargo security and were driven in a Wells Fargo car. Besides wearing the badges, the groups suits for the Shea Stadium concert have been one of the most recognizable suits that The Beatles wore.

Although the Shea Stadium suits were iconic to The Beatles, their most iconic outfit was from their 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The colourful, attention grabbing cover that features Paul in a bright blue suit, John in Lime greenish, Ringo in hot pink, and George wearing neon red/orange. Not only were the suits iconic but the group had decided to grow mustaches, after Paul McCartney had cut his lip in a mopped accident in 1966 , to hide his scar. Although others will think that they grew the mustaches because of the Paul Is Dead rumor.

The 1960s brought many changes throughout the world, peace and love motives, flower power, drug experiencing, protesting and campaigns, free love, hippies. The Beatles style had been influenced by the worlds changes, with psychedelic prints and patterns. This later influenced the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour era. Not only is the movie and album in bright colours through covers and music, but their clothing had changed as well. The Group wasn't the Teddy Boys they were at the beginning, nor were they the suited young men. They had found their own style, John had adapted this wired rimmed granny glasses, Paul and John had shaved their Sgt Pepper's mustache, and they weren't mocking each other as a four head person wearing the same clothes like they did before. Magical Mystery Tour and really 1966 and up, The Beatles had expressed their individuality not only by their actions but by their clothing.

Then you have the Yellow Submarine time period. The Beatles had started to produce their fourth movie based off of a children song written on their Revolver album, Yellow Submarine. The movie wasn't going to be like their previous films, in which The Beatles starred in. This film was going to be a cartoon, in which The Beatles didn't play the voices in, but did make an appearance in the end. The photo to the right is the George Harrison cartoon from the movie. While the photograph to the left is George Harrison attending the Yellow Submarine premiere wearing a yellow suit and hat.

The late sixties, 1968-69 and early 1970s George Harrison had many changes with his looks. In 1968 he had cut his hair shorter again, not as short as the early days, more like 1966 style, which can be see when The Beatles preformed "Revolution" the same year. At one point he had grew his hair long but kept it without facial hair, which can be seen to the left. Then there was the famous Rooftop concert on 30 January, 1969, where The Beatles had ended their fifth movie, Let It Be, a documentary about the group, with a concert on top of their Apple Corps building. For the concert George wore green pants with a dark fur coat, photo to the right. But we can't forget about the most iconic album cover of all time, Abbey Road. Where George wore all jeans with his long hair and now full beard. The long hair and beard stayed with George till the early 1970s before he had taken on his Dark Horse look in 1974. The following video is The Beatles preforming "Revolution" in 1969:

The Dark Horse look was during 1974 when George had decided to do his first tour called Dark Horse, named after his previous album. George had shaved his long beard, keeping a mustache, and had cut his hair to aboutshoulder length. He had also gotten his ear pierced and was in between styles of overalls, and OM symbol shirts.

1976 was an interesting style for George. His hair had grown longer and wavy, while he wore colorful sweaters with various patterns.

The perm days where in the late 1970s, around the time his son, Dhani was born. The Perm had lasted over a year which was accompanied by a mustache.

In 1982, George shaved the mustache and cut his hair bringing it to the shortest it had been in a long time. His hair grew out in 1984 and 1985. Cleaning it back up in 1986.

In 1988, George Harrison had formed a super group called The Traveling Wilbury's, where his hair was longer than it was in 1982.

In 1996 George Harrison grew his hair back out with a short beard. During this time Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison had got together to work on The Beatles Anthology.

"It doesn't really matter what clothes I wear
Or how I fare or if my hair is brown"-

Only A Northern Song
The Beatles (George Harrison)

The Beatles

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