Dark Horse Sighted in Japan, December 1991; Denies it was his Idea.
From producers Spike and Nelson Wilbury, backed by Eric Clapton and a band of talented session musicians... George Harrison, Live in Japan!
Perhaps the best thing about this concert tour and the album made from it, apart from the musicianship and songwriting, is the date on which it was performed: December, 1991. Not only was the Dark Horse at the top of his game, but he also had free range of what would be just about the entirety of his solo discography, not to mention all those Beatles tunes. Everything from, "Don't Bother Me", to "Cheer Down", was in the running, and Harrison was able to sort out the cream of the delicious crop, the best of a bumper harvest of musical actvity. Things start on an energetic note (literally as well as figuratively) with, "I Want to Tell You", from, "Revolver", recorded with the Beatles. The band kicks in full swing (including some, er, interesting keyboard licks) and then the vocals start; we all recognize the tune and the lines of the third verse ("... feel hung up and I don't know whyyyyy!") sooth us with their catchiness... and then the guitar takes over. The moment when George begins the solo (yes this song now has a substantial guitar solo worked into it) is when the hypnosis settles in- and it doesn't lift until the moment the crowd roars its approval of the concluding cover of Chuck Berry's, "Roll Over Beethoven".
Yes, this album is THAT great for Harrison-Heads. Each song plays to its full potential, showing off not only Harrison's melodic and lyrical prowess, but also the skills of the band, and in particular, three great guitaritsts: Harrison, Clapton, and Andy Fairweather Low. Guitar solos, often adding symetry, always adding beauty, outline almost every song, and in that respect they might as well ALL be called "highlights".
There has been some arguing on this site about who played which solos, but to me its obvious in most cases: Harrison and Clapton in particular have very distinctive tendancies and styles in their solos, and as far as I'm concern, Concert for George (though a great show) has proven that NO ONE could play those slide bits like George... and you bet your Beatles memorabilia collection he lets loose here. Some highlights in no particular order...
. The aformentioned opener, "I Want to Tell You", with its enchanting guitar work, and the energetic follow-up, "Old Brown Shoe", with its ever-imaginative lyrics.
. "Taxman", has to be one of the THE moments of the evening: a brilliantly played, expertley written and bitting tune about tax-paying... aided by some lyrical updates, circa 1991.
. Dark Horse without the "Hoarse".
. "Something", and even the otherwise unremarkable, "If I Needed Someone", get a boost in the ratings due to some magic from the guitar wizards, especially Clapton to who waxes tender during the instrumental segments of both tunes, often exploring and ad libbing as George takes the original gorgeous guitar parts.
. "Give Me Love (Give me Peace on Earth)", serves as the selection from my personal favorite of George's solo offerings, "Living the Material World", while, "What is Life?", an "All Things Must Pass" classic, rocks more than it ever did before, liberated by producers Spike and Nelson W. from the Phil Spector treatment.
On disc 2, the selections from George's (then) recent material score points in the album's favor: "Devil's Radio" (including George's verbal coda, 'Devil's radio; don't be a broadcaster!'), and, "Cheer Down" (then George's most recent solo single, from 1989 and used in the film, "Lethal Weapon 2", thanks to a bizare connection with Eric Clapton and Silver Pictures, prove themselves highlights while, the titular track from, "Cloud 9" lays down its funk agreeably. (In additon, "Got my Mind set on You", which rounds out the first disc, rocks with all the fire of its studio counterpart as George revives the great songs and composers of the '50s and '60s.)
. No matter what anyone tells you, "Here Comes the Sun", is rendered gorgeously here.
. "Isn't it a Pity", and particularly, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", serve as the finale section of the concert and are most effective (again, the solos are more-or-less beyond description, especially as George and Eric go at it together during the last section of, "...Guitar...").
."Roll Over Beethoven" rounds out the show in the best way possible: with plain old rock 'n' roll fun! One wishes they'd keep, "rockin' in two by two"!
. For the curious (ammend that to the curious and lazy) the show also includes: "Piggies" (with an amusing coda), "All Those Years Ago", and the 1970 mega-hit, "My Sweet Lord", all performed sincerity and great qualit of musicianship as per the standards of the album.
The album also includes photos, liner notes (actually excerpts from Harrison's book, "I Me Mine", for the most part) on the various songs, as well as the customary production credits, track listings, ad nausem All these (particularly the photos) are nice touches for all the Harrison-Heads out there (myself included). In fact, the ONLY thing missing from this release is... a DVD! Don't get the Wild One wrong, the performances released on DVD so far (all five of 'em, no less ) are greatly appreciated and enjoyed, and I still enjoy watching them from time to time, but I cannot be the only one (in fact I've done enough review-reading on Amazon by itself to be SURE) who wants a full DVD covering the shows played in Osaka and Tokyo in December, 1991. We know tapes exist since we've gotten all sorts of bits 'n' bobs through the various DVD releases, and even if EVERYTHING weren't intact, I'm sure many Harrison fans would love to have all there is in the best possible quality in one place! But I digress.
This gets 5 stars as an album of beautiful music, as a document of the one-and-only George Harrison performing live in concert, and as a darn fine piece of rock 'n' roll entertainment... it'd probably get a few more were the entirety of the video portion intact!
--The Wild One.
NOTE: this review is dedicated in memory of the following: George Harrison, Spike Wilbury, and Nelson Wilbury.
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I'll See You There On Cloud 9...........
Well, I bet alot of you didn't know that I had a poetic side. While I am certainly no Cyrano De Bergerac - I have courted many a lady to the words of classic poetry. For example; "Do not go gentle into that good review, Old Seers should burn and rave at close of day", "Metamorpho is truth, truth Metamorpho", "I'm noteworthy! Who are you? Are you - noteworthy - too?". And ad infitum etc. etc. Not to brag - but I have many degrees and have been exposed to the finest schooling the metaphysical universe can offer. I even graduated from Notre Dame. Does the name Quazimodo ring any bells? I thought so.
All this, of course, qualifies me to write the following review. (And not much more! You forget I can read your thoughts!). In any event, this selection is really a wonderful remembrance of our friend George Harrison. How I miss him and his music. Listening to this makes me miss him even more. But it is a fine reminder of so many great songs he left the world. This was missing from my collection for a long time. But, I finally acquired it and it is an essential addition, especially if you have a considerable Beatles accumulation.
George was always the shy and quiet component of the Beatles. So, I suppose it took a little urging for him to go out on tour. Enter Eric Clapton (he does get around on my reviews, doesn't he?) and his excellent band and off to Japan they go. I don't know if Harrison would have done this without him, but be glad he did because this is a stellar live recording.
Expertly done, we have fine songs from George's whole career up until that point. He conjures up some of his best Beatle tunes ("Taxman", "Something", "Here Comes the Sun", "While My Guitar Gentley Weeps" etc.), adds selections from his excellent "All Things Must Pass" c.d. ("My Sweet Lord", "Isn't it a Pity", "What is Life" etc.) and extras from his other albums (Devil's Radio", "All Those Years Ago", "Dark Horse").
To my mind, George was the most "reflective" of the Beatles and that is why he remains on such a high plain in my mind. He knew there was something else beyond here (well, there is you know). And I can see him now happy, knowing his was right, and riffing along with Lennon. OK, I'll stop. But you should know wise Seers can envision these things.
In all, an accomplished backing band enabling Eric to relieve George of some lead guitar duties. It all works and is a wonder to hear. This is recommended if you love 60's pop and especially moreso if you loved the Beatles. In closing, we really miss you George. Thank-you for this.
Metamorpho said to
a mouse, that
he met
in the
house
'Let us
both listen
to Harrison:
I will
educate you -
cheers - Metamorpho
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