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ROCKOLLECTIONS: REMEMBERING GEORGE HARRISON PT.1

It is time for our annual tributes to George Harrison and John Lennon.
Last year I did a split show.
But there is so much music out there by both of them, much of it unheard, I decided  each would get their own hour.
George died on November 29, 2001, with many of us here in New York City still reeling from the Sept. 11th attacks.
Looking over his songs, I wondered if they had taken on any greater meaning for him as he grew aware that he was terminally ill.
So, I thought I would open up with a few songs to show you what I mean.
But not wanting to play the same old same old, I will be playing different versions, or takes (sometimes demos), throughout these shows and John’s.
Take for instance, Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth, where he sings almost pleadingly “give me life, give me hope”. If he even heard it during his illness, how would that make him feel?
Or the Art Of Dying, would that give him some strength and solace?
George had an ongoing battle with cancer, and that moron who stabbed him and punctured his lung didn’t help.
Isn’t It A Pity he had to leave us.
I have some live things too- one from a concert in 1974 and another from 1991.
Engineer Ken saw him in ‘74 but doesn’t remember hearing the track I will play- a bluesy version of a lesser-known Beatles song, complete with vibes!
It is a different George than the serious one, joking around with the band members and making up new words.
Plus I have George doing an acoustic version of a previously unreleased Bob Dylan song that ultimately ended as electric on the Porky’s Revenge soundtrack (HUH?)
I promise you will hear things you have never heard before.
And all guitar players should particularly enjoy this episode and the next with George Harrison!

Mike

Tags: Art Of Dying, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Engineer Ken, Give Me Love Give Me Peace On Earth, Isn't It A Pity, John Lennon, New York City, Porky's Revenge, Sept. 11th