Saturday, October 2, 2010
This Is SOMETHING!
I don't know, but this could be the definitive version. From the "Concert For George," here is Sir Paul, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Ringo Starr, Ray Cooper, Jim Keltner, and Albert Lee among others, with a truly inspired version of the "Abbey Road" classic.
I count at least 3 major goose-bump moments.
(Thanks to Charlie C. for getting me into a very strong, George Harrison state of mind.)
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9 comments:
You may be right. Karen is in tears. her take - "That's the most beautiful version I've ever heard." I agree. I was dubious when Paul opened up with the ukelele but boy does it ever get better. The Jeff Lynne harmonies are only surpassed when Paul harmonizes with Clapton. The whole build up is amazing. Truly douche-chill inducing.
In the back of my mind I think I remember reading that George wrote or presented the song the way Paul did it at the beginning. Is that right?
I think you used "douche-chill" improperly. Willian Hung would give "douche-chills."
zowee. I couldn't count separate chills, because it was all one. But you know, this raises a question in my mind about what you wrote about Clapton a few weeks ago: maybe the guy is just more comfortable as a collaborator, not a creator. In situations like this, he is just majestic (I wish I could find those clips of him and Harrison playing together at the Bob Dylan celebration in NYC -- to me they were Clapton near his best). Essentially, he is a sideman in a superstar's cloak.
Piss-shivers?
i think the ukele helps to make sal's point from the other day about how amazing the beatles were. who else but paul, (who's mostly wasted his talent for 30 years) could pull of that ukele part and sound so heartfelt and moving? i'm actually not sure it does get better after that, though it is very good. clapton sings too much for my tastes, however. the man, with the exception of layla, has always been an uninteresting singer---apparently he can't feel the song unless he is the song. paul, when they sing to each other, blows clapton away. the overall song is great, though
The opening segment where Paul talks about George's love for the ukelele and how the guests would sit around and strum really sets up the song. The uke really does personalize the words and makes the song less grandiose than found on Abbey Road.
In that same show, which may be the next number, Eric and Paul do "Still my Guitar Gently Weeps." In his solo, Clapton pours it all out, the friendship, the lover's triangle, the collaborations and the history.
Watching the segment, you see the players with the shared intimacy, Paul, Ringo, and Billy Preston all smile with the knowledge of what Clapton is saying up there. And then to see Dhani come up and touch Eric in that tender way shows the emotion of the performance.
It made me wonder if Jeff K. is right. That Clapton is, for all his fame, a collaborator who just likes to play his favorite stuff. After all, it was Delaney Bramlett who pushed Eric to be a front man.
Except for the tremendous bullshit that would come withr such a pairing, Eric and Paul would be enticing.
re: while my guitar gently weeps---the PRINCE from the HOF show kills EC and might be one of the greatest guitar hero solos ever....calling EC a sideman---he still takes over the stage when he plays hard rock leads and blues---he's had some of the weakest regular touring bands since 1980(Marcy? Nathan east? CHRIS STAINTON being the exception)-i'll just say that Neil when he has Crazy Horse, his back is covered...speaking of covers, EC's "HURTS ME TOO" from the HYDE PARK 96' CONCERT DOES HIM WELL.....he's been a GREAT CENTER ON some BAD BASKETBALL TEAMS since 1975...
Inspired...yes. Definitive...no, not without George!
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