This October, HBO will air the Martin Scorsese-directed George Harrison biopic entitled George Harrison: Living In A Material World (the film also premieres at the New York Film Festival, which kicks off on September 30th). Now, that film’s first official trailer is available for viewing below. Painting a wide portrait of Harrison as both a man and an artist, the trailer features insight from Harrison’s widow Olivia Harrison, longtime friend Eric Clapton, and Monty Python‘s Eric Idle.

George Harrison: Living In A Material World premieres on HBO in two parts on October 5th and 6th.

After directing the Stones’ Shine a Light, Scorsese went to work last year on a George Harrison documentary. The end result of his efforts, titled George Harrison: Living In A Material World, is now set to debut in two parts on October 5th and 6th, 2011 on HBO. (Also, anyone saying Scorsese can’t pick both bands will undoubtedly get both legs broken by Joe Pesci.)

As previously reported, the documentary makes use of archival home movies, personal photos, and concert footage to tell the story of the iconic rocker, who along with his role in the Fab Four produced movies, dabbled in philanthropy, and was a spiritual seeker. Along with the material provided by Harrison’s widow Olivia Harrison, a number of Harrison’s famous friends and collaborators are interviewed over the course of the film, including Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr, and Jackie Stewart.

“Like so many millions of people, I first came to know George through the music, which was the soundtrack of our world,” Scorsese, who also directed No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, said in a press release. “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.”

Abrams Books will also release Olivia Harrison’s accompanying archive George Harrison: Living in the Material World, which features photographs, letters, diaries, and memorabilia from her personal collection, in September.

Interested parties can stream all 12 covers here.

Robyn Hitchcock Covers:
01. Be Here Now (George Harrison; studio outtake)
02. Blue Moon of Kentucky (Bill Monroe; ‘Propellor Time’ session, lead vocal Nick Lowe)
03. Candyman (Grateful Dead; Nashville with the Tennessee Crawdads)
04. Changes (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
05. Copper Kettle (Bob Dylan; ‘Propellor Time’ session)
06. I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash; ‘Propellor Time’ session, vocal Scott McCaughey)
07. Life on Mars (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
08. Pink Moon in C (Nick Drake; studio outtake)
09. Quicksand (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
10. Song for Bob Dylan (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
11. Very Cellular Song (Incredible String Band; vocal Mike Heron, live at Pestival 2009)
12. Wang Dang Doodle (Willie Dixon; ‘Propellor Time’ session)

If you don’t already know, Shankar (who, coincidentally, is Norah Jones’ father) and Harrison’s most famous collaboration happened at the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, which brought the likes of Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, and Harrison and Shankar themselves onto the stage at Madison Square Garden for two sets of music to benefit refugees from what was then called East Pakistan. The benefit has already been released on film and tape to much acclaim, and that’s what makes the rare music on Collaborations sorta-kinda a big deal.

Harrison first met Shankar in 1965 and was subsequently inspired to use the sitar on the soundtrack for Help! and on “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”, from the Beatles’ classic, Rubber Soul. The pair continued to collaborate, and now fans can watch the DVD and catch rare performance footage from Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival and indulge in the pair’s first joint recording project – 1974’s Shankar Family & Friends.

Pre-order information isn’t available yet, but stay tuned to the official George Harrison Store for more information.

Collaborations box set contents:
– 56-page history of Harrison and Shankar
– DVD performance of the Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India
– Chants of India (1997)
– The Ravi Shankar Music Festival From India (1976)
– Shankar Family & Friends (1974)

Martin Scorsese, who needs no introduction, has been working for some time on a documentary on the life of George Harrison, who also needs no introduction. While at Cannes, Scorsese revealed some details about the project that should have Beatles‘ fans frothing at the mouth. Harrison’s widow Olivia found old cassette recordings that the late musician made while in the Beatles, but whether they are demos of Beetles songs, originals or covers remains to be seen, err, heard. Harrison it seems was a bit of a pack-rat and saved everything, so there was a wealth of material from which to draw for the film. Basically, the film just earned your ticket money regardless of the quality. (via Hollywood Reporter via AV Club)

Living In A Material World: George Harrison is set to debut in 2011.

Scorsese enlisted the help Harrison’s widow Olivia to co-create the documentary, which will contain interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Eric Idle, Tom Petty, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector. The doc will focus heavily on Harrison’s spiritual side, but will span his entire time with the beatles to his death in 2001.

Previous rock docs Scorsese helmed include The Last Waltz (The Band), No Direction Home (Bob Dylan), and most recently Shine A Light (The Rolling Stones), all of which have set the bar outrageously high for the Harrison film, but let’s face it, this is some star-studded stuff here between director, material, and subject. I’ll be there opening night with bells on.

At long-last! The 2009 Media Potluck Holiday Feast is here! An album-length podcast of holiday tunes freshly compiled with a big-shiny bow on top to make your winter celebration merry and bright. This year’s Holiday Feast has some crazy surprises. As always, we strive to collect holiday tunes that won’t make you want to put a yuletide bullet in your brain. There are astounding renditions of old classics, fun new holiday tunes revitalizing tired Christmas concepts, awesome instrumentals, songs about the season, never mind the reason, and even some cussing – oh boy!

So, nestle up close to the yule log crackling on the television, settle into your leopard print Snuggie, and let your ears sip deep on this hot toddy of audio awesome.

Media Potluck’s Holiday Feast Volume 2 (2009)

1.   Jon Anderson – “Three Ships”
As Cap promised in Media PODluck: A Christmas Evening Together, this year’s Feast opens with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson’s rendition of the classic Christmas track. It’s a Mannheim Steamroller-style synth explosion with subtle extraterrestrial implications. …Okay so maybe the only certain implication is in the album art and the music video. 3 Ships, the Anderson album this track hails from, was out of print for ages and only on CD in Japan until recently. Now everyone can experience the heavenly combination of Anderson’s angelic voice and Christmas synths

2.   Jim Dooley – “Change of Heart”
This instrumental track comes from the score to the Brain Fuller television series Pushing Daisies. Dooley’s score to the amazing (and canceled before its time) series is nothing short of breathtaking. Never has there been a more cinematic and diverse score for a network television show and “Change of Heart” is a perfect example of this. The track is a winter-themed arrangement from the season one finale, “Corpsicle”. It combines sleigh bells, a choir, and a distorted version of The Nutcracker Suite with a full orchestra for an effect that would make Danny Elfman weak in the knees.

3.   Jethro Tull – “Birthday Card at Christmas”
This is one of the few new compositions featured on The Jethro Tull Christmas Album. Most of the tracks are either new recordings of older songs or Tull versions of Christmas tunes. Ian Anderson wrote this cynical song with his daughter in mind: “My daughter Gael, like millions of other unfortunates, celebrates her birthday within a gnat’s whisker of Christmas. Overshadowed by the Great Occasion, such birthdays can be flat, perfunctory and fleetingly token in their uneventful passing. The daunting party and festive celebration of the Christian calendar overshadows too, some might argue, the humble birthday of one Mr. J. Christ. Funny old 25ths, Decembers…”

4.   The Ocean Blue – “Frigid Winter Days”
The Ocean Blue are a dream rock band that we did a short Media Potluck article on a while back. They’re a late generation dream rock band fueled by a love of Morrissey but without all the depression and self obsession. “Frigid Winter Days” is charged with a superb energy and rustic feel that embodies how much fun it can be to be a kid during the wintertime.

5.   The Specials – “Holiday Fortnight”
From their 1980 album, More Specials. The politically-charged champions of the late-70s British ska movement, find the time to work in a jolly instrumental for all your merry holiday mayhem.

6.   The Kinks – “Father Christmas”
Unlike many rock band Christmas singles, The Kinks’ doesn’t compromise. It’s rockin’, it’s in the spirit, but it tackles some serious issues: namely the class struggle. In the song a fella playing Santa is stuck up by some young punks who aren’t interested in toys. Their parents don’t have jobs, life is hard, and all the world is merry and bright while theirs is in the gutter.

7.   The Three Wise Men (aka XTC) – “Thanks For Christmas”
Following the Kink’s social crit Christmas single, we have a fun and catchy, but certainly schlocky, holiday tune from an unlikely source: XTC. The new wave band released this single under the pseudonym of “The Three Wise Men” and no hint to the actual band appears anywhere on the original single. Presumably the anonymity was to maintain their good name as edgy rockers and not suffer the flak and regret as Squeeze did with their 1979 single, “Christmas Day”. The song was credited to “Blathazar/Kaspar/Melchior”, actually written by front man Andy Partridge, and produced by “The Three Wise Men and the Good Lord”, the “Good Lord” being producer, David Lord. Strange and sentimental Christmas pop from the band who would, three years later, release the scathing atheist single, “Dear God”.

8.   Reel Big Fish – “Mele Kalikimaka”
A goofy 50′s novelty tune made goofier by ska greats Reel Big Fish. Loud and crazy Christmas tunes are in short supply and this track more than makes up for their absence. Interesting note: “Mele Kalikimaka” is a transliteration, not a translation, of “Merry Christmas” – so in essence it’s just a ridiculous nonsense word.

9.   Jimmy Eat World – “Last Christmas”
If there’s one stand-out Christmas single from the 1980s it’s Wham!’s “Last Christmas”. It has its charms, certainly, but let’s be honest – it’s pretty flimsy. Lots of potential, more than enough to keep it alive, but not enough to give it any true longevity. In 2001 Jimmy Eat World brought “Last Christmas” to full bloom. Not only is the song given a much needed boost in energy, but every bit of the melodies that gave the original its staying power have been beautifully reproduced and layered into a wonderfully full sound.

10.   Corky and the Juice Pigs – “Christmas Dreams”
Sappy Country-Western tear-jerker ballads are cut to shreds by this hilarious parody. You may recall our article earlier in the year on the amazing talent of this Canadian comedic music trio, now savor their laugh gravy drizzled delicately over your Christmas ham. Alcoholism was never so funny.

11.   The Long Winters – “Christmas With You is the Best”
A Christmas love song, but no sappy stuff here. This is a song for holiday cynicism and a “non-traditional, non-denominational celebration” with your loved one… you know… intercourse. Be sure to listen for the really funky mid-song keyboard breakdown.

12.   Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – “Brave New Christmas”
Party Dream does what they do best: dark, dancible synth rock – but this instrumental jam from their debut CD Bloodsongs has sleigh bells in it. Party. Christmas bonus.

13.   Tenacious D & Sum 41 – “Things I Want”
A powerhouse X-Mas Rock ballad from two incredible bands. Jack Black takes the vocal chores and wields his rock expertly against the intense backing provided by Sum 41 and K.G. The lyrics are classic D material that will make you lust for another album (put that on your wish list). The song was originally composed for KROQ-FM’s 2001 Christmas compilation, Swallow My Eggnog.

14.   I Fight Dragons – “I Want an Alien For Christmas”
This track is brand-new and comes from NES-infused pop rockers I Fight Dragon’s mailing list. This is a cover of a little-known Fountains of Wayne track from 1997, spruced up with IFD’s expert chiptunes accompaniment. Don’t know who I Fight Dragons are? Check out Nerdy Show’s interview with them, and then sign up for the mailing list, they give out fun tracks like this all the time.

15.   PFFR – “X-Mas Time”
From the production company/ art collective/ electro rock band that brought you Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel, and Delocated comes… this. Best not to explain it. Suffice it to say that it’s a beautiful track and you’ll be forever changed.

16.   Luscious Jackson – “Let it Snow”
A fast and fun return to a holiday staple from Luscious Jackson. This track is best known for being a part of the Gap Jeans ad campaign between 1998 and 1999. The campaign featured popular bands (such as Aerosmith) performing short songs against white backgrounds. This is a different and longer version of the song than the one featured on the Let it Snow Gap ad. Check out this video for another one of their 30-second songs, “Stone Fox”.

17.   Gordon Lightfoot – “Song For a Winter’s Night”
Gordon Lightfoot is certainly a well-known musician, but he doesn’t get the attention he deserves these days (at least not in America). His folk music transcends its genre and slips into an unclassifiable place reserved for heartfelt, beautiful music much like his more famous contemporaries Simon and Garfunkle. So ease back and listen to one of the great musicians of our age paint you a winters night with melodies and words. This song was originally recorded in 1967 on his second album The Way I Feel. The version included on the Holiday Feast is a re-recording from 1975 from his hits album, Gord’s Gold and features a string arrangement.

18.   Marcy Playground – “Keegan’s Christmas”
Marcy Playground are a brilliant band who have been long over-looked. Their second album, Shapeshifter is one of the greatest albums of the 90s, but the curse of their not particularly inspired hit single, “Sex and Candy” remains. “Keegan’s Christmas” doesn’t go toe-to-toe with most of the band’s material, it’s a simple tune, but its recollection of a child’s impatience for Christmas to finally come is wonderful. Marcy Playground released their fourth LP, Leaving Wonderland…in a Fit of Rage this year. Check it out.

19.   Mike Oldfield – “In Dulci Jubilo”
A rollicking instrumental from Mike “Tubular Bells” Oldfield. This was a holiday single in 1975 and made it to #4 in the UK charts. The traditional Christmas tune is very skillfully rendered with a full arrangement of modern instruments including synths and Oldfield’s distinctive electric guitar work.

20.   The Cast of Twin Peaks – “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
What would a Christmas CD be without another oddball rendition of this classic Christmas tune? Last year we had Bob and Doug McKenzie’s Canadian hoser version, and this year something entirely different… a body… dead… wrapped in plastic. Many of the Twin Peaks cast including Kyle McLaughlan, Jack Nance, Kimmy Robertson, Dana Ashbrook, Frank Silva, and Robert Bauer as the seldom seen Johnny Horne appear on this oddball track. Fans of the series will be delighted others might be… confused. Do yourself a favor and watch the show. The song contains what some might consider spoilers. It’s pretty vague, so new viewers – just don’t dwell on it too much and you’ll be fine. The track is another made especially for one of KROQ’s Christmas compilations.

21.   R.E.M. – “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)”
Every year, just as the Beatles did before them, R.E.M. releases a Christmas song to their fan club. It’s only appropriate that eventually they got around to covering the Beatles’ Christmas tune, “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)”. This is their offering from 2000, a hap-hazard cover featuring an untuned horns section. Hilarity ensues.

22.   Monty Python’s Flying Circus – “Christmas in Heaven”
The grand finale of the final Python film, The Meaning of Life. Graham Chapman parodies Tony Bennett and the entire production is full of Vegas-style theatricality. This isn’t what you’d call a typical Christmas song by any stretch of the concept, but it does play on some common themes such as consumerism and wish-fulfillment. An excellent specimen of the Python’s brilliant humor.

23.   Emerson, Lake, & Palmer – “I Believe in Father Christmas”
A direct confrontation to the rampant consumerism of the holiday season. Alan Lake originally recorded this track as a solo effort in protest of Christmas’ commercialization, this is a re-recorded version with all of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. It’s often mistaken as an anti-religious son to which Lake replied: “I find it appalling when people say it’s politically incorrect to talk about Christmas, you’ve got to talk about ‘The Holiday Season.’ Christmas was a time of family warmth and love. There was a feeling of forgiveness, acceptance. And I do believe in Father Christmas.”

24.   The Crash Test Dummies – “In the Bleak Midwinter”
Another track from the Crash Test Dummies’ amazing Christmas album, Jingle All the Way. A rare treat among CTD songs is having band member Ellen Reid on lead vocals. Reid’s voice is beautiful and she delivers the most soulful rendition of this sombre Christmas tune that you’re ever likely to hear. Her 2001 solo album, Cinderellen is amazing – expect to see a Potluck article on that someday soon.

25.   George Harrison – “Ding Dong, Ding Dong”
It’s not often that New Year’s gets songs devoted to it. Okay, there’s U2′s “New Year’s Day”, but an actual holiday track not so much. This 1974 George Harrison single is the perfect peppy sing-along to musically bridge December 25th and the new year. See you on the flip side.

From the Media Potluck and Consequence of Sound families,

Happy Holidays!

In August of 1971, a group of musicians banded together at The Concert for Bangladesh. Spearheaded by George Harrison, the line-up included Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, and one other contender for the title of “The Fifth Beatle”: Billy Preston.

Preston contributed piano and organ to The Beatles’ final release, Let it Be, and in the process managed to snag a “with” credit for the “Get Back” single. His presence in the studio softened the inner turmoil the band was going through at the time, much like Eric Clapton did during the sessions for “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on The Beatles’ self-titled masterpiece (a.k.a. The White Album). Preston forged a friendship with members of the band, paving the way for future collaborations on albums by Lennon, Harrison, and even Ringo.

The clip featured below, however, is from the aforementioned concert. Preston’s keyboard playing is matched by his strong, soulful vocals. His powerful performance of “That’s the Way God Planned It” could cause pause for a non-believer. The song is great musically, but the accompanying footage from the Concert for Bangladesh film takes it that much further.

Watch as Preston abandons the organ at the song’s breakdown, opting instead for a full-on dance of someone who has seen the light. Make note of the fact that George Harrison looks to be about 45 years of age, when he was actually only 27. Listen to the crowd go ballistic as Preston brings the song to its conclusion.

After being inducted by fellow Traveling Wilburys’ members Jeff Lynne and Petty, several musicians took to the stage for one of the best covers of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” that’s out there. Petty played lead acoustic guitar alongside Dhani Harrison, now a member of thenewno2, while Lynne played rhythm electric guitar. Many other musicians packed the stage to fill in the sound of record. Both Lynne and Petty shared vocal duties with Petty singing the chorus and Lynne handling the verses. Both of their vocals help make this a great performance as they capture the sad tone of the song as well as holding true to Harrison’s original version found on The White Album.

Although Dhani doesn’t have much to do during the song besides play along and sing backing vocals on the chorus, you can’t help but watch him. While it’s clear that all the people on stage are emotionally invested in the performance, the late ex-Beatles’ son is on a whole different emotional level. Even though his face, an almost spot-on copy of a young George, doesn’t reveal this, it still feel like he’s making the most of what he can in honor of his father.

While the performance is good all around, it’s the ending that really takes it to another level. Just when it seems that the song is winding down, Prince, another 2004 inductee, appears out of nowhere and launches into a stunning solo that lasts for almost three minutes. Decked out in a red fedora and shirt, Prince shatters all the tricks in the book, as he runs the pick up and down the neck of the guitar, intentionally falls backwards off the stage only to be caught by a stagehand (earning a big smile from Dhani), and even appears to play with his teeth for a second. This might sound overdone for a song like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” but the solo really works for the performance due to the emotion put into it. The repeated singing of the last line of the chorus by Petty allows Prince to start up a new part of the solo every time it’s sung.

This cover version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is one of the best out there. The emotions of George Harrison’s friends and family seem to burst out through Prince’s solo at the end. At first, you may think the song is a mourning of Harrison’s death but by the end, you realize that it’s really a celebration of his life.

It’s kind of interesting, though, to reflect upon the ups and downs of these four post-Beatles careers.  As the Beatles, these guys could virtually do no wrong. As solo artists, let’s just say that they’re fallible. That’s not to suggest that they didn’t produce some amazing music on their own and as members of other bands. This list is full of songs I wouldn’t want to live without, and there were many others that nearly snuck into the top ten. It’s just sort of comforting for us mere mortals to know that a song written by a Beatle could be junk rather than genius.

Anyway, here they are. The best John, Paul, George, and Ringo had to offer as former Beatles.

10.  “Handle With Care” by The Traveling Wilburys from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988)

Even a Beatle needs a hand sometimes, and a hand from Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra) helps more than most. The super group known as The Traveling Wilburys came together quite serendipitously in the late Eighties to record two albums, which featured George Harrison (Nelson Wilbury) at his absolute best since his solo work in the early Seventies. “Handle With Care” was originally to be a b-side for Harrison’s “This is Love.” The resulting recording, however, was deemed too good to be a b-side throwaway and prompted the group to record a full album of material. The rest is super group history.

9. “Mind Games” by John Lennon from Mind Games (1973)

“Mind Games” is the title song from Lennon’s fourth solo album, released in 1973. Originally known as “Make Love Not War,” this song had been in Lennon’s back pocket since 1969 and can be heard in some of the later Beatles recording sessions. Its strange lyrics, featuring “mind guerillas” and “karmic wheels,” combined Lennon’s interests in mysticism and mind alteration, as well as hippie culture. The real genius of the song, however, are the dense layers of instrumentation, a production technique known as “Wall of Sound.” The posthumous music video made for “Mind Games” has become almost inseparable from the song itself and features rare footage of Lennon in New York’s Central Park.

8. “It Don’t Come Easy” by Ringo Starr from Ringo (1973)

Starr has probably had the least impressive career as a solo artist among the four former Beatles, but his “It Don’t Come Easy” stands tall among the other classics on this list. The song was co-written by George Harrison-though, rumors exist that Harrison wrote the song in its entirety-and featured Harrison on guitar, as well as Stephen Stills on piano. Regardless of who was truly the mastermind behind this song, it’s Ringo’s voice that gave “It Don’t Come Easy” its identity and made it a classic rock staple.

7. “Jealous Guy” by John Lennon from Imagine (1971)

“Jealous Guy” provides as much insight into Lennon’s relationship and behavioral problems as any song he ever recorded. And it’s a classic that almost wasn’t. The song was originally titled “Child of Nature,” inspired by Lennon’s trip to India, and three different versions of this song have surfaced from various recording sessions. Eventually, Lennon reworked the piece as an apology and explanation to Yoko for his jealous nature and well-documented destructive behavior. As personal as this song is, lyrics like “I was feeling insecure/You might not love me anymore” have struck a chord with millions of listeners. Apparently, there are more jealous guys out there besides Lennon.

6. “What is Life” by George Harrison from All Things Must Pass (1970)

While Harrison’s songwriting abilities may have been overshadowed by the imposing tandem of Lennon/McCartney, it’s arguable that Harrison’s All Things Must Pass is the best solo album put out by a Beatle. “What is Life” was the first track on the second side of that album, and with its riff-driven bounce, soaring harmonies on the choruses, and perfectly placed sax and trumpet, it’s probably Harrison’s catchiest pop song. Once again, Harrison surrounded himself with nothing but the best musicians, which included none other than Eric Clapton alongside him on guitar.

5. “Band on the Run” by Wings from Band on the Run (1973)

“Band on the Run” is the title song from McCartney’s third full-length release with Wings and his best-known song with the band. What’s most interesting about this recording is how McCartney uses three very different musical styles to tell a story of escape from imprisonment. The first verse has a folk song feel to it, complete with harmonies. The second verse has the crunch of a Neil Young, early grunge sound. And finally, the second half of the song kicks into that infectious pop that made it a hit. McCartney was far from the first to release a multi-part rock song, but I know of few other recordings of this type that marry meaning and melody so effectively. Nothing sounds more like liberation than McCartney’s chorus, “Band on the run/Band on the run/And the jailor man and Sailor Sam/Were searching everyone.”

4. “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison from All Things Must Pass (1970)

“My Sweet Lord” was the first single by an ex-Beatle to reach #1 on the charts. After Billy Preston, one of several musicians known as the “Fifth Beatle,” had minor success with the song, Harrison chose to record it for his first solo album, All Things Must Pass. It would turn out to be both Harrison’s biggest hit and biggest headache. After release, a legal battle ensued concerning the song’s similarities to The Chiffon’s “He’s So Fine.” The courts found Harrison guilty of “unintentional copying.” Harrison would go on to buy the rights to the composition and record “This Song,” a comical courtroom send-up about his infamous legal controversy.

3. “Instant Karma” by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band (1970)

Backed by a version of the Plastic Ono Band that featured George Harrison on electric guitar, “Instant Karma” was released as a single in early 1970, with instructions to “Play Loud.” It may not top this list as the best song by a former Beatle, but it’s my personal favorite. Lennon’s bark over those driving drums and claps, coupled with the balls out “We All Shine On” chorus make for a rock song that you can’t help but crank up loud and sing along to. “Who on earth you think you are/A superstar?/ Well, right you are!”

2. “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney from McCartney (1970)

“Maybe I’m Amazed” is the best of the several songs McCartney wrote for Linda, and it’s become one of the quintessential love songs of rock and roll. I’ll also go out on a limb and say that it’s arguably the best vocal performance ever given by a Beatle. The raw passion and desperation in Sir Paul’s voice when he delivers lines such as, “Baby, I’m a man/And maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me/Baby, won’t you help me understand” are undeniable and matched by few other recordings. This song resonates with anyone who has ever been pulled out of harm’s way and rescued by a lover.

1. “Imagine” by John Lennon from Imagine (1971)

I told myself it was too obvious to have “Imagine” as the number one song on this list, but there was no way around it. This fairly simple and straightforward piano tune’s timeless and universal quality has made it one of the most recognizable rock recordings the world over. And maybe the most fascinating thing about “Imagine” is that its lyrics speak against so many basic tenets of our society -religion, nationalism, and capitalism-but does so in such a nonthreatening way that you’re likely to find it on the iPods of priests, patriots, and captains of industry alike. An “anti” song that comes across as hopeful for a better tomorrow. Very clever, Mr. Lennon.

There is yet another song written by Clapton from his time in Derek & the Dominoes about rock’s finest muse. “Layla” is the pinnacle song of wanting someone you can’t have, and Clapton’s “Layla” was Pattie Boyd. By the time of this song’s composition, Clapton was a well-established artist, having risen to fame with the band Cream. He could have had any woman he wanted, but he was infatuated with Boyd. There was but one problem: Pattie Boyd was married to the aforementioned George Harrison. To complicate matters further, Harrison was one of Clapton’s best friends.

To have ownership of something that powerful is something I’ll never be able to get used to. It still knocks me out when I play it.

- Eric Clapton

Clapton couldn’t very well call his new song, “Pattie”, but why did he choose the name “Layla”? The answer comes from a story that has been told for the past 1,400 years about a problem that we still face today. No, it is not a story of war or politics, but of unrequited love. A friend of Clapton’s told him of this tale, the legend of “Layla and Majnun”.

There are parallels between this legend and Clapton’s situation. The legend tells of a man named Qays, a poet, falling for a woman from his community named Layla. The story of Clapton, a songwriter, has him falling for a woman in his music community named Pattie Boyd. Qays wrote poetry for his muse, but unlike Clapton, he called his beloved by her actual name.

Qays was refused marriage to Layla by her father, and what followed sent the lovesick poet off the deep end. After she Layla married another, Qays became known as “Majnun” (Arabic for “madman”). In our modern times, Clapton can’t marry Boyd because she is already married to Harrison. Both men were devastated, and therein lay the crux of how the title “Layla” came to be.

The outcome of the legend and the outcome of the Clapton story are completely different. While both men roamed the wilderness for years (Clapton symbolically by way of heroin), Qays never got the girl. Clapton, however, did. Nine years after the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is released (and two years after Boyd and Harrison’s divorce), Clapton and Boyd were married.

In Qays’s legend, Layla dies of an illness, Qays of loneliness, leaving only the first husband alive. In Clapton’s story, it is the first husband (Harrison) who dies of an illness, while Boyd and Clapton continue on with their lives, albeit separately. Despite spending all of the seventies yearning for someone he couldn’t have, the magic of Boyd had worn off, and the two divorced in 1989.

Will someone tell the story of “Eric and Pattie” 1,400 years from now? You have read the legend of “Layla and Majnun”, now read the lyrics to Clapton’s “Layla” (recalling the kick ass breakdown at the song’s conclusion):

What’ll you do when you get lonely,

Nobody waiting by your side?

You’ve been running

And hiding much too long;

You know it’s just your foolish pride.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.

Layla, I’m begging darling, please.

Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.

Tried to give you consolation,

When your old man had let you down.

Like a fool, I fell in love with you,

And turned my whole world upside down.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.

Layla, I’m begging darling, please.

Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.

Let’s make the best of the situation

Before I finally go insane.

Please don’t say we’ll never find a way,

And tell me all my love’s in vain.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.

Layla, I’m begging darling, please.

Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind

Check Out:

“Looking through George Harrison’s albums, I discovered the song ‘The Day The World Gets ‘Round.’ It’s a beautiful plea for peace and understanding written by George Harrison, the spiritual leader of the Beatles. I’d met him with John Lennon in the early 70s at David Bailey’s studio. He was such a great spirit and his eastern outreach inspired me and many others. George was also more responsible than any other artist for initiating Pop music’s movement to aid people and countries stricken by wars and calamities; his concert for Bangladesh was the first of its kind.

“The song speaks of the split nature of this world: comparing the love and joy of sharing what we all have on this earth, with the ‘foolishness in man’ and his quest for more, thus causing war and loss in the process.

“I hope this record will help remind people of the immense love, peace, and happiness, that is possible when we get round to looking at our futile wars and prejudices.”

Proceeds from the release of this single will be donated to The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and Save The Children in order to help children and families in Gaza.

In addition, fans can also expect a future release of “Boots & Sand”, another new Yusuf Islam single, featuring Sir Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton among others. A music video is also being filmed to accompany this release.

For the many that can not make it however, there is a remedy. In fact, more than a few bands known for their live performances have chosen to release a live record and ultimately, be it bootleg or professional recording, these albums have become cherished pieces for music lovers everywhere. While too many to count have been released by this point in time (thanks Pearl Jam), I give you below, a top 10 list of the must-listen live recordings.

10.) Metallica – S&M

This two disc epic is what you get when you combine metal royalty with San Francisco’s Symphony Orchestra. Recorded over two days in April of 1999 at the Berkeley Community Theater in California, the two disc set is some of the bands best work as it takes every one of their hits up a notch with excellent conducting work thanks to composer Michael Kamen. Selections cover tracks from Ride the Lightning to the dual releases of Load and Reload. The songs that every Metallica fan have been listening to for years were given new life, and will never be heard the same way again. I still have no idea how they pulled off “Battery” the way they did.

9.) Foo Fighters – Skin and Bones

Following the release of their double album effort In Your Honor, Grohl and company hit the road to cover the rock half with Weezer. After that long stint, they felt the need to cover their softer side live, so the guys headed out again, but this time they brought out the acoustics… and few more friends. With the new “afoostic” summer tour underway, a live album was cut covering 15 tracks over three nights in L.A. You have never heard the band quite like this as you get brand new renditions of old and new songs, as well as Grohl’s famous charisma.

8.) Pearl Jam – Live at the Gorge

Epic is the only word that comes to mind when thinking of the feat that was pulled off by the Seattle grunge kings. Over the course of three days at Washington’s famed amphitheater, Eddy Vedder and crew did the unthinkable, and seemingly unrepeatable. They played every song in their catalog and recorded the entire event over a seven disc set. While the band is no stranger to the live record, this one is for the books. To listen is a journey within itself as literally everything the band has written is covered. You may need to block out the whole night for this one.

7.) Velvet Underground – Live at Max’s Kansas City

This captures Lou Reeds’s last performance with the band he helped start as they finished off a nine week stint at Max’s Kansas City in New York. Being that a friend of then manager Andy Warhol recorded it using a mono tape recorder, you get the entire night uncut from the music to the drink orders. The early 70’s were a hell of time weren’t they?

6.) Jimi Hendrix – Live at Woodstock

This double-disk set captures the legend in his prime at the legendary festival. Insane improvisation is rampant through out the set that also includes his famous rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”. You can just imagine him setting his guitar on fire after making sweet love to it.

5.) Concert for Bangladesh hosted by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar

This all-star line up for charity is mind blowing. The event was held on August 1, 1971 for the Bangladesh refugees that were left stranded after a cyclone had killed 500,000 people during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Hosts Harrison and Shankar pulled together an all star line up that included ex-Beatle Ringo Starr as well as Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan to name only a few.

4.) The Who – Live at Leeds

Another one from 1970, this was the Brits’ first live record and is considered by many to be one of the best live recordings of all time. It even made it into the book 1001 Recording You Must Hear Before You Die as it is the ultimate in rock and roll experience that must be played loud just as anything by The Who should.

3.) Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!

Another first for rock and roll, this is considered to be the bands’ first live recording, and is by far their best. The album covers two concerts, one in New York, the other in Maryland in 1969 just before the release of the album Let It Bleed. The tour that the recording is based off of is also the first time you hear Mick Taylor with the band after the death of Brian Jones just a few months earlier.

2.) Bob Dylan – Live at the Royal Alberta Hall 1966

After a motorcycle accident that nearly took Dylan’s life, he decided to call it quits from touring. That soon ended, however, when he took the stage in 1966 for his most infamous performance. It was on this night in England that Dylan, after an acoustic first half, took his new electric sound live in spite of the heckles and boos. At one point he is called Judas, but Dylan keeps on going through his set. This reaction would carry through to folk purists in the states, but only after this performance, which was captured via bootleg, never actually being released officially. There is video footage as well, which is startling to say the least. If only the audience really knew what they were witnessing.

1.) The Band – The Last Waltz

When Bob Dylan’s back up band hit the road and recorded as themselves, they exploded. The music community at that time loved them, and for a short moment they were on top of the rock and roll world. When it was time to call it quits, they did so in style with one last performance that would referred to by many as the be all and end all of live recordings, and with good reason. The collaboration list reads like a night at the Grammy’s. Dylan of course showed up for a few songs, but so did Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, and Van Morrison. After 16 years of touring, it was time to hand up the hat, and with some help from Martin Scorsese, they were able to capture what was appropriately called The Last Waltz. For anyone who enjoys rock and roll, this is the one live record that I will say is required listening, and if you can, pick up the movie.

So, that’s it. Fire away!