Late last night, I was YouTube surfing channels I’m subscribed to. On the George Harrison channel, they have a subsection with videos of songs from George Fest that were added 8 years ago.
From wiki:
George Fest – subtitled A Night to Celebrate the Music of George Harrison – is a live album and concert DVD package documenting the George Fest tribute concert to former Beatle George Harrison, held at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on 28 September 2014. The album and documentary were released on 26 February 2016. The 2014 concert coincided with the reissue of Harrison’s Apple Records solo albums.
I bought those albums at a fair price as a box set. Buying and listening to them was the beginning of a journey of newfound appreciation and discovery. I sought out, “Concert for Bangladesh,” “Concert for George,” and “George Fest.” Where Bangladesh is when George was alive, Concert for George happened a year after he died, and George Fest happened just shy of 13 years after his death.
The 2-disc album includes 13 songs on each (total of 26 songs for non math majors.) I just double-checked on YouTube and they have 27 songs posted from it. The equation doesn’t equal, but I’m not taking the time to figure out what’s missing or not.
Because it felt like both Christmas and a funeral finding them, I was both elated and mournful as I listened to the covers I remember liking best. What I like about George Fest is that Dhani found excellent, mostly contemporary musicians to cover his dad’s songs. I liked that I didn’t know many of them but became aware of them and inspired to learn more about them after watching/listening to the concert. I liked Dhani playing backup through many of them but also choosing to step up to the microphone and sing a few of his dad’s songs.
I have the 2-disc (CD) set and have listened through it many times. Previously the YouTube clips of the concert had poor quality video and sound. These 2016 releases have cleared all of that up. I would very much encourage any George fans or George-curious fans to check them out. I only watched a couple of my favorite ones, that I will share in this post, as well as share the Spotify playlist of the entire concert. Hearing it is one thing but to see the assembled musicians elevates to a holy experience (for me, anyway.)
I had to do some digging to find out who, besides the named performers, was the backup band. I learned that The Cabin Down Below Band is who. I’m not 100% sure all of the guys at the website were there at the concert, but I do recognize many of the faces. If anyone can steer me to a link that shows the musician breakdown song by song I would be forever grateful.
These are just a few, not all of my favorites. There are too many to list of those. The first one is my personal favorite.
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. I’ve decided to link this old post to it. Jim says:
This week the theme is to find a song about tax or money suggested by Melissa Lemay of Mom With a Blog.
And no, I still haven’t filed my tax returns!
Tao Talk 
I don’t know if I ever heard of this one. Concert for George is the one I remember….but I did see the Savoy Truffle video before…but I had no clue it was part of a bigger package…Thanks Lisa…I had no clue. I’ll check this out.
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Max, glad to share something new for you to check out. It’s DAMNED GOOD. I also was checking out the view stats on each song. I think the highest number of views was for Brian Wilson singing, “My Sweet Lord.” You can do the YouTubes of the concert as a playlist also, I think.
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Wow…Brian Wilson singing that? Yes I will have to check this all out. I love the examples you posted!
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<3
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I’ve always loved “Savoy Truffle” and Dhani sounds so much like his dad. I was going to mention that it added to the authenticity that they found a left-handed bass player, then I found out that he was an organizer of the event and is the son of Boz Scaggs.
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Steve, I appreciate you adding new dimensions to this. Yes, Dhani does sound like his dad (even if his timing is a little off on the singing.) I also love “Savoy Truffle.” That and “Wah Wah.” What do you think of Nick Valensi’s performance? After I saw it I found out he is/was the lead guitarist of The Strokes and not even their main singer. Did not even pick up on the Scaggs last name at the bands website OR that he’s a leftie! I did see his brother, Oscar, passed away of a heroin OD at age 21. And he’s been a contributing editor at Rolling Stone mag for 20 years. I love how way leads on to way like this.
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I don’t know how you picked favorites, all these performances are acts of love. I have to admit to always loving the song “Taxman” and this is a great version. And now I’m humming “Got my Mind Set on You”.
I’ve taken this out of the library several times. Might be time for another round. (K)
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<3
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Love love love this!!! I am a huge fan, as you know. George Fest is such an amazing celebration of George and his music.
Not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!!
😎🎶♡
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Nancy, after your series, which I loved, I know you’re quite a Beatles fan. Another thing I learned about that backup band is that they’ve done “Fests” of the music of some other giants as well.
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Wow! That’s really fabulous, Lisa. Thanks for that info. Spreading the love through music is something I can definitely relate to. 🤍
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<3
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Nancy, check out Weird Al Yankovich’s rendition of “What Is Life” – damn! :-)
The video of the concert I posted above is indexed and allows you to go directly to specific songs.
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<3
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Yes, I’ve seen it. Totally fabulous!
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Sweet find Lisa. I saved it to Spotify for a good listen.
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Randy, just a heads up on the spotify sound quality on it: not good. The YouTubes sound much better.
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I think I subscribe to GH’s YouTube channel, so I will have to hunt them all down same day. I only have time to do a quick sample of what you posted, but like what I hear.
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Good, Trent, I hope you do.
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What an amazing event to celebrate George’s great music. I love all of the clips you highlighted. All featured artists did a great job. I just found the entire concert on YouTube. Apparently, it’s been up there for two years. I’m surprised it hasn’t been taken down. Anyway, here’s the link! :-)
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THANK YOU, CHRISTIAN. Did not know that. Very much appreciated. It’s V-marked now (similar to bookmarked but for video.)
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V-marked, I learned a new word! :-)
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:)
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My apologies for the piecemeal and leaving another comment. Check out Norah Jones’s rendition of “Something.” Admittedly, it made me well up a little. I love that song, and she’s so good!
This video is terrific. All the songs are indexed, so you can access specific tracks directly – obviously, a very professional job. I have to believe posting this clip was fully approved by the Harrison estate.
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Christian I’ve seen the whole concert a few times and have listened to the album many times. Norah (aka Ravi’s daughter) singing Something makes me well up as well <3
So happy to hear it is well-indexed. "Fully approved" by Olivia and Dhani is good enough for me. Thanks again, Christian.
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Thanks for sharing your wonderful music today, Lisa as this is some really great stuff which I have never heard before, except for the last three. George certainly wrote some great songs, and these were all wonderfully deserved tributes to him. Dhani sounds a lot like his dad.
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My pleasure, Jim. The concert is most excellent. It’s different than the one Eric organized a year after George’s passing in that it has more contemporary artists doing the covers. I think Geo and Olivia raised a fine young man.
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Most definitely.
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I love watching George Fest! As you know, it’s put together by Dhani so it’s a little different than Concert for George; you’ll find peeps like Conan and Weird Al performing. It’s such great fun and a fabulous tribute. I’m so glad you featured this as well as Taxman which is probably George’s best song. Excellent post, Lisa
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Me too on George Fest. Yep, a lot different than Concert for George. Ah, now I know which song you think is George’s best. Don’t ask me what I think is his best as it’s a tie… Thanks, Nancy.
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Ok…that is where that Dhani version comes from….I know you probably told me before but I forgot. My favorite, other than that one is the Heartless Bastards If Not For You.
I’m so happy that someone covered “Any Road” which I think is totally underrated.
I’ll check out the Spotify tonight
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I know what you mean about holding so much info in your head. At some point it gets mashed together. I like that song “Any Road” also.
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Thats a wonderful post Lisa . I am a huge fan of George and also of his son Dhabi . I really enjoyed your post 💜
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Willow, I’m happy you enjoyed the post. <3
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