A rock star finding for the Truth

Living in the Material World (Documentary, 2011)
Director:Martin Scorsese

No, this documentary has nothing to do with Madonna and her living in a material world.

 

Yes, we do not seem to have enough of the Beatles. The Beatles can never die. Scores of decades from now, we will still be talking about these four lads from Liverpool and their ability to transform the world music scene.

 

Well, this documentary is not about the Fab Four per se but was the product of his widow's perspective on the quiet Beatle. It starts with a look at his humble beginnings in the Beatles as the go-along non-assertive guy. The decisions in the band were made primarily by Lennon and McCartney. He was always composing songs in the background, only to have his compositions steamrolled by the domineering duo.

 

I suppose after maturing along the way, he demanded recognition and walked out of the Beatles even before the final break-up.

A good proportion of the 3hour 2-part show is devoted to his personal life post Beatles. Through a series of interviews (old and new), we get a glimpse of what happened to George after the glitz of showbiz.

There was the decadent years of LSD and cocaine, the uncertain years of search for meaning of life, his dive into the mystical world of Hinduism and Indian music, his friendship with many icons from varied fields - Jackie Stewart (F1 racer), Ravi Shanker, Eric Clapton (who wrote about and stole his wife, Patty Boyd), actors (he plunged into movie making in the 80s), Travelling Wilburys etcetera.

We discover that he has started to live a quiet life, writing songs that try to find the meaning of life. He went deep into Krsna consciousness, albeit a non-overtly metamorphized one (a closet devotee)!

The film ends with his fight with cancer and an insane intruder into his mansion.

Most of us grew up with either John or Paul as our favourite Beatles. Rarely does anyone pick George, and almost never does anyone pick Ringo. But as you grow older, you start appreciating George's meaningful songs about life and the meaning of life.

George Harrison: The HBO Documentary

 

Trailer

We won't bury 'em, anyway!*

The Traveling Wilburys, 1988. 

L–R: Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne,

Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty.

I may be 20 years a bit too late but as they say, it is better late than never! Thanks to eBay and the professional packing from the seller from Deutschland, I received my crisp untouched and uncluttered CDs (+1DVD) in the mail. Even though their second and last album was out 20 years ago, only now I had the sheer pleasure (and pleasure without of guilt of being spendthrift) of listening to this group which is said to be a congregation of the greatest in rock and roll - 'The Travelling Wilburys'. It is a collection of happy and fun filled melodies of men who have passed their prime but still have something to offer. And offer they did with lots of energy while enjoying it as they did as I can see from the music videos on the DVD.

We all know George Harrison who needs no introduction; Roy Orbison, the toupeed aphakic rocker, is supposed to be a legend but I only know his 'Pretty Woman' song, but his lullaby-like hypnotising sing-song (the pun intended) voice is nice. Bob Dylan, the high school dropout who recently was honoured with an honorary doctorate, who made headlines and was a hit in the flower power era with political statements in his folk song inspired songs like 'The times are a-changing' joined in as well. Dylan, the croaky-voiced hirsute singer (or rather talk-sings) - in the same vein as Johnny Cash and Mark Knoffler, the PhD in History doctorate from the group 'Dire Straits' - joins the spectacle. The blonde baby-faced Tom Petty of the 'Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' is supposed to be a pretty famous rocker. Jef Lynne had worked with Harrison during his solo career and Bangladesh Aid tour. The drummer, Jim Keltner, with an impressive CV to make any drummer go green with envy having played for many musical icons from the 70s onward was roped in.

On a personal note, if a tone-deaf musical illiterate like me may be allowed to comment, is that these guys had a fantastic time writing and playing the songs as they did. In the first album, the vocal chemistry is pretty good with an excellent display of strumming acoustic guitar with thought-provoking profound lyrics to match. 4 of their 13 songs from this album turned out to be classics, I think - 'Handle with care', 'Last night', 'Tweeter and the monkey man', 'End of the line'. It also earned them a Grammy in 1989.Orbinson passed on after the first album.

The second album, intentionally labelled Volume 3 lacked the zest of its predecessor. 'She's my lady', 'Inside out' (Global pollution)and 'Wilbury Twist' (silly comical song) is exciting but sadly after listening to the second album, I came off thinking that they sound like a bunch of over the top men trying to look cute and act cool but failing miserably. How sad! Excellent for easy Sunday evening listening when you are in a pensive mood!

*Travelling Wilburys, the origin; "We'll bury 'em (in the mix)" Jef used to say when there was an error in recording of their songs. This phrase evolved to be Wilbury. They thankfully did not name themselves as 'Trembling Wilburys' as they initially did. The concept of 'Travelling Wilburys' is like a concept of travelling music men or Snake-Oil peddlers who used to entertain small towns in the Wild West!

To sample more of their songs, try this!

The quiet Beatle he was not!

Just enjoying the compilation CD of George Harrison as selected by his wife, Olivia and friends. Guess they just come up with a scheme to get more money from Harrison's legacy! George, the unashamed practicing Vaishnavite Hindu (yeah, the vegetarian who willed a princely sum of his estate to an ashram in India) and the rather quiet one behind the scene, overshadowed by John and Paul, is my favourite Beatle. Ringo, I think, was quite comfortable sitting at the back banging the drums crazy.
I just picked up this CD when I was picking up some books for my small guy at Popular's. I wanted to educate myself on listening to rock and roll music by a legend whose musical potential only came forth after the break up of the Fab Four. Listening to a CD is truly rewarding experience, unlike listening to the radio - not just the lack of commercials but you can listen to it again and again and music quality and crisp is beyond definition.
No regrets on getting the CD. It kind of grows on you more and more as you go on listening to it. This one exhibits 19 songs which eventually get you hooked. In fact, the past one week I have been listening the songs again and again.... abandoning all other sorts of music!
The following is by no means meant to be taken as a literary analysis of the album. It is just a piece of gibberish sounding repertoire of a person who only knows how to enjoy his music but not play a single musical instrument, perhaps only Indian prayers percussion (jalra) and recorder in school days! I try to promote what I did not master through my kids, albeit at partially success only!
Track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Original Album Length
1. "Got My Mind Set on You" Rudy Clark; Cloud Nine 3:52 - I never knew all this while that it was a cover version. Originally written by Rudy Clark and sang by James Ray (nothing to with Ray Charles) in 1962, listen here!

2. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" Harrison; Living in the Material World 3:35
Starts like an Eagles' like country rock then it progresses to a bhajan like song asking to be relieved of sufferings on earth, free from birth etecetera! I thought living on earth is a punishment for our sins.

3. "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)" Harrison; All Things Must Pass 3:48

4. "My Sweet Lord" Harrison; All Things Must Pass 4:40
It is interesting how Halelujah later becomes Hare Krishna then Guru Sakshat Parabrahma and Hare Rama..

5. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Live) Harrison; The Concert for Bangladesh 4:46
Needs no introduction.

6. "All Things Must Pass" Harrison; All Things Must Pass 3:46

7. "Any Road" Harrison; Brainwashed 3:52
This is a profound song with message about life and its purpose, also with a tongue-in-cheek comment (quoting Wizard of Oz) about if you do not know where you are heading, any road leads you there!

8. "This Is Love" Harrison, Jeff Lynne; Cloud Nine 3:47
Another sad melodious song which keeps on humming in your brain.

9. "All Those Years Ago" Harrison; Somewhere in England 3:46
This is a tribute song to John Lennon after his assassination in 1981..

10. "Marwa Blues" Harrison ;Brainwashed 3:41
This instrumental got a Grammy for best instrumental music. Reminds me of a sad Tamil movie music score - the higher the notes of the sitar goes the more the tears well up in the tear glands! The sitar (and its predecessor, the veena) are truly magical instruments.  Very touching...

11. "What Is Life" Harrison ;All Things Must Pass 4:25
What is life, you tell me, people say it is curse yet they like to stay on the curse as long as they can. The bonds that you have in your life helps you stay sane, yet sometimes may go insane, paradoxically!

12. "Rising Sun" Harrison ;Brainwashed 5:27
A song with very powerful lyrics. It sounds like Rising Sun is the name of a half-way house of a rehab for alcoholics or drug addicts! read the lyric.. I guess it is the only song with the word DNA in it. And the guitar work sounds like Eric Clapton like 'slow-hand' type of lead guitar! Nice 'un!
On the street of villains taken for a ride you can have the devil as a guide crippled by the boundaries, programmed into guilt till your nervous system starts to tilt. And in the room of mirrors you can see for miles but everything that's there is in disguise every word you've uttered and every thought you've hadis all inside your file, the good and the bad. But in the rising sun you can feel your life begin universe at play inside your DNA you're a billion years old today. Oh the rising sun and the place it's coming from is inside of you and now your payment's overdue oh the rising sun, oh the rising sun.

13. "When We Was Fab" Harrison, Lynne Cloud Nine 3:51
Guess everyone has a time in their life they truly dear, for Harrison it must be with the Beatles! Forgive the bad English - artistic immunity.

14. "Something" (Live) Harrison The Concert for Bangladesh 3:10

15. "Blow Away" Harrison George Harrison 3:59

16. "Cheer Down" Harrison, Tom Petty Lethal Weapon 2 soundtrack 4:06
Great guitar handiwork there, George! Lethal weapon was good too.

17. "Here Comes the Sun" (Live) Harrison The Concert for Bangladesh 2:54
Again, no introduction needed!

18. "I Don't Want to Do It" Bob Dylan Porky's Revenge soundtrack 2:54
That is why there was Bob Dylan's feel to it at the beginning of the song!

19. "Isn't It a Pity" (Version one) Harrison All Things Must Pass 7:07
This song was actually written during the Beatles' time but was rejected and vetoed for other songs. Later it  was released as a solo artiste and was voted as Harrison's best song!

Isn't it a pity that he has passed away? Well, in the immortal words of the mortal George Harrison - All things must pass!