George Harrison
Live In Japan

THE REVIEW

"Live In Japan" is the faithful testimony of the concerts held by the former Beatle during the twelve dates of his Japanese tour in the distant December of 1991. Those unique concerts represented Harrison's first live appearances since 1974, the year of the uncertain release "Dark Horse". For his return to the stage, George chose Japan, second only to the United States in Beatlemania passion, which welcomed the English musician with affection and renewed enthusiasm.

The album in question represents a solid and enjoyable collection of his greatest hits alone and with the Beatles. Alongside Harrison, we find his friend Eric Clapton and his solid band of the period, including musicians of the caliber of Chuck Leavell, for years now with the Rolling Stones, Steve Ferrone, currently the permanent drummer for Tom Petty, the keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, now a member of Toto, the excellent guitarist Andy Fairweather-Low, and the percussionist Ray Cooper. Much credit for the positive result goes precisely to Clapton's cohesive group, which, among other things, also carved out its own personal moment within the concerts. George Harrison, for his part, appears in good shape although his voice, over the years, has unfortunately lost something.

The proposed repertoire is naturally remarkable and represents a kind of personal greatest hits. The lion's share goes to the songs drawn from the Beatles' repertoire. The immortal "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" are obvious presences, while "Piggies" is an unexpected recovery from the "White Album". The performances of the dear and beautiful "If I Needed Someone", "I Want To Tell You", "Old Brown Shoe", and "Taxman", presented with a text slightly adapted to the political situation of the time, are good. Of the solo repertoire, the pieces from the successful "Cloud 9" stand out, a sort of artistic rebirth for George, "My Sweet Lord", a prayer set to music always well received by the audience, the Dylan-esque "Give Me Love", and the splendid "Isn't It A Pity". There is also room for the rare "Cheer Down" written with his friend Tom Petty, for the dedication to John Lennon of "All Those Years Ago", and for the lively "Dark Horse". When all the memories seem exhausted, in the end comes the anticipated "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", ennobled by a Clapton in a state of grace, and the inevitable and somewhat banal final goodbye of "Roll Over Beethoven".

At the end of the listening, one realizes that this album adds or takes away nothing new from Harrison's career. The true magic of this work remains encapsulated in the eternal melody of "Isn't It A Pity" which, with its nostalgic tail full of regret for an era that is gone forever, renews with each listening the ever-living memory of a great composer, a good musician, and a unique person who left us too soon.