Recently released in a limited theatrical run worldwide and now released by Warner Strategic Marketing on November 18 in the USA, November 24 in the UK, November 25 in Canada, and December 8 in Australia CONCERT FOR GEORGE is a superb double-disc DVD celebrating that magical night. Also released the same day in each territory is a 2-CD soundtrack consisting of nearly two hours of music from the historic tribute.

For those of us lucky to be there, the memories of that amazing evening will remain forever but director David Leland (Wish You Were Here, Band Of Brothers and the Traveling Wilburys video 'Handle With Care') has captured the event perfectly for those that were not. This is without doubt one of the most beautifully filmed concert performances ever. Shot in high definition and from more than a dozen camera locations, the sound has been digitally mastered with sound recorded in 5.1 Surround.

L-R: Jeff Lynne, Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Dhani Harrison & Marc Mann

Disc one of the DVD contains the complete concert, including performances not featured in the theatrical version. Disc two contains the theatrical version featuring concert highlights, interviews with the performers, rehearsals, photo gallery and behind-the-scenes footage. Each of the performers had a personal friendship or history with Harrison and the backstage moments and interviews give a sense of how deeply they felt for him.

Jeff Lynne

Jeff Lynne: "I'd say to him when we were working together, I'd say, 'wow, you've got some amazing chords in here!' He'd say, 'I have to - I don't want to be like anybody else. I wanna make chord changes that nobody else uses.' He really knew how to be individual. I think a lot of the Indian influence comes out in some of his melodies and ideas and timing. He has funny timing. I always write in 4/4 because I'm too lazy to count but some of these tunes are in like 17/53 time! George was bold enough to do that, change time signatures, change key with ease, but always using these favourite chords which were the diminished. It's very hard to create something that makes everybody go, 'Ohhhh - I love that!' It's just so great, so uplifting. It's just a pleasure to play, I could play that chord change all night long. He was able to do it many times."

CONCERT FOR GEORGE captures stunning renditions of some of the most significant music of the 20th century, including "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (featuring Clapton on guitar, McCartney on piano and Starr on drums), "Taxman" (performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and "The Inner Light" (by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar). Clapton oversaw the entire proceedings as Musical Director, while Lynne, Harrison's long-time friend and collaborator, produced the audio elements of the concert.

Eric Clapton with Dhani Harrison

Marc Mann

Considering the large number of musicians on stage, all playing a variety of electric, acoustic, classical and traditional Indian instruments and with 96 channels to mix to surround sound, Jeff Lynne has produced a masterpiece. Ably assisted by Mark Mann and Ryan Ulyate, the concert audio took five months hard work to mix and sounds incredible, one of the finest things Jeff has ever done.

The highlights are many and too numerous to mention but include McCartney and Clapton performing a duet of "Something," with Starr on drums; Starr performing his hit "Photograph" (which was co-written by Harrison), Oscar-winner Tom Hanks sitting in with Monty Python (featuring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Neil Innes) for a hysterical version of "The Lumberjack Song," one of Harrison's favourites, and Lynne and Anoushka Shankar's spellbinding performance of "The Inner Light". Lynne's fine vocal and harmonies shine throughout while also of interest to ELO fans is the invaluable contribution Mark Mann plays. Performing many of Harrison's guitar solos while Clapton directs the musicians on stage, Mann's inter-play with Andy Fairweather-Low is a particular joy to watch. Jeff Lynne: "We chose the numbers we wanted to do and then we just rehearsed really hard for probably two-and-a-half weeks in London. We just kept bashing away until it started sounding good." The Monty Python team with Tom Hanks. Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney

Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

The extra features on the second DVD are illuminating, especially rehearsal footage showing Jeff taking Harrison's and Petty's lines on Wilburies classic "Handle With Care" which was ultimately different to how the song was performed on the night with Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. Net proceeds from the concert, film, DVD and CD will be donated to The Material World Charitable Foundation, which George Harrison founded in 1973. The foundation supports the arts, music, education and people with special needs.

Olivia Harrison: "The Concert For George was all I hoped it would be. I don't think I've ever heard a band play with so much emotion and respect."

Both DVD and CD are thoroughly recommended, not just for fans of Jeff Lynne, The Traveling Wilburies or ELO, but for everyone who is a fan of beautiful, heartfelt, quality music.

Jeff Lynne: "Everybody was there for George, that was the good thing."

In addition to the regular DVD and CD releases, Warners have prepared a series of promotional items. A 4-song sampler in jewel case with colour sleeve has been circulated to radio stations worldwide and features the following tracks: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"; "Photograph"; "I Need You"; and "Handle With Care". A specially commissioned radio show for the Capital Gold network (details below) has also been made available as part of the Concert For George press kit. The custom printed CD's come in two versions: a continuous show narrated by Robert Lindsay and the other without narration but with track cues and idents, enabling radio stations to insert their own voice-overs.

This hour-long radio special devoted to the concert is scheduled for broadcast on 28 November via Capital Gold in the UK and features music from the concert, interviews with Olivia Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne and more.

All concert photos on this page are copyright www.concertforgeorge.com and Warner Strategic Marketing. Used with permission and not for reproduction.