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The Music of George Harrison: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

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After some pretty dismal biographies, George Harrison is finally receiving the responsible, in-depth look that he has always deserved. Despite the title, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is actually a survey of Harrison's woefully underrated solo career. The Beatles aren't neglected entirely (of course), but fine discs such as 33 1/3, George Harrison and Dark Horse are finally given the attention that they merit. And for fans of All Things Must Pass, this book is a godsend.

The author's love for George's music is obvious from the beginning. Leng makes a strong case for Harrison's influence on the fusion of rock & world music, and proves to my mind that George was the most eclectic Beatle. Rock, jazz, English folk, country, slide blues, electronic, rockabilly, Caribbean, Latin, Polynesian, big band, classical, gospel, Indian, Far Eastern, funk and acoustic pop are all included among the Harrisongs.

As a reviewer pointed out, the only really disappointing aspect of this book is the non-inclusion of most of Brainwashed (Any Road & Run So Far are both given analysis, and some other songs are mentioned)...

I agree with the praise given this book by other Amazon reviewers, but would like to add a few points. First, Simon Leng discusses Harrison's musical relationship with pianist, composer & arranger John Barham, ranging from George's first interest in the sitar through their work on Ravi Shankar's "Chants of India" album. I would like to read more about Barham. Secondly, the book gains quite a bit from Klaus Voorman's involvement. Voorman is the artist and bass player who met the Beatles in Hamburg, produced the covers for "Revolver" and the Anthology CDs and played on Harrison's early solo albums. Voorman also contributed two nice sketches of George for this book. There are extensive quotes from others, including Doris Troy and David Bromberg (the latter of whom, although very insightful, may be quoted a bit too much considering his brief acquaintance with Harrison). This book may be the best available work on George Harrison.

I had a great time listening to the songs while I read about them. I love the way he describes the songs one by one in detail, the insight he offers that cleared up a lot of guessing (Who played on what etc.) He also has an obvious passion for George's music which probably matters most. His opinions are not typical which is a relief. (i.e. He actually likes "Gone Troppo", me too) It's a great book and a lot of work went into it. This is a George book that I will keep. "I Me Mine" (written by George himself) and "Harrison" from Rolling Stone Publications are the other two.

This book is truly a masterpiece and will delight all readers, from the inveterate George Harrison fans to people just becoming familiar with his works. Leng has a real flair for written expression and research. His extensive knowledge of Eastern music and how Harrison incorporated Eastern styles into his music enrich this work. Leng offers extensive coverage to people who influenced the late guitarist such as Klaus Voorman, an artist who had known George since the inception of the Beatles and who later drew the 1966 album cover for "Revolver," pianist John Barhman and Ravi Shankar, the man who taught George to play the sitar.

Leng plainly respects the intelligence of his readers and his writing is clear, clean and crisp. There is no extraneous matter. Leng has a gift for piquing the interest and curiosity of readers. In reading this, one wants to know more about John Barham and the other people who influenced George Harrison. Leng's work is expansive; he excites interest and curiosity in an almost "ripple" effect form; each person named in his book "interlocks" in the way they influenced George Harrison. It is this approach that maintains readers' interest. Leng has researched his information well and his respect for George and the many people who influenced him and his art comes through plainly in this work. I like the way Leng accepts and acknowledges George, warts and all and the musical analysis he provides in this work.

The writing's on the wall - try some, buy some and please try and buy this book! This is a superior work!

Simon Leng's book not only provides wonderful insight to George Harrison's music, but manages to do so in a thoughtful, informed and unbiased manner. Leng's knowledge of Indian music and its application in Harrison's work is particularly welcome in light of the many critics, Iam MacDonald in particular, who overlooked Harrison's talents in their haste to credit the Beatles' success to the genius of John Lennon. In addition, Leng refutes much of the criticism heaped on Harrison's work in light of commentary given by musicians who toured with Harrison and documentary footage of live performances. Even so, Leng never excuses all of Harrison's shortcomings nor forgets to acknowledge his indebtedness to other artists.
This is a very enjoyable book, and one could only wish Leng had been able to include material on Brainwashed and the Concert for George given in his honor at Albert Hall. The inclusion of drawings by George's longtime friend and fellow musician Klaus Voorman are a wonderful addition. Read this work near your stereo, and have ready George's "I, Me, Mine" for additional reference.

Employing a format similar to Ian MacDonald's "Revolution in the Head," Simon Leng examines every song in George Harrison's solo catalog as well as many of his guest appearances on other artists' records, providing detailed musician credits and his own thoughtful analysis. Harrison's work with the Beatles is given only a cursory look, which is just as well, since that subject has been covered thoroughly in other books.

This is the first book to do justice to George Harrison as an artist in his own right rather than just an ex-Beatle. Leng avoids regurgitating the usual music critic cliches about Harrison's work, instead taking a fresh look at all of Harrison's solo projects from "Wonderwall Music" to "Horse to the Water." He sometimes reaches surprising conclusions, such as pointing to "Sing One for the Lord," an obscure collaboration with Billy Preston, as a major Harrison work.

The only real flaw in this book is that it was obviously completed just prior to the release of "Brainwashed," which means that Harrison's last major work is not able to get the complete analysis that it deserves. But that's a minor quibble for what is easily the best book available about George Harrison's music. Highly recommended.

Not only does this book tell about George's solo work in non-technical, easy to read language, it also gives some great biographical information. In writing about his strenths as well as his shortcomings as a songwriter, singer, and musician, Leng neither idolizes nor condemns, but portrays George as a human being who made mistakes like everyone. His respect for George and his work clearly comes through. I highly recommend this book!

When I received this book, I was mildly interested, having been a Beatle fan in my youth. I had not really followed the career of George Harrison post-Beatles, though I was aware of his bigger hits, and enjoyed his music. I had the generally accepted view that Harrison was a bit eccentric, reclusive, and mysterious. I was, therefore, not an intense Harrison fan, and not very educated about his music.

Having now finished the book, I feel so much more informed. Simon Leng writes excellently about George's music and what was driving it, as well as it's importance in Harrison's life and faith. Simon has been meticulous in his research, and sensitive in his discussion of a private and passionate man. Though he has far more musical knowledge than I, I found the book easy to read, and fascinating in it's detail about every song written or recorded by Harrison in his solo career. So much so, in fact, that I am off to buy a George Harrison album or two! Thanks, Simon.

This insightful song-by-song analysis of George Harrison's solo output is preceded in the book by several excellent essays covering the years 1966-70 including, of course, Harrison's work with The Beatles. Author Simon Leng uses his deep knowledge of music to demonstrate how Harrison assimalated an eclectic variety of musical genres to craft a distinctive and highly influential style of his own. Though not a biography, the book does explore elements of Harrison's life as they relate to his music. A must-have for anyone seriously interested in understanding the musical accomplishments of this sorely underrated musician.

I was given this book when I was convalescing in hospital. To be honest I would not have chosen a book about the life and music of George Harrison. However, from the very first chapter I found myself being drawn along a path of exploration about the life's work of George, a person whom I now realise had a tremendous influence on the musical tastes of my entire generation (I'm 52) and the generations that have come after me.
Sure, before reading the book I knew who many of the influential characters were such as Ravi Shankar, John Barham, Eric Clapton and of course the Beatles. But I didn't realise how closely their lives were intertwined and how their geniuses spun off each other.
Most of all I was struck by the spiritual influences on George. How he wasn't really searching for money or fame. It was the music and it was pursuing excellence as a means to knowing one's inner self.
Simon Leng's writing is concise, witty, even satyrical in places. At the same time the author shows himself to be very learned, thoroughly researched and very organised in terms of discography, cross references and building his line of argument in a chronological timeframe.
'The Music of George Harrison : While My Guitar Gently Weeps' by Simon Leng is easy to read, it keeps your interest and it leaves you with a feeling of enrichment.