Harrison Covered (November 2011)
Everything’s Coming Up George
Credit Martin Scorsese with the recent rash of interest in George Harrison. The famed film director’s biography of George (airing on HBO in October) has sparked numerous magazine covers, along with this gathering from MOJO to celebrate GH’s song catalog. Cool, in that the track selection includes material from his Beatles and solo years… and even a song title I didn’t initially recognize, “Your Love Is Forever” from 1979′s George Harrison (the uplifting year that Harrison remarried and had his only child). As usual with most MOJO tribute comps there are a lot of new names alongside the vets (Richie Havens, Graham Nash, Ron Sexsmith and the great Iain Matthews, who delivers a just-like-George version of the under-appreciated “So Sad”). I was totally charmed by The Webb Sisters’ outstanding version of “I Need You” (listen below) but was totally bummed more wasn’t done with Harrison’s underrated wonder, “Long Long Long.” Too many artists here also took Harrison’s reverbed union with Phil Spector a little too much to heart. But, that’s the way it goes in the hit-and-miss world of various artist tribute comps. Find all 115 MOJO‘s in the archives.
SHOW OF HANDS If I Needed Someone (3:38)
THE WEBB SISTERS I Need You (2:50)
RON SEXSMITH Give Me Love (3:05)
RICHIE HAVENS Here Comes The Sun (3:39)
ALESSI’S ARK The Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) (3:40)
LANTERNS ON THE LAKE Long Long Long (3:03)
JOHNATHAN WILSON featuring GRAHAM NASH Isn’t It A Pity (5:37)
EMMY THE GREAT All Those Years Ago (3:23)
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF My Sweet Lord (3:56)
PETER BRUNTNELL Think For Yourself (2:23)
IAIN MATTHEWS So Sad (3:47)
JOE BROWN That’s The Way It Goes (3:37)
TREVOR MOSS and HANNA LOU Your Love Is Forever (2:58)
THE FELICE BROTHERS Behind That Locked Door (3:20)
YIM YAMES Love You To (4:19)
13 Comments
Search HERE
Willard: Thanks for all the MOJO presents CDs–this one looks cool, and Harrison is, incredibly, underrepresented in the world of covers. Some day(s) I need to catch up on all the MOJO discs you’ve posted and missed them with the magazine. Since our local Borders closed, I have nowhere to buy the mag and it’s just punishingly expensive to subscribe, overseas.
Thank you!
Tell me about it.
thank you ! We have to make justice for Harrison’s songs.
Long, Long, Long is a favorite of mine. The subtle beauty of the original would be difficult to capture, and I’m not sure a reinterpretation would add anything.
Galaxie 500 did the best version of “Isn’t It a Pity”, IMO.
A very fine cover of “If I Needed Someone” can be found on one of the Hollies’ compilation albums. Much more bass heavy than the original, and better for it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mojo-Magazine-CD-Almost-Famous-Autumn-2001-/360389806890
I didn’t see this collection in your series. I can’t be positive that it is an official comp, only that I have researched it and it appears to be. I have been collecting these through your sight, hard copy and beyond for the better part of a year so it’s become an obsession to get every last album that MOJO released. Any idea about this one or have you even seen it before?
Curious to hear your thoughts (or your followers’ even).
Thanks for the help. The Almost Famous compilation actually came from the short-lived MOJO Collections magazine, which we’re not gathering together and/or posting yet. Not sure how many they’ve issued under the Collections moniker, but I think it was less than a half dozen. I’d be interested if anyone has a list of the Collections CDs.
That’s why you da man!!! Thanks for the info…
Thanks for sending stuff our way. We appreciate updates, info, corrections and just helping with our cluelessness in general.
I created some pretty cool artwork for MOJO: Soul Riot if you’re interested in posting them at all. I came across a pop-art jpeg of the Sly Stone pic used for that issue of MOJO, matched the title’s font and threw on the collection name. It’s not the most professional job but it sure makes a difference on iTunes and the iPod when browsing…not too shabby, you might get a kick out of it!?
Thanks. You’re welcomed to post it on the Soul Riot post (http://www.willardswormholes.com/?p=4705) in case anyone is interested. We wouldn’t use it for the post ourselves, just so we don’t confuse anyone about the actual artwork. Thanks again.