A Strained Legend

 George Harrison: A Strained Legend

By Ernie Santosuosso

The Boston Globe

December 11, 1974

    Close to 31,000 yesterday filled Boston Garden in the hope of reviving, partially, at least, a legend. George Harrison, an individual performer since the breakup of the Beatles in 1970, continued his first road tour in eight years with a matinee evening doubleheader. 

    Yesterday, Harrison, now proxy of Dark Horse records, entered the stretch run of his 45 concert seven-week schedule. It was quite obvious at the afternoon show that his voice would have to croak to the finish. Ignoring the strain on George had apparently failed to conserve over the touring grind. He plowed into an even dozen vocal segments, also accompanying Billy Preston and the Ravi Shankar group on guitar on several selections.

     Typical of most Garden-oriented rock shows, Harrison's return was more of a news happening than artistic feet. The chill factor in the Garden evoked memories of Bob Dylan's deep freeze on a January afternoon this year. It may have been merely a coincidence, but the much-revered folk rock singer himself, taking to the road for the first time in many years, delivered his lyrics with a harsh honking bleat. But no matter for most of the capacity turnouts, just being there is his own reward, and the same philosophy held true in the case of the one-time Beatle.

     To honor George's visit  Boston Globe, President Weston Adams Jr reportedly issued an order that any member of his office staff attending the concert must wear jeans. Like a true leader, Westy sported Levi's, and his assistant, Jack Nicholson, was similarly turned out in denim.

     Backstage security was tighter than usual. Sitting in the aisles was summarily discouraged, and the normally adequate troops were reinforced by 10 burley Boston College football players recruited by ex Eagle, Dennis McCreary for local producers, Harvey Weinstein, and Corky Berger.

     Harrison, described as the quiet one of the four Beatles, maintained his unbudging policy of no interviews, except for his Los Angeles press conference and a recent Rolling Stone spread.

 Harrison announced that sitarist Ravi Shankar, just released after a five-day confinement due to exhaustion in a Chicago hospital, would be unable to perform with his family ensemble.

However, Ravi was brought on stage for the purpose of assuring the audience that he wasn't as ill as had been rumored. Said Harrison's colleague of the 1971 concert for Bangladesh, "I'm unfortunately not strong enough to perform tonight. My darling sister-in-law and my beloved George will carry on for me."

     Even without its leader, the 15 person Shankar troupe, plus saxophonist Tom Scott and Harrison on guitar delivered a musically invigorating if somewhat long segment. An intriguing vocal effect, similar to that archived achieved by Francis Swingle singers, was produced on "Naderdan." while "Chatpatay," ("Spicy") presented Ravi's sister-in-law, energetically cajoling the ensemble through a percussive tour de force.

 Midway during the Shankar family set, Harrison gratuitously introduced each player by naming the record of which on paper would have been a Herculean assignment for one not born in India. 

    Keyboard player Billy Preston stole the show from the top-billed star with the playback of his hit "Nothing From Nothing" and "Outta Space", which caused the afternoon crowd to erupt for the first time.

    Harrison's band, an admixture of his own side men and the LA Express, was first rate. These young old pros, besides Preston and Scott, included saxophonist Jim Horne, trumpeter Chuck Finley, who once played in the orchestra of the late Jimmy Dorsey, lead guitarist Robben Ford, Berkelee dropout Andy Newmark on drums, percussionist Emile Richards, bassist Willie Weeks and drummer Jim Keltner.

     Scott helped elevate the far more interesting second half of the program with the demonstration of the Lyricon, a jet age instrument developed and manufactured by Computone of Hanover.

     Harrison's parched vocals were concentrated on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something" "Sue Me, Sue You", the lyrical expose of The Beatles dissolution, "Foun Your Blue," "Give Me Love," "Maya Love," "What is Life" and "My Sweet Lord" and his new single, "Dark Horse."