While My Guitar Gently Weeps

November 22, 1968

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (German: , While my guitar gently weeps ') is a song by British rock band The Beatles in 1968, composed by George Harrison and released on November 22, 1968 on the so-called White Album.

Genesis

The idea for the song was Harrison when he decided, from the first words that he would find in a book, compose a song. The words were " gently weeps ". Harrison recalled in his autobiography, I, Me, Mine to the creation of the song:

"Around the time of writing While My Guitar Gently Weeps I had a copy of the I Ching - the (Chinese) Book of Changes execute 'which Seemed to me to be based on the Eastern concept did everything is relative to everything else, as Opposed to the Western view did things are Merely coincidental. This idea was in my head when i visited my parents ' house in the North of England. I Decided to write a song based on the first thing I saw upon opening any book - as it would be relative to did at the moment did time. I picked up a book at random - opened it - saw, Gently weeps ' - then laid the book down again and started the song. "

" When I wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps I had a copy of the I Ching - The (Chinese ) Book of Changes ', which is based in my understanding on the Eastern concept that everything is to each other with respect, in contrast to the western point of view, that everything is random. This thought went through my mind when I visited my parents' house in northern England. I decided to write a song about the first thing I would see when opening any book - because that would be in direct relationship to the moment at this time. I chose at random a book - opened it - read Gently weeps ' - I put the book away again and began to write the song. "

Recording

The recording of the song took place at London's Abbey Road Studios on 25 July 16 August, and on 3, 5 and 6 September 1968. On July 25, 1968, the plain version, as can be heard on the Anthology 3 was built exclusively with acoustic guitar, vocals ( George Harrison) and organ ( Paul McCartney ). This demo version served the group as a guide.

In the second recording session for the song on August 16, 1968 Harrison had already changed the arrangement of the purely acoustic accompaniment to a " rock-like " variant with drums, bass, organ and guitar.

During the recording of the album the Beatles discovered the diverse possibilities of the eight-track recording technology at a session at Trident Studios. In the Abbey Road Studios is still working with the older four-track technology. When the group found out that an appropriate device was certainly present, but not yet installed, it prompted that one it made them available. On 3 September 1968 the Beatles took advantage of the first time the newly installed 3M eight-track recorder for While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

On 5 September 1968 the recording sessions continued. After Harrison had listened to the recorded version to date, he was so unhappy that you once again completely started from scratch. At the end of the meeting we had arrived at Take 28, decided to take 25 as the best version to receive thereon the other overdubs.

The following day photos were completed. It was a special contribution, because Harrison had just spontaneously asked his friend Eric Clapton to play lead guitar. Clapton had hesitated: " [ ... ] no one plays on Beatles sessions", which Harrison with: " So what? It's my song! " Answered. Clapton played on his Les Paul guitar in the middle and at the end of the song two solos, which were initially attributed to Harrison because Clapton has not been named for legal reasons as musicians on the album.

The last re-release of the song can be found on the Beatles album Love, which was released on November 17, 2006.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2004, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood and Prince played it with George Harrison's posthumous inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Petty and Lynne shared the vocals, the conclusion of the presentation made ​​a three minute long virtuoso guitar solo by Prince.

Cover versions

818724
de