It really doesn't seem 10 years since the passing of 'The Quiet One'. But this past decade really has, for me anyhow, cemented George Harrison's importance beyond the Beatles' years.
In early 2001, prior to his death, he released a remastered version of his 'magnificant octopus' All Things Must Pass. A 30th anniversary boxset, with some interesting out-takes and bonus tracks. But it's the original album that really benefits from the reissue. This remastered CD sounds superb in comparison to the 80's issue I owned previously. Although it took a while to give it its deserved airtime (which goes for 90% of everything I own unfortunately), it sure has become essential listening for me, being one of my most played albums of 2011.
31 years after its charting topping release, My Sweet Lord was re-released in early 2002 following George's death, and once again reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart.
By the end of 2002, we were treated to both The Concert for George (on DVD & CD) as well as an album of new material. Brainwashed appeared in the November, and does sit as one of George's better albums, wiping the floor with much of his later career.
In 2004, all of his Dark Horse records (1976-1992) were remastered with bonus material (albeit a little limited), and in 2007 the Traveling Wilburys albums were given the same treatment. Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison finally offered the casual fan a more comprehensive collection of his work than that has been compiled/released before.
After years of much hearsay, this year we finally got what we've been waiting for. George Harrison: Living in the Material World is a fantastic document of George's life. Martin Scorsese has done it again, giving it the same depth of much of his previous work in music (see the Dylan documentary "No Direction Home"). I was lucky to catch a one-night only showing in Leeds in early October, and it certainly did not disappoint.
On 29th November 2011, two concerts were held in Liverpool to mark the 10th anniversary of George's passing. Tsema, The Rebels, Singh Strings, The Radha Krishna Temple, The Mersey Beatles, and Andre Barreau (from The Bootleg Beatles) performed twice during the day (afternoon concert at St. George's Hall and evening concert at The Cavern).
Below are some video clips I managed to take. The lengths are limited as my ipod kept running out of diskspace, as I hadn't planned for any recording.
