+ scroll down for Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Also on the Beatles recording is an uncredited lead guitar performance by Eric Clapton
Single:
While My Guitar Gently Weeps was released in Australia as a double-A-side single with Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da. The record entered the Australian singles chart* on 22 February 1969 and was a #1 hit. It was #3 on the Top 100 of 1969.
Album:
The songs are on The Beatles (aka the White Album) which entered the Australian albums chart* in the #1 position on 21 December 1968. The album remained in the top spot for 16 weeks.
Songwriter:
George Harrison
Producer:
George Martin
Record label of Australian release:
Parlophone
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book
BONUS SONGS BELOW – scroll down for:
live version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the Concert for George
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Wikipedia:
While My Guitar Gently Weeps was written by George Harrison, the band’s lead guitarist. The song serves as a comment on the disharmony within the Beatles following their return from studying Transcendental Meditation in India in early 1968. This lack of camaraderie was reflected in the band’s initial apathy towards the composition, which Harrison countered by inviting his friend and occasional collaborator, Eric Clapton, to contribute to the recording. Clapton overdubbed a lead guitar part, although he was not formally credited for his contribution.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/While_My_Guitar_Gently_Weeps
Songfacts:
Eric Clapton and George Harrison were good friends, but George had to convince him to come to the studio because Clapton was worried the other Beatles wouldn’t want him there. Clapton’s presence eased the mood in the studio at a tense time for The Beatles – they were at each other’s throats during recording of the White Album, but they all relaxed when Clapton showed up.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beatles/while-my-guitar-gently-weeps
Lyrics:
I look at you all, see the love there thats sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I dont know why nobody told you
How do unfold your love
I dont know how someone controlled you they bought and sold you
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
Also on Bang a Gong:
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Peter Frampton
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – brilliant covers
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Jools Holland, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Mark King, Jeff Lynne, Ray Cooper
The Concert for George
BONUS SONGS:
While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the Concert for George
The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death.
Eric Clapton: lead vocals, lead guitar solos
Paul McCartney: lead vocals, piano
Ringo Starr: drums
Dhani Harrison: acoustic guitar
Marc Mann: lead guitar
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
The title comes from a reggae band called Jimmy Scott and his Obla Di Obla Da Band. Says McCartney, “A fella who used to hang around the clubs used to say in a Jamaican accent, “Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on,” and he got annoyed when I did a song of it, ’cause he wanted a cut. I said, ‘Come on, Jimmy, it’s just an expression.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beatles/ob-la-di-ob-la-da
Lyrics:
Desmond has his barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly, “Girl, I like your face”
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Click for full lyrics
New to Bang a Gong? Click HERE to learn more about us.