Saturday Night Live Music: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

One of the greatest songs from the whole Beatles catalog, of course, and perhaps George Harrison's greatest composition (though I'm quite fond of "That's What it Takes" as well). This is a song that lends itself to some awesome jams, and this past week some friends on FB started comparing versions. There is this great performance by Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison, and Steve Winwood , with Prince channeling Jimi Hendrix at the end, from 2004's induction of Harrison into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and there's this haunting and stately take, with Eric Clapton taking the lead vocals, Paul McCartney on the piano, Ringo Starr (among others) on the drums, and Dhani and a bunch of friends backing them up, from 2003's tribute film, Concert for George. But I have to say my favorite is this one, from the 1987 Prince's Trust Concert. Harrison himself, in full mullet mode, sharp and brilliant and in control; Ringo (definitely not phoning it in) on the drums, joined by Phil Collins; Mark King of Level 42 slapping out Paul's bass line; freaking Elton John the piano; and Clapton--newly cleaned up from his late 70s-early 80s addictions--playing his own original lead, trading riffs and glances with George, remembering old times (all while Lynne provides backup). Simply transcendent.