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Carlos Santana Gets Olivia Harrison's Blessing for 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' Cover

Lester Cohen, WireImage

For Carlos Santana's latest album, 'Guitar Heaven: Santana Performs the Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time,' the axeman teams with vocalists like Chris Cornell, Rob Thomas and Scott Weiland to cover songs by Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Rolling Stones and more. During a recent press junket in Las Vegas, the guitar legend admitted that the album, which was conceived by Clive Davis, initially made him nervous.

"I feel really grateful and really honored that he pursued with a lot of intensity and diligently, because I was afraid, straight up," Santana said of working with Davis. "Each time he convinced me, he took layers and layers of fear and made me realize there's a way to crystallize these beautiful songs in a way that, like Wayne Shorter would say, 'We have arrived completely new, totally familiar.'"

One of the keys to the album is that Santana and Davis don't treat the songs as sacred works of art: rapper Nas reinvents AC/DC's 'Back in Black,' and India.Arie takes vocals on the Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps,' with Yo-Yo Ma adding an elegant cello track to the cover.

Among those on hand in Vegas to hear the new album and see Santana perform with Arie, Chris Daughtry and Bush's Gavin Rossdale was Olivia Harrison, the widow of George Harrison. As she told Spinner, Santana was meant to do her late husband's guitar classic.

"It completes the circle really. Carlos is really the one that can close it. Eric Clapton did it, Prince did it [with] that incredible solo at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years ago," she said. "What that showed to me was no matter how hard you play the song, it doesn't have limitations. I think Carlos is not trying to blow his horn -- he's trying to play those notes that are appropriate."

Arie, who lends her vocal talents to the song, told Spinner she was thrilled when Santana shared Harrison's response to the song. "He told me that she said she cried and jumped for joy," Arie says. "I like the idea. I'm honored by the possibility that I just made her happy in that her husband's not here and she's hearing the song."

For Santana, getting Harrison's blessing was very special. "It says that we have become those that we admire," he said. "What made the Beatles and Bob Dylan completely young and eternally relevant is the heart. If you have a certain heart, you're able to complement the songs to a point where you uplift them into a new place."

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Toni Miles

http://youtu.be/L-5M1_DKvb0 Gotta hear it!!

July 12 2011 at 10:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Toni Miles

Absolutely fantastic Video and the best I have ever heard! While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Exceptionally done!

July 12 2011 at 10:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

"It says that we have become those that we admire". What an idiotic statement. Carlos Santana is a great musician and I enjoy his work immensely, but that is one of the most egocentric statements I've ever heard! Carlos Santana is not one of the Beatles and can never hope to be, just as any other musician, try as they may, can never be another Santana. I've heard samples of this album. It's a travesity.

October 20 2010 at 4:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Christine

I wish to make a correction in the sentence five years was typed incorrectly. Sorry!! We hope Carlos Santana sees this comment and hope he will find time in his busy schedule to visit us in Los Cabos. He was invited years ago by our children to Acapulco!!

September 07 2010 at 4:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Christine

The dream of Fundacion 3 Deseos,A.C. espiritu de juventud is to invite Carlos Santana to Los Cabos Mexico for a small venue in benefit of the children of Los Cabos. The web site is currently being repaired. The last five yeqars have been strong in creating opportunities and educating thru artistic expression.

September 07 2010 at 3:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JohnBliss

I have always been impressed with Satana's playing, and class, getting Mrs Harrison's blessing to do this. I have been less impressed with most of this comments, not knowing who played with The Beatles, and such. I am sure the Mr Satana will do this, out of respect, not because he lacks the talent to do somethng else. GodSpeed Carlos!

September 07 2010 at 2:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lia

Jeff Healy did a nice cover of "...Guitar.."

September 07 2010 at 1:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sato

For all those rediculous comments, Carlos is not a singer he has his own style of playing, Santana style, and he can play any song with his own style.Harrisons song has a hint of Santanas style,a bit of blues rock,it is perfect for his style.

September 07 2010 at 1:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mooreisen

carlos wants big buck to play here in lemoore,calif...but before he got big,he play at the fresno fair..now he wants to much cash to show up an play...

September 07 2010 at 12:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ray

That Harrison song is a great tune and Carlos will do a great job on it. He is known as a lead guitar player, as was George Harrison, so it is a perfect choice of a Beatle song for Carlos to cover. Can't wait to hear it.

September 07 2010 at 12:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply