I listened to every version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, so you don’t have to
While debating the greatest guitar solos ever with Alex and Sue last week, I suggested that the absolute best is Prince’s one-off live performance of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Prince played alongside George Harrison’s son Dhani, ELO’s Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, and more. This set me down a rabbit hole to find the best-ever version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
George Harrison wrote “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” for The Beatles’ “White Album.” The rest of the Beatles were apparently unconvinced by the song, and when they recorded it at EMI Studios in London in 1968, Harrison brought in his friend Eric Clapton to overdub the guitar part uncredited.
The song is now a classic and Rolling Stone ranked “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at number 10 on its list of The Beatles’ 100 Greatest Songs and number 7 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. It’s been covered dozens of times by artists from many different genres, especially by guitarists because of its solo.
But what’s the best-ever version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”? I listened to every version available on Apple Music, so you don’t have to. Here are my top five, ranked by the arrangement and its originality, the vocal performance, and, of course, that guitar solo.
5) George Harrison (Live in Japan) (1992)
Recorded live on tour with Eric Clapton and his band. What this version lacks in originality and vocal performance is made up by Clapton’s rendition of his original uncredited solo on the “White Album.”
Arrangement | |
---|---|
Originality | |
Solo | |
Vocals |
Apple Music and Spotify
4) Peter Frampton (2003)
Humble Pie’s guitarist Peter Frampton recorded “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” for his 2003 “Now” album. While the arrangement doesn’t vary much from the ‘classic’ interpretation, his soaring guitar solo is one of the very best you’ll hear. Better than Harrison, better even that Clapton. (There’s also an incredible live version.)
Arrangement | |
---|---|
Originality | |
Solo | |
Vocals |
Apple Music and Spotify
3) The Beatles (1968)
I couldn’t miss out The Beatles recording on their self-titled “White Album” with its uncredited guitar overdub by Eric Clapton. Being the original, I give it maximum points for originality, obviously, and a solid 8 for Clapton’s solo.
Arrangement | |
---|---|
Originality | |
Solo | |
Vocals |
Apple Music and Spotify
2) Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison, and Prince, etc. (2004)
To celebrate George Harrison’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his son Dhani, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Steve Winwood played “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” But it was Prince and his astonishing guitar solo which stole the show.
Arrangement | |
---|---|
Originality | |
Solo | |
Vocals |
YouTube
1) Carlos Santana (with India Arie and Yo-Yo Ma) (2010)
Recorded by Carlos Santana for his album “Guitar Heaven…The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time.” Yo-Yo Ma’s cello is sublime and India Arie’s vocals add to the orginality of this rendition. Santa’s solo is almost on a par with Prince’s. So, despite some very strong competition, this is the very best version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
Arrangement | |
---|---|
Originality | |
Solo | |
Vocals |