George Harrison The Concert For Bangladesh

Before there was Live Aid and Live 8, and before there was much awareness at all of the plights of countries less fortunate than more developed countries like the US and UK, there was George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh.  In 1971, Harrison joined with Ravi Shankar, and called on the favour of many friends, many of whom you know well, to help in a benefits to aid the inhabitants of famine-stricken country, Bangladesh.  With two performances that combined the talents of Shankar and like musicians with the talents of the time’s most well known personas like Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and more, history was made and money was raised.

The Concert For Bangladesh was released to buyers not only to provide the capture of this event but also to help further the assistance to the country of Bangladesh.  A film of the same name was screened in theatres all over to further the awareness, potentially strengthen the cash flow, and, again, to document this momentous event.

Apple/Capitol re-released a newly remastered version of The Concert for Bangladesh in new packaging, replacing the original artwork of the starving child at an empty bowl, with that of George Harrison with guitar.  The CD-sized box encases two CDs, both with the starving child imprint on the discs, with the discs slip-cased in cardboard sleeves.  The booklet is literally packed with event photos, 2 letters, one from Ravi Shankar in 2005, remembering the event, and one from UNICEF President, recognizing the occasion.  There is also a complete explanation of the need for the concert and the needed dollars to help aid the starving refugees from the war-ripped country trying to avoid disease and starvation as a result.

But the jewels here are several-fold.  The first is that, posthumously, George Harrison continues to provide aid by this re-release and thus cements his continuing humanitarian effort so many years later and from a different place.  That’s the kind of spirituality that George strove for and the kind that he no doubt appreciates.  The second is the music that is found time-capsuled on two discs.  The remastered quality of both discs are quite good and compliments the reissue.

The first disc, introductory in part and musically diverse, contains performances by Ravi Shankar and his musicians who provide moving and enjoyable Indian music.  This music is quite important, not only to Shankar and crew but also to George Harrison, who asks the audience to pay special attention and to provide a measure of reverence for the unfolding music.  After which, CD sequence, the album launches into Harrison-led “Wah-Wah,” guitar assisted by Eric Clapton.  Harrison then moves into a stirring version of his popular “My Sweet Lord.”  Not to far along, Billy Preston does his first Apple song, “That’s The Way God Planned It,” which helps to bring the notion to the largely Christian audience that this benefit concert is a spiritual effort, going beyond the usual gathering of mega-stars, and intended to help mankind.  Ringo adds a second Beatles presence, itself an event given the fact that the band recently broke up, and the chance to see half of the revered band again was better than nothing.  He does a sprightly, horn-filled “It Don’t Come Easy.”  Harrison closes out disc two with his Beatles classic, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

The second disc brings Leon Russell to the front of the show with his medley of The Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and “Youngblood.”  Harrison does his “Here Comes The Sun” before Dylan joins the show with a wide selection of tunes that include “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” “It Takes a Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry,” “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Mr Tambourine Man,” and “Just Like a Woman.”  As a special bonus to this reissue is a bonus, unreleased Dylan performance track, “Love Minus Zero/No Limit.”  Harrison closes the set with his Beatles single classic, “Something” and his written for the occasion awareness song, “Bangladesh.”

The reissue of both Bangladesh documents, the film and the album, is especially welcomed considering the recent outpourings of humanitarian efforts due to catastrophic events.  It serves to remind us that we do, in fact, need each other to survive these uncertain times.  The Concert For Bangladesh was George’s extended hand to humanity in need.