Customer Reviews

CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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What started out as a near Beatles reunion (John actually showed up for rehearsals but was told by George that he wanted him only, without Yoko, on stage resulting in John's departure) nevertheless resulted in one of the best live albums of all time. The set opens up with Ravi Shankar playing 20 or so minutes of traditional Indian Music (Shankar was the one who actually asked George to stage the concert to aid his war-torn homeland). The Music is listenable and interesting but little else. For the remainder of the set George assembles an all star band including Ringo, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Leon Russell. George plays tracks from his classic album "All things must Pass" along with some Beatle classics and gives Ringo, Leon (his Jumpin' Jack Flash/Youngblood medley is a must listen), and Billy Preston turns at lead vocal Perhaps the best part of the set is Dylan's side (I bought the set on LP and side 5 was the Dylan set). With himself on acoustic guitar, George on Electric guitar, Leon Russsell on Bass, and Ringo on Tamborine Dylan makes his tightest live recording ever. Dylan takes Just Like a Woman in a totally different direction from his studio version resulting in a superior track. In short this set is a must have for any Beatle or Dylan fan and is one of the best live albums of all time.

Long before LIVE AID,FARM AID THE COCERT FOR KAMPUCHEA{remember that one?} George Harrison amd Ravi Shankar witnessed the barbarity going on in the breakaway republic of bangladesh .They decided to rganize a benefit concert, and attempted to gather some of the great musicians of the day.{It Is IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPERATE THE EVENT FROM THE MUSIC.}A few actually showed up:Ringo Star, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton,and of course, surprisingly, stunningly, Bob Dylan. The concert opens with Shakar playing sitar[ people thought listening to sitar music was in and of itself spiritual],Leon Russel does a nice jumpin jack flash,ringo does a very good version of"it dont come easy"though the disc really comes alive when Harrison say" I'd like to bring you on a friend of us all, Mr Bob Dylan>" the garden erupted. Dylan had made only 2 other public performances since his motorcycle accident,and it is difficult to describe how important he was in context of the times. Either way, his set is near perfect,the Harrison does while my guitar gently weeps and finishes with the very moving, haunting Bangladesh"a friend of mine came to me with sadness in his eyes/asking me for some help/before his country dies/though i couldn't feel his pain/i knew I had to try? now I'M asking all of you to help us save some lives/" The copy of the booklet shows the chck made out for$ 200,000+,a small amount for such an endeavor by todays standards. Still, these folks saw something, and tried to help. That constitutes a miracle by todays standards. A noble effort, and a very good album.

This is the best collection of musicians of this era coming together for a common purpose (pre-LIVE-AID). I have the music and saw the film and the film really does justice to the music. This is one of the best albums you should spend your lunch money on (yea it's worth a Big Mac Combo or three). Leon Russell and Bob Dylan show some of their best work on this album; George Harrison shows his brilliance here also. Many of the backing musicians went on to greater heights as solo acts or formed bands later on with some of these heavy hitters from this album. You will not be disappointed!

It is very sad that music, or at least music festivals, are not this good anymore. While the music on this album is very good, it can't really be questioned when the likes of Harrison and Dylan are on the same album, the album also represents a philosophy that doesn't seem to exist anymore - that we should help each other. This album captures a time when there was hope for the future and when music represented a desire to make a better world - not just make more money.

Buy this album for the music or the philosophy - it still sounds great and maybe it helps us remember a time when people cared about each other - even if they lived on the other side of the planet.

A wonderful combination of talent that brings Ravi Shankar master of sitar, Eric Clapton master of guitar, Bob Dylan master of lyrics, and George Harrison master of causes together for an unforgetable performance that could, and possible did, change the world.

The beginning of the 70s was a time of collaboration between creative people that has rarely been equaled since. Essentially the same musicians produced All Things Must Pass, Layla And Other Love Songs, Mad Dogs & Englishmen...

The key players are together here, creating the benefit rock concert out of thin air (thanks, George) with mostly selfless motives (aside from Bob Dylan). Everyone paid their own way to play and took home nothing. After playing on each others' albums for the better part of a year, this huge assortment of superstars and journeymen were a tight group and the music is wonderful. It sounds rehearsed although there was little time for that.

It launched the careers of Billy Preston and Leon Russell, showcased Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Bob Dylan, with help from Ringo Starr, Klaus Voorman and other studio greats.

This movie has been very hard to come by on DVD. It is a treasure for fans of George, and much better musically than the 2003 Concert for George (which is also good).

El inmenso placer de volver a ver a dos ex beatles juntos nuevamente rodeados de eximios musicos en emocionante labor solidaria para el pueblo de Bangla Desh. En lo musican ¡¡¡Que mas decir!!! Eric Clapton y Bob Dylan.-

I've got the LP set of the concert but just had to get the CD version. The (pardon the new-agey bit) postive energy comes shining through in the music. The concert starts off with the music of Ravi Shankar and it's just so nice to realize that the audience appreciates it, and doesn't grow restless because the "big acts" didn't lead off the show. So different from concerts today. For me, the price of the CD is the Leon Russell medley of "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood". I loved it when I first heard it, and it's stood the test of time. For a lot of people, the draw is Bob Dylan, but not me. For me the joy is hearing George Harrison play his beautiful music in a concert setting with excellent musicians backing him up. This CD is a time capsule that all will enjoy.

There is a lot of nostalgia here, but lets not get weepy. These must be the pre-rehab years for Ringo, as "It Don't Come Easy" must mean remembering the lyrics. And Ravi Shankar, though a hit in India, was only liked by westerners if they had what Ringo was having. That said -
Clapton gives a great performance, George Harrison shows emotion in his playing as well as having fun with his mates, and Bob Dylan's performance is as good as he gets. Leon Russell and Billy Preston show why they were every bit as good as showmen as they were sought after studio musicians (too bad John didn't make it, but he was SO full of himself).
George was the unsung Beatle and I for one truly miss him.

Some great artists, a good cause, some great songs, but unfortunately not so great performances. Leon Russell and George Harrisson are Good, Ringo and Dylan are OK at best, but still a nice document of an era that won't come back.