Concert for Bangladesh [Original recording remastered]

George Harrison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000BF0D88
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,025 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > World Music > India & Pakistan > India
  • #41 in Music > Pop > Easy Listening > Orchestral Pop
  • #78 in Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Introduction by George Harrison & Ravi Shankar

2. Bangla Dhun

3. Wah-Wah

4. My Sweet Lord

5. Awaiting on You All

6. That's the Way God Planned It

7. It Don't Come Easy

8. Beware of Darkness

9. Band Introduction

10. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Disc: 2

1. Medley: Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood

2. Here Comes the Sun

3. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

4. It's Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry

5. Blowin' in the Wind

6. Mr. Tambourine Man

7. Just Like a Woman

8. Something

9. Bangla Desh

10. Love Minus Zero/No Limit [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ravi Shankar planted the seed, but it was George Harrison who turned this historic benefit concert into reality. The publicity-shy former Beatle could've easily written a check and forgotten all about the matter--impoverished East Pakistani refugees stranded in India--but instead recruited some of his most talented and compassionate friends and created an event remembered as much for the quality of its music as the purity of its intent. (The two-part engagement itself raised $250,000.) The players include Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and Bob Dylan, while the backing band includes Jim Keltner, Klaus Voormann, and the up-and-coming Apple band Badfinger (Phil Spector and Harrison produced). The concert took place on August 1, 1971 at Madison Square Garden and was released as a triple-album boxed set that December and a feature film in 1972. That year, it won the Grammy for best album. The program begins with Shankar and his trio ("Bangla Dhun") and ends with a song Harrison wrote for the occasion ("Bangla Desh"). Highlights include Billy Preston's rousing "That's the Way God Planned It" and Dylan's heartfelt five-song set, starting with "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." The remaster adds an additional Dylan track, "Love Minus Zero/No Limit," from the afternoon show. Although the cover art has been changed to a picture of Harrison, the original iconic image of a sad-eyed child remains prominent in the CD and DVD packaging. As with previous versions of The Concert for Bangladesh, all artist royalties go to UNICEF or, as Harrison notes in his band introduction, "Nobody's gettin' paid for anything." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

This is a new reissue of the legendary 1971 benefit concert organized by George Harrison. Features performances from George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, Leon Russell, and Billy Preston. Includes a new bonus track 'Love Minus Zero/No Limit' by Bob Dylan. CD has been digitally remastered. Capitol. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The original mix of this album is better, October 25, 2005

By 

Barry Smith (Plainview, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Concert for Bangladesh (Audio CD)

When I purchase a re-master of a classic album, I am always alert to the fact that there might be possible tampering with the original mix: instruments or noises either added or subtracted. Upon listening to the new version of THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH, it is very clear that there was a lot of subtraction going on. Although some new clarity is brought into the overall sound of the recording (which originally sounded a bit muddy to some people's ears), there has been an extensive change in many of the sounds I was familiar with on the original LP. For example, several of the stage comments have been deleted, Harrison's introduction of Leon Russell is one. Also, the inspiring hoots and shouts of the background singers during "That's The Way God Planned It" have been erased. Even many of the hilarious audience comments that were audible (someone shouting "Do something Ringo!!" prior to "Awaiting on You All") are now missing. Overall, the new crowd sounds seems to be a lot different from the sounds that were on the original LP. I don't know why the producers of the re-master decided to do this. They should have gone for a more faithful approach. Because of this, the original CD version is still better.

Additionally, the new cover art is not faithful to the original album package. Some of the photos are still there, but I wish that the entire original book would be available for this edition. Not to mention the chronic problem of CD storage: in this package, the bare disc is stuffed in a non-protective sleeve, ready for a barrage of scuffs and scratches.

Despite the drawbacks, the new version of THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH not without merits. As mentioned above, there is a new sound clarity which still sounds very good. And then there's the extra Dylan track from the afternoon show "Love Minus Zero/No Limit." Perhaps a few other alternate tracks from the afternoon show could have been added as well as there is plenty of room on the discs for more music.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Template for All Benefit Concerts That Followed, October 29, 2005

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Concert for Bangladesh (Audio CD)

"I'd just like to say before we start off with the concert...that...uhh...to thank you for coming here...as you all know it's a special benefit concert...we've got a good show lined up...I hope so anyway...." And with that introduction from George Harrison, the former Beatle began his August 1, 1971, Concert for Bangla Desh which became the template for all of the benefit concerts that would follow.

However, not only did it raise much needed money, it produced a solid collection of songs from a stellar group of musicians. In addition to former bandmate Ringo Starr and friends Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan; the concert also included (among others) Billy Preston (who worked with the Beatles during the LET IT BE sessions), Leon Russell, Klaus Voorman , Jim Keltner, Carl Radle and Pete Ham (of Badfinger).

The concert opens with a 16-minute performance by Ravi Shankar, backed by three additional Indian musicians on sarod, tabla and tamboura.

Harrison's contributions included four songs from his then current album ALL THINGS MUST PASS along with "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Harrison and Clapton trading lead guitar lines. Perhaps the standout song is his acoustic duet with Pete Ham on "Here Comes the Sun." Other Harrison songs are "Something" and the concert-closing number "Bangla Desh." [A studio version of the single was also released in August, but it would stall at No. 23.]

Ringo turns in a solid performance of his hit "It Don't Come Easy." Billy Preston does a rousing version of the gospel-tinged "That's the Way God Planned It." And Leon Russell turns up the energy with the medley "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Youngblood."

The highlight of the concert was arguably the five-song set by Bob Dylan (now including a sixth song, "Love Minus Zero/No Limit"). He is backed by Leon Russell on bass, Harrison on guitar and Ringo on tambourine.

All told, this was an exciting musical event thirty-four years ago, and with this newly remastered edition it sounds even better today. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "No One is Gettting payed For Anything", October 27, 2005

By 

Anthony Accordino (Massapequa Park, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Concert for Bangladesh (Audio CD)

One can argue that the "Concert For Bangladesh", is one of the single most important events in rock n roll history. George Harrison, along with Ravi Shankar invented the pop star benefit concert, Without realizing at the time, that they would influence a whole charitable movement that has continued for decades, for various causes. This reissue CD of that historic concert, proves to be a time capsule that brings one back to an era when for one day, some of classic rocks most gifted musicians put on a show for the ages. The remastered sound quality is out of this world. The first thing I noticed was being able to clearly hear acoustic guitars and some keyboards clearer then ever. The vocal clarity is like night and day compared to the original release. One really notices a major difference during Leon Russell's performance of "Jumpin Jack Flash", and "Youngblood". Of course, Bob Dylan never sounded better during a live acoustic set. It is quite obvious that a lot of care and thought went into the packaging. Although the cd sports a new cover that is different from the original, I felt the packaging still held the historical presentation of the original. Each cd is housed in a slip cover, that has the original cover photo, as well as the same orange color of the 3 LP boxed set. The booklet has both original and new liner notes, and the booklet has a healthy serving of photo's, some not seen before. The only real negative that I found with this set, is the deletion of some of George Harrison's verbal interaction with the audience. Gone is the introduction of Leon Russell before his set, as well as George announcing that he is going to try one with just the acoustic guitars before he played "Here Comes The Sun". Also, removed was the long thunderous ovation he received after playing "Something". When George returned to the stage for his finale "Bangladesh", he told the crowd "Thank-you you're so kind". That was also deleted. I feel that when producers alter the original, they are messing with art. Those verbal interactions with the crowd, were part of the historic final product that we all remember so well and are now a thing of the past. All put aside, the cd is fantastic, with crystal clear remastering, but I sure wish they would have left the entire concert intact and away from the cutting room. Anything missing, can be heard on the full length DVD movie, or the original CD.