Concert for Bangla Desh [SOUNDTRACK] [LIVE]

Various Artists - Rock, George Harrison

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 1991)
• Original Release Date: December 20, 1971
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack, Live
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DRAN
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,665 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. George Harrison/Ravi Shankar Introduction

2. Bangla Dhun

3. Wah-Wah

4. My Sweet Lord

5. Awaiting on You All

6. That's the Way God Planned It - George Harrison, Billy Preston

7. It Don't Come Easy - George Harrison, Ringo Starr

8. Beware of Darkness

9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Disc: 2

1. Medley: Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood - George Harrison, Leon Russell

2. Here Comes the Sun

3. Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan, George Harrison

4. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry - Bob Dylan, George Harrison

5. Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan, George Harrison

6. Mr. Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan, George Harrison

7. Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan, George Harrison

8. Something

9. Bangla Desh

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

George Harrison's social and spiritual conscience had been an increasingly dominant force in the Beatles' final years, and his landmark 1970 solo album, All Things Must Pass, wasted little time giving it a remarkable, Phil Spector-produced forum. Harrison took the spotlight that album's success afforded and next turned it on the dire circumstances then afflicting the young nation of Bangladesh. Gathering most of the sidemen from the All Things album, and a lineup of stellar friends (Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar) and former Apple cronies (Ringo Starr, Badfinger, Billy Preston), Harrison set about staging some hastily organized benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden. This album resulted, and while its sonic imperfections sometimes belie the show's haphazard organization, it's nonetheless still the one of the greatest efforts of its genre. The All Things material gets a lively live workout, while Russell very nearly steals the show. The occasion also marked Dylan's return to live performance after a long absence. Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rockin' for a Purpose, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

Twenty years ago, this album opened new territory for me as a teenager. I was most taken with the Dylan side (5 songs), and the incredible performance of Leon Russell. Recently I re-bought the concert as a CD because I wanted to hear how it (and maybe I) measured up. It is fantastic! Now what I notice are the subtleties: how welcome the opening chords to "Wah-Wah" sound after the Ravi Shankar introduction, how Ringo bungles his way through the lyrics of "It Don't Come Easy", how George omits a verse of "Awaiting On You All", what a great addition Leon is to George's "Beware of Darkness", how George cuts off the applause to the introduction of Eric Clapton, how Leon sounds better than ever, how earnest George sounds in "Here Comes the Sun", how looking-back-prophetic Dylan sounds. And how George reclaims the show with "Something" and "Bangla Desh". This concert is where '60s hope met '70s futility. For all, it is a true rock treat. For me, it sounds better than ever!

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2 Beatles + Dylan + Clapton + Russell + Preston = History!, July 9, 2000

By	Thomas Lapins (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

From the opening warm up sitar of Ravi Shankar (a great introduction to Indian instruments and music) to the legends of English and American rock n' roll this concert immortalizes a historic coming together. George Harrison was still primed from his "All Things Must Pass" LP's. The pure energy of "Wah-Wah", "My Sweet Lord" and "Awaiting On You All" leaves you breathless. Then Billy Preston did the one song I like by him "That's The Way God Planned It". From the soulful organ to the gospel harmony backing him, this song moves even a non-believer. Ringo does his first and best post-Beatle single "It Don't Come Easy" with his usual laid back coolness. And now comes the best song on disc one "Beware Of Darkness". George starts it out with all the enthusiasm of the previous songs but watch out now here comes Leon Russell to knock you off your feet. Great Harrison and Russell duet. Then this allstar band plays one of the Beatles classics "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". From the superstars to the back-up players this was a band's Band. Disc two starts out with the medley "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Youngblood" by Leon Russell. Russell does "Jumpin' Jack Flash" as good if not better than the Stones. He plays to the audience better than any of these superstars. He had it in his blood this night. Next Harrison treats us to "Here Comes The Sun". It was like a gentle rain on this thunderous evening. Next we hear five of Dylan's best, played at their best. "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is his poetic masterpiece played to a waiting and heated audience. "It Takes A Lot To Laugh..." has you swaying and keeping time with your feet. "Blowin' In The Rain" is one of his best performances. With "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Just Like A Woman" to follow we have a live greatest hits venue. Then follows Harrison doing a polished live version of "Something" to be followed by the reason for this gathering "Bangla Desh" (a stirring song). It will be a long time before this type of talent would be on one stage at one time any time soon. Shortly after this concert Leon Russell released an LP with "Beware Of Darkness," "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall". A great collection!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sterling live performances, September 13, 2002

By	Wayne Klein "If at first the idea is not absu... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

It was 1971 and Bangela Desh was suffering one of its most severe famines and droughts in recorded history. Musician Ravi Shankar asked his friend George Harrison if there was some way the music community could help the suffering in Bangela Desh. This fine album is the result. Featuring spirited performances that vary from ragged to inspired, Concert remains one of the best benefit albums and the was one of the first of its type on such a grand scale.

Ravi Shankar starts things off with his piece Banla Dhun (Harrison admonishes the crowd to be quiet prior to the performance)Harrison's performances are stellar; the best songs from All Things Must Pass receive the production and sound that you hear on the original album. There's also a number of Beatles' classics as well (although, sadly, some of Harrison's early Beatles material is not included but you can find that on the Live in Japan album). Here Comes The Sun benefits from having Harrison accompanied by Badfinger's Pete Ham on acoustic guitar. It's a transcendent moment on the album.

Eric Clapton doesn't play any of his Cream material but appears as a support musician on most of the tracks. The talented Leon Russell duets on Harrrison's Beware of Darkness and performs an inspired medley of Jumpin' Jack Flash and The Coasters' Youngblood. Ringo appears with his solo hit It Don't Come Easy. It's a pity that John Lennon chose not to appear (he was invited) as the band featured here is superior to Elephant's Memory (Lennon's backing band on his live album).

Finally, Bob Dylan appears after a long self imposed exile from performing. His performance is a bit ragged but welcome. He begrudingly played Blowin' in the Wind (Harrison asked him to do so. Dylan retorted that Harrison should play I Want to Hold Your Hand).