LP Lookback: George Harrison & Friends, ‘Concert For The People Of Bangladesh’ – Now Streaming

I saw recently on “the socials” that George Harrison’s landmark charity concert album The Concert For Bangladesh is finally up on all the streaming outlets. I have always loved that live album. It was probably one of the first cases of rock and roll meets altruism with spectacular results. Without The Concert For Bangladesh there probably wouldn’t have been a No Nukes or Concert For The People Of Kampuchea or dare I say, no Live Aid. I went and took a look back at the B&V List Of Essential Live Albums, and I’m embarrassed to say, for reasons unclear, I overlooked this record and didn’t include it… I should have.

I have extremely fond memories of this album. Although I have to admit my memories of the record are nothing like my friend Don (name obscured to protect the guilty) who was actually at one of the shows. Don has had a remarkable rock n roll journey in his life. He was at Woodstock. He was from just outside of New York so as he came of age he hung out at the Fillmore East and saw the Allman Brothers and Janis Joplin and God knows who else. I’ve always forgotten to ask if he saw Hendrix. I saw Don a few years back and he had just watched the documentary film for Concert For Bangladesh and said, “I had completely forgotten that I attended this concert until I saw the film…” His rock n roll memory cup runneth over. He recently told me his first show was the Who at a small hall in Westchester… apparently promoters would book big acts into New York city and would also do a quick show up in Westchester as it was cheap and easy. Lucky bastard… but you gotta love Don.

Anyway, my memories of Concert For Bangladesh are more about the actual album. My brother – who I’ve mentioned before was way ahead of me in terms of rock n roll – was a huge Beatles fan. That led him to the catalog of his favorite Beatle, George Harrison. I don’t know where he was getting his money, but he had All Things Must Pass which was George’s triple-vinyl solo debut album and it came in a big box. It was cool. But he also had the big orange box that contained The Concert For Bangladesh. I’d go into his room, the rock n roll den, and stare at the pictures in the booklet and listen to these stunning performances and marvel. That was the first place I’d ever heard any live Bob Dylan who I was slowly getting into… although it took the Stones’ Some Girls before I committed to my lifelong rock n roll obsession.

In 1971, East Pakistan (aka Bangladesh) was fighting for it’s liberation and that war caused a massive refugee problem. Never good. Touched by the horrors of it, sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar mentioned it to George Harrison. Ravi was going to put on a benefit show and hoped to raise say, $25,000. George said, “Hold my beer.” And suddenly it was the first ever all star benefit concert on August 1, 1971 and raised $250,000. Ringo was filming a movie in Spain and apparently halted the production so he could fly over to perform. Ringo and George hadn’t shared a stage since 1966. Paul declined citing “bad feelings” between them due to the recent breakup of the Beatles. Lennon was going to attend but – and I think this took some stones on George’s part – Harrison had stipulated he could only come without Yoko. “You’re invited but your wife can’t come…” Wow! Bob Dylan, who had been a bit of rock n roll “Boo Radley” recluse at the time and hadn’t really performed live since the late 60s (save for a show at the Isle of Wight with the Band in ’69), was invited but no one was sure he’d show up… until he strolled on stage with a guitar at the afternoon show.

One of my favorite back stories on this thing is that Stephen Stills was performing two shows at Madison Square Garden prior to the benefit. He loaned Harrison his stage and lighting rig but Harrison didn’t ask him to join the show! Rather than just offer to play, in classic Stills fashion, he just pouted in a dressing room backstage…probably hording his cocaine. The thing that astounds me the most about George Harrison doing this show was that he was very gun shy about performing live. Remember it was Harrison who scuttled the whole idea of a live show during the Let It Be sessions as a condition for his return to the band after he quit. He, like Dylan, set aside the nerves and anxiety to step forward to help these starving people. That’s just kick ass, rock n roll altruism, baby. I think, for Harrison, other than a few cameo’s at other folks show this was his first headlining solo concert but I am likely wrong about that…

What a show this is. When I was a kid I could never listen to what was the first side of the album that featured Ravi Shankar playing an Indian raga. I streamed this album this week and I now find myself somewhat entranced by the whole raga thing. I may have to explore Indian music a little bit more… but I digress. After Ravi plays – George introduces him and asks the audience to not smoke which I’m sure was a big ask in 1971 – and Ravi tunes up, the audience applauds. Ravi humorously says, “I’m glad you enjoyed our tuning up, hopefully you’ll like the song we play even more…”

Then the rock n roll starts up with George Harrison playing his solo tune “Wah Wah” which takes a jab at other guitar players and their “gadgets.” Eric Clapton is in the band… he doesn’t sing probably because he was going through heroin withdrawal. He bummed some methadone from a cameraman in order to play. The band Badfinger is in the backup band. Jim Keltner is on drums, Klaus Voorman on bass, and Jesse Ed Davis is on guitar, among other players including The Hollywood Horns.  Harrison runs through some of his most famous solo tracks but also plays a few Beatles’ tunes. He and Clapton have a mini guitar duel during “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” They also play “Something” and “Here Comes The Sun,” likely the first time those tracks had been played live.

Ringo does a spirited version of “It Don’t Come Easy” and who doesn’t love Ringo? Keyboardist Billy Preston does a track “That’s The Way God Planned It.” I’m not into the Holy Roller thing but I dig Billy. The real all star here was Leon Russell. Nobody talks about Leon any more but he was sensational. He duets with Harrison on “Beware Of Darkness” and it’ll put goosebumps on your arms. He also does a great medley of the Stones’ “Jumping Jack Flash” and the old tune “Youngblood” later done by Bad Company. Leon takes the show from a rarefied charity benefit to a roadhouse, juke joint jam.

The fifth side of the vinyl album is all Dylan. Harrison introduces him, “I’d like to bring on a friend of us all, Bob Dylan.” Man, I miss that sixties, groovy hippy ethos…I was too young for all of that. Dylan, accompanied by Harrison and Ringo on tamborine and Leon on bass runs through a string of some of his best tunes: “A Hard Rains A’Gonna Fall,” “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry,” (“Oh I ride a mail train baby, can’t buy a thrill…”), “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and finally “Just Like A Woman.” Damn, what a set!

Harrison comes out for a beautiful rendition of “Something” followed by a new song he’d written for the event, “Bangladesh.” “Bangladesh” is one of those great forgotten songs. If it hadn’t been so topical, if the lyrics had been about something more common, I think “Bangladesh” would have been ranked amongst Harrison’s best tunes. It certainly rocks.

If you don’t own the album like my brother does, or you never downloaded it like I did, I would urge everyone out there to stream this concert album. It really does capture a beautiful point in time. I know it kept me spellbound a mere six or seven years later, sitting on the floor of my brother’s room. This is classic rock used for the best purposes you can think of – to feed the hungry!

It’s a long dark ride… help somebody in need, you’ll just feel better for it. Cheers!