George Harrison and Friends - The Concert For Bangladesh

 

Once again, I am shocked - shocked, I tell ya! - that this album has escaped my blog, as well, as it is yet another favorite, but it could be because I have simply burned a CD of the vinyl and not everything appears on it, but still, a surprise that I haven't ranted'n'raved about this great record.

Once again, Harrison released a three album set (like his All Things Must Pass) but here there are a wide variety of musicians covering the different sides, as well as a true superstar line up of backing musicians including the likes of Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Badfinger and many others, including beautiful and talented backing singers who were stars in their own rights.

Appropriately, Side One features Ravi Shankar and his group performing traditional Indian music, as Ravi is the one who initially asked George if he could do something to help the crisis in Bangladesh. The group and the performance is phenomenal and I'm sure that this helped to turn many young people onto the sounds of India.

George then puts on a "solo" performance (not exactly solo with multiple superstars on stage with him) of terrific versions of tunes from ATMP - "Wah Wah", "My Sweet Lord" (his smash hit at the time) and "Awaiting On You All", before passing the mic to Billy Preston for him fun, upbeat, gospel number "That's The Way God Planned It" - I always loved his church-like keyboard playing and exuberant vocals. 

Ringo was also currently riding high in the charts with his solo smash, "It Don't Come Easy", that George co-wrote, produced and played on, and this version is pretty rockin', with great playing all around, despite the fact that Ringo completely flubs the lyrics in these days before teleprompters (and before all live albums were "fixed" before being released)! "Beware of Darkness", George's fantastic number also from ATMP is given an amazing reading as George duets with Leon Russell and the Beatles number, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is highlighted by Eric's epic lead work. 

I probably became a fan of Leon Russell due to seeing him on the film version of this concert rockin' out in his gospel-tinged way, whoopiin'n'hollerin' and poundin' his piano in an incredible medley of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Youngblood" - what a performance! George does a terrific acoustic duet with Pete Ham from Badfinger on "Here Comes the Sun", then, while he had his acoustic on, George brought on Bob Dylan. The story that I heard was that, altho they were friends and Bob agreed to do it, they weren't sure if he was going to perform until he walked on stage. He was obviously a major draw for the concert, so I'm sure they were relieved that he appeared and he does a terrific job on "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall", then he is joined by at least George (and Leon on bass) on "It Takes a Lot to Laugh..." and "Blowin' in the Wind" and, as I recall, Ringo joins on tambourine - appropriately - for "Mr. Tambourine Man" (altho I also recall that Ringo would complain that Bob kept changing the time signature for the song!) and they all harmonize in a lovely take on "Just Like a Woman". The record ends with a strong reading of "Something" followed by George original for the occasion "Bangladesh" - maybe not his best number ever, but still a good one and a nice closer for the set.

This would have been an amazing concert to attend but the album and film are both fantastic souvenirs of this monumental event.