Concert For Bangladesh

This week’s playlist celebrates that one time 50 years ago when rock ‘n’ roll actually used its powers for good.

George Harrison succinctly lays out how he came to the project in the song, “Bangla Desh.”

My friend came to me
With sadness in his eyes
He told me that he wanted help
Before his country dies.

Although I couldn’t feel the pain
I knew I had to try
Now I’m asking all of you
To help us save some lives.

The Concert for Bangladesh was taking place at Madison Square Garden on August 1, 1971, only 5 weeks after George’s conversation with Ravi Shankar.

Though The Concert for Bangladesh was the first rock ‘n’ roll benefit concert and the subsequent triple album was the 1973 Grammy Album of the Year, the music is rarely heard due to legal disputes. It’s a pity we can’t easily celebrate the music and the moment, but even more upsetting that UNICEF and the country of Bangladesh can’t receive any additional revenue that could be generated from streaming.

Regardless of the current legal issues, the concert was a massive success and attendees of the two benefit shows on August 1st were treated to several firsts.

Along with organizing the event – which started the idea of “rock activism” and set the mold for future star-studded benefit concerts – this was George Harrison’s first performance as a front man!

This was the first time anyone saw George and Ringo on stage together since The Beatles’ last show in August 1966.

And this was George’s only Grammy Album of the Year win as a solo performer. (All Things Must Pass lost to Carole King’s Tapestry the previous year. As a Beatle, George won for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but as discussed in our Grammys post, The Beatles lost their other 5 nominations in the category…mainly to Frank Sinatra.)

The Concert for Bangladesh was also Bob Dylan’s first US show in five years. (Dylan would join The Band at their New Year’s show later that year, then go back into hiding until their 1974 tour…and then basically tour nonstop for the rest of his career.)

The show also featured many Storytime alums including Leon Russell, Klaus Voormann, Carl Radle and Eric Clapton. Billy Preston, members of Badfinger as well as several Indian musicians also took part in the benefit.

Unfortunately, George also included some bad actors like Allen Klein who was in charge of the setup and filming. Klein famously managed both The Beatles AND The Rolling Stones at the same time, but was more famously sued by both bands in later years.

Klein didn’t register the concert as a UNICEF charity event which held up the tax-exempt status delaying the release of any profits made to benefit Bangladesh for nearly a decade! It’s also reported that Klein is the reason it’s still in legal limbo and not receiving any additional releases.

Phil Spector, the infamous musical murder, recorded and produced the album which incorporated his “Wall of Sound” model employing 7 choir singers, 6 horns, 3 electric guitarists, 3 acoustic guitarists, 2 keyboardists, 2 drummers and a percussionist.

Additional issues, including which label would release the album, the length of the record and the packaging would all delay the final version. But luckily this is where “The Quiet Beatle” spoke loudly and frequently taking to TV shows and radio stations calling out the labels. George didn’t back down and apparently got everything he wanted. The result was a remarkable album, an example of music transcending genres and massive awareness around a war torn country. To date, the event has raised more than $45 million for the now renamed George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.

Plus George was able to shine a brighter spotlight on his Bangladeshi mentor, Ravi Shankar, who introduced Indian music to a whole new audience. Ravi opened the show playing Sitar and was joined by Ali Akbar Khan on Sarod, Alla Rakah on Tabla and Kamala Chakravarty on Tamboura.

Though we can’t fully celebrate The Concert for Bangladesh through streaming services, we can marvel in the music George Harrison created. And a great way to do so is by listening to his friends, family and fans pay tribute by playing songs “By George.”

What is your favorite moment from The Concert for Bangladesh? What else would you have liked to see them play?

Cheers!