The Concert for Bangladesh

The Concert for Bangladesh (1972)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Concert film of the August 1st, 1971 benefit concert held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. George Harrison put together this all-star benefit to gather money for the issues going on in Bangladesh. The first part of the show featured Ravi Shankar performing some Indian music and then the more well-known artists hit the stage. Joining Harrison we get Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell and towards the end Bob Dylan. Countless other musicians join the cause as the two shows were edited down to this one film. Overall I can't see how anyone would be disappointed in regards to the music because it's of the highest level from start to finish. Even if you overlook Ringo messing up his lyrics "It Don't Come Easy" the music is just so refreshing and of the highest level. Harrison really hits a home run on numbers like "My Sweet Lord," "Here Comes the Sun," "Something," and "Bangla Desh." Other highlights including a rocking version of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" from Russell and a show-stopping number by Preston. With all of that said, the greatest moment of the concert comes when Bob Dylan walks onto the stage. You can easily tell that the producers thought this was the high point as well considering they included four of his songs here. This was only Dylan's second live show since the notorious electric tour of 1966 so you can tell he's nervous but as a die-hard fans it's usually these moments where he shines the brightest. He delivers wonderful performances of "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," " Blowin' in the Wind" and perhaps one of the greatest live performances of "Just Like a Woman." On a technical level the music sounds extremely crisp and for the most part the video footage is just fine. Fans of these musicians will certainly want to check this film out as the music still stands up strong all these years later.

The first benefit rock concert and the greatest concert film ever.

George Harrison is at his peak in this film. The only disappointment is the fact that Eric Clapton arrived late and did not have the chance to perform one of his own numbers. Still, the Dylan songs, the Leon Russell medley and Harrison's own tunes are more than enough to make this an all-time classic.

The passion that is evident in Harrison's voice and on his face during the closing song still gives me goosebumps more than 30 years after I first saw this movie in the theater.

This DVD is a must have for any rock music fan.

George Harrison organized this 1972 Madison Square Garden concert, but Bob Dylan steals the show. Clad in a faded blue jean jacket, his pudgy face surrounded by a halo of tangled curls, Dylan looks like an Oakie and sings like one, too, warbling "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall," "Blowin' in the Wind," and "It Takes a Lot to Laugh" with a definite twang in his nasal voice. Watching him, I was reminded of the critics who insist that Dylan is always reinventing himself. In this film, it's hard to recognize him as the possessor of the contemptuous voice that rode "Like a Rolling Stone" to the top of the charts in 1965. Here he has reverted back to his pre-electric, pre-polka dot shirt days, and once again inhabits a persona reminiscent of Woody Guthrie. His appearance makes this otherwise grainy, unattractive looking film (shot in 16mm and blown up to 35), a cut above the usual rock concert film, although the finest moment is when George Harrison and Leon Russell join Dylan on the chorus of "Just Like a Woman."

In the two years of post Beatledom, it seemed George Harrison could no wrong... With an ambitious No 1 triple album solo album, All Things Must Pass, and smash singles, 'My Sweet Lord' and 'What is Life'...he was so quick off the blocks... it was as though the Lennon/McCartney partnership was holding him back all those years.

So when George's friend, Ravi Shankar, asked him to help in organising a benefit concert for the plight of newly-independent Bangladesh, he assembled a star-studded line up for the historic concert...

This was truly George's concert... despite all his efforts not to make it so. The gorgeous "Something" is simply ethereal and the duelling guitar work of Eric Clapton and Harrison on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is masterclass... Harrison was energised for his rockers, "What is Life", and " "Wah Wah" and tender for "Beware of Darkness"...

Yes... Leon sings a medley, Billy Preston and Ringo (Starr) chip in but this was Harrison's show...

The huge coup for the night was getting Bob Dylan on stage... whether it is 'Mr Tambourine Man' and 'Blowin in the Wind', he is class...

My only disappointment in all this was why Harrison was not recogised more for this historical concert... this was the first benefit concert of this scale and inspired others to follow... he was so ahead of his time...

I thought all the entertainers were excellent. Bob Dylan was good, but really George Harrison was the best of all by along shot. His persona, his songs, his sincerity was by far the highlight of Bangladesh. George will always be remembered as a wonderful entertainer who cared more than most. Yes George Harrison in my view stole the show(it wasn't even close).