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From the Vault...
05/09/2010
#1202 |
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George Harrison
"The Concert For Bangla Desh"
© Capitol Records
Year of Release: 1971
Rating:
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track listing
George Harrison/
Ravi Shankar
Introduction
Bangla Dhun
Wah-Wah
My Sweet Lord
Awaiting On You All
That's The Way
God Planned It
It Don't Come Easy
Beware Of Darkness
While My Guitar
Gently Weeps
Jumpin' Jack Flash/
Youngblood
Here Comes The Sun
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
It Takes A Lot To Laugh
It Takes A Train
To Cry
Blowin' In The Wind
Mr. Tambourine Man
Just Like A Woman
Something
Bangla Desh
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George Harrison
"The Concert For Bangla Desh"
BANGLA DESH
Almost a quarter of a century ago, in August of 1947, the state of Pakistan was born following the departure of
the British from the Indian subcontinent. It was a most unusual nation, carved out of Muslim dominated areas of
India. It consisted of two wings, West Pakistan and East Pakistan (Bangla Desh), separated by over 1,000 miles of
Indian territory.
Racially, linguistically and culturally the two Pakistans were poles apart. Tensions between the two wings
developed almost immediately. Political, military, and economic power was concentrated in Undu-speaking West
Pakistan, while Bengali-speaking Bangla Desh was relegated to a subordinate position in spite of the fact that it
contained more than half of Pakistan's total population. Dictorial rule by West Pakistan army officers generated
discontent in both wings of Pakistan. Bangla Desh demands for a more equal treatment were consistently disregarded.
In March of 1969, General Yahya Khan assumed power in Pakistan with the professed aim of ending the dictatorship
and introducing Democracy. In the first free election ever held in the history of Pakistan, in December of 1970,
the Awami (People's) League of Bangla Desh won an overwhelming victory. It emerged as the largest party in all of
Pakistan, entitling it to form Pakistan's first Democratic government. Yahya Khan and the West Pakistan leadership,
however, were unwilling to permit a power shift to Bangla Desh, or even a more equitable distribution of power.
The results of the election were consequently disregarded and in March, 1971, a deliberate reign of terror was
unleashed on Bangla Desh to eliminate oppostion to West Pakistan domination and to drastically reduce the size of
the population of Bangla Desh. An estimated one million East Bengalis were murdered and up to the present time
approximately ten million terror stricken East Begalis have sought refuge in neighboring India. This is undoubtedly
the greatest atrocity since Hitler's extermination of the Jews.
Even when they escape to India, the refugees are threatened by many perils, starvation, lack of sanitation,
housing and most notably -- cholera. When the first crowds crossed the border, doctors innoculated them against
cholera, but now the East Banglalis are swarming into India in such great numbers that they cannot all be immunized.
It takes so long to use syringes and there just isn't enough money for innoculation guns. The government has put
the cost of caring for the refugees at a minimum of one million dollars a day and it could go much higher. Although
charted planes arrie daily bringing shipments of food, hospital equipment and medicines, India sill has only received
barely one tenth to care for the millions suffering.
For all the disheartening statistics, however, the medical service is performing impressively. Although thousands
of escapees, mostly children, have already died of cholera, those afflicted can usually be saved by replenishing the
body fluids through intravenous injections or drinking large doses of solution of salts, baking soda and glucose.
But the flood of escapees is just too great, and the monies just too little, for all to be saved. Even in a world
jaded by war and attrocity, suffering on that scale still comes as a sickening shock. Despite the squalor of their
existence the East Bengalis endure with a minimum of complaint.
Unfortunately, it is expected that with the cessation of the monsoon rains a new wave of refugees, numbering at
least five million, will enter India. This will immeasurably aggravate the refugee problem. It must be clearly
understood that India itself is an impoverished nation hardly able to feed its own growing population and will be
unable to cope with the influx of refugees, unless she receives all-out support of the rest of civilized mankind.
RAVI SHANKAR
"To me the whole feeling of Bangla Desh has been quite a personal one, because I happen to be a Bengali. This
whole issue last March is something of such a different nature and my feelings as it happened, apart from the sympathy
I have because I am Begali, apart from being directly involved because such huge numbers of people were migrating
into India ... they were running for their lives and so many were killed, including my distant relatives, many friends,
including Muslim friends, and even people from the family of my Guru; their homes burned, completely destroyed.
"So for me there was great anguish and suffering for a number of months since March and it came to such an
emotional pitch. This was a period near the end of June when George came to California to help in making an album
from the soundtrack of the film RAGA. I was very disturbed and wanted to do something for the people of Bangla Desh.
I talked with people from many different organizations in the United States and in Europe who wanted me to give a
benefit performance. But I thought of doing something on a very large scale that might bring in a lot of money and
also, you know, awareness. So I thought I would ask George, even if he could not take part himself, if he would
advise me, ask other artists about it, write or talking about it -- something. Then maybe we could do a big function
whre we could raise 25 or 50 thousand dollars. So, when I talked with him, he was impressed by my sincerity, and I
gave him lots to read and explained the situation. And it was not only what I said, as an Indian, a Begali. When
he read so many things from so many countries: France, Germany, England, Norway, and the American press, which was
giving such good coverage of what was happening to millions of people, suffering so much -- He was very deeply moved
and said he would be glad to help in the planning -- even to participate.
"Things started moving very fast then. George called Ringo in Spain where he was working in a film, and he
talked to Leon Russell and all of those wonderful musicians from the west coast and east coast who came to play.
And he contacted Mr. (Allen) Klein, who has taken care of the business, and administration. And, of course, Bob
Dylan, as luck would have it, was so wonderful to take part in this cause. In a period of only four or five weeks
all of this was done. To conceive, plan and execute such a large scale program and do it successfully in such short
time must be setting a record in the history of world entertainment -- thanks to all of these participants.
"And now I feel a great joy. With George's single, "Bangla Desh," my single, the film that has been made of the
concert, the album coming out and whatever the gate monies from this concert ... it will all add up to a substantial
amount. Though, when you think of the amount being spent on almost eight million refugees, and os many of them
children, of course it is like a drop in the ocean. Maybe it will take care of them for only two or three days.
But that is not the point. The main issue -- beyond the sum of money we can raise -- is that we feel that all the
young people who came to the concerts (maybe 40 or 50 thousand of them) they were made aware of something very few
of them felt or knew clearly -- about Bangla Desh and what has happened to cause such distress.
"It is like trying to ignite -- to pass on the responsibilty as much as possible to everyone else. I think this
aim has been achieved."
Before there was Bob Geldof's USA For Africa, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar presented what would be the first
of many charity concerts. On August 1, 1971, the concert was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, and the group Badfinger were
bandmembers for George. George had originally asked each of the Beatles to help out and perform. John Lennon agreed,
under the request form George that John's wife, Yoko Ono not appear with him. Two days before the show, Yoko was in
disagreement that George did not want here there, therefore John cancelled his appearance. Paul McCartney was asked
to perform, but he declined, saying "What's the point? The Beatles just broke up, and we're joining up again?"
Ringo Starr would be the only other Beatle to perform.
The spoken word introduction from George Harrison and Ravi Shankar indicates that the music is the soul of
the concert. Both George and Ravi's words to the audience were meant for peace, and for those watching the concert
were to enjoy the music. Their words emerge into a nearly 20-minute Indian music piece, "Bangla Dhun."
Spiritual and moving sets the pace for this long and inspirational instrumental.
Three songs from George's recent album, All Things Must Pass opens the show:
"Wah-Wah," "My Sweet Lord," and "Awaiting On You All." The spritual lyrics from the two previous
songs regarding the Lord continues with Billy Preston's "That's The Way God Planned It."
Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy" follows, then another track from All Things Must Pass,
"Beware Of Darkness," with vocals by both George Harrison and Leon Russell. George introduces the members
of the band, including Ringo Starr (drums), Eric Clapton (guitar), and Badfinger. Originally from The Beatles
(White Album), "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is the next track, and many didn't know at the time,
that Clapton had performed guitar on the orignal version. Clapton's solos sound a little weak here, as it was
learned that Clapton was battling a heroin addiction, and didn't really attend the previous auditions, until the
soundcheck date of the concert.
George tells the audience: "A few songs from Leon" (Russell): A medley of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin'
Jack Flash" and the Coasters' "Youngblood." Their version of the Stones song is exceptionally well, and
is compared to Johnny Winter's live version. The Coasters song is more of a New Orleans Jazz style, completely
different to its original. (I've always got confused on Leon Russell and Dr. John; they both sound alike on most
of their songs.) As a whole, this medley is quite well done, and very entertaining. George wrote "Here Comes
The Sun," as it was originally from the Beatles' Abbey Road album. Very good version of this song here.
George then introduces his friend, Bob Dylan. Five Dylan songs emerge next: "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall,"
"It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry," "Blowin' In The Wind," "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Just
Like A Woman." George's "Something" (originally from the Beatles' Abbey Road) is performed next,
and done very well. It seems the crowd wants the band to keep playing, as the last track is heard, "Bangla
Desh."
A very impressive concert, the concert raised over $240,000, which was given to UNICEF. Disputes were approached,
whether the money actually went to UNICEF or not. The CD was reissued in 2001, and a re-mastered DVD was released
in 2005, where George Harrison took part of this, prior to his death. There is a website for this concert, at
TheConcertForBanglaDesh.com. It just makes
us all wonder, that George wanted all of the Beatles to help out with this concert. If they did, would they have
all performed together, or just solo? Would an actual reunion of the Beatles result? And if it did, would that have
sparked them to stay together, and record new music again? Ahh, the thoughts always were there... Even producer Lorne
Michaels tried to get them back together on Saturday Night Live for $3,000. When watching a TV interview
with John Lenon, as the reporter and John were being filmed, walking down the street, fans from afar saw John,
and yelled, "Are the Beatles getting back together?" John's response: "Maybe we will, maybe we won't."
Again, we always dreamed it would happen. But sadly, we all know what happened to John (assasinated), and George
would be taken away from us too (throat cancer).
The Concert For Bangla Desh is a great album soundtrack. I'm sure watching the DVD performances are
exceptionally entertaining, as listening to it. I didn't have the original vinyl, as it was a 3-LP set, just as
All Things Must Pass. Both these albums were 2 compact discs when released, decades later.
In later years and decades, concerts such as this for charities would emerge: UNICEF concerts (anyone remember
the TV one with the Bee Gees? I think Rod Stewart was on there too), Concerts for Kampuchea (which was released on
a 2-LP set; not available on CD yet), USA For Africa/Live Aid, Farm Aid, Live 8, and more recent, Hope for Haiti
(just to name a few). The Bangla Desh concert gives a great feeling, that not only was it great to listen to
musically, but it helped raise money for those needed in Bangla Desh, and to other charity concerts that would
follow in years, decades, and many more future benefit events to come.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
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Capitol Records
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