Steve Lowe 

George Harrison and Friends, The Concert For Bangladesh

(Warner Music Vision)
  
  

The Concert For Bangladesh
The Concert For Bangladesh Photograph: Public domain

In August 1971, "the quiet one" caused a commotion by organising the world's first all-star charity concert for the developing world. To raise funds for Unicef's relief effort for victims of the war between what were then East and West Pakistan, George Harrison corralled friends for two shows at Manhattan's Madison Square Garden.

The public reacted as if the Beatles were reforming (rumours abounded that they were). This fascinating two-disc DVD reveals most angles: the original concert film; a new documentary (featuring Kofi Annan among others); previously unseen footage. It was, above all, a time of beards - even George's beard has a beard. Accordingly, the music is hardly sharp-edged but the mammoth house-band often makes more mean more. A heroin-frazzled Clapton is understandably muted. Dylan, the event's major coup, emerges nervous but stunning. The reverent crowd famously clapped Ravi Shankar tuning up, but his classical Indian introduction genuinely rocks the house. Ringo is, inevitably, Ringo. Strangely, there's no sign of Annie Lennox anywhere.

 

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