The Concert for Bangladesh

Rating:
Summary: I'm very Interested. It will be 30 years
Review: I am really very interested in buying this video in VHS or DVD format. This concert is a Classic and is incompressible that has not been reedited. I invite to all those that saw the picture on '72, enjoined this music and are still interested in acquiring this video to initiate a campaign through these reviews or directly to The Record Company. If somebody knows the name or e-mail, please let us know to send mails asking for the reedition of this concert. The incoming year will be the 30th Anniversary. It will be an excellent reason for a new edition. Please show your interest.

Rating:
Summary: Concert for Bangladesh
Review: I bought this album and saw the movie in 1971 when I was 11 years old. I've been in search of the video for years. The performances and musical selections are top rate. Harrison chose his musicians well. The selections performed by Ravi Shankar are transcendent with their haunting melodies and intricate rhythms. My album may be dusty from the years but the music is timeless. WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE RE-RELEASE THE VIDEO?

Rating:
Summary: I gotta find this on video somewhere!
Review: I remember seeing this movie in '72 a number of times as a Jr. High student. Many times by myself because my older brothers turned me on to most of the musicians in it and I was fascinated at how great the music was. It is one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Classic music and classic musicians at their peak. And Ravi Shankar had me mesmerized. Geez, I hope they print this video again.

Rating:
Summary: Need to go back in time!!
Review: I saw the concert when it was first released. Please bring it back in VHS & DVD format. PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE

Rating:
Summary: George and Friends - Unforgettable
Review: I saw the movie in the theatre when it was initially released and subsequently purchased the vinyl LP. Through diligent searching my son found the music CD for me two years ago - it's great. AS a life long Beatles and Rock and Roll fan the movie knocked me out. Outstanding performances by so many greats. I only saw it once and it still sticks with me. Where is the video? Is there some reason the company won't release it? I'd love to see it once more. Why not DVD?

Rating:
Summary: We want DVD
Review: I would like to see this on DVD. I am particularly interested in the footage of Leon Russell. The medley of Youngblood/Jumpin' Jack Flash will be worth the cost of the DVD. Billy Preston, Clapton, Harrison, Russell, Shankar, Dylan et al, what a line up.

Rating:
Summary: looking to purchase
Review: i've wanted a copy of this video for years. just

purchased cd and want very much to purchase this

video! anyone with an idea please respond.

Rating:
Summary: The Concert For Banla Desh, First true Live Benefit
Review: Long before "Farm Aid" and "We are the World", George & Ravi put together this fantastic show. Although I wasn't anywhere near Madison Square Garden, I read an article about this benefit in my doctor's office. The show was billed, George Harrison & Friends benefit for Bangla Desh. Can you imagine the surprise those lucky ticket holders experienced when they saw George's friends? A few weeks later, I saw the show advertised in the local newspaper and that the film was showing at a local movie theater. My friend and I went and stayed all day (watched it over and over). Many people don't realize the reason the sound is excellent. Up to that date, it was the most microphones/tracks ever used to record a concert. The engineer was none other than Phil Spector! Order this concert, it is the Best Of The Best for the era. You won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Pricey, but worth it!
Review: On August 1, 1971 at New York City's Madison Square Garden, George Harrison set the stage for the plethora of rock and roll benefit concerts that followed in its wake. Upon the request of his friend and fellow musician, Ravi Shankar, Harrison gathered a group of musicians to raise funds to aid the starving people of Bangladesh. This DVD presents the highlights of that concert.

The DVD opens with press conference footage of George Harrison announcing his participation in the Concert for Bangladesh. It moves swiftly to Harrison introducing Ravi Shankar and his accompanying musicians, Usted Aliakbar Khan, Alla Rakah and Kamala Chakravarty. Harrison asks the rock-and-roll oriented audience members for their patience during the Indian music session of the program.

George introduces Ravi Shankar and the Indian musicians. Shankar discusses the starvation problem inn Bangladesh and also asks for the patience of the audience during the Indian music set. When the audience applauds after the musicians tune their instruments, Ravi quips. "If you appreciate the tuning so much, I hope you will enjoy the playing more." His comment seems to endear the audience, who are clearly waiting to rock out with two former Beatles and other rock icons.

When George Harrison first introduced 'his' Indian music to us in the 1960s, I really tried to appreciate it. A friend and I even went to a Ravi Shankar performance when he appeared in our city. (Coincidentally, it was in the same movie theater where we had seen A Hard Day's Night and Help!). It was a little too much for me those 30-plus years ago. But after learning more about eastern philosophy and embracing meditation as part of my life, I find myself thoroughly enjoying this portion of the DVD. I was even actually disappointed that it wasn't longer!
After the Indian music set, we see a brief backstage glimpse of George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, Phil Spector and Allen Klein.

Onstage, we see the ever intense George Harrison, all in white with his long beard, looking so un-Beatlesque. Ringo Starr is on drums. Eric Clapton is on guitar. Leon Russell is on piano and Billy Preston is on keyboards.

This DVD offers an hour and a half of the best music from this concert. It's refreshing to see straight concert footage, shot documentary style, with none of the MTV-style editing and obscure camera shots. You really can kick back and just enjoy one of the best "supergroups" ever assembled on one stage.

Track Listing

Indian Music - Ravi Shankar
Wah Wah - George Harrison
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Awaiting On You All - George Harrison
That's The Way God Planned It - Billy Preston
It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr
Beware of Darkness - George Harrison
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - George Harrison
Jumpin' Jack Flash - Leon Russell
Youngblood - Leon Russell
Here Comes The Sun - George Harrison
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan
It Takes a Lot to Laugh/ It take a Train to Cry - Bob Dylan
Blowin' In the Wind - Bob Dylan
Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan
Something - George Harrison
Bangladesh - George Harrison

Musicians

George Harrison, guitar and vocals
Ringo Starr, drums and vocals
Jim Keltner, drums
Billy Preston, keyboards and vocals
Leon Russell, piano and vocals
Klaus Voorman, bass
Jesse Ed Davis, guitar
Eric Clapton, guitar
Bob Dylan, guitar and vocals
Badfinger - Pet Ham, Tom Evans, Joey Molland, Mike Gibbons
Hollywood Horn Players, led by Jim Horn
Ravi Shankar, sitar
Allan Beutler
Chuck Findley
Marlin Greene
Jeanie Greene
Jo Green
Jim Horn
Delores Hall
Kamala Chakravarty
Jackie Kelso
Usted Aliakbar Khan
Claudia Lennear
Lou McCreary
Ollie Mitchell
Don Nix
Don Preston
Carl Radle
Alla Rakah

Credits

Directed by Saul Swimmer
Produced by George Harrison and Allen Klein
Music Recording Produced by Phil Spector and George Harrison
Edited by Howard Lester
Editing Staff: Roger Rodewald, Harvey Bekowsky, Sharon Goldberg
Negative Supervision: Charles Diana
Production Manager: Steve Bono
Photographed by: Sol Negrin, Richard Books, Fred Hoffman, Tohru Nakamura
70mm prints by Film Effects of Hollywood
Film sound mixed by Bob Fin
Title Design by Perri & Smith
Original soundtrack recording available on Apple Records
Released by Apple and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
1972
Lyric subtitle choices: English and Portuguese

The DVD is in color, although I had to adjust the usual color level settings on my television set to bring up the color - otherwise, it appeared in a sepia tone.

The DVD is a little pricey considering there are no "extras" as we DVD aficionados have come to expect, but hey, it's George Harrison and Ring Starr and I'm a Beatles DVD completist!

Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece
Review: One of the best rock films ever, together with Pink Floyd live at Pompei, and Jimi Hendrix plays Berkeley. Fascinating performances by Georges, Bob Dylan, at their very best, and many others. Ringo himself was moving when he sang it don't come easy.