George Harrison’s Grammy Award-Winning Concert for Bangladesh Now Available to Stream
For the first time, George Harrison’s iconic Grammy award-winning double live album, Concert for Bangladesh, is now available to stream on all major digital platforms. This groundbreaking album, recorded on August 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, marked the first major multi-act benefit concert and raised millions of dollars for UNICEF.
The Power of Music
The concert featured an all-star lineup, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, members of Badfinger, and Ravi Shankar, among others. The album reached No. 1 in the UK and other countries, finishing as a gold-selling No. 2 hit in the US. The initial gate receipts raised some $250,000 in relief funds, and the album and film helped generate millions of dollars for UNICEF.
The Legacy of Concert for Bangladesh
The success of Concert for Bangladesh opened the door for a string of now-familiar musical charity projects, such as Live Aid, Farm Aid, America: A Tribute to Heroes, and Live 8, among many others. "George and his friends were pioneers," former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said.
Track Listing
- Introduction by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar
- Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Ali Rakha, and Kamala Chakravarti, "Bangla Dhun"
- George Harrison, "Wah-Wah"
- George Harrison, "My Sweet Lord"
- George Harrison, "Awaiting On You All"
- Billy Preston, "That’s the Way God Planned It"
- Ringo Starr, "It Don’t Come Easy"
- George Harrison and Leon Russell, "Beware of Darkness"
- George Harrison, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
- Leon Russell, "Jumpin’ Jack Flash / Young Blood"
- George Harrison, "Here Comes the Sun"
- Bob Dylan, "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall"
- Bob Dylan, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"
- Bob Dylan, "Blowin’ In the Wind"
- Bob Dylan, "Mr. Tambourine Man"
- Bob Dylan, "Just Like a Woman"
- George Harrison, "Something"
- George Harrison, "Bangla Desh"
- Bob Dylan, "Love Minus Zero / No Limit"
- George Harrison, "Bangla Desh (studio version)"
George Harrison’s UNICEF Fund
All proceeds from sales of The Concert for Bangladesh, after taxes, are directed to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, which advances the concert’s towering legacy by providing continued support. UNICEF still provides critical aid, and the fund advances this concert’s impact by supporting the organization’s efforts.
Conclusion
The Concert for Bangladesh was a groundbreaking event that brought together some of the biggest names in music to raise awareness and funds for a critical humanitarian cause. Today, the album’s legacy continues to inspire and educate, serving as a reminder of the power of music to bring people together and make a difference in the world.
FAQs
Q: What was the purpose of the Concert for Bangladesh?
A: The concert was held to raise awareness and funds for the Bangladesh Liberation War and the refugees who had fled to India.
Q: Who performed at the concert?
A: The concert featured an all-star lineup, including George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, members of Badfinger, and Ravi Shankar, among others.
Q: How much money did the concert raise for UNICEF?
A: The initial gate receipts raised some $250,000 in relief funds, and the album and film helped generate millions of dollars for UNICEF.
Q: What is the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF?
A: The fund was established to advance the concert’s impact by providing continued support to UNICEF and its efforts to help vulnerable children around the world.
Q: Where can I stream The Concert for Bangladesh?
A: The album is available to stream on all major digital platforms.
