Concert For Bangladesh [DVD] [2005]

Olivia has produced a box set to be proud of. It positively oozes class and quality.

The packaging replicates the original artwork for the Concert for Bangladesh album package, being orange in colour, with the CFB 'logo' (the starving child image) on the front. It also has the gold sticker on the box explaining what the package contains and also that it is being sold "In aid of The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF".

There's a loose sheet stuck to the back listing the contents of the two discs, and the inside of the box has more CFB 'logos' stamped in orange.

On opening the box there is a myriad of delights awaiting the buyer. From the top there's a bundle of 10 postcards, art quality prints of scenes from the concert; a round Apple sticker; nicely packaged with a simple orange cardboard band. A sheet explaining about the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF (the limited edition number is printed on the back of this - There's a reproduction of the Bangla Desh handwritten lyrics; a copy of the hand painted poster advertising the concert; and a sumptious booklet which has an introduction by Ravi and pages and pages of wonderful images of the shows. Much in the style of the booklet that came with the original vinyl release of the album.

The DVD's are well packaged within their own case inside the box.

DVD 1. is The Concert itself - and the sound and picture quality is superb. Having been used to watching my original copy of the official VHS video release, watching the concert on DVD is like having a veil of fog lifted from my eyes.

The sound quality remastered by George before his passing is in 5.1 and I can hear instruments that previously blended into the mix. The balance is good and Klaus Voorman's bass can be heard underpinning the rock beat of classics like Wah Wah.

DVD 2. Once again the picture quality of the concert clips and the sound is stunning, awesome and any number of superlatives you may choose to describe it.

The documentary is beautifully put together by Olivia and there is concert footage and rehearsal footage intercut with interviews from them what was there, as well as press conference footage of George and news reports from outside Madison Square showing the ticket queue.

The rest of the extras contain some wonderful surprises including Bonus footage of George and Bob Dylan performing a duet on 'If Not For You' during rehearsals, and a previously unseen (even by George according to a recent interview with Olivia Harrison) performance from Bob Dylan of Love minus zero/no limit. There is a discussion about the production of the original film and album and did anyone reading this know about the secret message on the 6th side of the original vinyl -I have never spotted it in over 30 years of listening but it was put there at George's insistance as his little joke. Backwards music as a nod to all the alleged messages The Beatles included on their albums.

The discussion of the original Album includes footage of Ringo collecting the Grammy. The take a bow section is a beautiful way of name checking every single person who was on the stage with George back on August the 1st 1971.

And I do admit I did shed a tear during the remebering August 1971 section when those being interviewed are asked fr their best moment of the concert and Neil Aspinall said "Seeing George up there fronting the whole thing and seeing him do it so well that was the best moment for me" - Bless you Neil. There are also comments from Lord Putnam and Kofi Anan, as well as several of the artists who appeared at the Concert.

The menu design on the bonus DVD is easy to navigate and features more rehearsal footage and back stage shots as well as a little sound bite of George saying 'Hello Hello Hello' into a microphone

If you haven't already ordered it I would suggest you do so now. You will be helping to support a worthwhile cause, all proceeds will be donated to the George Harrison fund for UNICEF and of course you get a beautiful box set that does George Harrison and his acheivement proud into the bargain.

The extras are just as revealing. Even the backdrop to the menu selction for Disc 2 with all the musicians walking through a giant hall on the way to the stage to perfom in this historic concert. George Harrison bringing up the rear, with guitar in hand and looking a little nervous. Beautiful comments from among others Eric Clapton (’a time when rock musicians could feel proud of themselves not thinking of themselves for 5 minutes’), Billy Preston (’the mood was so great that I just got up and danced across the stage’). Doing some mad chicken impression. Ego is nowhere to be seen. Just Love. And massive talent. Even the UN Secretary General recites the first two lines of the Bangla Desh song saying this showed the man behind the music. George was and is rightly praised for this at the time daring and heartfelt event. Neil Aspinall is suitably proud of Hari Georgeson as we all should be. So John and Paul didn’t show but was it not absolutely enough to have George and Ringo plus the mercurial presence of Bob Dylan delivering what is possibly his finest ever concert performance? They said at the time that Side 5 (the Dylan side) was worth the price of admission alone, and it is still true 33 years later.

And then we even get treated to some superb outakes including George and Bob performing ’If Not For You’ in rehearsal (this is special!!!). Plus an extra Dylan song ’Love Minus Zero No Limit’ from the first show. Not quite as good as the other four Dylan numbers but incredibly moving all the same. The only minor grumble is the absence of George’s ’Hear Me Lord’ which was (allegedly!) performed in the first show. Was the performance that bad not to include it?! Or maybe this is where the tapes ran out! Minor grumble as I say. Overall Olivia and Co have done us proud this time. Nice one. And one has to say it is great to see Leon Russell today, doing a rather good Father Christmas impression!

This concert was indeed a pioneering event. It is so great to have such a suitably well produced and packaged memento of it. Of a time when the spiritual message of the Beatles was so evidently Alive And Kicking.