The Concert For Bangladesh [2CD] [CD]

All that said, the music contained here represents one of the best Rock concerts ever recorded, and hardly need any further significance attached to it, to be worth repeated listenings. Harrison, performing for the first time, since recording All Things Must Pass, is in excellent form, and so is Eric Clapton who provides a solo for My Guitar Gently Weeps that is even better for his White Album contribution.

The material leans on George's first, and triple album, with Isn't It A Pity, Wah-Wah, Something, Beware Of Darkness, and a beautiful version of My Sweet Lord being standouts. In addition to them, Leon Russell's presence throughout is, perhaps the most unexpected gem. His rendition of Jumping Jack Flash is simply stunning, as it is his harmonies with Bob Dylan in Just Like A Woman.

Yes, because then there was Dylan, offering a set of classics -now augmented by one song, Love Minus Zero/No Limit- accompanied by Harrison, Russell and Ringo's tambourine, who would be worth purchasing by itself.

Other than Dylan's addition and the sound improvement on this remastered version, there may be no reasons for those who already owned the original CD release, to own this edition. But if you do not have it, this is a must, Rock history, tremendous music.

The only thing I'd wish is that they maintained the original album cover, which not only conveyed the purpose of this concert unequivocally but was an icon in its own right.

If nothing else, this release is thoroughly worthwhile because in reminding a large number of people like me who basked in the great music contained here, that it's time to listen to Concert for Bangladesh again.

Listen to it all in one sitting, though and you are struck by how dated some of it sounds. Leon Russell's stuff is a lesson in endurance and misogyny, and even Billy Preston's 'That's the Way God Planned It' seems to have lost some of its verve over the years. George Harrison does creditable versions of some of his 'All Things Must Pass' era material; poor old Ringo completely loses his way in 'It Don't Come Easy' but inevitably it's the appearance, unconfirmed even at the last minute, of that maestro himself, Bob Dylan that makes this set worth the asking price.

At the time of its release, there was little or no live Dylan stuff available apart from bootlegs, and so to hear him deliver some of his best songs with a new voice, albeit over the ponderous hesitant backing band, was a revelation! Even thirty years on, he brings new vigour to the songs, 'Just like a Woman' being a particular highlight.

The first twenty minutes of sitar playing, with the famous line "Thank You, if you enjoyed the tuning up so much, we hope you enjoy the playing even more!", will probably be skipped by most, but persevere; the final Bangla Dun piece is in 16 time, so western ears can soon attune to the maginficent musicianship on display.

This album is a relic, a piece of history, and it sounds like it here and there, but it does contain too many magnificent moments to ignore!