THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH

Original released on Triple LP Apple STCX 3385

(US 1971, December 20)

Hands down, this epochal concert at New York's Madison Square Garden - first issued on three LPs in a handsome orange-colored box - was the crowning event of George Harrison's public life, a gesture of great goodwill that captured the moment in history and, not incidentally, produced some rousing music as a permanent legacy. Having been moved by his friend Ravi Shankar's appeal to help the homeless Bengali refugees of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, Harrison leaped into action, organizing on short notice what became a bellwether for the spectacular rock & roll benefits of the 1980s and beyond. The large, almost unwieldy band was loaded with rock luminaries - including Beatles alumnus Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Badfinger, and two who became stars as a result of their electric performances here, Leon Russell ("Jumpin' Jack Flash"/"Youngblood") and Billy Preston ("That's the Way God Planned It"). Yet Harrison is in confident command, running through highlights from his recent triumphant "All Things Must Pass" album in fine voice, secure enough to revisit his Beatles legacy from Abbey Road and the White Album. 

Though overlooked at the time by impatient rock fans eager to hear the hits, Shankar's opening raga, "Bangla Dhun," is a masterwork on its own terms; the sitar virtuoso is in dazzling form even by his standards and, in retrospect, Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Alla Rakha amount to an Indian supergroup themselves. The high point of the concert is the surprise appearance of Bob Dylan - at this reclusive time in his life, every Dylan sighting made headlines - and he read the tea leaves perfectly by performing five of his most powerful, meaningful songs from the '60s. Controversy swirled when the record was released; then-manager Alan Klein imposed a no-discount policy on this expensive set and there were questions as to whether all of the intended receipts reached the refugees. Also, in a deal to allow Dylan's participation, the set was released by Capitol on LP while Dylan's label Columbia handled the tape versions. Yet, in hindsight, the avarice pales beside the concert's magnanimous intentions, at a time when rock musicians truly thought they could help save the world. (Richard Ginell in AllMusic)

The TRAVELING WILBURYS Collection

Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. That's quite a lineup. The kind of lineup you might expect something truly epic from. Not at all what you would get, thankfully. The Traveling Wilburys was all about its band members having a really great time. It was a mythic jam session that got well out of control and went platinum. Why perform under a bunch of fake names and make up some elaborate silly backstory about a nomadic tribe of musicians when everybody is well aware of who you are and you make absolutely zero attempt to hide it? Well, because it's fun to make stuff up. That is the entire ethos of this group - a bunch of extremely talented people, legends in their own time, just kicking back without any ego and having a great time with their friends. I can get behind that. It really comes through in the songs, it really does sound like they're having a great time. Dylan's crazy improvisation of "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is still hilarious. Likewise George Harrison's concept of random words picked out of magazines for the closing section of "Dirty World". "Handle With Care" and "End of the Line" are still oddly touching.

TRAVELING WILBURYS VOL.1

Original released on LP Wilbury Records 25796-1

(US 1988, October 25)

TRAVELING WILBURYS VOL.3

Original released on LP Wilbury Records 26324-1

(US 1990, October 23)

The second album (Vol. 3, another instance of them just playing around) is hurt a bit by the loss of Orbison. I can't say exactly what it is, but there just seems some spark missing. It's still sounds like good times with friends though, if rather than a mixture of their styles, it comes off more like a series of songs that could be outtakes from the albums each of the members were working on at the time. The stabs at political consciousness don't really help (like "Inside Out"), although it still sounds like they're just messing around, and there is still much to enjoy here (I especially like "Cool Dry Place"). The DVD included in the set contains a bunch of footage from the original recording sessions, which is pretty illuminating, showcasing just how much of a 'hanging out with friends' project the whole thing was. Also all the original videos which are all pretty basic and charming if wonky, with "The Wilbury Twist" featuring John Candy dancing, and "End of the Line" (having been made shortly after Orbison's death) genuinely affecting with an empty chair with a guitar on it standing in for Orbison. No, it isn't genius, and lord help us if that's what they'd been going for, because it would have been a disaster. This is old-timey rock and roll and that's all it needed to be. With a group of great songwriters just having a fun time writing songs to entertain themselves and each other, the result is pure entertainment, a great party album. The collection adds an interesting DVD, four pretty good bonus tracks (three of them previously unreleased plus non-album track "Nobody's Child") including a cover version of Dion's "Runaway", a bunch of postcards and photos from the sessions, and a book detailing the real history of the band, a fake history of the nomadic Wilbury family, and a guide on how to do "The Wilbury Twist". Class act. (in RateYourMusic)

GEORGE HARRISON: "All Things Must Pass"

Original released on Triple Box LP Apple STCH 639

(UK 1970, November 30)

Without a doubt, George Harrison's first solo recording, originally issued as a triple album, is his best. Drawing on his backlog of unused compositions from the late Beatles era, Harrison crafted material that managed the rare feat of conveying spiritual mysticism without sacrificing his gifts for melody and grand, sweeping arrangements. Enhanced by Phil Spector's lush orchestral production and Harrison's own superb slide guitar, nearly every song is excellent: "Awaiting on You All," "Beware of Darkness," the Dylan collaboration "I'd Have You Anytime," "Isn't It a Pity," and the hit singles "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life" are just a few of the highlights. A very moving work, with a slight flaw: the jams that comprise the final third of the album are somewhat dispensable, and have probably only been played once or twice by most of the listeners who own this record. Those same jams, however, played by Eric Clapton, Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock, and Jim Gordon (all of whom had just come off of touring as part of Delaney & Bonnie's band), proved to be of immense musical importance, precipitating the formation of Derek & the Dominos. Thus, they weren't a total dead end, and may actually be much more to the liking of the latter band's fans. (Richie Unterberger in AllMusic)

"MY SWEET LORD" - HISTORIC VIDEO

Billy Preston (died 2006, June 6) sings here for a tribute to his friend George (died 2001, November 29), along with Paul McCartney on piano, Ringo Starr on drums, Eric Clapton and Dahni Harrison (his father's face when young) and Jeff Lynne on guitars. This is from "Concert For George", which took place in London's Royal Albert Hall, on the 29th November 2002, precisely one year after George's death. Hare Krishna!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTIE!

PATTIE BOYD IS 60 YEARS OLD TODAY!

For a period of 25 years she has given a great contribution to music, without being a musician. But... she was a woman: a sensual and beautiful woman. And because of her, both Harrison and Clapton wrote wonderful songs. Here are two of the most popular examples:

1. SOMETHING (THE BEATLES, 1969) (Harrison)

Something in the way she moves
attracts me like no other lover
something in the way she woos me.
I don't want to leave her now
you know I believe her now.
Somewhere in her smile she knows
that I don't need no other lover
something in her style that shows me.
You're asking me will my love grow
I don't know, I don't know
you stick around now it may show
I don't know, I don't know.
Something in the way she knows
and all I have to do is think of her
something in the things she shows me.

2. WONDERFUL TONIGHT (ERIC CLAPTON, 1980) (Clapton)

It's late in the evening
she's wondering what clothes to wear
she puts on her make-up
and brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"
and I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."
We go to a party
and everyone turns to see
this beautiful lady
that's walking around with me.
And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?"
and I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight."
I feel wonderful because I see
the love light in your eyes
and the wonder of it all
is that you just don't realize
how much I love you.
It's time to go home now
and I've got an aching head
so I give her the car keys
and she helps me to bed
and then I tell her, as I turn out the light
I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight
oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."