George Harrison's "The Concert for Bangladesh" album is now on iTunes as of today, marking the pioneering rock fundraiser's digital debut.
The 21-track setlist features the album and the studio single version of "Bangla Desh" that was originally released on July 5, 1971. The "Bangla Desh" single is taken from the single master 1/4" tape. The vinyl single was longer than the version later released on "The Best of George Harrison" CD. A five-minute video trailer for the album and a 49-minute radio program about the concert are also now available as free streams on iTunes.
And "The Concert for Bangladesh" movie will be available free online all around the world for 72 hours from July 30 through August 1 on iTunes, http://www.georgeharrison.com and at http://theconcertforbangladesh.com. Aug. 1 marks the 40th anniversary of the concert.
"The Concert for Bangladesh" was the pioneer of rock's big charitable events and was the inspiration for Bob Geldof's Live Aid and Live8, Willie Nelson's Farm Aid, and Hope For Haiti Now, among others.
"I'm so moved that this concert, which emerged from my close friendship with George, is regarded as historically significant 40 years on and continues to inspire musicians of all generations," Ravi Shankar said in a statement announcing the digital release. Shankar opened the Concert for Bangla Desh with "Bangla Dhun," a performance of traditional Indian music.
"Forty years ago this August, the friendship between George Harrison and Ravi Shankar forever changed music and the lives of countless Bangladeshi children. Today millions of children in the Horn of Africa desperately need our help. We are humbled by the outpouring of support from the music community led by Olivia Harrison, Apple Records and our friends at iTunes," said President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Caryl Stern.
The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is a joint undertaking between the Harrison family and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF programs that provide lifesaving assistance to children, including health, education, nutrition and emergency relief. In the tradition established by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF continues to support UNICEF programs in Bangladesh while expanding its influence to include other countries where children are in need.
The tracklist for "The Concert for Bangladesh" on iTunes:
1. Introduction by George Harrison & Ravi Shankar
2. Ravi Shankar: Bangla Dhun
3. George Harrison: Wah-Wah
4. George Harrison: My Sweet Lord
5. George Harrison: Awaiting On You All
6. Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It
7. Ringo Starr: It Don't Come Easy
8. George Harrison feat. Leon Russell: Beware Of Darkness
9. Band introduction by George Harrison
10. George Harrison: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
11. Leon Russell: Jumpin' Jack Flash / Youngblood (Medley)
12. George Harrison: Here Comes The Sun
13. Bob Dylan: A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
14. Bob Dylan: It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
15. Bob Dylan: Blowin' In The Wind
16. Bob Dylan: Mr. Tambourine Man
17. Bob Dylan: Just Like A Woman
18. George Harrison: Something
19. George Harrison: Bangla Desh
20. Bob Dylan: Love Minus Zero/No Limit
EXCLUSIVE iTUNES BONUS TRACK
21. George Harrison: Bangla Desh [studio single]
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