Bangladesh by George Harrison

then some of us still feel it's an A grade song

 

It's what he walked away from Badfinger to do, wasn't it?

 

So what was the deal with the version of "Bangla Desh" on the reissue of Living In The Material World? I feel like I remember the liner notes saying it was remixed? Was it indeed?

 

OK, poor choice of words on my part.

 

Leon Russell makes the song, I think. The piano playing is my favorite part of the song.

 

I wish there was an acoustic demo of this somewhere.

Maybe it'll be released on Early Takes Vol. 2 in about 100 years time.

 

I love it. Aesthetically, it's got a great melody (a given for Harrison at this time), and it rocks. Some can argue it's maudlin, except that George's emotion is obviously real. As with "My Sweet Lord," he wasn't afraid to put his heartfelt sentiments out there.

As readers of I Me Mine know, he wrote it at Leon Russell's suggestion of a theme song/prep song for the upcoming concerts that encapsulated the message.

Have no idea what's awful or comical about the intro. Without it, the song would be like one big chorus.
And this line: "though I couldn't feel the pain, I knew I had to try" ~ the world can always use more of that.

 

Feeling optimistic today, ehh?

 

It’s more of a story song than Harrison usually did, but it works in that context.

 

Radio-friendly intro (30 second sample): TinyUpload.com - best file hosting solution, with no limits, totaly free

 

When this single was released, it was the first new music we'd heard from George since ATMP. It didn't disappoint. It was also the first time George had written and recorded a song of his own in LA. Later of course he was to record an entire album there.

 

It certainly says that it's remixed. However, it's very subtle, to the point where it just sounds like it was remastered. I honestly can't spot any difference in the mix.

 

For a long time, the only version I knew was in the concert film (and record). I LOVED the song when I heard it in that version. Still do. The studio version is not as strong, in my opinion.

 

I dig the studio version, but agree the live version is just that much more amazing!!!
Cool B-side too!

Ironically it's probably my least favorite Harrison song, of the 8 he's primarily featured on from "The Concert For Bangladesh", but it's still great (consider the competition - 3 late period Beatles songs & 4 from "All Things Must Pass"!!)

 

You were right to dump her.

 

He’s confusing it with Lewisohn’s book.

 

It's got the great Phil Spector sound from that era, so of course it's great!

 

I have always liked this song, and my only criticism is that
if its purpose was to make people aware of a serious crisis
in a faraway land, why did he compose a melody which
forces him to sing Ban-gala-desh? Mispronouncing the
name of the country over and over continues to bug me!

 

Not a bad song. I agree that the piano drives it. Like the brass too.
Vocals sound a tad strained but passionate about the message.
Graded B-.

 

There are some people around here that seemingly take any opportunity to try and downgrade anything and everything Harrison music related. It's like an alternate reality world. I think this is a great sounding record. Nothing particularly murky at all, and it's filled with stellar playing. It has interesting chord changes, with a horn arrangement that helps build and propel the emotion of it.

Death and despair aren't particular topics of hit-bound singles, or singing about a country and situation that many people had never even heard of before. So big surprise it wasn't a huge hit. I never heard the song on the radio at all during that time, the first I heard the song was when I went to see the film when it was released to theaters. I didn't learn there had been a studio version until long afterward. That all has nothing to do with the quality of the song, or the record for my ears. I actually much prefer the studio version over the live version.

Give Me Love was a big hit, but I think this record is much more musically interesting and appealing.

 

I couldn't get enough of this song, hearing it first on AM radio when it came out. The "quiet", spiritual Beatle releases a message song - cool! It was a continuation of a fantastic string of ex-Beatles singles during the period 1970-1971.

 

The flip, “Deep Blue,” is one of my favorite GH records, along with “Let It Down,” “Be Here Now” and the wonderful “Mo.”

 

Jeez, "Mo"... why wasn't it released as a single? That it still hasn't been officially released is a crime.