I read in the paper the other day that the concert was on August 1, 1971. Wow, 53 years ago. I was 13 years old and I remember this; I was already a huge Beatle fan and George was my favorite. I lived the album, “Living in the Material World.” It meant everythig to me, so did his first, “All Things Mut Pass.” I regress. I bought the multi-album set, “The Concert for Bangladesh,” pretty impressive for a 13 year old. (my mother wouldn’t buy me a damn thing) I earned the money babysitting. This was my first introduction to Leon Russell. The other musicians, I was aware of. I was so proud to own this big orange boxed set, with the starving child on the cover and with the accompanying booklet that I combed through, over and over. How could I ever forget his white suit and beard. I was awed by him and the lyrics he aptly wrote and lived and felt. I brought it with me to friends homes to listen to and introduce them to it. Unfortunately, thats where it ended up, lost at some friends house. This album, like all of George Harrison’s albums had such a huge effect on me.
This concert was a first in what continues today; musicians holding concerts to benefit all different charities. What a groundbreaker! Later on, after reading Eric Clapton’s autobiography, did I learn that he was in the throes of his heroin addiction, he had to be physically brought to the concert and basically babysat in order to perform.
That’s it. I felt like reliving my excitement about this album. I’m always encouraged when any venue recognizes an important moment in my life, that is not so important in other peoples lives.