George Harrison’s ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ Makes Digital Debut, Streaming Event Announced

Nearly 40 years after George Harrison’s historic ‘Concert for Bangladesh,’ the audio of the event has been released digitally today for the first time as an iTunes exclusive.

The digital edition of ‘Bangladesh’ is being issued as a benefit release, retaining the giving spirit of late Beatles guitarist and the original intentions behind the event. All proceeds after taxes will be donated to the George Harrison Fund for Unicef, a special charity established to help provide relief to children in famine and the drought-stricken regions in the Horns of Africa. iTunes, Apple Records Inc., and all artists, songwriters and publishers have waived all fees and will see no income from the sales.

In the United States, supporters can text FRIEND to UNICEF (864233) to give $10 to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF (messaging and data rates apply) and can also donate via the web, where they can learn more about the fundraising efforts.

As The Second Disc reports, the new iTunes edition includes Bob Dylan’s ‘Love Minus Zero/No Limit,’ which was a bonus track on the previous 2005 reissue and also adds a new bonus track, Harrison’s studio version of ‘Bangla Desh,’ which is exclusive to iTunes.

‘The Concert for Bangladesh’ featured an impressive star-studded lineup for the time period, with Harrison assembling a bill that included Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston and Ravi Shankar.

Shankar commented on the milestone of this important release, saying, “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.”

Additional iTunes exclusives are available, including a five minute video trailer for the album and a 49-minute radio program about the album, both of which can be streamed for free via iTunes.

To celebrate the digital reissue, the film version of ‘The Concert for Bangladesh’ will stream for free as part of a worldwide 72-hour event, beginning Saturday for viewing at iTunes, GeorgeHarrison.com and TheConcertForBanglaDesh.com. The streaming event will wrap up at the end of Monday, Aug. 1, which is the official 40th anniversary date of the concert.

Watch George Harrison Perform 'Here Comes The Sun' at the Concert for Bangladesh