George Harrison - Long Play for Bangla Desh (1971)

Committed to continuing his music career following his departure from the Beatles, George Harrison started working on his debut solo album almost immediately after. He decided to bring in Phil Specter as co-producer, and the album contained a rotating cast of well-known characters, such as former band members John Lennon and Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and the rest of Derek and the Dominos, Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Pete Drake and Badfinger. Despite his newfound freedom, most of the songs recorded were not new, with most being written during his time in the Beatles with a few even being rejected outright by Lennon and Paul McCartney. But since he was on his own, no one could tell him what or what not to do.

Leading up to the release of the album, Harrison would put together the Concert for Bangla Desh, a relief concert (the first of its kind) that would donate all money to the ailing people of Bangladesh following the Bangladesh Liberation War that was still ongoing. Performers would include himself, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Ravi Shankar and Leon Russell. Two concerts were performed and it was seen as a total success. People had wondered if the Beatles would be invited to the concert, and some even wished for a reunion between George and the band. However, it was found out later that George had gone out of his way to not invite the band.

George's first studio album, Long Play for Bangla Desh, was released on December 20, 1971. Also released on this day was the live album for The Concert for Bangla Desh. Harrison would joke that "To promote the album, we're also releasing the coffee mug for Bangla Desh and the refrigerator for Bangla Desh". Both albums would be received generally positive, although critics pointed out that it made for somewhat of a dour listening experience due to the pointed nature of the songs. "Without John's wit and Paul's whimsy, George's album does not feel as intelligent as it should be" one critic said.

GEORGE HARRISON - LONG PLAY FOR BANGLA DESH

Released: 20 December 1971

Genre: Pop rock, singer-songwriter, folk rock, soft rock, psychedelic folk

Producer: George Harrison, Phil Spector

Side A

Bangla Desh

My Sweet Lord

Wah-Wah

Try Some, Buy Some

Beware of Darkness

Deep Blue

Side B

What Is Life

I'd Have You Anytime

Awaiting on You All

Behind That Locked Door

The Light That Has Lighted the World

Isn't It a Pity

Track list sources:

All tracks are from All Things Must Pass and Living in the Material World, with "Bangla Desh" and "Deep Blue" being bonus tracks from the latter's 2014 reissue.