Reviews (1)

Lost Concert Leaves me lost for words
This Magical concert just supports my theory that The Beach Boys are the greatest thing since sliced bread. The magical aray of talent that is on show here is just breath-taking, the various songs that have been chosen are awsome and performed to the Max.
Carl sings like an angel, and Brian shows his genius by the way the music sounds, its just awsome. Plus it is also is wonderful to see the whole clan unite and perform together. if you are a true beach boy fan i suggest this for your next purchase, absolutly unbelieveable, it almost brings me to tears knowing that the boys can still perform like that after all the hardships that they have been through. It can be summed up by saying "Truly Magical" ... Read more

Description

GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD gave Elton John his second number one album in both the American and British charts and provided him with four top ten singles.

Interviews with Elton John himself, as well as with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, there are contributions from musicians Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, Gus Dudgeon (producer), David Hentschel (engineer), Del Newman (orchestral arranger) along with comments from Sir Tim Rice and Paul Gambaccini amongst others.

Featuring new and archive performances from Elton John as well as rare archive footage from the original recording sessions, this program provides a unique insight into the creation of this truly Classic Album. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Behind the yellow brick road...
Don't miss this opportunity to explore the songwriting process of what became a landmark pop album of the '70s. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were truly at their creative peak when this double album was released. Song by song, these tunes should be required listening for anyone remotely interested in pop music.

Not only have these songs stood the test of time but continue to be the bench mark upon all future releases the dynamic duo would be judged. Hey, they almost pulled it off again two years later with '75's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. But the latter was less commercial in it's approach and told a more personal story of their humble beginnings.

Wanna know why Elton John is important? Buy this dvd and see. And hear. Together with virtually everyone involved (excluding bassist Dee Murray who died of cancer in '92), you won't miss a single detail about how this album was crafted. This "music factory" was basically, Elton, Taupin, the band and producer Gus Dudgeon (who also has died since this was taped). Together they were responsible for the string of classic Elton John albums and singles from 1970-1975.

From Elton's ability to easily craft melodies from Taupin's story book lyrics, the deft hand of Gus Dudgeon guiding the process, and the incredible band that took each song to new heights (not to mention the soaring backing vocals), you'll find yourself buying the cd immediately if you don't already own it.

THIS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ELTON'S MUSIC WAS GREAT
This dvd "The Classic Albums" was great. Is not a a collection of songs, is a documentary of the album.If you like to see who's making this album buy this dvd.If you like to hear the songs of the album, buy the cd.
This documentary about Elton John was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road explored.
This is the best documentary of the best Elton John Album:Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.This album elevated Elton John as the king of pop/rock in 70's.You can find rare videos of shows, in the studio and of course people like Gus Dudgeon, Nigel Olsson explaing curiosits.I like Davey Johnstone explaing the your guitar in the tracks and of course Elton John with his magnificant piano.Of the album my favorite track is Bennie and the Jets and in this DVD, this track is also my favorite too.
You are going to enjoy this documentary as well the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

A Look at the Way They Were
An excellent DVD; I highly recommend it. It has some footage from the early 70's and a lot of interviews interspersed with some of the music from the album. My only criticisms would be 1. They did not really play any song all the way through. I would have liked that and I would have liked to see some of them played live with vintage concert footage. And 2. Although Davey Johnstone talked at length about his guitar work on the album (and played some, too), they barely mentioned the late Dee Murray's bass guitar work. And although there were some brief shots of Nigel Olsson playing in concert, they were not long and certainly not close-up, and they never showed him playing now. I realize the DVD is not primarily about the band, but I feel that they were a big part of how it turned out. Nigel's drumming on the album was wonderful and he should have had the air time that Davey was given to show his playing. Otherwise, it really is an interesting DVD. Just remember that it's not a "music video" but rather a documentary about how a classic album was created.

Excellent Analysis of the Creative Process
This is a documentary of how album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" was created and recorded (it is not a music DVD). If you are an Elton John fan, you will get vintage footage of Elton and the band, along with new footage and interviews.
However, even if you are not a big fan of EJ, it contains a fascinating post-mortem and explanation of how the album was recorded, mixed, and arranged by the original guys who did it: Gus Dudgeon and David Hentschel, while in a recording studio, take us through the mixing and engineering of the songs, and Del Newman explains his arrangements. Davey Jonestone plays and explains some of his guitar riffs he used in EJs songs which is pretty cool if you play the guitar, ... Dee Murray is no longer with us, but Gus analyzes his bass playing for us...And of course, there is the analysis of Elton's piano playing and vocals...and Bernie explains some of his lyrics.
To be 5 stars, we should have got Nigel to disect some of his drum playing...and we should have got something on how the wonderful art work for the original vinyl double album was created...Still, a very enjoyable and recommended DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sam Phillips's Sun Records will forever be best known as the label for which Elvis Presley made his timeless first recordings. But Sun earned its legendary status by also recording any number of other blues and rock & roll greats, including Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. This 112-minute, 2001 documentary from PBS's American Masters series features plenty of reminiscences by Sun old-timers (including the ever-voluble Phillips, who was not, apparently, universally loved by his artists) and some vintage film footage. But the best moments come when more contemporary artists--ranging from Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and Mark Knopfler to Live, Third Eye Blind, Ben Folds, and even Kid Rock--do their versions of Sun classics like "Honey Don't" and "That's All Right Mama." Several of these performances can also be found on the excellent Good Rockin' Tonight CD; the documentary is good, but if you have to make a choice, go with the CD. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent item with a few flaws.
THIS IS A GREAT DVD OVERALL. THE INTERVIEWS AND
CONVERSATIONS OF PAST "SUN RECORDS" STARS AND SAM PHILLIPS ARE VERY INTERESTING BUT WHERE WAS JERRY LEE LEWIS FOR THESE
SESSIONS? I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH "REVIEWER" BILL TAYLOR THAT "MATCHBOX TWENTY'S" TREATMENT OF CHARLIE RICH'S "LONELY WEEKENDS" WAS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST - SHOULD HAVE JUST
LET JERRY LEE LEWIS DO IT! HOWEVER, ZUCCHERO DID DO A PRETTY
GOOD VERSION OF RICH'S "WHO WILL THE NEXT FOOL BE?" AND THEN THEY LEFT IT OFF THE "CD" EDITION OF THE MUSIC AND USED ANOTHER
SINGER! I WOULD RECOMMEND THE "A & E" BIOGRAPHY OF SAM PHILLIPS FOR THOSE WHO LIKED THIS - AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION WRITTEN BY
PREMIER ROCK CRITIC "PETER GURALNICK."

Riveting! Great show!
For a documentary this one's pretty long. But I never looked at my watch. I'd lean forward to hear better. I loved 'Good Rockin' Tonight'! In addition to the priceless conversations between Rufus Thomas, Sam Phillips, Scotty Moore, Sonny Burgess, Billy Lee Riley, etc., the old songs covered by current artists is great. Among others, Paul McCartney sings 'That's All Right, Mama" with Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana playing behind him, for cryin' out loud!

Kudos.

Good Rockin' Forever
Good Rockin'Tonight is a moving experience! I couldn't sit still. The film is a musical trip through time,a fascinating story, performed by a tapestry of players. Good Rockin', rock on!

it rocks!
I saw this last year on American Masters and I loved it. I just ordered it. Just to see Billy Lee Riley and Sonny Burgess perform was enough to add this to my collection. Paul McCartney playing with Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana was as close as we will ever get to the Beatles jamming with Elvis. This was fun and informative.... kudos to the filmakers.

Good Rockin,but not GREAT rockin!!!
I found this documentary to be interesting in that all the regional artists who ,for the most part didn't make it to national stardom,or did and didn't maintain that place on the ladder for long all seem to blame Sam Phillips for their plight!Billy Lee Riley couldn't say enough about how ol'Sam shot his career down the tubes,of course,in other forums I've heard Roy Orbison,Johnny Cash,Carl Perkins,and Jerry Lee Lewis claim the same.Obviously there must be something there,however,some of those went on to stardom and have maintained it.The musical performances taped here are decent,just not very exciting,the reviewer for this DVD says that there is a touching version of Charlie Rich's tune "Lonely Weekends" done by Matchbox 20 and some geezer called "the Killer"...well there was nothing "touching" about it,insulting was more the word if you ask me!Charlie Rich wrote that tune,had a hit with it in the late 50's and Jerry Lee Lewis revived it in the 70's and had a hit with it,Charlie is dead,and after the treatment that the Sun Wildman ,Jerry Lee gets in this re working of Sun history,he may as well be,as he gets about 10 seconds of screen time in this "history of..whatever! To get to where the producers of this piece take us,one would think that Carl Perkins,Johnny Cash, and Elvis were the only noteworhty happenings in this studio(,at one time Jerry Lee was given some acknowledgemnt of his contributions too,)sure is great how fickle we can be! Aside from this ranting of mine,I enjoyed the exposure that Charlie Rich gets here,as well as Rufus Thomas,and the Burnett trio.Rocky Burnett comes across as a real gentleman.This is really fascinating stuff,however,if this is all you know about the happenings at Sun studio,do some reading ,listen to some music from that studio,track its talent pool, and then come back to this presentation as it isn't all it appears to be,Sun was known for its raw,reckless way of producing music,most of the music made here is polite stuff,recorded mostly somewhere else,maybe a statement as to the international impact of this music? Maybe,maybe not.Do I recommend this work,sure do! Why? Its a great place to start learning about music,the South,social mores,shifting paradiams,(maybe I'm reaching here,cause I really want to be positive) and more,but remember,its a starting place,not the end all...and maybe one day the makers of this documentary will let us in on what they were trying to accomplish with this mostly mish mash of bitter recollections,snubs,and tepid music,some celebration,some legacy. ... Read more

Reviews (101)

this is not my beautiful DVD player !!
but it is my extremely entertaining, albeit "contrived" concert event. But that is not a bad thing ! as the resulting DVD manages to capture the energy and talent of a truly great American band. If I could go back in time, one of my first destinations would be the CBGB in New York City, 1977, to see the Talking Heads open for the Ramones. Obviously the Talking Heads stole every show, which is probably why the Ramones disliked them so much !

And even though the four members of the "Talking Heads proper" kind of get lost in this nine-member stage ensemble, David Byrne is still the clear leader, and the contributions of the other original band members are essential to the energy of the Talking Heads experience. and what an experience it is ! Every song is an artistic presentation, with the visual effects beautifully complementing the funky, up beat, afro-synchronic musical riffs. With absolutely radical versions of Life During Wartime and Once in a Lifetime, this is my second favorite musical DVD (second only to Led Zeppelin - which is really saying something !)

One of the Great Films of the 1980s
Movie musicals had fallen out of favor by the 1980s, but there were still two that belong on the list of the decade's 10 best: Franco Zefferelli's breathtakingly colorful revision of
Verdi's La Traviata, starring Teresa Status and Placido Domingo. The other is Jonathan Demme's hip, fast-paced and creative documentary, Stop Making Sense.

Shot over several days during live concerts at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, the movie brilliantly captures the creativity of David Byrne and the members of his 1980s band, the Talking Heads.

Stop Making Sense grows from a bare stage, with Byrne alone, except for an acoustic guitar and a boom box, performing "Psycho Killer," to a full-fledged concert, with the entire band, including Tina Weymouth's other band, the Tom Tom Club. Things really get rockin' when Byrne and Tom Tom Club roar into "Burnin' Down the House," during "Take Me to the River, " and especially when Byrne, a consummate showman, dons his "big suit," which he wears for much of the film's second half.

Stop Making Sense is a masterpiece of film editing, too. There is none of the backstage babble one would expect from a concert film, and it's tightly put together.

Only Woodstock captures the raw essence of the rock concert better than this does. Stop Making Sense is one of the great film of the 1980s.

A lifelong journey
First I saw the video on MTV. I bought the record, then the CD. Finally I found the VHS and I thought I had everything. Then they released the anniversary edition CD and finally I bought the DVD. If only I would have been able to actually attend.

Need I say more. The music is fantastic, and the presentation is entertaining. This is by far, the best concert video I've ever seen, and if your not already a Talking Heads fan, you will be after you watch and listen.

Maybe later...
David Byrne self-interviews himself nice. It's good to feel nice. You laugh. The video will make you good to feel nice...and then cry. Because you feel video to feel nice. Does anybody have any questions? I have a tape to play for you...To feel nice. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Thanks, Toe Knee

A Postmodern Cinematic Catharsis Narrative
According to the commentary track included with this DVD, David Byrne may be considered to be the central character in this Talking Heads concert documentary. In the course of the film's 90 minute duration, he is transformed as "a stiff white guy who sheds his inhibitions, gets loose and lets go. He is both changed by the music and set free."

The concert starts on a bare 60 by 40 foot stage with a solo performance of "Psycho Killer" and then slowly adds both equipment and musicians during the first five songs. By the sixth song, "Burning Down the House", nine musicians are present and will remain fully engaged for the next 10 tracks. Three additional tracks are included on the DVD as a bonus.

Seven cameras are used to record the performance, with much of the footage being shot from the perspective of the audience. Indeed, the viewer of the documentary is made to feel that they are witnessing a live event. The director takes great pains to record the artists not just as musicians, but also as "characters" with their own individual performance personalities.

The stage is lit solely by white lighting, with both the type and positioning of the lights permitting an amazing visual variation. Backlit slide photography of both text and representational images are sometimes used in the stage design as well.

The title, "Stop Making Sense", refers to David Byrne's approach to writing song lyrics during the early 1980's. His lyrics are often irrational and illogical, not making sense from one line to the next, yet they still tend to remain both intuitive and emotionally involving.

"Stop Making Sense" is resplendent in its entertaining divergence from the commonplace. Watch, listen and be moved by its wonderfully liberating creative energy! ... Read more

Description

The story of the making of this remarkable album is told here via exclusive interviews with band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted, archive footage and performance, and contributions from producer Bob Rock. We revisit the original multi-tracks of the album, as well as listen to previously unheard demo recordings.

Featuring the five singles from the album, Enter Sandman, Sad But True, "The Unforgiven", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Nothing Else Matters", this is the compelling story of one of the biggest selling albums of all time, a true Classic Album. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The making of a great album
I actually got this dvd for my birthday, and i wasnt really sure if it would be good coz i'm not a huge fan of documenteries, but i gotta say i was not disappointed with it.
Although i would've liked to see maybe more of the video clips for the singles instead of just little clips from them it was interesting hearing them talk about songwriting and how they wrote the album etc.
It's also their 1st album with producer Bob Rock and he has some interesting things to say.
Some highlights are Kirk's solo on wherever i may roam, watching them at the mixing boards playing around with the sound and hearing all the seperate guitar parts, and all the little clips of their live shows. It also explains what inspired the S&M concert.
If you're a die-hard Metallica fan or interested in songwriting and good music, then i reccomend this dvd.

Good, but a bit dull
I bought this video expecting it to have the videos to all the Black Album singles, but nope, just a documentary on the album. It's still a good video however, some good coverage on all the songs, and plenty of footage of them in the studios. But like I said, it's just, kinda dull. It could've been a little more interesting, and I wish it could've included the videos to all the songs on there. So in the end, if you're a HUGE Metallica fan looking for a GOOD video, eh, you might not wanna try this.

Metallica - Metallica
For all you metallica fans out there who didnt get this yet i bet you wanna know whats written on the back of the box...so here it is:The story of the making of this remarkable album is told here via exclusive interviews,archive footage and performance,with contributions from preducer Bob Rock,band members James Hetfield,Lars Ulrich,Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted. We revisit the original multi-tracks of the album,as well as listen to previously unheard demo recordings.

Featuring the five singles from the album, Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters, this is the compelling story of one of the biggest selling albums of all time,a true Classic Album.

I guess this will help know more about what your buying...

Decent DVD
I watched this at a friends and will probably eventually buy it but I have a few other Metallica videos I want to replace with DVD first.

First off, this DVD doesn't get ratings for the videos from the Black Album, it's a documentary...if you want music videos or sessions, buy A Year and A Half... There's no comparison between the two. ;) If it contained most of the same material, I think that would be a bigger waste of money.

Good but...
This was a good documentary of Metallica about one of their best if not the best album they made "The Black Album" but if you had allready saw lots of documentary and know a lot about Metallica this video won't be as interesting to you, well I find it good but I allready knew a lot about what they were saying but if you like to know more about them, you are a huge fan of Metallica and would like to know how they made the Black Album well you would like this documentary! ... Read more

Description

This British version of Woodstock is an annual pilgrimage for more than 100,000 fans of rock, alternative, folk and blues seeking to experience Glastonbury's continuous stream of music and blissful state of mind. Songs: People's Army (Bender), The Media (Co-Creators), Kitchen (The Lemonheads), There's Nothing Like This (Omar), Clear Rush (Spiritualized), Bicycle Song (The Wonderful World), Pretty Pictures (The Filberts), Piazza (Toadstool), Gravity Grave (The Verve), Fight for Your Rights (McKoy), Echoes of the Past (Dr. Didg), Porno for Pyros (Porno for Pyros), Trolls of Excess (Shanti), Rainbow Chant (Phil Thornton), Idle Days (Louise Goffin), Jurassic Shift (Ozric Tentacles), Blow Your Head (Pat Leacock), Sitar (Riksaraj), Improv No. 1 (Airto Moreira), Teenage Turtles (Back to the Planet), Forever (The Filberts), Glasters (Pan), Trouser Snake (The Filberts), Leaving (Adam Salkeld). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointment
When I buy a VHS or a DVD of a concert or of a music festival I want to see the band(s) that is playing and listen to the whole song(s). This movie is mostly the movie of what's going around the stage, not on top of it. Because this movie is not focused on the music the sound is poor. So if you want to see the carnival around the Glastonbury music festival this is your movie, not mine. ... Read more

Description

The hardest working man in show business brings down the House of Blues with a live concert event in Las Vegas. Recorded with high definition equipment, James Brown's influential music, uninhibited style and energetic stage presence are captured like never before. Generations of fans rejoice as the undisputed "Godfather of Soul" takes his diverse audience on a journey through five decades of chart-topping hits. Also includes an interview with Brown. Songs: Get Up Offa That Thing, Gonna Have a Funky Good Time, Living in America, Popcorn, Soul Power, Soul Man, I Got the Feeling, Hot Pants, Try Me, Prisoner of Love, Georgia on My Mind, If I Ruled the World, Why Don't You Do It Right, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, Funk on a Roll, Payback, I Feel Good, Papa Don't Take No Mess, Please Please Please, Sex Machine. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Please Please Please give us the old footage!
I love James Brown, and this current package is sad. The band is tight and the sound is good, but it's like he walks through the whole show giving brief nods to various songs in his career.
He has gotten old, and has lost his vocal power. He does try
to put on a good show, but the magic is gone.
I hope someone puts together a nice package of live clips at some point, that shows what this great man was. It really pains me to be writing this, so if you don't want to be disappointed, avoid this one.

New Video Loaded With Surprises
The '68 to '74 JB is highlighted with lesser-discussed items like "Popcorn" ["Mother Popcorn"], "Gimme Some More" (performed by BitterSweet), "If I Ruled The World", "Soul Power", and "Papa Don't Take No Mess". Two of these titles deserved more than the passing glance they received but the whole program is well-paced and heavily features backup performers - the set opens with diva-esque protege Tomi Rae performing a powerful blues-soul ballad "I Still Care" and the J. Joplin "Try". In consideration of the venue name I had hoped that JB would do some straight ahead blues like he did with B.B. King on another outstanding video JB AND HIS VERY SPECIAL GUEST B.B.KING (something like "The Things That I Used To Do" or "Home Again"), but Candice Hurst emerges from stage left and delivers the goods with the jazz/blues "Why Don't You Do Right" with style. The consumer may wonder about his energy level (at age approx. 66), but except for the occasional reliance on aforementioned contributors plus Roosevelt Johnson (who sings on "Soul Power" and the presumed tribute to the Blues Brothers, "Soul Man"), he is the vital artist we've watched over the years. In fact, his dancing is better here than on some video efforts from the 1980's! Another selling point is the inclusion of the heavy hip-hopp "Funk On A Roll" from the recent I'M BACK album. With all due respect to the talented all-Female backup group BitterSweet, I feel that the tune is more effective with (apparently) all Male singers in unison as on the CD. Still, it is a great selection. I hope James Brown continues to mix in unexpected numbers in his live act and on record (and hopefully on video!).

A sad disappointment ...
Well, you win a few and you lose a few. With half the reviewers giving this DVD 5 stars and the other half giving it 2 stars, I knew it would be a bit of a gamble. Don't get me wrong: the DVD looks and sounds terrific but the Godfather of Soul is only there in body but sadly not in spirit. The band cooks, the backup singers and dancers work their butts off but the Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness sleepwalks his way through the show.

Did Anyone Say He was Slowing Down?
After all these years, the man still has it, and mind you, he is well up in age and the only thing he does not do is the split.
But I tell you, this is a concert, especially when he performs "funk on a roll." and "Papa don't take no mess".
HE IS STILL THE MAN, in my book. A must have in your collection.

Disappointing
I recently saw JB live in Tulsa.. the show was absolutely amazing.
This dvd is basically just a terrible, watered down version of the concert I saw..
The songs listed on the back cover are a sad trick..
Most of them are 10 second high speed [garbage] versions - its disgusting.
Better try your luck on some of the Godfather's older stuff.
Sorry JB. ... Read more

Description

Music in High Places, the ultimate international music and travel adventure series that takes top recording artists to the most ancient sites on earth, features exciting acoustic performances set against the backdrop of the most intriguing natural locations. Take an intimate journey with Unwritten Law as they discover the culture, history and spirituality of Yellowstone National Park. Songs: Before I Go, Blame It on Me, Seein' Red, Geronimo, How You Feel, Rest of My Life, Elva, Rescue Me. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply Awesome
I wasn't a fan of Unwritten Law. In fact I hadn't heard of them. I saw the show on VH1, loved the music, then got the disc. I like the simplicity of the music against the backdrop of Yellowstone. I was surprised to learn they are a punk band after seeing the show. I plan on taking a trip west to Yellowstone as soon as I save up some cashola. I'll probably get another cd of Unwritten Law in the meantime. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Toward the beginning of his 90-minute set recorded on May 27, 2000, in Belfast, Ireland, George Benson gushes that he's always had a fantasy of fronting a big band and covering jazz classics. It becomes increasingly clear, however, that some fantasies should remain just that. There's no questioning Benson's contribution to jazz over the years. He's been hailed as one of the genre's finest, most expressive, and fluid guitarists. His ability to cross numerous genres is impeccable and he's influenced a generation of players. However when Benson ditches his guitar in favor of singing--something he started doing in the '70s and does frequently during this show--his material suffers. While his vocal range is impressive on songs like "I Only Have Eyes for You" and on his own hits like "This Masquerade" and "Breezin'," his style is awkward and often forced, and his numerous attempts at scat singing prove that Louis Armstrong he's not. Experiments are fine, but Benson should remember what instrument brought him to the dance. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Outstanding Performance
This is an awesome concert performance - don't listen to some of the negative reviews! While George starts the concert with three vocal performances in front of the BBC Big Band, which may initially disappoint some viewers (like me) who crave his guitar playing, he soon dons the guitar in front of an electric band that includes Joe Sample. His versions of "This Masquerade" and "Breezin" are particularly powerful. I'm afraid I can't agree with some of the other reviewers that criticize his "diminished" vocal range - George's voice appears to me to be just as strong and expressive as it did when I saw him live in the 1970's. We jazz guitar lovers are very lucky - three of the five arguably best guitar players of all time (George, Pat Metheny and Lee Ritenour) are currently active and thanks to video and DVD, performances such as these can be kept forever.

George Benson in concert..........Fantastic!!
I have seen George Benson roughly ten times in concert covering a period of fourteen years and would have seen him more given the opportunity. This performance is based on Benson's concert format used for over ten years, apart from the BBC Big band backing him in this concert.

This DVD perfectly captures Benson live and displays the diversity of his musical talent through Big band (Beyond The Sea etc..), jazz (Breezin etc..), pop (turn your love around etc..) and funk (Give me the night). Added bonuses include an interview with Benson, individual band member interviews and the chance to see Benson perform with Joe Sample from their 'Absolute Benson' collabaration.

It is quite obvious that the actual concert included allot more tracks that Benson usually performs, which didn't make the DVD probably due to format constraints (the only thing missing unfortunately). Hopefully, these will be available someday, but you never know.

I would conclude that this is the only visual media offering I have ever seen of George Benson that you can view on your home TV. A must if your a fan and an insight to his talent if you are inquisitive. I noticed one reviewer wasn't happy with the sound quality. Mine plays and sounds excellent and I only have nicam TV sound and a budget DVD player.

If you are a music lover, you won't regret this purchase as it's a wonderful musical experience.

I was breathless ...
George Benson is an absolute legend. If you don't believe me, see him in this 2000 concert! While not all of his hits are covered, the ones I love are. Nothing can prepare you for his performances of "This Masquerade" and "Breezin'". Simply stunning, turn up as loud as you can.

DVD SUMMARY: The DVD I have boasts both a DTS soundtrack and a 5.1 mix. Most times I would pick the DTS soundtrack on a music DVD, but on this occassion, the 5.1 mix has a more natural sound to it. If you have a surround sound system, choose this mix over the DTS. An earlier DVD release features a 2.0 mix which is ideal for people with only two speakers.

A wonderful DVD that should be in your collection. Its only letdowns are that the playlist is rather short, and the amount of overweight ladies in the crowd (as mentioned in other reviews).

Awesome
This dvd is simply awesome. I wasn't really interested in the big band stuff on the dvd. But Benson's performances with Joe Sample are great. If you are a Benson fan, this DVD is a must for your collection.

An Excellent Display of Talent
George Benson displays his range and ability from beginning to end on this great DVD. The diversity of singing styles and musical genres is what makes this concert a standout. The highlights are:

*The cover classic "Beyond the Sea", where Benson shows his ability to perform old time pop music with the panache of Tony Bennett or Nat "King" Cole.

*The accompaniment of Joe Sample tickling the ivories to Benson's instrumental rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Lately". The only thing that could've made it better was if George actually sang the lyrics of this all-time favorite of mine. Nonetheless, it's an excellent performance.

*All the Benson hits were great. "This Masquerade", "Turn Your Love Around", "Give Me the Night", and "On Broadway". The absolute best, as always, was the performance of "Breezin".

If your a George Benson fan or a fan of good music and concerts in general, "Absolutely Live" is definitetly worth the price. ... Read more

Description

Recorded live at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, Roxy Musicperforms their greatest hits, fronted by the always mesmerizing Bryan Ferry with originalband members Andy MacKay and Phil Manzanera. Spend a glamorous, glorious eveningwith the band that defined modern musical romance, heartbreak and grace. Songs: Re- Make/Re-Model, Street Life, Ladytron, While My Heart Is Still Beating, Out of the Blue,A Song for Europe, My Only Love, In Every Dream Home a Heartache, Oh Yeah!, BothEnds Burning, Tara, Mother of Pearl, Avalon, Dance Away, Jealous Guy, Editions ofYou, Virginia Plain, Love Is the Drug, Do the Strand, For Your Pleasure. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

4 1/2 stars for exceptinal Roxy concert
Thomas Wolfe and his famous You Can't Go Home Again spring to mind when you think of bands trying to relive their glory years. Roxy Music and this video are an exception. I went to go see them during this tour with a bit of hesitation. While I love the band, the last tour I saw them on for Avalon was not the best; it looked like they were sleep walking through the performances. The video of that performance was pretty bad as well; the quality and the direction were just not up to snuff.

This time they get it right. While Eno's stage presence is missed (he was never much of a musician compared to the others in the band), the musicians fleshing out the original remaining quartet (the amazing Paul Thompson is back on drums in addition to Andy MacKay on sax, Phil Manzanera on guitar and, of course, Bryan Ferry on occasional keyboards, harmonica and lead vocals)do a great job of helping to recreate the band's studio and concert sound. I only saw Roxy one time with Eddie Jobson and can attest that, yes, they were amazing. On the other hand, this line up more than makes up for his absence. Lucy Wilkins manages to recreate Jobson's key moments on electric violin but she also adds touches of her own on Dance Away (not always my fav Roxy song nor the band's as its no challenge to peform in concert).

Unlike the recent CD release (which is also very good), this is all taken from one venue not pieced together from various performances around the world. The result is that the show has more continuity in the performance than the piece meal approach.

The song selection is fairly strong with the focus on the band's singles and strongest album tracks. Sure there are audience favs missing (and some of the song list was drawn from a survey that Phil Manzanera had on his website) but, on the whole, the song selection is very, very good.

Top Rate
Sometimes you can go home again - and sometimes a reformed rock outfit with no new material to hawk can revisit the past and actually make it sound vital. Roxy's reunion tour was, with no apology, a celebration of their decade-long run, with all the hits (Dance Away, Love is the Drug) and album staples (Mother of Pearl, For Your Pleasure) trotted out for receptive audiences. This DVD not only captures the enthusiasm of Ferry, McKay, Manzanera & Co. for their songbook, but it does so with some of the best audio/visual quality I've ever seen on a concert dvd. The camera work is great, capturing all the band members (this ain't just the Ferry Show) on the job. The band itself sounds thoroughly professional and spirited, and pulsing away at the core of it all is original Roxy drummer Paul Thompson. His presence is a real coup, not just for "legitimacy" reasons, but because his locked grooves both breathe on their own and propel the rest of the band forward with elan. Utility players Julia Thornton and Lucy Wilkins flesh out the various textures of everything from Avalon to Out of the Blue; Wilkins even tackles the primitive synths once employed by a certain Eno.

Some highlights: Manzanera's lacerating guitar solo over the menacing groove of While My Heart is Still Beating; the joyous crescendo of Mother of Pearl's second half; the one-by-one exits during the final section of For Your Pleasure. The extra documentary isn't shabby either. Absolutely essential for Roxy fans.

these guys still rock!
great image and sound quality, and these guys still rock!

"Live' is the drug that I need to score. Daily.
Without rehashing the astute comments of other reviewers, here's what your 20 plus bucks will get you: One of the absolute best (in every way) concerts ever captured on film, bar none! From the material selected (Ferry said that he had a "short list of 50 songs" from which this final list emerged) to the stage set; from the DTS/Dolby surround mix to the camera work; from the audience/band rapport to the incredible musicianship, this has it all.
As good as Roxy Music's studio recordings are, they could never match the live performance, and this DVD is proof positive (compare, for example, the original version of 'Mother of Pearl' to this one). I caught Bryan Ferry in concert about 10 years ago (with Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and drummer Andy Newmark), and as good as it was, this concert was better. With four of the original members (including drummer Paul Thompson) augmented by equally talented support musicians Colin Good (piano), Zev Katz (bass), Lucy Wilkins (violin, keyboards and synth) and Julia Thornton (percussion, keyboards and vibraphone), the result is nearly magical. Flawless musicianship, exhuberant stage dynamics and thrilling versions of great songs make this an almost life-affirming experience. (Good, Katz and Thornton were part of the small orchestral backing group Ferry used in his 'Bryan Ferry in Concert-Live in Paris' release of 2000)
While some may quibble about the song selections (I would like to have seen 'Angel Eyes' included), to see and hear musicians of this calibre whenever the mood strikes (which for me is daily) is something special. It is impossible to recommend this DVD too highly.

Roxy's Last Stand?
I'm a roxy fan, but not a fanatic. I own 4 of their CD's and one of them is a best of, and two of them I've only listened to once. I own a couple of concert DVD's and wasn't too hip on live music because I always liked the studio cuts better. What I'm trying to say is I wasn't sure if I would like this DVD...But, never having seen Roxy in person, I wanted to check it out.
Boy was I pleased! I thought the mixing was excellent for a live cut. You could hear every one of the little percussion instruments (which have names, and everyone knows what they sound like, but no one knows what they're called)and Roxy uses them all. I watched it on my cheap Sanyo DVD player and Sanyo 25" screen and listened through my 12 year old receiver through 900mHz cordless headphones (my girlfriend was sleeping). You know the hiss they can give you if you use 900MHz cordless phones and still thought the sound was good. Now maybe I'm a little deaf from too loud of music, or my ears are not trained for discerning great from mediocre sound quality, but I found myself at times with goosebumps and wanting to stand up and cheer.

I can hear Bryan Ferry saying (in the words of Elwood Blues) "I'm getting the band back together." The band members are obviously older, they haven't toured together since 1986 or so, but I get the feeling with no new material, this may be the last time any of us not fortunate enough to see this tour, may ever get to see them. In my mind, they are one of the most unique sounds of many of our popular music histories that I am so glad I have a copy to enjoy and share with others who ask "What was Roxy Music like?" ... Read more