Concert for Diana (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)This was a historic concert that was seen all over the world - mostly on cable. It's great to have it on DVD with the search function and even option to create a playlist. And, of course, there are the loving short documentaries between the acts. I missed it on TV and was anxious to see the DVd - especially since there are some British performers who are not as well known in the US.
Sadly, however, this important occasion is ruined by the Direct or the event. There is not ONE camera shot which lasts more than four seconds! (Doubt me? Watch and count ... "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.....). Okay maybe in fast rock song but the same holds true, not only in the slow ballads but in the Swan Lake ballet! Yes, four second cutaways! I was getting a headache watching it and wondered why!
Yes, you should probably by this for the music - and the tributes (where, thankfully they don't use fast cuts as often... obviously a different director). Look at Live Aid, Live 8 or even the Pop Concert for the Queen (a great DVD on Naxos). None have these quick cuts, which are jarring.
I'll let the music stand for itself and the performances and breadth of the music rate five stars. But I had to deduct two stars for the choppiness of the production.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"


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63,000 ATTEND CONCERT TO CELEBRATE PRINCESS DIANA'S LIFE KANYE WEST, FERGIE, JAMES MORRISON & DURAN DURAN AMONG PERFORMERS SIR ELTON JOHN OPENS & CLOSES CONCERT FOR DIANA Princess Diana's favorite performer, Sir Elton John, was on hand to help her sons Prince William and Prince Harry mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death with an event to celebrate her life. The Concert for Diana was held at the new London Wembley Stadium on July 1st 2007, which would have been Diana's 46th birthday. Along with Sir Elton, an array of Universal Music artists performed for a capacity 63,000 crowd lucky enough to escape the rain in London. Live on stage were: Fergie, Kanye West, Nelly Furtado, James Morrison, The Feeling, Pharrell Williams, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, and many more. Proceeds from the concert will go to charities supported by the late Princess of Wales, and to charities of which Princes William and Harry are patrons.

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Elton John - Dream Ticket (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I sometimes wonder when artists really seem to make a very good play at selling a item only at a exclusive shop. It sometimes seems to be a good idea, but otherwise it isn't that good to know that other stores don't actually sell it. That really is the case with Elton John. He recently pulled that jester off with Best Buy recently, as a way to promote his DVD box set Dream Ticket. It is unfortunate especially when other stores are only selling his Peachtree Road record. Only in their stores, not this DVD collection. Yet, many people really don't seem to know what is missing from the man who sang Take Me To The Pilot.
Elton John Dream Ticket is a four disc DVD box set, which fatures a series of different concerts Elton John performed in, throught many diferent areas around the world. The first disc was the live concert One Night Only: The Greatest Hits. This was the only concert released before. The songs here really stand out very well, and the performances also capture Elton in his highlights with so many great performances including Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Don't Go Breakin' My Heart with Kiki Dee, Candle In The Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road with Billy Joel, and other landmark performances.
Disc 2: Live at The Royal Opera House is one of the 2 exclusive concerts highlighted here. The concert has a feel similar to his legendary 1986 live performance in Austrailia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This concert film has that same passionate feel. The songs here are just as rich and bold here as if you're in the studio with Elton. The perfformance pays tribute to Gus Dudgeon, Elton's longtime producer who tragically died at the time. The highlights here include great pop songs like Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Tonight, This Train Don't Stop There Anymore, and his classic Sixty Years On.
Disc 3, is really the radical departure of all of the live performances that Elton John recorded. The performance was recorded at the Great Amhitheatre in Turkey. The live concert only features Elton without a band to backup, or a orchestra. Only by himself. This concert really is very bold and rich enough to show Elton's songs in a different light. The songs here sound much more different on this disc, especially tracks like Philadelphia Freedom, Burn Down The Mission, Crocodile Rock, and Circle Of Life. Yet, on this disc, some of the songs here are also performed more bautifully without any backup, especially tracks like Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters, Sacrifice and Daniel.
The last disc: Elton in Four Decades is a reflection of Elton's career through his 35 years in the spotlight, with rare performances, and music videos finally being released on DVD for the first time. The DVD includes interviews from Elton, several producers and music video directors as well. The collection also includes some great music videos including the black & white masterpiece Believe, Are You Ready For Love, which was recently released as a hit in England, I Want Love, and Elton's first music video, I'm Still Standing.
All in all, Elton John's Dream Ticket is a remarkable DVD collection. Sadly, it really is unfortunate that only Best Buy is able to sell this exclusively, rather than other music and video stores. This is one exciting and dynamic DVD collections ever made, that really is worth it in the purchase and the performances here.
Packaging: A-
Performances and highlights: A-
Remastering: A
Overall: A-

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Item Name: Elton John - Dream Ticket; Studio:Wab

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The Concert For New York City (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Once again, the Who show just why they are the greatest Rock and Roll band to ever walk the earth. There show was simply amazing. To hear the ovation they got at the end was truly shocking. They get it started with Who Are You and Pete is just amazing in his windmilling. Entwistle keeps it all together on bass and Daltrey gets the crowd going, while Starkey does a fine job on drums. Baba O'reilly and the reaction the crowd gives after hearing the first few cords brings goosebumps to everyone. Daltrey shows hes still go it with a killer harmonica solo in the end. Behind Blue Eyes brings everyone down to tears, only to pick us up again at the end of the song. And in Wont Get Fooled Again, Townshend and Entwistle go crazy, while Daltrey wails away at our ear drums. Starkeys drum solo at the end is just fantastic, and Daltrey gives one more screaming "Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" at the end. They were simply amazing. As Billy Crystal said, they "Just blew me away. Absolutely blew me away."

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Studio: Sony MusicRelease Date: 01/29/2002

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Elvis Costello: Spectacle - Season One (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)This series as broadcast on Sundance Channel is an outstanding Master class on music itself. The broad range of the discussions, histories and looks at the real personalities of the artists being interviewed are truly amazing and highly entertaining as well as informative. We've watched every episode and throughly enjoyed them. What "In the Actor's Studio" does for that craft, this series does for music. Along with the promise of additional footage that was cut to make the show fit into the broadcast timeframe, we are looking forward to receiving this into our collection.

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Conceived to provide a forum for in- depth discussion and performance with the most interesting artists and personalities of our time, Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... fuses the best of talk and music television. Each of the thirteen one-hour episodes in this complete first season exposes the essence of iconic and influential figures who are given the rare opportunity to speak intelligently and in-depth about music and their careers - how their classic songs were written and why; their experiences; their influences and the creative process overall, revealing new insights about their extraordinary work and lives. Unique performances - by the featured guests, by Spectacle s multi-faceted host, Elvis Costello, and by the guests and host, along with other spontaneous illustrative moments - further distinguish Spectacle as one of the most complete music television experiences fans could want. Disc 1: Sir Elton, President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed and Julian Schnabel, Disc 2: The Police, Smokey Robinson, Rufus Wainwright, Jakob Dylan, Jenny Lewis and She & Him, Disc 3: Diana Krall, Sir Elton John, Herbie Hancock, Kris Kristofferson, Roseanne Cash, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp and James Taylor, Disc 4: Renee Fleming, Bonus songs, outtakes and backstage footage, rehearsal footage, stills gallery and more. Also available in standard DVD.

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The Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol. 1 (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)The British are way ahead of us when it comes to release vintage performances on DVD. The Old Grey Whistle Test got its name from a Tin Pan Alley test; it was said that agents would have the doormen for the building come in, listen to a song and see if it was worthwhile. The test was whether the "old grey" folks could whistle the tune. The Old Grey Whistle Test had a variety of different types of performers over the years. While rock did dominate it wasn't the only type of music presented.
This DVD presents the following performances and performers:
Alice Cooper-Under My Wheels
Elton John-Tiny Dancer (solo)
Curtis Mayfield- We Gotta Have Peace
Randy Newman - Political Science
Bill Whithers - Ain't No Sunshine
Rory Gallagher - Hands Off
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Stir It Up
Roxy Music - Do The Strand (with Eno but lipsynched)
The Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein
Captain Beefheart-Upon the My O My
Little Feat- Rock 'n' Roll Doctor
John Lennon - Stand By Me
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird
Emmylou Harris - Amarillo
Bonnie Raitt - Too Long At The Fair
Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
XTC - Statue of Liberty
Blondie - I'm Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - American Girl
The Police - Can't Stand Losing You
Bruce Springsteen - Rosalita (filmed concert performance)
Iggy Pop - I'm Bored
The Specials - Message to Rudi
The Damned - Smash It Up/I Just Can't Be Happy Today
The Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll High School
U2 - I Will Follow
REM - Moon River/Pretty Persuasion
The interviews are fairly good as well. The John Lennon interview was a treat for me as a long time Beatles fan. Also interviewed are Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bruce Springsteen. Producer Mike Appleton has included an audio commentary. There's also an artist's gallery where you can read about the performance and artist. In special features mode a guitar will appear in the upper right hand corner and take you directly there. After you've read it, it takes you directly back to the performance.
Each of the Whistle Tests 6 presenters give really interesting (and occasionally funny)stories about either the performance or artist they're discussing. Why the BBC choose to release this as a single disc set when compared to the UK version is a bit strange.
There's also a two page booklet that includes the performances, a little background on the show and a paragraph or two from the producer. That's becoming more of a rarity now as many companies are discontinuing these. I personally like them as it allows you to see the chapter you want prior to the DVD starting. Disney is experimenting with discontinuing theirs for certain discs as is MGM.
I bit of caution about the British two disc set; On the amazon.com British website it states it is a region 0 so it can be played anywhere. I have heard complaints from various folks that this isn't so. Since I don't have the 2 disc set from the UK, I can't comment directly but be wary.

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Over its incredible 16-year run from 1971-1987 The Old Grey Whistle Test was THE destination in the U.K. to see cutting ed live performances by the hottest emerging acts in music. Until now! On Sept. 16 BBC Video is importing a DVD jam-packed with 28 vintage live performances from The Old Grey Whistle Test. Most have NEVER BEEN SEEN IN THE U.S. The first in a series of three Old Grey Whistle Test DVD compilations to be exported to the U.S. The Old Grey Whistle Test features performances by such legends as John Lennon Elton John Bob Marley Lynyrd Skynyrd Rory Gallagher The Police REM and U2 often at the start of their legendary careers! PLUS historic interviews with Mick Jagger John Lennon Keith Richards Robert Plant Bruce Springsteen and Elton John - over three hours of music and interviews in total - all on one DVD that will be a must have for music fans everywhere! Complete Playlist (in order of appearance on the program): Alice Cooper "Under My Wheels"; Elton John "Tiny Dancer"; Curtis Mayfield "We Gotta Have Peace"; Randy Newman "Political Science"; Bill Withers "Ain't No Sunshine"; Rory Gallagher "Hands Off"; The Wailers "Stir It Up"; Roxy Music "Do The Strand"; The Edgar Winter Group "Frankenstein"; Captain Beefheart "Upon the My O My"; Little Feat "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor"; John Lennon "Stand By Me"; Lynyrd Skynyrd "Freebird"; Emmylou Harris "Amarillo"; Bonnie Raitt "Too Long At The Fair"; Tom Waits "Tom Traubert's Blues"; Talking Heads "Psycho Killer"; XTC "Statue of Liberty"; Blondie "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear"; Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers "American Girl" The Police "Can't Stand Losing You"; Bruce Springsteen "Rosalita"; Iggy Pop "I'm Bored"; The Specials "Message to You Rudi"; The Damned "Smash It Up/I Just Can't Be Happy Today"; The Ramones "Rock 'n' Roll High School"; U2 "I Will Follow"; REM "Moon River" / "Pretty Persuasion"Running Time: 192 min. Genre:MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC:794051181220 Manufacturer No:E1812

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