Paul Simon And Friends: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)A very special DVD. Using Simon's own band to back up the other artists performing his songs was a brilliant move, as it maintained the integrity of his works in their new forms. It did seem like the videographer (or editor) was enamored of Simon's band manager Mark Stewart, as he appears prominently in an extraordinary number of scenes.
The inserted clips of Simon singing "Mrs. Robinson" at the Yankee Stadium tribute to DiMaggio was as awkward here as it was originally. The clips of Simon's recorded duets with Miriam Makeba and George Harrison were priceless, welcome additions.
The only real downer of the whole experience was Philip Glass's piano mangling of "Sounds of Silence". It was tortured and barely recognizable!
Overall, this purchase was well worth the money!

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In May of 2007 the Library of Congress gathered an unprecedented group of musicians together in Washington, D.C., to honor Paul Simon as the first recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Alison Krauss, Stevie Wonder, Lyle Lovett, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Marc Anthony, Art Garfunkel and a host of others joined Paul onstage in a multicultural tribute to the music of a great American artist and a great American art form. This gala event, called "the greatest night of popular music ever presented in our nation's capital," was beautifully filmed and captured with stunning 5.1 Surround Sound for a truly pure concert experience. Performances: Introduction - Bob Costas 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Lyle Lovett The Boxer - Alison Krauss, Shawn Colvin and Jerry Douglas Mother And Child Reunion - Stephen Marley Under African Skies - Miriam Makeba and Paul Simon clip from Paul Simon Graceland: The African Concert (Zimbabwe, 1987) Homeless - Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mrs. Robinson - Paul Simon clip from Yankee Stadium tribute to Joe DiMaggio (April 25, 1999) Slip Slidin' Away - James Taylor and the Dixie Hummingbirds Sunday Morning With The Sensational Nightingales (poem) - Billy Collins and the Dixie Hummingbirds That Was Your Mother - Buckwheat Zydeco and Lyle Lovett Homeward Bound - Paul Simon and George Harrison clip from Saturday Night Live (November 20, 1976) Still Crazy After All These Years - James Taylor El Condor Pasa - Marc Anthony Late In The Evening - Marc Anthony Gone At Last - Yolanda Adams and Jessy Dixon Something So Right - Dianne Reeves The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) -The Muppets (Grover and Elmo) Graceland - Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes - Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo Bridge Over Troubled Water -Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel Father And Daughter -Paul Simon Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder Loves Me Like A Rock - Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder with the Dixie Hummingbirds Sounds Of Silence - Philip Glass

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James Taylor - Pull Over (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a bit torn when it comes to this DVD. On the one hand, James Taylor is an extremely talented musician, especially in concert. The material on this DVD is everything a Taylor fan could hope for - the classics like Fire and Rain, a few less well-known songs such as Frozen Man (beautifully done on this DVD), and some stuff from October Road. But the production values on the DVD itself are a bit less than stellar. The quality of the picture is okay at best, and at times rather poor. Also, whoever did the camera transitions should be fired - call me picky, but the transitions between views were often poorly timed and lent absolutely nothing to the experience of watching the performance.
Still, despite all this, I give it five stars because I love James Taylor, and I love his music. Any fan who can say the same will surely like this DVD. The technical issues aside, I am very pleased with Pull Over. It's no substitute for seeing James perform in person, but it is nevertheless a must-have for James Taylor addicts.

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With a career thriving well into its fourth decade and one of the most beloved catalogs in the world, James Taylor is more than the definitive singer-songwriter. He's an American treasure. His latest project, James Taylor & Band-Pull Over, captures James at the height of his craft. Filmed in the summer of 2001, the 23-song program features James's greatest hits, fan favorites and a look ahead. The DVD features 5.1 mixes done by Grammy winner Frank Filipetti, a complete discography and a 10-minute behind-the-scenes look at the recording of October Road.When James Taylor picked up the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance trophy at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in February 2001 (for "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," a track from Michael Brecker's Nearness Of You collection), it was the latest in a string of Grammy wins for the artist going back three decades. Taylor earned his first Grammy (Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male) in 1971 for his recording of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend." After moving to Columbia Records in 1976, Taylor claimed his second Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Grammy in 1977 for his wry interpretation of Jimmy Jones's "Handy Man." JT, his Columbia Records debut, has since gone on to hit triple platinum. In 1998, his platinum Hourglass album snared Grammys for both "Best Pop Album" and "Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical." His contribution to In Harmony, a Sesame Street album, helped that album win a "Best Recording For Children" Grammy at the 1980 ceremony.James started writing music in the mid 1960s as a student at a New England boarding school, far removed from his family and friends in the Piedmont Hills of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The first artist signed to the Beatles' Apple Records, James Taylor released his self-titled debut album in 1968. Containing instantly memorable songs like "Carolina In My Mind" and "Something In The Way She Moves," James Taylor immediately established him as an important new voice in contemporary music. Moving to California, and Warner Bros. Records, in 1969, James Taylor recorded his first platinum album, Sweet Baby James, released in March 1970. A year later, Taylor was featured on the cover of Time magazine, which heralded him as the harbinger of "the singer/songwriter era."His songs reflect his passion for music and a dedication to the constant evolution of his craft; and they have had a profound influence on both songwriters and music lovers of all generations and from all walks of life. Today it is no surprise to see children discovering his songs through their parents' record collections and immediately falling in love with the sound of his voice. Program Start" "Everyday" "That's Why I'm Here" "Only One" "Frozen Man" Introduction "Frozen Man" "On The 4th Of July" "Whenever You're Ready" "Raised Up Family" "Luis Conte Percussion Solo" "Mexico" "Steamroller Blues" "Carolina In My Mind" "Millworker" "Sun On The Moon" "Junkie's Lament" "Copperline" "Shed A Little Light" "Fire & Rain" "You've Got A Friend" "Your Smiling Face" "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" "Traffic Jam" "Knock On Wood" "You Can Close Your Eyes" "Sweet Baby James" Credits BONUS FEATURES: * The Making Of October Road * Biography * Discography DVD Video Special Features * Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound * PCM Stereo * Behind The Scenes: The Making Of October Road * Biography * Discography

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Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Holy Grail has surfaced at last! If you are reading this, you love Memphis Soul, so what are you waiting for! Buy this disc! The packaging is great, with a nice booklet of over a dozen pages written by the author of Soulville. Considering this is old black and white footage and that one cannot undo poor camera choices (such as ridiculous rapid zooming in and out during one Sam and Dave song), the quality is quite good. The edits done to preserve continuity are essentially seamless and never detract from the program. Sometimes the microphones are overdriven a bit, but there is nothing that can be done about that now, and it isn't that bad. So, from a technical and packaging standpoint, very, very good.
The performances are way cool. Booker T and the MG's and the Mar Kays warm things up and it is great to have some time to focus on their talents. Arthur Conley perfoms "Midnight Hour" with co-author Steve Cropper, which is kind of neat, but I really enjoy his second performance even more. Eddie Floyd's perfomance is brief and fairly good. When Sam & Dave are introduced, the show really takes off and the band steps it into high gear. I personally purchased this just to have a chance to realize a dream - seeing Sam & Dave perform. They do not disappoint! To me, their 4 songs (one is slightly abbreviated) are the highlight of the show. We have all seen Otis and know how amazing he is, but footage of Sam & Dave is unheard of. I suspect many of you, like me, were more curious about this aspect than the Otis portion of the show, because we all know Otis will deliver, and he does. All one need say is that Otis performs and you know it is great. Still, my personal highlight is "When Something is Wrong With My Baby" by Sam and Dave. Watch the funny interaction between Duck Dunn and Dave. The band is incredible all the way through. I was still on the edge of my seat the second time through the show! If you love Stax, this might move you to tears! BUY IT!

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Stax/Volt Revue - Live in Norway 1967 marks thefirst-ever official release of this historic concert. Considered by soulmusic fans to be one of the greatest lineups of artists ever to grace theconcert stage, this DVD features stunning performances by Otis Redding, Samand Dave, Eddie Floyd, Arthur Conley, The Mar-Keys and the legendary BookerT. & The MGs. This DVD captures the April 7, 1967 concert in Oslo, Norway near the end ofthe three-week tour, when all the artists were at their very peak.The 75-minute concert was restored from the original master tapes andincludes 20 minutes of recently discovered performances lost in the vaultsfor 40 years.Booker T and the MGs 1. Red Beans And Rice 2. Green Onions The Mar-Keys 3.Philly Dog 4.Grab This Thing 5.Last Night Arthur Conley 6.In The Midnight Hour 7.Sweet Soul Music Eddie Floyd 8. Raise Your Hand Sam and Dave 9. You Don't Know Like I Know 10. Soothe Me 11. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby 12. Hold On! I'm Comin' Otis Redding 13.Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) 14. My Girl 15. Shake 16. Satisfaction 17. Try A Little Tenderness Bonus features: Booker T.& The MGs - Green Onions (Version #2) Full-length commentary track with Steve Cropper, Wayne Jackson and RobBowman A look back at the tour with Sam Moore, Jim Stewart, Wayne Jackson andSteve Cropper. 24-page booklet with an essay By GRAMMY®-winning writer and Stax historianRob Bowman INTERVIEWS SUBTITLED IN - ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH, ANDPORTUGUESE.

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The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash 1969-1971 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who just appreciates good music. I caught a sneak preview of this amazing disc on my local PBS station in August of 2007, and it was one of the greatest things I had seen on television in a long time. Johnny Cash's prime time television show aired from 1969 - 1971, and featured both prominent rock and country artists of the day. Groundbreaking television for sure, considering at the time that most rock artists were associated with the peace, drugs, free love and the anti-war movement by a conservative segment of American society, just when the war was really starting to sour. Filmed live at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee (with a few exceptions), in front of a mostly Southern country music audience, all the artists seemed to be warmly embraced by the crowd, with Johnny Cash's blessing and support. The first hour consisted of rock and popular music performers that Johnny Cash was an admirer or fan of, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Neil Diamond, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The highlight was Derek and the Dominoes featuring Eric Clapton, and following their performance none other than Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash himself joined Derek and the Dominoes onstage for a raucous version of Perkins' Matchbox. Simply amazing.
The second half was Johnny himself performing solo, with his wife June Carter Cash, and with the Tennessee Three. Prominent country artists also featured were George Jones, Tammy Wynette, a young, short-haired and beardless Hank Williams Jr., young Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Charley Pride (possibly the only black country artist ever). These are only the performances shown on the PBS special preview. There were literally hundreds of great performances on this show over its two year run. There's no lip synching nonsense here. Every artist actually performing and singing live. This is priceless television and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of any of the artists I mentioned. You will not be disappointed. It won't be available until September of 2007, and I will most definitely be purchasing it.

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DISC 1 Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire Bob Dylan - I Threw It All Away Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash - Girl From The North Country Kris Kristofferson - Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash - Blue Yodel #9 Stevie Wonder - Heaven Help Us All Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash - I Will Never Marry George Jones - Medley (White Lightning with Johnny Cash, She Thinks I Still Care, Love Bug, The Race Is On) Johnny Cash - Hey Porter Waylon Jennings - Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash - The Singing Star's Queen Waylon Jennings - Brown Eyed Handsome Man Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man Marty Robbins - Medley (Big Iron, Running Gun, El Paso) Johnny Cash - Come Along And Ride This Train Johnny Cash - As Long As The Grass Shall Grow Johnny Cash - Man In Black James Taylor - Sweet Baby James Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash - Cripple Creek, Worried Man Blues Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down Johnny Cash - Old Time Religion Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and The TennesseeThree - Daddy Sang Bass Mother Maybelle and The Carter Sisters - Wildwood Flower Neil Young - The Needle And The Damage Done Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three - Tennessee Flat Top Box Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash - The Long Black Veil Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three with Carl Perkins - Big River DISC 2 Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line June Carter Cash - A Good Man Derek And The Dominos - It's Too Late Derek And The Dominos with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins - Matchbox Charley Pride - Able Bodied Man Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys - Blue Moon Of Kentucky Loretta Lynn - I Know How Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Johnny Cash - Ride This Train (America The Beautiful, This Land Is Your Land) The Everly Brothers with Ike Everly and Johnny and Tommy Cash - That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine Ray Charles - Ring Of Fire Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue Conway Twitty - Hello Darlin' Mother Maybelle Carter - Black Mountain Rag Tony Joe White and Johnny Cash - Polk Salad Annie Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie Ray Price - For The Good Times Roy Orbison - Crying Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash - Oh, Pretty Woman Johnny Cash - Wanted Man Chet Atkins and Johnny Cash - Recuerdo De La Alhambra Chet Atkins - Medley (Country Gentleman, Mister Sandman, Wildwood Flower, Freight Train) June Carter Cash with Homer And Jethro - Baby, It's Cold Outside Merle Haggard - No Hard Times Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash - Sing Me Back Home Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers - The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago Roy Clark - Medley (In The Summertime, 12th Street Rag) The Statler Brothers - Flowers On The Wall Johnny Cash - Working Man Blues Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash - Jackson, Turn Around, I Love You Because Hank Williams Jr. - Medley (You Win Again, Cold Cold Heart, I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You, Half As Much) Johnny Cash - A Wonderful Time Up There

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