Rating: 
Summary: Great hits from top rockers even today !!!!
Review: Cut at the Royal Albert Hall benefit concert September 15th, 1997, for the volcano ravaged island of Montserrat this concert brings out some of the hardest hitting rockers of the ages. More than half of the concert lets Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney strut their highly polished artistry, we also get to enjoy, Phil Collins, Sting, Carl Perkins, Mark Knopfler (Money for Nothing), and Jimmy Buffet. The greatest thing about these concerts is that we get to see and hear some of the greatest masters performing rocks greatest hits ....... While some concert DVD's are lacking on the technical side this disc was perfectly mastered and the producers managed to let the enthusiastic audience add to the show ..... Both sound and video quality are top notch making this one of my favorite DVD's to enjoy both alone and with friends...
Rating:
Summary: Legendary Concert!
Review: I originally came across this DVD while searching for material from Mark Knopfler. After looking at the set list, I tried to find it but it had gone out of print. I was thilled to see it available once again and bought it immediately. All I can say is this is an excellent show! The only drawback to me (but not enough to drop this rating to a four) is the flow of the music early on....Phil Collins does an excellent job on the opening track with Take Me Home, but then we shift to Hot Hot Hot, Blue Suede Shoes and Jimmy Buffet. Just seemed kinda screwy.
However, this is the turning point of the show with no weak performances the rest of the way. The highlights being Brothers in Arms, Sting, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Layla and a great medley from McCartney to wrap things up.
The DTS recording is solid, but not at the level of Clapton's 'One more Car, One more Rider' or the Eagles 'HFO' but not many are. Still, it's well done and not a detriment to the disc whatsoever.
The bottom line is it's a legendary lineup for a very worthy cause...BUY IT!
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing moments but weak start
Review: I'd love to give this 5 stars, but I thought the initial Phil Collins track, the Arrow and Jimmy Buffett tracks could have been eliminated. Phil is stellar on the drums throughout, but he takes his solo appearance on Take Me Home, the first track on the DVD, and hams it up so much he ruins it. Jimmy and Arrow, while not exactly outclassed, just don't seem to have the stage presence of the legends that follow. So I usually start with Carl Perkins (track 3), and then cut to Mark Knopfler (track 5?), then the rest of the show. That said, there are not less than 3 or 4 literally goose-bump inducing moments when the performances and/or the combined stature and command of these legends just takes over and you have a kind of magic. One is the effortless showmanship of Carl Perkins, wearing blue suede shoes to sing his timeless classic (rather see him do it than Elvis, honestly). The crowd reaction when Knopfler introduces Clapton to play along on Money for Nothing. Then Elton John completely filling the hall with just the piano and his powerful solo vocals on Live Like Horses (an appreciative member of the orchestra sitting behind Elton is seen shaking his head in awe and admiration). And of course, as others have said, McCartney singing Hey Jude when Elton comes in on the second verse. Chilling. The sing-along with everyone is spectacular. I even thought Ray Cooper was a hoot. I've never seen a guy get so much joyous mileage (or style) out of a tambourine and a pair of sunglasses.
Rating:
Summary: Not perfect, but one of the best
Review: I've owned the laserdisc version of this concert since it was first released. While the sound quality is occasionally disappointing (especially Sting), it's generally quite good. And most of the performances are excellent, particularly Knopfler, Elton, Clapton and McCartney. I'd buy it again, if only for the McCartney/Elton exchange on "Hey Jude." I've watched this concert many times, and it still sends chills everytime Elton's voice appears in the second verse of this song. As for the complaints about the "tambourine bloke" -- that's Ray Cooper, the legendary (with good reason) percussionist who has backed most of these performers in studio sessions, and who is a mainstay of almost every all star concert. If you want a video concert that will absolutely knock you over, try to find "An Evening with Elton John and Ray Cooper" -- it used to appear occasionally on the Disney Channel (oh, well, so did Annie Lennox's Central Park concert), and if I ever found it on a commercially released video, I'd pay almost anything for it. Listen to Cooper's incredible performance on this concert (or better yet, see one of the live Elton John/Ray Cooper, sans band, shows) and you'll never again complain about Cooper being a "distraction." Ray rocks!
Rating:
Summary: Best Seat in the House!
Review: On the evening of September 15, 1997 the cream of rock 'n' roll royalty gathered at London's Royal Albert Hall to make music for a packed house of 4,500 fans. The occasion was to raise funds to aid the volcano stricken Caribbean island of Montserrat. More than half of the 11,000 residents of the island fled when a volcano erupted in 1995. Many years ago, former Beatles producer George Martin built a top-notch recording studio on the island. Musical colleagues of Martin's ranging from Sting to Paul McCartney became part of a rock invasion of the island when they recorded at Martin's Air Studios. It was no surprise when Sir George called upon his friends to help raise funds for the island that the pop music icons were more than willing to help. The result was the star-studded Music for Montserrat benefit concert that featured Phil Collins, Arrow, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney. The concert video was first shown in the U.S. as a pay-per-view cable television special and has recently been airing under the title Superstar Volcanic Rock. The three hour concert was trimmed down to 112 minutes for the DVD. I hadn't viewed the video since it first aired in 1997, so it was quite enjoyable to revisit this concert through the medium of DVD. This concert made me realize what made me love music in the first place - long before the Beatles ever stepped on US soil. Music just makes you feel good! There's a variety of musical styles wrapped up in this concert and they all blend together very well. Not just a concert by rock and rollers, performers include the Band of the Irish Guards, the Foundation Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Community Gospel Choir. As always, Sir George Martin seems humbled and overwhelmed by the enthusiastic reception of the audience. Among the supporting musicians are former McCartney band members Robbie McIntosh on guitar and Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards. The latter is incorrectly identified in the closing credits. From the opening drum beats of Phil Collins on Take Me Home to the closing jam of Kansas City, this concert event is pure enjoyment. Rockabilly guitar man Carl Perkins tells how he was invited to Montserrat by Paul McCartney to record a song for the Tug of War album. Watching Perkins rock out on Blue Suede Shoes (even wearing a pair!) - it's hard to believe that only four months later he passed on to Rock 'n' Roll Heaven. There is no weak segment during any of this concert. Each artist not only performs at his best ability, but they all look like they are having such a great time playing with one another in this superstar band. It's easy for a Beatles fan to say that they saved the best for last, with Paul McCartney performing an acoustic version of Yesterday. McCartney is then joined on stage by Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins and Eric Clapton, along with the orchestra, conducted by George Martin, and the gospel choir for a raucous rendition of "The Abbey Road Medley": Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight and The End. McCartney and Knopfler pair up for some jamming with their matching Gibson Les Paul Standards. The encore is a high-energy exuberant all-star version of Hey Jude with solos by Sting and Elton John, followed by McCartney singing lead on Kansas City. Both the video and audio quality of the DVD are exceptional. I've watched and listened several times and it's practically impossible to sit still - it makes you want to get up, dance and sing along. The only downside of the DVD is that there are no extra features. It would have been great to have included a documentary about the island of Montserrat, interview clips with the artists who have recorded there, and perhaps have that narrated by George Martin. One of the main selling points of DVDs for me are those extra features, so I'm always disappointed if no extra gems are included. The song list: Take Me Home - Phil Collins Hot, Hot, Hot - Arrow and His Band Blue Sued Shoes - Carl Perkins Volcano - Jimmy Buffett Brothers in Arms - Mark Knopfler Money for Nothing - Mark Knopfler Message in a Bottle - Sting Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - Sting Your Song - Elton John Live Like Horses - Elton John Don't Let the Sun Come Down on Me - Elton John Broken Hearted - Eric Clapton Layla - Eric Clapton Same Old Blues - Eric Clapton Yesterday - Paul McCartney Golden Slumbers - Paul McCartney Hey Jude - Paul McCartney Kansas City - Paul McCartney
Rating:
Summary: Knopfler And Clapton Steal The Show
Review: This concert was held to benefit the island of Montserrat after it was largely destroyed by a volcanic eruption. The show is good overall, and the sets by Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton are sublime. All performances are backed by such luminaries and Phil Collins and Phil Palmer and a full orchestra, which has never done better work than they do here on "Brothers in Arms."
The best performance of the show comes from Dire Straits founder Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits recorded the album "Brothers in Arms" in Montserrat, and here he performs the title track more perfectly than the on the original recording. He finishes his set with the help of Sting and good friend Eric Clapton with "Money For Nothing." Clapton returns the favor by having Mark sit in on "Layla" in what may be the definitive version of the song. These two master guitarists alone justify the purchase of this DVD.
I didn't really care for the Elton John or Paul McCartney sets. I don't know why the orchestra sat unused on "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", but it was not for the better. Likewise, McCartney is a great performer, but I have seen way too many singalong versions of "Hey Jude" at this point. McCartney's version of "Kansas City" though is one of the highlights of the show.
Everyone onstage does a competent job, but the performances of Knopfler and Clapton really do steal the show.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST Have - good, great and some magical performances
Review: This is a Must Have DVD for any Rock & Roll fan. The list of performers alone should peak your interest. Imagine Mark Knopfler, Sting, Eric Clapton & Phil Collins doing the best rendition of 'Money for Nothing" you have ever heard, then add Ray Cooper's animated percussion, a choir and and an orchestra - WOW! The individual performances are very good, but when the performers team up - it is phenomenal! Other notable selections include Eric, Mark, Phil, Ray and Jools Holland in 'Same Old Blues'; when Paul McCartney, Elton John and everyone else team to do 'Golden Slumbers', 'Hey Jude' and 'Kansas City' it is magical. The video quality and sound are both excellent. Thank goodness this is a DVD, I have experienced this so many times other media wouldn't have any quality left.
Rating:
Summary: 7th Row Seats
Review: This is a Must Have DVD for any Rock & Roll fan. The list of performers alone should peak your interest. Imagine Mark Knopfler, Sting, Eric Clapton & Phil Collins doing the best rendition of 'Money for Nothing" you have ever heard, then add Ray Cooper's animated percussion, a choir and and an orchestra - WOW! The individual performances are very good, but when the performers team up - it is phenomenal! Other notable selections include Eric, Mark, Phil, Ray and Jools Holland in 'Same Old Blues'; when Paul McCartney, Elton John and everyone else team to do 'Golden Slumbers', 'Hey Jude' and 'Kansas City' it is magical. The video quality and sound are both excellent. Thank goodness this is a DVD, I have experienced this so many times other media wouldn't have any quality left.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding charity concert
Review: This is one of the better ensemble concerts I have heard. "Brothers in Arms" by Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) is the most exquisite song on the program and Knopfler's "Money for Nothing" with Sting and Eric Clapton is the most rocking. Clapton's mostly-acoustic guitar set (with Knopfler backing) is superb, and I can't complain about Elton John on solo piano. He is truly an outstanding performer. The finale with Paul McCartney leading endless choruses of "Hey Jude" with all the performers was way, way better than good.
Rating:
Summary: Pavarotti didn't come, so ....
Review: This is what the British singer Elton John told the public that overcrowded the famous Royal Albert Hall, in London, before he sang and played Live like Horses, a song he composed to be played along with the Luciano Pavarotti. Unfortunately Luciano could not come up so Elton John did both his part and Luciano's! The outcome you will see when you buy this DVD but I may tip in advance that the audience in the back, composed of musicians from the Royal Orchestra, was totally overwhelmed by the solo performance of the pop singer Elton John. The venue of the show is an attraction in itself, being one of the most sacred temples both to classical music and to recent pop history if we remember the former Beatle John Lennon asking the noble audience to shake their jewels.
This superb September 1997 show was done to raise funds to help the people from Montserrat to rebuild their lives after a volcano eruption almost completely devastated the tiny Caribbean island it in the same year. The performers were mainly British and one after the other they convey to the audience and to home spectators the sheer intensity of their devotion to music. Sting, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler, Elton John and the former Beatle Paul McCartney, just to name a few of the pop stars present at the performance, with a little help from the British Royal Orchestra, play some of their most famous songs and, in the end, band themselves together in a final jam session not to be equaled in sheer intensity by anything done before in pop story. Just figure out what is to have in a single session the likes of Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Elton John, M.Knopfler, etc..., and to top it all, with background orchestra and vocals conducted by sir George Martin, the man who made arrangements to almost all Beatles songs!!
It is a must buy to anyone who enjoys music played by the best performers from the 60's trough the 90's; this DVD will bring you a lot of the pleasure you may be looking for. Enjoy it!!
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