The Who - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

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Summary: It's as if the Who have been reborn!
Review: When I saw The Who perform here in Seattle back in their heyday, they were unquestionably one of the top live rock groups on the scene. By the time they played a benefit for Kampuchia (1979?) and their 1982 "Farewell Tour", they had devolved into a mere shadow of their former selves, going though the motions, looking tired and uninspired. I remember remarking that the song "My Generation" with the lyrics "Hope I die before I get old" were conspicuously missing from those final tours.
Now, all these years later, after reading rave reviews of this Albert Hall 2000 DVD, I bought a copy, and was floored. From Pete Townsend's opening chords of "I Can't Explain" it was as if the Who magically recaptured the power,intensity and stage presence they had thirty years ago. Songs like "Relay" "My Wife" "Magic Bus" "Bargain" "5:15" are played as well as I've ever heard them. In fact, I can't think of another rock band formed in the past 25 years that can touch these guys' energy even though Townsend, Daltrey and Entwistle are pushing 60. The younger members of the band, Zac Starkey on drums and John Bundrick on keyboards fit right in, excellent musicians.
I recognize that this was a benefit show, and these often involve special guests. However, the Who is such a great band that the appearance of guests only subtracts from the show in my opinion. One exception is violinist extraordinaire Nigel Kennedy who does a great job on Baba O'Reilley, and on another positive note, at least Phil Collins (the usual benefit guest) wasn't invited.
The frosting on the cake is that the show is impeccably filmed (although I agree with another reviewer that the edits every 3 seconds is too much) and the sound is first rate. This is what DVD is all about.

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Summary: The Who - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Review: I could waste your time with a drawn out discussion on why you should add this DVD to your entertainment system, but I will get right to the point. If you have any Who music and have enjoyed their music over the years, you will love this DVD. I could not have picked a better set to hear. You get to enjoy 3 different versions of music on the DVD. 1-The Power Who 2-The Acoustic Who 3-The Special Guests taking part in Who songs. You will also enjoy the John Entwistle "Bass Cam" on 5.15 Spend the 20 bucks, it is well worth it.

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Summary: This is a terrific video!!!
Review: This is a terrific video! Be sure to get the DVD, as there are bonus features that you don't get on the VHS tape. The Who rock through a shortened set of their hits, and then bring on guests in the second half of the show for rare numbers that add an extra dimension to the event. The second disk includes rehearsal segments and a Daltrey interview, plus presentation of a check to the Teenage Cancer Trust for the one million pounds raised by the benefit. The video is crystal clear and the sound is excellent, whether you're using only your TV speakers or an expensive surround sound system. Townshend plays lead at his best, and a camera mounted on Entwistle's bass gives you a surreal view of the world's greatest bass player at work. Buy it!

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Summary: A Must For Who Fans
Review: Excellent!The sound & picture quality are superb.The Who are better than they ever were.

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Summary: The next best thing to being there
Review: Great DVD. Well mixed. Wish they identified their "guest stars" on-screen, as I didn't readily recognize a few of them.

Worth purchasing

Rating:
Summary: Maximum T.E.D.
Review: Yes, Maximum Townshend/Entwistle/Daltrey... Add to that the extremely talented Zak Starkey (son of Ringo) and the always great John "Rabbit" Bundrick on keyboards, and you got yourself an amazing show from one of, if not the best live rock performers of all time! Anyone who thinks the bandmates are a bunch of worn out grandpas, I quadruple-dare you to buy this DVD. I don't think there are a lot of people in their mid-fifties that can play a guitar like Pete Townshend. And as for John Entwistle, the BEST bass player of all time, well just watch and listen to his solo during 5:15 and you'll understand what I mean. In fact, I don't there is anyone of them "bands" you see on MTV these days can play like they can! That's a challenge...

As for the DVD itself, I loved the picture and the sound. There was a little too much camera movement, but overall it was well done. The extras on disc 2 were memorable, but too short. Don't tell me they couldn't add at least 30 minutes of more footage. I doubt they only filmed what they put in!

So in conculsion, even if you never heard of the Who (you must have been living in Afghanistan!), I totally recommend this DVD. The songs are great, the performers are great, the special guests are great, everyone and everything in there is great.

Rating:
Summary: They're still amazing live!
Review: The concert is terrific. The DVD captures it perfectly. There are many hihglights. My favorite is John Entwistle's lenghty bass solo during 5:15. I saw him play it live twice and it will make your jaw drop.

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Summary: Never change
Review: Its sounds like Live at Leeds the CD. In 30 yaers the sounds not change. What a energy, great band its sounds hard its is hard.
Only the pictures on the inlay, making by Brain Adams he can't make one good picture, he is the only artist that deserpoint me with the great song Behind Bleu eyes.
The Who for me the greatest live band ever and this DVD let see it. The quality of the sound en picture on this DVD is very good
Play it loud on 5.1 and you are in the Royal Albert Hall.

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Summary: 144 Minutes of Who Heaven
Review: This is the reason I own a DVD player. The sound is incredible. The visuals are crystal clear. This is the complete version of the Pay-Per-View show featured on Directv in August, and it is far superior not only because it also includes MY WIFE, RELAY, 5:15, THE REAL ME, and more. (The PPV was a paltry 90 minutes!) It's because it's all on DVD. If you have a halfway decent sound system you're going to feel like you're front and center at Royal Albert Hall.

Some have criticized the fast-pace cutting. I think it's edited the way a rock concert should be. It creates a frenetic ambience which puts you right on stage with the greatest rock band in the world. Sure, these guys are pushing sixty, but the energy is still there. The pouty, snarling Townshend, and the grinning, happy-go-lucky Daltrey, are the yin and yang of this legendary band, and they're anchored by a guy who is probably the best musician of the lot -- John Entwistle, bass player extraordinaire. (You're going to love the bass-cam shots on 5:15). Rounding out the quartet and sitting in for Keith "I died in 1978" Moon is none other than Zak Starkey, son of a Beatle, and a darn good drummer himself.

I highly recommend this double-disc selection. (The second disc has some rehearsal footage and a mini-documentary on the charity. Great stuff, but I must admit I wanted more extras -- maybe some highlights from the 2000 tour?).

Rating:
Summary: Missed Opportunity
Review: I saw The Who three times during last years tour. This DVD comes close to capturing their show but has some serious limitations. Picture quality is great, but why must we suffer a jump cut every one to two seconds? Does the director feel this is necessary to maintain our interest? Just when you start to enjoy a scene, you're off to see a super close up of someone or whole hall shot. They should of left the spinning camera zooms back in the sixties. Very distracting. The sound is fair with a somewhat muddy drum and bass mix. And the guests? I can see Eddie Vedder, but Bryan Adams???? Why butcher Who classics just to drag in more guests? Ugh! The band is 5 stars. The DVD missed, it's a 2. A band of this quality deserves more. Hang the director, editor and sound engineer.