Rating: 
Summary: Yes, the video quality is bad but Harry still sounds great
Review: This Harry Chapin concern was taped in Germany on April 12, 1977 as an episode of the German television music show "Rockpalast Live," shortly after the release of the double-album "Dance Band on the Titanic." That accounts for both the poor quality of the video and the selection of these particular fourteen songs:"Shooting Star"
"W.O.L.D."
"Mr. Tanner"
"Dance Band on the Titanic"
"Taxi"
"Six String Orchestra"
"Corey's Coming"
"Blues Man" "Mail Order Annie"
"30,000 Pounds of Bananas"
"Cat's in the Cradle"
"Circle"
"Odd Man Job"
"I Wanna Learn a Love Song" Actually only a couple of songs come from the "Dance Band on the Titanic" album, with five of the songs coming from the "Verities and Balderdash" album three from "Short Stories." Of course Chapin plays his most recognizable "hits," which are the few songs of his that got a lot of A.M. radio air play: "W.O.L.D.," "Taxi," and "Cat's in the Cradle." But long time fans will appreciate the chance to hear big John Wallace help out on "Mr. Tanner" and Harry's bittersweet love songs like "Mail Order Annie." The gem this time around would be the almost nine minute version of "Corey's Coming." The band consists of Chapin on acoustic guitar (and wearing a yellow shirt), Wallace on bass, brother Steve Chapin on keyboards, Doug Walker playing electric guitar, Howie Fields on drums, and Kim Scholes playing the cello. Of course everybody gets to join in on the fun with the sing along "Circle." There is another Chapin concert out there, a PBS "Soundstage" concert released as "The Book of Chapin," but for Harry's fans any opportunity to see him perform again is worth the having. Even the strangeness of the German audience, who obviously have not already taken this music to heart, works because Harry makes a big effort to connect with them (but avoids doing the alternative endings on "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" because this audience is probably not going to get the jokes). But even if the video quality is suspect at times the audio is pretty good and that is what matters the most. Harry was posthumously rewarded the Gold Medal of Freedom by Congress for his work fighting hunger in this country. He was something special and I still remembering hearing about the big LA radio station that played his song "What Made America Famous?" every hour during the 4th of July weekend the year I graduated high school. It is impossible to listen to any of his songs and not mourn the tragic accident that took him from us way too soon and to wonder about the dozen albums he would have put out between then and now and all the great songs we missed out on hearing. But we do have his excellent body of story songs and a few concert vidoes to remind us how great Harry was in concert.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, the video quality is bad but Harry still sounds great
Review: This Harry Chapin concern was taped in Germany on April 12, 1977 as an episode of the German television music show "Rockpalast Live," shortly after the release of the double-album "Dance Band on the Titanic." That accounts for both the poor quality of the video and the selection of these particular fourteen songs:
"Shooting Star"
"W.O.L.D."
"Mr. Tanner"
"Dance Band on the Titanic"
"Taxi"
"Six String Orchestra"
"Corey's Coming"
"Blues Man"
"Mail Order Annie"
"30,000 Pounds of Bananas"
"Cat's in the Cradle"
"Circle"
"Odd Man Job"
"I Wanna Learn a Love Song"
Actually only a couple of songs come from the "Dance Band on the Titanic" album, with five of the songs coming from the "Verities and Balderdash" album three from "Short Stories." Of course Chapin plays his most recognizable "hits," which are the few songs of his that got a lot of A.M. radio air play: "W.O.L.D.," "Taxi," and "Cat's in the Cradle." But long time fans will appreciate the chance to hear big John Wallace help out on "Mr. Tanner" and Harry's bittersweet love songs like "Mail Order Annie." The gem this time around would be the almost nine minute version of "Corey's Coming." The band consists of Chapin on acoustic guitar (and wearing a yellow shirt), Wallace on bass, brother Steve Chapin on keyboards, Doug Walker playing electric guitar, Howie Fields on drums, and Kim Scholes playing the cello. Of course everybody gets to join in on the fun with the sing along "Circle."
There is another Chapin concert out there, a PBS "Soundstage" concert released as "The Book of Chapin," but for Harry's fans any opportunity to see him perform again is worth the having. Even the strangeness of the German audience, who obviously have not already taken this music to heart, works because Harry makes a big effort to connect with them (but avoids doing the alternative endings on "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" because this audience is probably not going to get the jokes). But even if the video quality is suspect at times the audio is pretty good and that is what matters the most.
Harry was posthumously rewarded the Gold Medal of Freedom by Congress for his work fighting hunger in this country. He was something special and I still remembering hearing about the big LA radio station that played his song "What Made America Famous?" every hour during the 4th of July weekend the year I graduated high school. It is impossible to listen to any of his songs and not mourn the tragic accident that took him from us way too soon and to wonder about the dozen albums he would have put out between then and now and all the great songs we missed out on hearing. But we do have his excellent body of story songs and a few concert vidoes to remind us how great Harry was in concert.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly recommended for fans
Review: This is a great DVD for poor mugs like me who didn't discover Harry until it was too late. I have been a Harry fan for 20 years now and, although the quality isn't fantastic, this DVD gave my a chance to see the great man in action.
I love it.
It is true that the German audience are less than vocal, but I think that they are enjoying the concert in their own subdued fashion. And of course there is that guy in the front row who is making up for everyone else. You can't miss this guy; if his smile was any bigger the top of his head would fall off. A real one man audience.
So, if you are like me and never got the chance to see Harry, don't be put off; grab this DVD. It is well worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: where's the audience?!!?
Review: This is a rough show to get through, but it has such wonderful moments that pop up that they make it worthwhile. For starters I know of no other place where you can find "Dance Band on the Titanic" and "Blues Man" live or "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" and "Corey's Coming" on film. The latter is the long concert version which I hadn't heard before. BUT the audio mixing isn't always the best with some bad backing vocals at time (perhaps just poorly mixed) and the video is grainy and for most of the show Harry's head is cut off on the top and when the song titles appear on the bottom they are often cut off as well. There are some moments where Harry sings to the camera which feels odd to me-I'm used to seeing him sing to all corners of the audience rather than right at the camera. Much of the humor is lost on the german audience. Harry doesn't treat them like germans and does his usual schtick which seems lost much of the time. "...Bananas" is interesting. It takes awhile for the audience to get into it and the extra endings aren't played. It is a very rare chance to see the man in action so it is worth the shortcomings but I think that the Soundstage concert is the best.
Rating:
Summary: where's the audience?!!?
Review: This is a rough show to get through, but it has such wonderful moments that pop up that they make it worthwhile. For starters I know of no other place where you can find "Dance Band on the Titanic" and "Blues Man" live or "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" and "Corey's Coming" on film. The latter is the long concert version which I hadn't heard before. BUT the audio mixing isn't always the best with some bad backing vocals at time (perhaps just poorly mixed) and the video is grainy and for most of the show Harry's head is cut off on the top and when the song titles appear on the bottom they are often cut off as well. There are some moments where Harry sings to the camera which feels odd to me-I'm used to seeing him sing to all corners of the audience rather than right at the camera. Much of the humor is lost on the german audience. Harry doesn't treat them like germans and does his usual schtick which seems lost much of the time. "...Bananas" is interesting. It takes awhile for the audience to get into it and the extra endings aren't played. It is a very rare chance to see the man in action so it is worth the shortcomings but I think that the Soundstage concert is the best.
Rating:
Summary: where's the audience?!!?
Review: This is a rough show to get through, but it has such wonderful moments that pop up that they make it worthwhile. For starters I know of no other place where you can find "Dance Band on the Titanic" and "Blues Man" live or "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" and "Corey's Coming" on film. The latter is the long concert version which I hadn't heard before. BUT the audio mixing isn't always the best with some bad backing vocals at time (perhaps just poorly mixed) and the video is grainy and for most of the show Harry's head is cut off on the top and when the song titles appear on the bottom they are often cut off as well. There are some moments where Harry sings to the camera which feels odd to me-I'm used to seeing him sing to all corners of the audience rather than right at the camera. Much of the humor is lost on the german audience. Harry doesn't treat them like germans and does his usual schtick which seems lost much of the time. "...Bananas" is interesting. It takes awhile for the audience to get into it and the extra endings aren't played. It is a very rare chance to see the man in action so it is worth the shortcomings but I think that the Soundstage concert is the best.
| 
