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Roy Orbison - A Black & White Night (DTS)

Roy Orbison - A Black & White Night (DTS)

List Price: $24.99
Your Price: $18.74
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best
Review: This is the best jam session ever recorded. I have to order more for the family so I can have my copy at home when I want to watch it. I recommend this to anyone who loves good music.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Black & White and heard all over (hopefully)!
Review: I've heard "Black and White Night" described as one of the best filmed rock concerts ever done. It is indeed a stand out. Whoever thought to shoot this Roy Orbison concert in stark, slightly slo-mo black and white had the right idea--well, almost a stroke of genius really. Visually, this performance film is head and shoulders over most concert footage. The eerie, dreamlike effect suits the material--and not just Roy's "dream trilogy" classics ("In Dreams," "(All I Can Do Is)Dream You," and "Leah" either. Even the rockier like "Mean Woman Blues," "Move on Down the Line" and "Ooby Dooby" benefit from the atmospheric treatment as well.

One might say that Roy's sudden death in 1988 rendered his performance here all the more poignant--and made the stark visuals seem elegic and all the more appropriate. But even had his untimely death not occurred so soon after this was shot, this evocative treatment would have made complete sense. These (with one exception) 50s and early 60s classics sung against the backdrop of a 30s Art Deco-styled Coconut Grove become haunting and ultimately timeless.

It helps that Roy Orbison was vocally as strong as ever at this point in his life. He seems to waver momentarily on a few intros, but it's apparent that even those brief moments are more likely the result of live-performance jitters than a lack of control over his instrument. For the most part, he sounds as good or better than he ever did. To my mind, this live version of "Crying" surpasses the earlier studio take. Those high notes at the end seem almost effortless--astonishing!

Many people who have reviewed either the concert film or the live audio version have noted, with either admiration or some disappointment, that the superstar guests humbly yield the spotlight to Roy. But it's only fitting really that they do. Yes, Roy and k.d. lang had a minor hit with their duet version of "Crying." I seriously doubt that lang minded not sharing the vocal honors in this performance, however. This was Roy's night to shine, and shine he did. The occasional awed look you see on one of his all-star back up musicians (Springsteen, Costello, Raitt, Waits--among others) is never anything less than sincere. Many of these back-ups have sold significantly more records than Roy Orbison himself, but that hardly matters. They are there to honor a master--one who was still exhibiting his mastery right up until the time of his death.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Shoot the Soundman
Review: OK... great band, Roy is in TOP form and is blessed with James Burton as one of his guitarists... obviously admired by him and the rest of the band as well. So where is he in the mix? NOWHERE!!! Seems to me, someone in charge spent more time on video quality than audio. Is this about the music, or not? I own the VHS of this performance as well, and overall, the I feel the VHS sounds better.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: amazing!!!
Review: Well this dvd is worth buying.. the sound quality is amazing...
the man is a genius... and this is a MUST to anyones collection...what more can i say...!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent DVD!!!
Review: This dvd provides for the viewer a concert-type experience of Roy Orbison and many best-in-their-field performers supporting him. I have a dvd projector that projects on a very large screen and I must say that the image quality holds up remarkably. i just projected this dvd for the first time and am still "coming down" from the wonderful experience of seeing one of my three all-time favorites from the era of rock and roll. I must add that the sound recording is super, also.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Terrific, but.....
Review: I loved this, but there were so many great musicians with him, it would have been stunning to hear some duets....

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Pros and Cons
Review: Three impressive things about this DVD of a 1987 Roy Orbison concert: first, Mr. Orbison is indeed excellent. The voice is very much there and his wooden, impassive demeanour somehow adds poingniancy to each song. Second, Orbison's all-star band reads like a who's who of famed musicians from the 80's and includes Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Jackson Browne not to mention back-up singers, KD Lang, Bonnie Raitt and Jennifer Warrens. Wowza! And third, the sound in DTS is very good.

BUT the camera coverage is pretty lame and lighting is awful. And the editing sucks.

The worst thing, however, is that there's a real lack of spark or inspiration to the concert. All the elements appear to be there but there's something sadly missing. It's like these all-star musicians are just hanging out there; there's no real chemistry between them and Orbison.

The dvd includes some touching entusiastic notes from Orbison's son who was obviously a fan.

If you're a fan you'll adore this DVD; otherwise you don't really need it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: One of the Greatest
Review: Being 22, and living in age where rap music and hip-hop seem to dominate the air waves, I am enthralled by Roy Orbison. My memories of Orbison go back to when I was 6 or 7 I can remember my dad sitting in his favorite recliner, rocking me to sleep listening to Elvis and Orbison. They have become 2 of my favorite artists of all time. Sure I still enjoy music today, but one would be hard pressed to find a talen like Orbison. My fiancee bought me the DVD for Christmas and I turn it on every night before I go to bed and listen to "only the Lonely" and "Crying" Even my fiancee, who is one of the many at her age, who listen to rap adn alternative music mostly commented to me that she really liked it. Finally to make it complete, is the fact that the DVD has DTS enabled sound. It sounds great in just stereo, but when you turn it to DTS sound on a surround sound system. It is just amazing. A must have for any of Rock and Roll's fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Out Standing DVD!!
Review: Wonderful DVD with Roy Orbison and other famous artist. It's a must have to any one that has a DTS system at home, wonderful sound. I only wish the DVD had more music on it, 17 songs in all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Loved it from start to finish
Review: I have enjoyed Roy Orbison's music for years. The black and white only adds to the magic of this performance. This is timeless music which can enjoyed over and over on this DVD. The other musicians (Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Glenn Hardin) play backup and let the man do his work. How we miss Roy Orbison!


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