Rating: Summary: Still a great concert Review: I know that some reviews focus on Maurice White's health/illness on this DVD and it almost kept me from buying it. I'm glad I did purchase it for it is another extraordinary showing by the greatest group of all time. Sure, some of them are showing their age but we're talking about a band that has been around a LONG time. And yet they are as tight and competent as ever. Maurice still makes it look easy and Verdine is almost beyond words for you can hear his masterful bass playing throughout the concert. The band's energy is a bit different from other concerts but they're one group who even on a bad day (which this concert isn't one) still stand head and shoulders over most groups.
Rating: Summary: Entranced by this video Review: I placed this DVD in my player and from the beginning felt as if I was magically transported to a time and place where the main thing that mattered was the tremendous display of talent by the greatest band of all time. I've watched it several times and continue to re-experience the wonderful feelings I had in attendint their concerts. Even my 15-year-old, hard-core rap and hip-hop fan of a son sat spellbound we watched this group do what they do best. It's a must buy for EWF fans and a reminder-- in these days of sampling and remakes-- of a time when extraordinary musicians took the stage and gave their all.
Rating: Summary: Great Performances/Lousy Audio Mastering Review: I played this DVD on several systems and found I had to crank the bass while lowering the highs to get the thing to sound close to acceptable. It sounds like this recording was made using live microphones without using feeds from the mixing board. It's a shame because it's such great music.
Rating: Summary: EWF -> Best Band Ever! Review: I travelled all the way from BRAZIL to the US just to see the guys from EWF. EWF has it all! Melody, Harmony,Groove! This dvd includes September, Reasons, Let's Groove, Getaway and a lot more! You can't miss SONNY EMORY's drum solo, track 18... Great buy!
Rating: Summary: Very Uplifting, Great Performances, only a few flaws....... Review: I would have given this a 5 due to the great songs, great heartfelt, funky, soulfull performances, awesome musicians, etc.. There are some GREAT moments in this concert. But there were a few small things that are somewhat picky, but should have been better: The dancing girls looked really stupid, poorly/cheaply dressed and the cameras focused on them too much for some reason. It looked strange/unnecessary for them to be there in the first place. The video editing was kind of strange, didn't match the performances here and there, looked kind of cheap in places, etc, made some of the show seem overdubbed, etc...... Sound quality was clear and well-done in most parts, but kind of strangely mixed in other places. Good dynamics though, as opposed to a lot of the overly compressed crap out there today. Lighting and effects were minimal. Video effects put in between the songs looked cheap and non-creative. Overall though, this DVD is a breathe of fresh air and simply makes you feel good to watch it and makes you want to get up and dance with them. I love it!
Rating: Summary: This is Earth,Wind and Fire at their best! Review: I've been and E,W&F fan as far as I can remember. Seeing these musical legends on DVD performing all their great hits was the next best thing to being there "LIVE" at their concerts. This is your last chance of seeing the "Genius",Maurice White lead this spectacular band! I've heard he has retired from the band which really bums me out. Maurice, please come back! Regardless, I will always be their #1 fan! Great performance, great film work, clear picture and of course, great music! Buy it, you won't regret you did!
Rating: Summary: Must own for any Earth Wind & Fire fans Review: I've shown this disk to many of my friends and have yet to find one that wasn't thrilled. This is from a relatively old tour. As such, they took an older 2-track mix and somehow, created a pretty remarkable 5.1. My hats off. If you like EW&F, you'll love this disk.
Rating: Summary: I Found A Hidden Track!!! Review: If it were up to me, this DVD would never have seen the light of day. Maurice White's illness is clearly evident in his performance, and as veterans of many an EWF show during the '70s and early '80s, my wife and I were saddened as we watched. Anyone who followed the group in their heyday and has heard the recent _Revolution_ CD or has seen them perform since Maurice's "hiatus" knows that EWF without Maurice White is not EWF. That said, it's worth noting that the finest performances on this DVD are by the group's founder, Maurice White. While somewhat (visibly) addled by what we now know to be a neurological disorder, he still manages to turn out some fine vocal performances during the first half of the disc. The previous reviewers are correct -- the man at the soundboard was asleep at the switch and is deserving of an appropriate sanction, as are those who produced the DVD. Earth, Wind & Fire was done a disservice on many levels with the release of this particular show. However, I can't completely condemn it to the boneyard for these reasons: 1) The only live "Evil" I've ever seen or heard, and 2) The only "complete" "Head To The Sky" I've ever heard in concert. Also, bass guitarist Verdine White is amazing to hear and watch. You can get tired trying to keep up with him. Another caution: Philip Bailey has a harder time hitting those notes than he used to, and when he does, they're not as clean. I blame that partially on the mix and partially on the fact that he's not 20 anymore. I briefly met Phil at Denver's Stapleton Airport back in the mid-'80s, and he greeted me as though I were a long-lost friend. That doesn't in any way influence my view that he hit some severe clunkers during this show. Okay, about the hidden track: If you hit "PLAY" on your DVD remote just as the disc is booting up, you'll be treated to a very rare live version of "Sunday Morning". You won't find it on the menu or the track listing, but it's there!
Rating: Summary: EWF - Gottta Have It Review: If you're a true fan of EWF like I've been ever since I first listened to them as a kid in the early 70's, you certainly have to have this bit of memorabilia in your collection. It's always a plus to actually see them do what they do best... R&B. Unfortunately, I give this '94 live concert only 3 stars. Maybe I'm rating this one harder because I'm comparing it to their '90 Live In Japan dvd (which I'd give 5 stars) and their '81 Live in Oakland dvd (4 stars). Additionally, in this dvd, I felt Maurice was certainly showing how his age/health is starting to get to him. It's sad to say, but that's the impression I get. He lacks the energy that the rest of the group is still able to project. This concert doesn't have the spectacle and glitter that EWF concerts have been know for, but still, it's a good medium to see the music that I grew up with.
Rating: Summary: The greatest of all time? This video says it all. Review: If you've been to an EWF concert since the retirement (from the road) of group founder Maurice White, this video will show you why White was, and always will be, the driving spirit behind the band's success. Five of the original EWF members are here and they are all in great form, but White's energetic leadership is key. Unlike the 1996 release "Greatest Hits Live" which flies through shortened versions of nearly 20 tunes, this concert features fewer songs but concentrates on the group's legendary musicianship. In addition, the performance showcases White on kalimba and Andrew Woolfolk on sax, elements which once contributed to the group's unique sound and helped define them in the early years, but now will likely never be a part of their live performances again. If you are an EWF fan, this video is absolutely essential; if you are curious as to why many critics argue that they are the greatest live concert band of all time, this video says it all.
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