Life Could Be a Dream - The Doo Wop Sound

Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment
Review: Hopefully this is just the beginning of the much needed telling of the story of vocal group harmony. This is a well done documentary about the roots of vocal grouo harmony and the trials and tribulations the artists had to endure during this period of racial indifference and the love of the music. I encourage all who buy this DVD to write to the producers and tell them to keep 'em coming!!!

Rating:
Summary: The Real Beginning of Rock andRoll
Review: Rock and Roll of today did not begin with and was not shaped exclusively by the most marketable stars, like Elvis Presley or by rock performers from the '60's and '70s, as seen, for example, in the emphasis on them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.(Economics should not drive artistic history, but unfortunately it often does.) Rock and Roll began with and continues to be greatly influenced by rhythm and blues and doo wop, which, in turn, were shaped by other cultural and social forces. This dvd is a great introduction to that music and, as such, adds something important to an historical record severely tainted by economics and an inaccurate, culturally slanted perspective. The production of the dvd is first-rate (I have no connection with the company that makes them), with interviews from important historical figures and musical innovators, such as, Jimmy Merchant from the Teenagers, Pookie Hudson from the Spaniels and Earl "Speedo" Carroll from the Cadillacs. There also is some fine music on this dvd with large chunks from the songs. One gets a sense from this dvd of how badly these creative, young stars and innovators were ripped off financially by the powers that be. Overall, this dvd is a nice introduction to the history and music of doo wop. Hopefully White Star will produce more dvds that focus on the history of this important and wonderful-to-listen-to music. There is so much more to tell, and so much of it has been unjustly ignored and not given proper emphasis in the history of rock and roll.

Rating:
Summary: Doo Wop insight?
Review: The dvd was good, but needs a little more info how the Italian- americans started as well. A lot of doo dop evolution is left out as well. At least it mentions it's roots with the earlier vocal styles in jazz and blues.