Rating: 
Summary: If you are on the fence, please read this review
Review: The concert performances are par excellent... but when I bought this video, I truly thought it was defective. Phil Collins faded in and out on "take me home" and the sound was extremely uneven on many other tracks. I immediately logged in to check this and other reviewer websites and found that many complained about audio quality, but there were a FEW who DID NOT. After closer inspection, I found that there were two versions of this DVD-- one with Dolby 5.1 only (released 02/02/99) and one with Dolby and DTS (released 10/26/00). Well, I searched around until I found the DTS copy and low and behold-- audio is MUCH better on DTS format-- like night and day for me and my sound system is definitely NO great shakes.... I highly recommend this DVD, even though ths sound still won't quite rate a 5 star, but the performances and collection of musicians definitely come close. BUT buy the DTS version!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great hits from top rockers even today !!!!
Review: Cut at the Royal Albert Hall benefit concert September 15th, 1997, for the volcano ravaged island of Montserrat this concert brings out some of the hardest hitting rockers of the ages. More than half of the concert lets Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney strut their highly polished artistry, we also get to enjoy, Phil Collins, Sting, Carl Perkins, Mark Knopfler (Money for Nothing), and Jimmy Buffet. The greatest thing about these concerts is that we get to see and hear some of the greatest masters performing rocks greatest hits ....... While some concert DVD's are lacking on the technical side this disc was perfectly mastered and the producers managed to let the enthusiastic audience add to the show ..... Both sound and video quality are top notch making this one of my favorite DVD's to enjoy both alone and with friends...
Rating:
Summary: GREAT Concert
Review: It is a GREAT concert which you can see all stars together but I can't say same thing for this DVD's auido quality. The rear voices are very poor, fronts are acceptable. DD 5.1 is better than DTS record.
Rating:
Summary: Almost like being there again!
Review: What an amazing concert! I was there at Albert Hall in 97 and this DVD does justice to this exceptional Performance. Kudos to Sir George Martin for staging this incredible benefit. (Too bad they couldn't show the whole concert.) I'm very glad to have the video of Carl Perkins(just before he died). He had a lot of fun out there. I was a little disappointed in Clapton's playing but there were just so many great performances. Knopfler's Brothers in Arms (with those amazing kettle drums...sounded like the blitz over our heads!)left the audience literally weeping. Money for Nothing was fabulous. Sting was in great form. If that wasn't enough, Elton John (who had just finished the Diana tribute only weeks before)doing "Your Song". I'd never seen him live before and I now understand why he is such an incredible performer. Just him and a piano. If that still wasn't enough.. Paul McCartney playing Albert Hall (34 years to the day) that he was last there. When he came out solo and strummed the first few chords of "Yesterday", there wasn't a dry eye in the place. And the Beatles tunes too! Overall an amazing concert, great camera work, great sound and a worthy cause. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Mark Knopfler fans can't be disappointed!
Review: As usual, in no two performances is Mark's work ever the same. Compare the same song on different albums and you will see this. What further distinguishes him from pretty much every other performer is his use of fillers in his music. He doesn't use them. Every note has a purpose, and never does he sing the same way or play the same way. He is truly creativity at its best. His performance of Brothers in Arms was breathtaking, his voice even deeper than usual. Backed by an orchestra full with composer and a good percussionist for a mystical effect unmatched on all previous albums, live or studio. You have not heard this song until you hear this version.
Money for Nothing was good, with Clapton playing some lead, Phil Collins on drums, and Sting on backing vocals. However, in my opinion it was a bit too crowded for the sound technician, and he could not do it justice. It was still great though.
The icing on the cake would have to have been Layla, track 15, which was Clapton on acoustic rhythm guitar with Mark playing lead. The communication between the two was incredible, as the song gracefully swayed between one and the other as Clapton extended his rhythm sections for Mark to play lead. Likewise, Mark toned down his riffs to make way for Clapton's vocals and finalee. It is noteworthy that both solos on the track were played by Mark, and both were his own interpretations.
If you like the version of Layla on Clapton Unplugged, prepare yourself to fall in love.
On the above only the dvd is worth having. The other guys were good, but I'm here for the MK fans. Incidentally, I saw him on the Philadelphia tour in the Albert Hall this June. He was good then, but he was waaaaaay better here.
Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as being there...
Review: I was lucky enough to have 7th row seats for this concert, and got the video as soon as it was available. Watching it, I was reminded of how much fun the artists had playing together. They had a blast.
The video captured all of the great songs, but my only regret is that not all of the artists made the final cut. Midge Ure actually opened the show with "Vienna," and like Mark Knopfler, had a bit of witty banter. And the choir sang "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" unlike you've ever heard it.
One of the truly amazing moments was when Paul McCartney told the audience that he hadn't played Albert Hall in over 30 years to the day. I'm sure many Beatles fans will remember the old B/W film of that concert as the one where John Lennon cheekily asked "all the people in the cheap seats to clap their hands, and all the rich folks to rattle their jewels" -- referring to the occupied Royal box!
While I've read of some complaints on the quality of the audio, I didn't notice it on the VHS. I just wish they released a CD as well.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely a collector's item.
Review: It is extremely rare to see so many world famous super artists performing together in the same concert doing some of their greatest hits - Elton John, Sting, Mark Knofler, Carl Perkin, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Phil Colins etc. You must own this DVD before it is out of stock. I would have given it 5 stars should the audio recording be slightly better. Go and buy this one with confidence. I am sure you will not regret.
Rating: 
Summary: Audio= Very Poor
Review: First time I have purchased a DVD that had a 4 star+ rating and been disappointed. The front speakers and center channel were OK. The rear was terrible. The overall audio quality was the worst I have heard. Listened to it once and went back the next day thinking my set up had to be wrong. Tried two other DVD's and both were fine. Suggest you try something else.
Rating:
Summary: 10 stars
Review: This is one of the best video concerts ever. The sound, visuals and performances are top notch. It is a real joy. I have owned it a week and watched it 3 times already. Every performance is good. There are no dead spots during this concert and you get quite a number of them. A keeper. Memorable.
Rating:
Summary: McCartney Lovers Only
Review: I buy/view/listen to a lot of music video's (read, sorry night life) and this one was a disappointment. Sound varies too widely act to act. Couple of goosebump moments (I love the Mega-Guitars on Kansas City) but mostly a smorgas-bored of available talent putting in their charity work. Zero additives for the video freak and no real explanation of charitable intentions ever given. Borrow this from someone instead.
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