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Blue Oyster Cult - A Long Day's Night

Blue Oyster Cult - A Long Day's Night

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Truly Great American Rock Band ...
Review: ... and also a sadly underrated and under-appreciated band. The more critical reviews of this DVD, whether by hardcore fans or not should have taken into account that this was just ONE concert, performed by the five members of the band only. No extra musicians or backup vocalists, and minimal post-production polishing of the audio recording. If you've been lucky enough to see this band live anytime over the last few years, you know that this DVD is a very true representation of how they sound live, which in my opinion is better than they've ever sounded.

It should be noted that while vocalist/guitarist Eric Bloom's pipes may not be as strong as they once were, the man is pushing 60 years of age and by and large, he does just fine. Keyboardist/guitarist Allen Lanier is equally adept at either instrument, and is a big part of the longstanding, unique quality and mystique of this band. Lead guitarist Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser is quite simply one of the finest rock guitarists ever, and he proves it on every track. Veteran rock/metal drummer Bobby Rondinelli and bassist Danny Miranda are as strong a rhythm section as this band has ever had, and are a big part of the band's continued success.

Buy this DVD and I know you'll be happy. Go see the band for yourself and you'll be even happier.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A treat for hard rock fans everywhere
Review: ...About the concert though it was worth the extra expense to get it. It is just awesome, the sound, crowd, band. It makes a statement that hard rock is back and these musicians, in exceptional physical condition do not let up for the whole 2 hour performance. They have fun and so does the audience. ...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not Great But Not Bad Either. For Hard Core Fans Only.
Review:
The band played well, and remains one of my favorites, but this one is for hard core BOC fans that like to avoid the commercially successful stuff from the mid 1980s when melody and imagination were well rewarded by radio and the band was selling out 40 city arena tours in the U.S.


Blue Oyster Cult is an American phenomenon, akin to a lesser known version of the Grateful Dead. As with the Dead, continuous touring and album releasing are keeping this aging cadre quite sharp and able to deliver excellent performances.


Having seen BOC live countless times, including an up close and personal club show in the last three years, I can say that this DVD is a fairly true rendition of what this band does live, and that in itself is the problem. Sound quality is fair, but not great, which is what Cult shows sound like live. The bass has too much of a chunky feel that makes it stand out instead of blend in.


Buck Dharma's melodic voice, a very under rated asset for this band, is buried too far down in the mix, and Eric Bloom's trademark vocals could use a bit of reverb.


I would have liked more selections from "Revolution by Night," "Club Ninja" and "Cultusaurus Erectus," the band's best creative period from the heydays of AOR, when they ruled the F.M. airwaves.


"Astronomy" is sadly missing, as was "Live for Me" one of their better songs of late, along with "I'd Like To See You In Black," another excellent recent song.


What's good about this DVD? Dharma's guitar shredding is amazing. "Perfect Water" is a great song. "Harvest Moon" also works well. But missing were great Cult classics like "Deadline," "Veins," "Shooting Shark," and the amazingly great live version of "Born to be Wild."

Joe Duarte, author of "Successful Energy Sector Investing."

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I've seen better BOC in my days
Review: Although I am not qualified to do much, I certainly AM qualified to talk about Blue Oyster Cult. I'm an original fan, and I haven't missed a song since 1972. Bottom line: BOC is a sensational group, my favorite ever in the rock arena. But I must also say that BOC has put out a few albums that were not what I had hoped for. The DVD, A Long Day's Night, falls into that category.

What do I mean when I say "not what I had hoped for"? Let's take the 1977 album, "Spectres", for example. At that time, I commended BOC for their musical progression (the album offered a totally different sound than the preceding "Agents of Fortune", and sounded almost like a different band altogether when compared to "Secret Treaties"). In and of itself, however, the "Spectres" album was unfortunately not that GOOD. In fact, it had more than one awful song on it. Let's face it, TRUE CONFESSIONS and SEARCHING FOR CELINE sounded like they were conceived of and recorded on the same day, with one take apiece. The production quality was ghastly, which can be blamed for the butchering of one of the only good songs, GOLDEN DAYS OF LEATHER. Yeah, I know, GODZILLA was on that album. An OK song, but not great. For greatness, see "Tyranny and Mvtation", "Secret Treaties", and (for comeback greatness), "Cultosaurus Erectus."

All of which brings me back to the new DVD. I was initially psyched to see it, because I had just come off two previous years of seeing BOC live on 4 occasions, everywhere from the glitz of Atlantic City, to the smoky caverns of a biker bar. The first thing I noticed was the lighting--it's plainly awful. The camera work is also shaky (literally), which distracts to the point of annoyance. But all of this pales against my main complaint: the boys simply do not deliver a great performance here! Buck Dharma doesn't count--he's ALWAYS unbelievable, clearly the backbone of the band. The band as a whole, however, is lacking passion.

I think I know why.

First of all, someone has got to whisper in the band's ear that no true BOC fan (and who else would attend?) really wants to hear BURNIN' FOR YOU or (Don't Fear) THE REAPER in concert. These songs represent a part of BOC that I frankly regret: their understandable desire and need to score on the pop charts. But these are NOT really good songs, or, at least, they occupy the same place in my heart as Zeppelin's radio-pummeled STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. Yes, all these songs deserve to be remembered, but under no circumstances played LIVE again. I think Buck and the boys sense this. In the DVD, they muddle through these "classics", a sure sign that they are tired of having to offer them up. Hint: you can stop now, Buck.

Did I mention the poor lighting? Perhaps the term "lighting" doesn't fit here, because there certainly isn't any light to speak of. Either this is a "concept" DVD, or the producers didn't see the value of the audience being able to actually see the band.

The camera crew assigned to the shooting of this DVD came from the JV squad, as did the editor. The faraway shots are useless; we already know what a band looks like from faraway. The true allure can be found in the close-up shots of Buck's solo work, which was botched due to the lighting and the inability to share Buck's facial passion with the actual playing.

One last thing: BOC ought to revamp its entire rehearsed show. I've seen it several times lately--it doesn't change. Yeah, I know, a few different songs are exchanged here and there. Frankly, though, a rehearsed show (even the between-songs banter)has got to wear on the band, robbing the whole show of needed energy.

I don't ultimately want to come off as a basher here, so let me deliver some highlights. A few songs are actually delivered greatly. I refer to BUCK'S BOOGIE (Wow!!), HARVESTER OF EYES and my old-time favorite, O'D ON LIFE ITSELF. The latter is a truly great tune, one that the boys don't tire of playing. The band interview is a welcomed addition, and the sound bites from some of BOC's more, ahem, interesting and knuckleheaded fans are sometimes riotous.

Get the DVD!!! Just keep your expectations in check and you'll enjoy it.

AAW

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I've seen better BOC in my days
Review: Although I am not qualified to do much, I certainly AM qualified to talk about Blue Oyster Cult. I'm an original fan, and I haven't missed a song since 1972. Bottom line: BOC is a sensational group, my favorite ever in the rock arena. But I must also say that BOC has put out a few albums that were not what I had hoped for. The DVD, A Long Day's Night, falls into that category.

What do I mean when I say "not what I had hoped for"? Let's take the 1977 album, "Spectres", for example. At that time, I commended BOC for their musical progression (the album offered a totally different sound than the preceding "Agents of Fortune", and sounded almost like a different band altogether when compared to "Secret Treaties"). In and of itself, however, the "Spectres" album was unfortunately not that GOOD. In fact, it had more than one awful song on it. Let's face it, TRUE CONFESSIONS and SEARCHING FOR CELINE sounded like they were conceived of and recorded on the same day, with one take apiece. The production quality was ghastly, which can be blamed for the butchering of one of the only good songs, GOLDEN DAYS OF LEATHER. Yeah, I know, GODZILLA was on that album. An OK song, but not great. For greatness, see "Tyranny and Mvtation", "Secret Treaties", and (for comeback greatness), "Cultosaurus Erectus."

All of which brings me back to the new DVD. I was initially psyched to see it, because I had just come off two previous years of seeing BOC live on 4 occasions, everywhere from the glitz of Atlantic City, to the smoky caverns of a biker bar. The first thing I noticed was the lighting--it's plainly awful. The camera work is also shaky (literally), which distracts to the point of annoyance. But all of this pales against my main complaint: the boys simply do not deliver a great performance here! Buck Dharma doesn't count--he's ALWAYS unbelievable, clearly the backbone of the band. The band as a whole, however, is lacking passion.

I think I know why.

First of all, someone has got to whisper in the band's ear that no true BOC fan (and who else would attend?) really wants to hear BURNIN' FOR YOU or (Don't Fear) THE REAPER in concert. These songs represent a part of BOC that I frankly regret: their understandable desire and need to score on the pop charts. But these are NOT really good songs, or, at least, they occupy the same place in my heart as Zeppelin's radio-pummeled STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. Yes, all these songs deserve to be remembered, but under no circumstances played LIVE again. I think Buck and the boys sense this. In the DVD, they muddle through these "classics", a sure sign that they are tired of having to offer them up. Hint: you can stop now, Buck.

Did I mention the poor lighting? Perhaps the term "lighting" doesn't fit here, because there certainly isn't any light to speak of. Either this is a "concept" DVD, or the producers didn't see the value of the audience being able to actually see the band.

The camera crew assigned to the shooting of this DVD came from the JV squad, as did the editor. The faraway shots are useless; we already know what a band looks like from faraway. The true allure can be found in the close-up shots of Buck's solo work, which was botched due to the lighting and the inability to share Buck's facial passion with the actual playing.

One last thing: BOC ought to revamp its entire rehearsed show. I've seen it several times lately--it doesn't change. Yeah, I know, a few different songs are exchanged here and there. Frankly, though, a rehearsed show (even the between-songs banter)has got to wear on the band, robbing the whole show of needed energy.

I don't ultimately want to come off as a basher here, so let me deliver some highlights. A few songs are actually delivered greatly. I refer to BUCK'S BOOGIE (Wow!!), HARVESTER OF EYES and my old-time favorite, O'D ON LIFE ITSELF. The latter is a truly great tune, one that the boys don't tire of playing. The band interview is a welcomed addition, and the sound bites from some of BOC's more, ahem, interesting and knuckleheaded fans are sometimes riotous.

Get the DVD!!! Just keep your expectations in check and you'll enjoy it.

AAW

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome
Review: Blue Oyster cult on fire!!!!!!!!!!!Great DVD one classic band at there zenith, Buck dharma is great, one of the true great guitarist and Eric Bloom as creepy and psychedelic as it gets. Great songs and a must buy DVD. looking for some hard rock live, This is it!!! BUY IT!! 5 Stars!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BLOWIN' AWAY !!
Review: Blue ¿yster cult at their Finest !! i just received this DVD yesterday !! and seen it twice today BOC probably the most band that it has More than one Talent ever!! "BUCK DHARMA" looks aged in this show BUT HE STILL KICK [***]
THANK YOU AMAZON[.COM] THANK YOU BOC

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very good show
Review: BOC's effort is easily a success. The sound is not perfect. but is not bad, I would rate it as very good. After some tweeking with my 5.1 setup I got good quality sound. Thundering bass. Al's Telecaster sounds a bit thin, but Telecasters sound a bit thin, you know. Song list is the best, I am so glad they chose "Last Days of May" as their signature song, because it is done SO friggin good. Buck plays a truley great solo, and Al does a darn fine job, to boot. Eric's singing is a bit off key, but I've heard worse from others, it shows me that this release probably has little to no overdubs, which is remarkable in todays's age of digitl editing. BOC has never sounded tighter or cleaner than they do in this release, and that's saying a bunch. I've seen then some dozen or so times and they always deliver the goods. I would give it four-and-one-half stars if I could.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Huge Pros and Huge Cons
Review: Buck is great, but to be honest, one must love BOC to like this DVD as a whole. I love Buck's endless playing, but I hate the sound of the singers voice. ? I don't know how he used to sound. But, I will say that the drummer is a good showman though he looks like the rat poison guy from Dumb and Dumber; but the bassist is SO [...]! His `monster` solo on Godzilla absolutely blows (well, some cool stuff) but it takes a real idiot to come in slappin' COMPLETELY off beat. Not to mention the five minutes he spent hitting the low E and waving stage left. WHAT WAS THAT?! Also, his jumping around on stage is like an adolescent attention getting device, cause he knows we only want to see Buck. whadda [...]. But, I'll give it to the crypt keeper guy with the old tele, he's got some chops to comp, but not on the keyboard. Find a metronome, dude.

Hey, I'm happy, though. `twas a christmas present.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Huge Pros and Huge Cons
Review: Buck is great, but to be honest, one must love BOC to like this DVD as a whole. I love Buck's endless playing, but I hate the sound of the singers voice. ? I don't know how he used to sound. But, I will say that the drummer is a good showman though he looks like the rat poison guy from Dumb and Dumber; but the bassist is SO [...]! His `monster` solo on Godzilla absolutely blows (well, some cool stuff) but it takes a real idiot to come in slappin' COMPLETELY off beat. Not to mention the five minutes he spent hitting the low E and waving stage left. WHAT WAS THAT?! Also, his jumping around on stage is like an adolescent attention getting device, cause he knows we only want to see Buck. whadda [...]. But, I'll give it to the crypt keeper guy with the old tele, he's got some chops to comp, but not on the keyboard. Find a metronome, dude.

Hey, I'm happy, though. `twas a christmas present.


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