Carole King - In Concert

Rating:
Summary: She Still Rocks!
Review: This "Carole King-In Concert" DVD was filmed in 1994, as part of her "Colour of Your Dreams" album tour. While it is, she says of one portion, part memory lane trip, part music history, it is very much a rousing in-the-moment concert with none of the mustiness of an oldies or comeback gig to it (though this particular video has all the pedigree of a PBS fundraiser concert, filmed in an upscale concert hall, with a very well manicured, polite, not-very-diverse boomer audience). Working since the late fifties, King has written much of the music that helped define pop culture ever since, mostly by other performers. Here are "Natural Woman," "Chains," "One Fine Day," "Take Good Care of My Baby," as well as some she debuted on her own "Tapestry" album. (I thought it odd at first that "Tapestry" itself was not on this DVD, but I can see where it really doesn't fit so logically with the rest of the selections.) The music rocks. So does King, who looks wonderful and is a role model for aging gracefully (if almost invisibly!). Her voice is strong and rich. DVD options are not availed much in this product, though they are used to outline the highlights of an extraordinary, award-winning and often behind-the-scenes career.

Rating:
Summary: She Still Rocks!
Review: This "Carole King-In Concert" DVD was filmed in 1994, as part of her "Colour of Your Dreams" album tour. While it is, she says of one portion, part memory lane trip, part music history, it is very much a rousing in-the-moment concert with none of the mustiness of an oldies or comeback gig to it (though this particular video has all the pedigree of a PBS fundraiser concert, filmed in an upscale concert hall, with a very well manicured, polite, not-very-diverse boomer audience). Working since the late fifties, King has written much of the music that helped define pop culture ever since, mostly by other performers. Here are "Natural Woman," "Chains," "One Fine Day," "Take Good Care of My Baby," as well as some she debuted on her own "Tapestry" album. (I thought it odd at first that "Tapestry" itself was not on this DVD, but I can see where it really doesn't fit so logically with the rest of the selections.) The music rocks. So does King, who looks wonderful and is a role model for aging gracefully (if almost invisibly!). Her voice is strong and rich. DVD options are not availed much in this product, though they are used to outline the highlights of an extraordinary, award-winning and often behind-the-scenes career.

Rating:
Summary: She Still Rocks!
Review: This "Carole King-In Concert" DVD was filmed in 1994, as part of her "Colour of Your Dreams" album tour. While it is, she says of one portion, part memory lane trip, part music history, it is very much a rousing in-the-moment concert with none of the mustiness of an oldies or comeback gig to it (though this particular video has all the pedigree of a PBS fundraiser concert, filmed in an upscale concert hall, with a very well manicured, polite, not-very-diverse boomer audience). Working since the late fifties, King has written much of the music that helped define pop culture ever since, mostly by other performers. Here are "Natural Woman," "Chains," "One Fine Day," "Take Good Care of My Baby," as well as some she debuted on her own "Tapestry" album. (I thought it odd at first that "Tapestry" itself was not on this DVD, but I can see where it really doesn't fit so logically with the rest of the selections.) The music rocks. So does King, who looks wonderful and is a role model for aging gracefully (if almost invisibly!). Her voice is strong and rich. DVD options are not availed much in this product, though they are used to outline the highlights of an extraordinary, award-winning and often behind-the-scenes career.

Rating:
Summary: The GREATEST singer/songwriter ever!
Review: This concert is awesome. Carole King is a great entertainer, singer, songwriter, actress...well, you get the point! Get this video today, you won't be disapppointed! If you like the Tapestry years or if you like the Colour of Your Dreams years, this is a MUST have!

Rating:
Summary: Enter the queen of Kings...
Review: What is it about Carole King? Her voice is pleasant, though not magnificent, and in this performance she occasionally reaches for notes she has no chance of hitting. Her instrumental skills are passable, but certainly not extraordinary. Yet there is something about watching this songstress perform her own varied and often exquisite compositions. There is an authenticity to the music that no one else could possibly render. You distinctly perceive in her delivery that you are bearing witness to the true heart of the song.

And Carole King has a remarkable catalog to witness. This 85 minute video is only a sampling of her output. Late in the concert King offers an 'Old Song Medley', performing snippits of memorable tunes she has penned, such as 'Take Good Care of My Baby', 'One Fine Day', and 'Go Away Little Girl', giving one a feel for the dimensions of her influence. A glimpse at her train of work reveals other nuggets such as The Monkee's 'Pleasant Valley Sunday', The Animal's 'Don't Bring Me Down' (also featured in the 'Old Songs Medley'), and Herman's Hermit's 'I'm Into Something Good'.

The setlist for this performance, recorded in 1993 in Connecticut, is repleat with songs made famous by King, such as a beautiful 'Beautiful', 'Natural Woman', 'Hard Rock Cafe', 'So Far Away', a rollicking 'Jazzman', 'It's Too Late', 'Smackwater Jack', and 'I Feel the Earth Move'. There is also a parade of King compositions made famous by other performers, such as 'Up On the Roof', 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', 'Chains', 'You've Got a Friend', and 'Locomotion'. King also offers up two new compositions, 'Hold Out For Love', and 'Do You Feel Love'. Both are strong songs that hold their own well here, but of course they lack the nostalgic appeal of the rest of King's work. Aside from these new compositions, virtually every song King performs brings immediate applause as the audience clues into the opening chords.

King is an energetic performer, and of course she is surrounded by an elite, and visually appealing, cast of musicians (Slash from Gun's N' Roses displays unique lead guitar solo's on two numbers that contrast nicely with King's style of music). In fact the only criticism of this video, and it is a complaint that should be heard by concert video producers worldwide, has to do with the inclusion of audience clips into the program. While this may be entertaining the first time around, helping the viewer to 'identify' with the audience, it gets a bit annoying to be seeing Jack Slaughter or Tina Tiller for the tenth or eleventh time. Furthermore, while King and the backing band appear quite youthful (in King's case most likely representing quite an investment), these images only remind us of how old King's fan base is, and probably how old YOU are.

There is also the inevitable sing-alongs of highly popular tunes, such as 'You've Got a Friend'. It happens twice in this video. King should give the purchasers of her video/DVD a break, and for this one evening keep the audience at bay where they belong, and give us performances of these superb songs without the invited interruptions of a mass of amateurs.

For these reasons I rate the video a 4 out of 5. If you're a Carole King fan, I don't believe you will be disappointed, as the criticisms could be applied to nearly any live concert video.

Rating:
Summary: Enter the queen of Kings...
Review: What is it about Carole King? Her voice is pleasant, though not magnificent, and in this performance she occasionally reaches for notes she has no chance of hitting. Her instrumental skills are passable, but certainly not extraordinary. Yet there is something about watching this songstress perform her own varied and often exquisite compositions. There is an authenticity to the music that no one else could possibly render. You distinctly perceive in her delivery that you are bearing witness to the true heart of the song.

And Carole King has a remarkable catalog to witness. This 85 minute video is only a sampling of her output. Late in the concert King offers an 'Old Song Medley', performing snippits of memorable tunes she has penned, such as 'Take Good Care of My Baby', 'One Fine Day', and 'Go Away Little Girl', giving one a feel for the dimensions of her influence. A glimpse at her train of work reveals other nuggets such as The Monkee's 'Pleasant Valley Sunday', The Animal's 'Don't Bring Me Down' (also featured in the 'Old Songs Medley'), and Herman's Hermit's 'I'm Into Something Good'.

The setlist for this performance, recorded in 1993 in Connecticut, is repleat with songs made famous by King, such as a beautiful 'Beautiful', 'Natural Woman', 'Hard Rock Cafe', 'So Far Away', a rollicking 'Jazzman', 'It's Too Late', 'Smackwater Jack', and 'I Feel the Earth Move'. There is also a parade of King compositions made famous by other performers, such as 'Up On the Roof', 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', 'Chains', 'You've Got a Friend', and 'Locomotion'. King also offers up two new compositions, 'Hold Out For Love', and 'Do You Feel Love'. Both are strong songs that hold their own well here, but of course they lack the nostalgic appeal of the rest of King's work. Aside from these new compositions, virtually every song King performs brings immediate applause as the audience clues into the opening chords.

King is an energetic performer, and of course she is surrounded by an elite, and visually appealing, cast of musicians (Slash from Gun's N' Roses displays unique lead guitar solo's on two numbers that contrast nicely with King's style of music). In fact the only criticism of this video, and it is a complaint that should be heard by concert video producers worldwide, has to do with the inclusion of audience clips into the program. While this may be entertaining the first time around, helping the viewer to 'identify' with the audience, it gets a bit annoying to be seeing Jack Slaughter or Tina Tiller for the tenth or eleventh time. Furthermore, while King and the backing band appear quite youthful (in King's case most likely representing quite an investment), these images only remind us of how old King's fan base is, and probably how old YOU are.

There is also the inevitable sing-alongs of highly popular tunes, such as 'You've Got a Friend'. It happens twice in this video. King should give the purchasers of her video/DVD a break, and for this one evening keep the audience at bay where they belong, and give us performances of these superb songs without the invited interruptions of a mass of amateurs.

For these reasons I rate the video a 4 out of 5. If you're a Carole King fan, I don't believe you will be disappointed, as the criticisms could be applied to nearly any live concert video.