Shadows - The Final Tour

Rating:
Summary: The Shadows Final Tour
Review: I have been a Shadows fan from thier beginning, and I was over
the moon when I heard about this dvd, I could not wait to see it
Hank, Bruce and Brian never sounded better and Mark playing great
bass, and Cliff playing just the right amount of keyboards.
The only thing I did not like was the sound mix with the audience
not enough length in applause, and the few close up shots they
looked bored, the producers really messed this part up, after all
this was the final tour. I would suggest they watch the Paul
McCartney dvd Back In The USA. Apart from that great dvd.
P.S. I still play my STRAT.

Rating:
Summary: I'll sure miss these guys...
Review: Taped in Cardiff. Released (by Silver Eagle) in the U.S.!

All the Shads things you'd expect; a few you might not; a couple of Crosby, Stills & Farrar* songs; some they recorded with Cliff. Keyboards for the most part mixed way down (who wants keyboards on a Shadows record?). red Fender Telecaster and white Burns Bison electric guitars**; acoustic on some numbers; a few vocals.

Also included is an about 40-minute interview with Bruce, Hank and Brian. Did'ja know that the idea of "steps" was appropriated from The Treniers? That McCartney pitched them "Here, There and Everywhere," then reneged? That Jimmy Page plays harmonica on "Time Drags By"? That Tony Meehan's departure saved Brian from the pit band of "Stop the World"? All here and much more.

The tune listing is from the CD, but it's identical.

Disc: 1
1. Intro - Apache Medley
2. Riders In The Sky
3. The Frightened City
4. Theme For Young Lovers
5. Peace Pipe
6. The Savage
7. Let Me Be The One
8. The Stranger
9. Kon Tiki
10. Going Home (Theme from Local Hero)
11. Dance On
12. Nivram
13. Lady Of The Morning
14. My Home Town
15. Guitar Tango
16. Geronimo
17. Sleepwalk
18. 36-24-36
19. Shazam
20. Don't Cry For Me Argentina
21. Equinox V


Disc: 2
1. Mountains Of The Moon
2. Shadoogie
3. Gonzales
4. Don't Make My Baby Blue
5. The Rise And Fall Of Flingle Bunt
6. Atlantis
7. Shindig
8. Man Of Mystery
9. Foot Tapper
10. Please Don't Tease
11. In The Country
12. I Could Easily Fall
13. The Day I Met Marie
14. Gee Whiz It's You
15. Summer Holiday
16. Bachelor Boy
17. Little B
18. Theme From The Deerhunter
19. Wonderful Land
20. FBI
21. Apache

The filming is either straightforward or unimaginative, depending on how you look at it; I like the lack of gimmickry. The micing is very tight, so it sounds more like a studio set than your typical "live" rock concert. I like the way it is, where you can hear everyhing, The audience, most of whom probably grew up with the Shads, aren't particularly demonstrative, though they seem to be having a good time -- rattling their walkers, waving their canes in the air, etc.***.

* note: joke
** this is important to some of us
*** another joke

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Band !
Review: WOW ! Shadows' fans everywhere, rejoice ! Here is the fabulous DVD of their final tour that not only meets, but exceeds all expectations. This is a special treat for us fans in Canada and the USA, where in the US at least, this great group has never been on the radar screen.

Before you read on--a confession. Ever since I heard their first hit "Apache" in 1960, I have been a diehard fan--so this review is very, very biased ! I considered them then--as I do now--to be the greatest pop/rock instrumental band in the world.
The Shads--as their legions of fans call them--had not played together in several years. Fortunately, due to constant fan support all over the globe, they decided to get back together for this final tour. They became stars, first as Cliff Richard's back-up group, then in their own right, about 45 years ago, when they were scarcely more than teenagers--do the math--they aren't kids anymore. However, like a fine wine, the Shads have actually improved with age--they never sounded better or played better than in this marvellous concert, recorded in Cardiff, Wales, earlier this year.

Of course, the Shads are--Hank Marvin, lead guitar--Bruce Welch, rhythm guitar--Brian Bennett, drums. They are accompanied on this tour by two other fine musicians--Mark Griffiths, bass and Cliff Hall, keyboards. You really get your "moneys worth" with this concert--it clocks in at around three hours and includes 39 numbers from their long career.

There is a lot of variety here--exciting, fast-paced tunes like The Savage", "Geronimo", "Shazam", "Shadoogie", "Gonzales" and "FBI"--lovely melodic numbers like "Atlantis", "Theme for Young Lovers","Theme from the Deer Hunter" and the timeless "Wonderful Land". Hank and Bruce have always been good vocalists too, and two of their big vocal hits are included, " Don't Make My Baby Blue" and "Let Me Be the One". They also pay tribute to their old "boss", Sir Cliff, with several of his hits which the Shads wrote--"The Day I Met Marie", "Gee Whiz It's You", "Summer Holiday" and "Bachelor Boy".

I was also impressed with their overall performance--they really seemed to be having as much fun as the audience. Brian Bennett gets several chances to show that he can play drums with the best of them--his showcase "Little B" is a clinic for aspiring drummers everywhere. Bruce Welch shows us, as he has for years, that there is more to rhythm guitar than just strumming--he's no slouch as a "picker" either--listen to his duet with Hank on the jazzy "Nivram". As for Hank Marvin--beautiful lead guitar work--the man who gives the Shads their unique sound--the man who "launched a thousand guitar players" ( probably more ! )--my favourite guitarist, sounding better than ever.

I found the technical quality of the DVD to be excellent--the picture sharp and clear--for sound, all important for this group, I picked the DTS option--really outstanding. I felt like I had a front row seat !

The DVD also includes a very relaxed and informative interview with Hank and Bruce, remembering their childhood in Newcastle
(no wonder Mark Knopfler is a fan !), and then moving to London to find fame and fortune. Brian joins them about half way through the interview, and recalls how he joined the group. There are also scenes of their post-tour party in London, with people like Brian May, Queen's great guitarist, paying tribute to the Shads, and Hank in particular. Also at the party--Sir Cliff himself, sounding quite wistful that he may never get a chance to perform with his old mates again. C'mon, Cliff--they said "last tour" not last concert--if anyone can talk them into something really special, say for a worthy charity, gee whiz it's you !

I know that five stars is the "max" under this system, but--as I'm sure you can tell--this disc is worth a lot more to me than that--much more. For Shads fans, this DVD is a wonderful testament to the music and talent of Hank, Bruce and Brian. For people who were never exposed to "Shadowmania", why not see what you have been missing ? ! My highest recommendation.