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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
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“Live
Aid-4 Disc Set”
|
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Music |
| Video: |
1.33:1 Full
screen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
5.1 |
| Languages |
English |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
600 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
11/14/04
|
| Studio |
Warner Home
Video |
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
“Food and
Trucks and Rock ‘N’ Roll” |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
“Dancing in the Streets”
performed by Mick Jagger and David Bowie |
| Other:
|
Additional
performances by B.B. King, Ashford & Simpson, Run DMC, INXS
|
| Cast
and Crew: |
Princess
Di, Prince Charles, Bob Geldof, Hall & Oats, Duran, Duran, Tina
Turner, Mick Jagger, The Pretenders, Paul McCartney, David Bowie,
The Who, Queen, Big Country, The Boomtown Rats, U2, Sting, Neil
Young, Madonna, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Kiki Dee, Elton
John, Elvis Costello, Dire Straits, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers,
REO Speedwagon, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Black Sabbath,
Judas Priest, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, INXS, Run DMC, Ashford &
Simpson, The Beach Boys |
| Written
By: |
Bob Geldof
and a host of other performers |
| Produced
By: |
Bob Geldof
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| Directed
By: |
Vincent
Scarza |
| Music:
|
Duran Duran,
: Princess Di, Prince Charles, Bob Geldof, Hall & Oats, Duran,
Duran, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, The Pretenders, Paul McCartney,
David Bowie, The Who, Queen, Big Country, The Boomtown Rats,
U2, Sting, Neil Young, Madonna, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins,
Kiki Dee, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Dire Straits, Tom Petty
and The Heartbreakers, REO Speedwagon, Crosby, Stills, Nash
& Young, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, B.B. King, Bob Dylan,
INXS, Run DMC, Ashford & Simpson, The Style Council (Paul Weller),
Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, Adam Ant -- |
| The
Review: |
The music community has come to
the aid of those in need before but the only other time on
a similar scale prior to Live Aid was George Harrison’s “Concert
for Bangela Desh” which pioneered the rock concert as nonprofit
resource. “Live Aid” was, perhaps, the ultimate expression
of that with The Boomtown Rats’ Bob Geldof spearheading a
campaign to end famine in Africa. Did it work? Yes it did
but it didn’t end the problem. On July 13th 1985 it seemed—at
least for a moment—that the spirit of the 60’s and early 70’s
was alive again. It’s amazing given that this was a relief
effort for Africa that there’s very few Rap groups represented.
Surprisingly Harrison did’t appear (perhaps because there
the remaining Beatles had been asked to appear with Julian
Lennon standing in for his late father) but Paul McCartney
does a great version of “Let It Be” (even if his mic does
go out during the performance)
|
| Image
and Sound: |
“Live Aid”
looks pretty good on DVD overall. There’s some video noise and
minor compression issues. Some of the audio and video is noticeably
different in quality from the Philadelphia shows as they came
from the BBC archive of the event which was, in turn, recorded
from the satellite link of those shows. It’s not a huge difference.
There’s slightly more video noise in this portion of the broadcast.
This is because the original footage shot by ABC was destroyed
at Bob Geldof’s direction when the event was concluded. Geldof
had no plans to see this reissued or revived in any way but
the problems in Africa still exist so this DVD set will go a
little way to help out. The sound for many of the performances
has been remastered where possible from the oriinal multi-tracks
as well as the footage taped and held in the BBC vaults. |
| The
Extras: |
The extras
consist of performances by artists some of whom weren’t at
either the Philly show or the Wembley Stadium Show. INXS appears
in the Australian version of “Live Aid”, B.B. King appears
performing three songs from a jazz festival that occurred
at the same time and the rap group Run DMC appear performing
“King of Rock”. The video shot for the single “Dancing in
the Streets” by David Bowie and Mick Jagger (Jagger’s only
top ten hit without the Stones) along with the documentary
“Food and Trucks and Rock ‘N’ Roll” appears as well. Ashford
& Simpson perform with Teddy Pendergrass (who had only recently
returned to performing after the injury that robbed him of
the use of his lgs) with “Reach Out and Touch”. ---
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| Commentary:
|
None |
| Final
Words: |
A great
4 DVD set whose only flaw is the exclusion of many fabulous
performances (including Led Zepplin’s as the band wasn’t all
that happy with Phil Collins performance as drummer and many
performances are missing due to technical issues), “Live Aid”
reminds us that we can all make a difference in our own small
way. We all live on a very small planet where petty differences
in ideology allow millions to starve all around the world. George
Harrison started all this with his relief “Concert for Bangela
Desh” and Geldof built on that with the most ambitious series
of concerts to that day. “Live 8” is a nice sequel and hopefully
we’ll see that soon with the Pink Floyd performances) but this
is really where the relief effort in entertainment went global.
A great series of shows for a great cause that finally sees
the light of day on home video, “Live Aid” is essential for
any fan of rock music because of the wide array of performers
and performances captured on July 13th, 1985. |
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