Studio: Image Entertainment
Video: 1.33:1 Full Frame, B&W
Audio: DTS 5.1, DD 5.1, DD 2.0
Extras: Concert Scrapbook, Musician Bios, Note from Roy Kelton Orbison Jr., Credits
Length: 64 minutes
Rating: ****
This performance is the only commercially available live recording of
Orbison and what a magical night it is. The mix of this recording
has lots of sound in surround including music, crowd noise, etc—more so
than most recording. Normally, this would be a detractor, but in
the case of this disc, I’d have to say it only serves to make the
performance more “alive.” The quality of sound on the SACD is
among the best. The shift from front to back of the presentation
makes it more involving than any other live disc I’ve ever heard.
The music contained is full of classics, some newer material, and
represents the complete Cocoanut Grove Sessions from 1987. It is
hybrid and can be enjoyed anywhere. It will surely become a
reference disc in my collection. For those not familiar with
Orbison, his voice has a distinctive richness and soothing quality to
it at the same time. The music is good ole fashioned rock ‘n’
roll that is very 50s sounding, mellow at times, but always with a nice
beat and melody to it.
I had problems playing the DVD on two different home players (for some
reason—could be a defective pressing), but was able to play the disc
fine on my computer. The first player wouldn’t read it at all,
while with the second player I couldn’t get the menus to operate
properly most of the time. The DVD has a few different audio
choices and like the SACD, it offered superb audio quality. The
video quality may not be to everyone’s liking. It is slightly
soft and contrasty, similar to the look of some documentary films that
use fast film stock. But Roy is such rare form that the
performance is nothing short of amazing. As extras the disc
offers extensive bios on most of the musicians who include Jerry
Scheff, Glen Hardin, James Burton, Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Bonnie
Raitt, Jennifer Warnes, Jackson Browne, Steven Soles, Elvis Costello,
John David Souther, Tom Waits, T-Bone Burnett, Ron Tutt. Each of
these performers has a separate screen for their biographies.
Additional musicians include Alex Acuna, Mike Utley, Pavel Farkas,
Peter hatch, Ezra Kliger, Jimbo Ross, and concert master Sid Page.
Songs included: Only The Lonely; Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream);
Blue Bayou; The Comedians; Ooby Dooby; Leah; Running Scared; Uptown; In
Dreams; Crying; Candyman; Go, Go, Go (Down The Line); Mean Woman Blues;
(All I Can Do Is) Dream You; Claudette; It’s Over; Oh, Pretty Woman.
-Brian Bloom
