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  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.78:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • English: DTS 5.1 Surround
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
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  • Animated menus
  • Interviews

James Brown - Live From The House Of Blues

Warner Vision/Warner Vision . R4 . COLOR . 80 mins . G . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Before I start this review, let's get one thing straight: James Brown is a god.

And before you rush out to buy this DVD, remember something else: James Brown is an old, old man.

This disc is part of an effort by Sony (their pro AV department as opposed to their DVD division!) to promote their high-definition video and surround sound technology. Producers Mike Hartt and Gary Rosen decided they required something a bit more stimulating than parades and rivers to record with their state-of-the-art mobile studio, and used Hartt's existing friendship with James Brown to line up a live recording. Brown was more than happy to be the guinea pig in this case.

I admire Brown immensely, but he is getting on in years, and was 66 at the time this concert was recorded. He has obvious trouble at first, struggling to hit notes and finish lines, and it's at about this time that you start to realise why he has so many backing singers (we're talking a sextet!). By the fourth song, though, he starts to loosen up and a little bit of his legendary stage persona from the 60s and 70s reveals itself. Obviously the man can't do the splits anymore, but that's some damn funky dancing for somebody nearly old enough to be my grandfather!

"I'm so far ahead, the technology has to catch up with me!"

Track listing:
1. Get Up Off That Thing11. Georgia On My Mind
2. Gonna Have A Funky Good Time12. If I Ruled The World
3. Living In America13. Why Don't You Do Right
4. Popcorn14. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
5. Soul Power15. Funk On A Roll
6. Soul Man16. Payback
7. I Got The Feeling17. I Feel Good
8. Hot Pants18. Papa Don't Take No Mess
9. Try Me19. Please Please Please
10. Prisoner Of Love20. Sex Machine

  Video
Contract

As mentioned, this disc exists as a showcase of Sony's hi-def video. Even though DVD doesn't have the resolution of the original tape, it is certainly capable of revealing what classy technology the Sony people get to play with. Although the medium is digital, it doesn't have that cheesy look that consumer DV camcorders sometimes display when the codec can't handle all the movement in a scene, and there were no digital tape dropouts to be seen either.

In fact, this is the best I've seen video look, with nice deep blacks, excellent colour (check out Brown's costume, which is a gorgeously rich purple), no colour bleeding or aliasing and excellent sharpness. Only a slight lack of shadow detail lets the picture down. I'm no expert, but I'm guessing the technicalities of the video cameras don't allow them to pick up shadow detail as well as 35mm film.

  Audio
Contract

This disc seems like a perfect excuse to compare Dolby Digital with DTS, but if you intend to do so you must be aware of the significant level differences in all three soundtracks. The DTS soundtrack is between 5 and 8dB louder than the two Dolby tracks, which immediately makes it sound bigger, brighter and more detailed. Using a sound meter to balance the levels, the DTS track still had a noticeably more detailed sound and a clearer top end, but was no longer the runaway winner it initially seemed to be.

Brown's band is tight as a drum, the classic Motown twin-traps rhythm section keep a solid pulse, and the horns, guitars and bass are all well-mixed and easy to make out. The mixers made the creative choice to try to recreate the ambiance of the House of Blues auditorium, so there are no instruments in the surrounds. The crowd and the reverb slap from the front of house keep the rear speakers busy, however.

A review on another local site noted a pop in the DTS track. My copy didn't exhibit this problem, so I assume the problem lay with the reviewer's equipment and not the disc. DTS fans - buy with confidence.

  Extras
Contract

Besides a 'bonus performance' by destined-for-obscurity singer Tomi Rae, the disc contains a short interview with Hartt and Rosen, mainly focussing on the technical benefits that the high-def equipment brought to the production, but Hartt also recalls his first meeting with Brown as a youngster at the Apollo theatre in New York.

  Overall  
Contract

Is this concert as good as Brown's classic Live at the Apollo, 1962? Well, no. Brown's famous screech has lost most of its power, which any reasonable person would expect.

Where this disc does redeem itself is in the excellent production values and the fact that Brown and his band genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves. For many fans, this likely will be reason enough to pick the disc up.


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      And I quote...
    "Only those in full possession of the funk may pass beyond this point... Laaadies and gentlemen... The Godfather of Soul... James Brown!!"
    - Paul Dossett
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Rom:
          Pioneer 103(s)
    • MPEG Card:
          RealMagic Hollywood Plus
    • TV:
          Mitsubishi Diva 33
    • Amplifier:
          Yamaha DSP-A1
    • Speakers:
          Richter Excalibur
    • Centre Speaker:
          Richter Unicorn
    • Surrounds:
          Richter Hydras
    • Audio Cables:
          Monster RCA
    • Video Cables:
          Monster s-video
      Recent Reviews:
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