Customer Reviews

Addictions: The DVD

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Video Addictions is a 1992 Island Records release now being reintroduced on DVD nearly two years after singer Robert Palmer's passing. This collection of MTV music videos (which was hosted by Palmer himself), does feature some truly rare work from the singer's early days as a solo artist in the mid 70's, as well as some of the earliest known footage of Palmer in concert (opening for Little Feat circa 1976). Other than introducing the songs and occassionally describing briefly about the concept of the video, Palmer himself added nothing to this collection. This isn't actually a career retrospective as there is no interview or discussion corresponding with the videos, just the singer introducing clips with little history or context for them or for the songs. If you enjoyed Robert Palmer's music, you do get videos for most of his noteable hits including "You Are In My System", "Looking For Clues", "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On", "Simply Irresistible" and of course "Addicted To Love", as well the his videos with The Power Station. Several late 80's/early 90's videos are excluded however, likley due to licensing conflicts (Palmer left Island Records in 1987, and "Simply Irresistible" is the only non-Island clip in this collection). Top 20 Hits like "Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You", "Early In The Morning", and "You're Amazing" are not represented at all, although there is a video (made new in 1992) for his late 70's hit "Every Kinda People", remade specifically for this project. All in all, it's what's missing that overshadows what's here. These clips alongside an interview, especially with the aforementioned missing songs included, would have made a great DVD retrospective for the late singer. As is, Robert Palmer fans will have to make do. This is the only widely available DVD release of any of Palmer's solo work currently available in the US.

Other reviewers have covered the main concepts and contents of this Robert Palmer collection competently enough, so I'm just going to mention some good and bad extra details that you may find useful. At the time of writing this review, Amazon doesn't have any copies for sale. I bought mine for under $18 in Australia, so if you have a multizone player check out the Australian retailers.
When firing up the DVD I was stunned to find there was no option for choosing an individual song. While the songs do actually have chapter stops, you can't pick a song from the front-end menu. You have to select "play all" and then keep hitting the ">>I" button on your remote. A real nuisance if you want to hear the 13th song!
My other major gripe involves Robert giving a brief introduction to the camera for each clip. While I found this to be interesting and a nice touch, the problem is that the producers made an artistic decision to have Robert talking over the "intro" of the song (or the "outro" of the previous song). So the punchy and seriously groovy intro of "Johnny and Mary" is completely lost. I was not impressed.
A couple of positive points - the sound quality is great on all the songs, video and audio appears to have been remastered .
At the price I paid this was still a good value Robert Palmer collection, but a big opportunity still exists for someone to release a comprehensive Robert Palmer clip DVD collection with more songs, a decent menu system and no voiceovers interfering with the music.

Like another reviewer here, I was looking forward to seeing the "Johnny and Mary" video on this DVD as it rarely receives airtime. Imagine my disgust when the first part of the video has Robert Palmer giving voice over commentary, ruining the opening of the music video! Most of the other music videos have this same voice over commentary for the first 30 seconds.

Another omission is a DVD menu to select each video clip, instead you have to navigate sequentially through the music videos + commentary.

Very good collection of Palmer's videos, enjoyed the commentary. Surprised it was not listed as PAL. My Panasonic wouldn't but my Philips would play it.
Before things got so PC the use of the palmer girls was a reflection of the age. The Power Station videos and audio are exceptional as are "Addicted To Love" and "Simply Irresistible". I discovered his vocal power in Dada and Vinegar Joe. His love affair with Jamaica and reggae seems quaint compared to the polished silk tie of his later years. He's sorely missed but the videos carry his ghost well. Highly recommended. As I Am

Can't really say much about this DVD since it will not play on either my new Sony Blu-ray player or my older DVD player because it's NOT a region 1 (NTSC) disc as listed. Unfortunately for me Amazon is not clear on this fact and I did not read the back cover until after opening it. Guess I'm now in the market for a PAL format DVD player if I want to watch this disc

Would have given the Robert Palmer, Addictions, DVD a higher rating - but - it would not play in my DVD player! Took it to Best Buy and Circuit City and it would not play on any of their machines as well. It is marked as a (all regions) DVD. Reading the Amazon information it says that the DVD can not be returned after opening, so it looks like I'm stuck with a DVD that won't play...

You sent me this DVD in PAL instead of NTSC.
I returned it back explaining that I cannot run it here in the US, and I orderd a replacement one in PAL/SECAM again, I tried for the second time, I put a note everywhere that I cannot run PAL/Secam here asking for the one in NTSC.
And for the third time I received the same DVD in PAL/SECAM.
So I gave up.
I did not order it any more........
I understand that everything is automatic, but three times?

This DVD collection of Robert Palmers videos is available again thru several suppliers of Amazon.com. I was able to purchase it new for $8.38. It is a great DVD and I am glad that I purchased it, but there are several problems with it.

1. The Amazon description of the DVD says it is a Region 1 format. It is actually a PAL/All Regions format. It would not play on my newer Sony DVD player, but will play on my 5+ year old Emerson DVD player.

2. Robert Palmer's voice is out of sync with the video. It looks like an old foreign movie where the dialog doesn't match the movements of the mouth.

3. No chapter stops. You can't go directly to a particular video/song.

It would be nice if the manufacturer would remaster this DVD and place Robert Palmer's commentaries between the videos rather than over the videos. Also, chapter stops for easier access to favorite videos would be helpful.

Addicted to Love video was mesmerizing. Everything in this collection is lustful and I can't get enough. Sounds like an addiction, eh? Got this to remember Robert Palmer and keep him fresh in my mind. I so miss his music.

I owned this video on VHS, and replaced it with this DVD version, since VHS player technology is nearly gone. If you like Robert Palmer, the music is a good selection of his hits. Palmer himself gives a fairly lukewarm introduction to the videos. The DVD navigation features are nil. There are no chapter headings, so one needs to fast-forward through the DVD as if it were a VHS tape. The video quality is pretty rough, taken from a variety of sources, with a variety of quality from "not so good" to "acceptable." Nevertheless, it's great to see Robert Palmer, and to hear his music.