Customer Reviews

Bad Company in Concert: Merchants of Cool

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Merchants Of Cool" is a pretty cool DVD that combines video from two concerts staged by the new look Bad Company during their 2002 tour of the US.

I say new look because the band on this DVD comprises vocalist Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke from the original Bad Co line-up with bassist Jaz Lochrie and guitarist Dave "Bucket" Colwell filling in for original members Boz Burrell and Mick Ralphs.

Lochrie and Colwell are both great musicians but they aren't a patch on Burrell and Ralphs, whose distinctive guitaring style is sorely missed here.

Despite this, this is a rock solid concert video featuring the best known songs from the Bad Co catalogue - you have the hits like "Bad Company", "Ready For Love", "Can't Get Enough" and "Feel Like Makin' Love" mixed up with lesser known cuts like "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" and "Seagull" - plus a few tracks from the band Free like the famous sing along anthem "All Right Now" and "Wishing Well" (for which the band is joined by Slash and Neal Schon). Rounding off things is the video for a new song from Bad Company called "Joe Fabulous".

But it is a bit distracting that the DVD mixes up footage from two separate shows at the Paramount Theatre in Denver and the Grove Of Anaheim at Anaheim that were recorded in January 2002. Rodgers' decision to get the crowd to sing along on a few tracks is a bit annoying too.

On the plus side, Mr Paul Rodgers does possess probably the best blues vocal chords ever, and he is in great form on all the songs. Kirke's drumming can only be described in one word - powerhouse.

The footage is nice and sharp, with no bleeding of colours but the video is non-anamorphic widescreen. On the audio end of things, you get Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo and two great surround tracks - Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS - with very nice low end for the subwoofers. This is one DVD you'll enjoy watching at loud volumes!

The DVD has a nice selection of extras - including a text biography of Bad Company, track-by-track comments over a few pages of text, interviews with the musicians a section on "Famous Friends" that has members of bands like Foreigner, Journey and Styx telling us why they like Bad Company so much.

There's also a easter egg - on the special features menu, highlight "Web Links" and press left on the remote. This will take you to the hidden track "Saving Grace" recorded by Bad Company with Neal Schon plus some rehearshal footage for the same cut.

I remember the excellent music of FREE and Bad Company from years ago, but had not heard of anything new since the demise of the FIRM. Then, I saw Simon Kirke on one of Ringo Starr's wonderful shows, and he was every bit as good as he had been in my memories! I searched, and found this DVD of the newly reformed Bad Company, and bought it quickly! Paul Rodgers may be the best rock vocalist to ever grace the airwaves, but I believe he is at his best with Kirke providing the solid, "rock steady" foundation. This is what you get on this DVD! They do "Wishing Well" & "All Right Now" in conjuction to the magnificent Bad Company Hits. Mick Ralphs isn't here, but another guitarist fills in for him well enough. I like the new bassist, and have just played this DVD over, and over, again! The show presented here is wonderful, with Rodgers displaying a marvelous "frontman" skill along with his voice. This type of performance is the kind that really comes across well with DVD technology. The DVD has many special features, including a "hidden" song,(though I have not found it yet), and interviews with "friends" including Tommy Shaw from STYX, the Jabo Stokes Jive Rockets Band, and the Damm Yankees. I hope the hidden song is either "Fire & Water", or "My Brother Jake" from the FREE days, but regardless, this DVD is WELL WORTH the purchase!!

Well I was not sure what to expect from this new version of the band without Mick Ralphs, but I must say they were as good as I have ever heard them here. I have seen the band twice, once in their hayday and once a few years ago.Paul Rodgers was in top form sounding bluesy and soulful as ever. The sound and video production were top flight, really what a concert DVD should be. The song selection could not have been better in my opinion, every single classic song was played in this show, I was as happy with this DVD as I have been in a while with any DVD. If your a BAD COMPANY FAN in any way shape or form get this DVD, even if you never really heard them and you love rock and roll give this one a try!

Well, I'm a little biased--I had the distinct honor of Directing this DVD project. We got the opportunity to go in-depth with the band--lots of cool special features. However the real highlight is the music. Culled from two performances, the band is in incredible form, and Paul Rodgers has never sounded better. And they play ALL THE HITS. On top of all that, everyone says they love the quality of the video coverage, and the audio, both the stereo and 5.1 mixes are great. Finally a longform of a band that truely deserves one.

Let me get this out of the way - Paul Rodgers is in my opinion the greatest rock singer in history. His voice can give you chills with power, with bluesy phrasing, or with melody in the gentler songs. There has never been one better. If you, like me, were starved for having some live Rodgers to listen to - then this is a good purchase.

Having said that, I have some problems with this. The sound quality of Paul, Lochrie and Kirke's performances is great. The vocal quality is great. Everything is clear as a bell - except the guitar. Colwell's mix sounds like what you hear when you pull into a parking lot about a mile away behind the venue. You can tell what he is playing, and it sounds good, it's just muffled and way too low in the mix. Having Paul makes up for it thought because when you can't hear the guitar, you can more clearly hear his voice. I would still rather have some more guitar in the mix to add a little "umph" to the performance. I have a feeling that the stacks of Marshalls and great guitars didn't sound like that in the venue that night.

I taped a performance of Bad Company's original lineup on Hard Rock Live a few years ago with Mick Ralphs and Boz Burrell and I have to say that I prefer that to this DVD, though this DVD is longer and has better sound quality other than guitar. Burrell didn't overplay as Lochrie does on occasion, and despite many people's reports of Mick's playing, his sound on that performance was top notch. This band doesn't need Steve Vai, just a gritty guitar sound and tasteful backups and leads. Colwell to me is very similar to Mick.

The bigger disappointment on the DVD is the unfortunate original song - Joe Fabulous. Paul's singing is great, but the lyrics are ridiculous and the music uninteresting. I had hoped for better from them... Maybe it'll grow on me.

In closing - there are problems - but buy the DVD. Rodgers' voice makes up for everything. He has gotten better with age - which is strange, but cool. His singing is unbelievable. If you are a guitar fan, you might be a little disappointed, but the voice and the songs (other than the new one) will make up for it.

Absolutely brilliant concert. Vocals and guitar fantastic. Never get bored watching it from beginning to end. A must buy for all Bad Co fans.

Paul Rodgers should make this concert video a training film for other 70's rockers who want to continue making a possitive influence and impact in the Rock genre today. I've been 'Runnin' with the Pack' since my middle and high school days back in the mid 70's and since this concert I still 'CAN'T GET ENOUGH.' Paul is Magnificaent, Kirke is definately a 'Captain', and Lochrie and Colwell, whoa - what can I say? ABSOLUTELY GREAT! The audience participation alone (in this DVD) should define not only the loyalty and commitment of BAD COMPANY fans, but also the incredible sincerity and leadership of Paul to get this right. If there were ten stars in this rating - this DVD would have gotten it from me.
How this band failed to receive the recognition of the other power bands of the 70's (The Stones, The Who, Aerosmith, Led Zeplin, Pink Floyd, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullett Band, Lynard Skynard and even Genisis) I'll never understand. I suppose Paul Rodgers and BAD COMPANY just decided to methodically cut great tune after great tune for their true fans without worrying about the polls - just remember who won the race between the tortoise and the hare. BC - just like your rainbow in Silver, Blue and Gold - this DVD was overdue - don't let this be the last and don't ever break up.
WOW!!! This is a must buy! This is the best concert in my collection!

First off Paul Rodgers voice is superb and his stage presence is unmatched. Contrasting this is Dave "Bucket" Colwell. While he is visually a dead ringer for Mick ralphs, his playing reminds me of my Bad Co interpretations while learning the guitar. There doesn't seem to be a rawness to this performance. Great moments and some not so great. Watch first before you buy.

There never was any available footage of Bad Company that I could find. I tried for a decade or more at least. Low and behold one day a few months ago in Tucson, there it was "The Merchants of Cool". I first saw BadCo in Syracuse, NY in 1974. I was an Air Force brat from Griffiss AFB).Damn-good-times! They blew me away then, and they blew me away again on "Merchants of Cool". How about a 6 Star rating for BadCo's "Merchants of Cool".

Peace,

Mark E. Pike

I'd eagerly awaited the arrival of this DVD, was confident the quality would be great, but was still totally unprepared for the experience. The tempo and energy of each song is secure with Simon Kirke's powerhouse drums which lead Jaz Lochrie's rich bass to set the musical foundation. Dave Colwell masters the lead guitar in fine "Ralphesque" tradition (Mick would/will be proud)...enter, Paul Rodgers. As front man, Paul is the epitome of "rock star", entertaining, enticing, and seducing his audience while his vocals are unparalleled. "The Voice" share's each song's story with a hungry audience by manipulating each word/each note into an emotion---a smile, a tear, a chill. For example, watch (or listen to) track one, "Burning Sky", as he sings "...I'd rather die than see you with another man." His anguished vocals, molding only the last word of that sentence, tells the entire story and proves beyond any doubt that Paul Rodgers is greatest rock vocalist of our time. I watched this DVD on my 17" computer monitor and was completely blown away...imagine my reaction if I had a big screen TV. This DVD is a must get and Bad Company's "Joe Fabulous" tour in 2002 is a must see.