Customer Reviews

Bryan Ferry: Dylanesque Live - The London Sessions

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a long-time and avid fan of Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of the thought of Bryan Ferry doing a whole album of Dylan music. But - his interpetations of each song is brilliant !! Ferry puts his heart and soul into each song. On this video, it is obvious that he is 'into' it. He plays more harmonica than I have ever seen before, and is 'soulful'. His brief narratives about Bob Dylan and the music is just enough to be a satisfying supplement without taking away from his performances of the music. The piano playing of Colin Good is unmatched in its excellance, and it's great to see Roxy 'member' Andy Newmark on drums. The band, overall, is tight and each version of Dylan's songs, actually, improves somewhat on the originals !!
Bryan Ferry is superb in his vocals. I think he could, actually, do an album of anyone's music and improve on it !! A good example of that is the Roxy Music version of John Lennon's 'Jealous Guy'. While I am a big Beatles fan, Bryan Ferry's "Jealous Guy" gave it more 'soul' than Lennon.
Overall, this DVD is a joy to watch, and proves that Bryan Ferry is one of the most under-rated artists of our time !

I would highly recommend getting both this DVD and the CD, as I did, since the latter will enhance your enjoyment of the former. I could be a bit biased though, since I've been a Ferry (and Roxy Music) fan for well over 30 years (and relatively recently had independenty re-discovered Dylan's body of work).

Almost better than the CD. I enjoy having the DVD playing on my computer while working, doing e-mail etc. The live nature seems to enhance the songs.

Excellent

I have said this to other Ferry DVD's, but this one IS THE BEST ONE! His voice has matured beyond his previous efforts, just gets better with age. I am not usually a huge Dylan fan, but I really like how Bryan delivered. They are the best versions of Dylan songs I have heard by anyone. I sent 2 other copies to friends; it was that good! Trust me, it's very enjoyable. The DTS surround is breathtaking, I am sure the Dolby surround and stereo is almost as good. It's a mature Bryan for sure!

Not quite what I was expecting. I thought this would be a stage performance in front of an audience, but it was something different.

Ferry and his band, along with the producers, engineers etc from the Dylanesque album recreate the recording sessions but this time in front of video cameras.

Each track has a commentary at the end by Ferry and often by one of the other cast delving into the material, Ferry's history and other anecdotal stuff worth listening to.

The disc kicks of in fine style with Don't Think Twice, arranged for Voice and Piano and the track is so damned fine I found myself wondering why it didn't make the CD.

Hearing Ferry's unique and unmistakable voice re-render these classics is a treat, but to hear "The Time's They Are A Changin'" gathered into 4/4 and given a driving rock arrangement was almost worth the price of the DVD alone. The effect on the song is much as it was with "Hard Rain" when he did exactly the same thing with that track - what had been an interesting but aging 3/4 acoustic number was given a new lease on life.

The bonus material is basically four tracks, one of which is the old 70s video for "Hard Rain" which - sound apart - only proves how badly Top of the Pops could work with the material. Even allowing for Ferry's conflicting need to smoulder into the camera over the full length of the concert grand piano yet still have some sightline to an out-of-shot crib sheet for the lyrics the concept is not the greatest they've managed with minimal resources to work with. (I remember reading an interview in the NME some years later when Ferry admitted he needed a lyric sheet for Hard Rain when he performed it).

I loved the whole concept. The camera work is generally good, the material a mixed bag (from my personal perspective, your mileage may vary) and the performers excellent.

Bryan Ferry is the consumate matinee idol, his heart breaking under his lapel and this captures his very essence.

The visual element adds a whole new layer to experiencing Dylanesque. The band and the backup singers are fantastic and cool. Roxy Music and Ferry are clearly the biggest omissions from the Rock Hall in Cleveland. Where is the DVD for These Foolish Things?

Objectively, this may not be the most stellar B.Ferry work, but for his fans this is one of those where two worlds meet in a truly enjoyable way - Dylan's music and Ferry's touch. Must see.

The DVD is well worth the money even if you already have the CD.

Here is a band that just seems to click in a very comfortable setting. Three great guitarists, a strong rhythm section, the always superb Colin Goode on piano and Ferry has managed to raise the standard, yet again, on backing singers.

Has been number one on my DVD play-list for over a year now (managing to displace David Gilmour at the Royal Festival Hall, which says a lot!).

excellent of its type, this has short explanations and artist insight into each of the songs in between them. beautifully made, it is a great companion to the cd. buy it while its low-priced.