Customer Reviews

Harvest of 7 Years [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This collection of videos, gleaned from TV and live appearances, is mandatory viewing for the serious kd lang fan. It's chronological presentation allows the viewer to experience kd in the early years when she made regular apearances on country music's standard bearer, "Austin City Limits," and various other gigs.

During the 1980s, kd changed her hairstyle more often than Hillary Clinton: from shags to buzz cuts to near baldness. Her outfits--generally the result of garage sale specials--are outlandish as well. One thing always remains constant: her energy, desire to please and raw talent. It is these attributes that have made her one of the true chanteusses of modern times.

Lang narrates the video in her usual candid and honest manner, offering bits of minutia as she introduces each piece. This video, like kd, is overall very simple, yet chocked full of sardonic wit and ocassionally explodes with flamboyancy--once you see and hear Polly Ann, you'll understand.

Harvest of Seven Years will undoubtedly become a cult icon favorite throughout the world.

This DVD is both fun and well put together. It's important to keep in mind that it's actually all from k.d.'s first 7 years and was originally released in 1991. Some of her newer hits, obviously then, are not going to be on it. I did not realize when I bought this that it was a re-release on DVD from '91 and was surprised but it was still a very worthwhile purchase. The vocals are great and some of the video from the 80's will have you laughing out loud.

This compilation takes the viewer from the video history of the music, the artistry, and the transformations of the brilliant k.d. to the music from the motion picture Salmonberries. For hard-core k.d. fans this is essential by just for the early video stuff like Johnny get Angry - LIVE to Barefoot AND Crying (also LIVE). For the music enthusiast - this is essential because k.d. is one of the most brilliant singers of the past century.

Picture if you will (or can): a video bar, a Gay nightclub, Fresno, CA (of all places). 1985. The dance room was still thumping to Donna Summer, Madonna was only beginning to catch fire, the still somewhat new Frankie Goes to Hollywood was served up for the simple-minded dancers. In an adjacent room, a brave VJ ran what was one of the first domestic viewings of the video for "Hanky Panky," then a couple of weeks later, "Pollyann." Then & there I saw the future, and it was k.d. lang! It would be another couple of years before her first official domestic release [1987's "Angel with a Lariat"], and Roy Orbison would hand pick her for the career making duet of "Crying." Still another year before the even Nashville began to embrace her with the legendary "Shadowland" tribute to C&W balladry. All the while, she was turning heads in her native Canada, and putting neigh-sayers to shame with prophetic performances such as "Johnny Get Angry." Ultimately culminating with the excellent "Absolute Torch & Twang." Then her contribution to the first "Red Hot & Blue" for AIDS [Cole Porter's "So in Love" never sounded so good]. Finally with the hauntingly beautiful "Barefoot" from the otherwise forgettable, and admittedly boring film Salmonberries. Her own "off-handed, on-camera" commentary makes this a very personal piece of work. Sadly, there has not been a second, or even third edition of this excellent anthology to bring her career up to date, let alone mid-way, but for the rarity, and most often excellence of choice, this is a simply wonderful collection.

As a hard core fan of ms. lang, I will admit I was excited to take a look at the earlier encarnations. The monotone introduction by k.d. did not help ease in to the nostalgia. The first few are what you would expect with no budget. There is a "surprise introduction" of her as "kathryn lang" during the first tv appearance. It really picks up with the live performances taped for the Olympics and other shows. She starts to let go, have a great time, and sing up a storm.

The best thing is the dress. She must only have one dress, which she wears on her first tv appearance and, years later, the tribute to Roy Orbison. One dress in all that time and it's captured on video forever. I'm not here to review the dress, but if I was it would get one star. Don't let the dress distract you from an AMAZING version of the Orbison classic, "Crying" which she really owns as a vocalist.

The treasures are the songs from the film Salmonberries (directed by Percy Adlon) and the video from Red Hot and Blue. Gus van Sant (Drug Store Cowboy and Good Will Hunting) directed the Red, Hot, and Blue video.

A must have for fans who want to see k.d. grow up as an artist. I gave it three stars because I couldn't watch the whole thing over again, only the songs I liked. There are some great moments and the music is good, but one song is on there twice. I would rather have one less song than two versions of the same song. There wasn't even an explanation why it was so important to see it again.

For whoever is keen of K.D. Lang, this dvd offers a nice wide spectrum of her different works and styles.
with the added bonus that is She Herself explaining the hows and whys about the different songs.

the quality of the images and the sound is very good.

It's a bit hokey and silly, but it's a must-have for the fan of her earlier music. "Cropped and Chronicled" is right...especially the 'cropped' part...it's a bit choppy. However, there are a few videos on this CD you'll have a hard time finding anywhere else including "Honkeytonk Angel's Medley" - "Crying" - "Barefoot" - "Ridin' the Rails"
Overall, it's worth it.

I bought this because I'm a new k.d. lang fan and I just can't get enough! Since I'm late to the game, I was pleased that this focused on the first nine years of her career: I knew almost nothing about her start in showbiz and found it puzzling and fascinating that she started as a country artist. It was amazing to watch her evolution -- the musical expression, the genre, the hair, the clothes, the performance style.

I strongly recommend this for anyone who is a big k.d. lang fan OR for anyone who is interested in the evolution of queer visibility in pop culture. What made the greatest impression on me was just how open k.d. was about who she is from the very start. [SPOILER ALERT: DVD Content spoilers ahead] The first track in the disc is Country Promenade, performed by demur, young Kathy Lang. Every track after that is k.d. lang, and there's no mistaking it: from the beginning she has an amazing voice, a unique and playful sense of humor about her performances, and a genderbending identity. Watching her in those early clips, my mind reeled trying to imagine what the stalwarts of country music must have made of her.

She is so completely herself all the time that it's inspiring. When her look evolves, it's never because the previous incarnation wasn't "really" k.d. She's just continuing to explore who she is, and it's a privilege to watch such a talented artist do so. In my opinion, many of her performances are edgier and more provocative than contemporary artists -- queer or straight -- who are trying desperately to be irreverent. k.d., simply being herself, presents a much more powerfully provocative image of the queer chanteuse. (Not to mention the fact that she could sing most contemporary pop stars into their graves.) Buy this DVD to see an icon who was way ahead of her time.

The Harvest Of Seven Years is simply delicious . kd's introductions are warm and personal and so inviting.
And then there are the songs and her incredible voice.
I will be watching this over and over. How happy I am and how fortunate all of her fans are that she shares her gift with the world.

The video was great---exactly what I hoped it would be. It arrived on a timely basis and have already viewed it a few times.