Customer Reviews

John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band - Sweet Toronto

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Picture: Not bad at all considering.
Audio: That's another story. The first thing I noticed was the back of the box, where it says that the 5.1 surround mix was created from the original 2 track mix. Now, how do you make 5 tracks from 2? The stereo mix, through my trusty EV speakers wasn't very good. Hardly any bass. Clapton's guitar was almost inaudible on some songs, and cutting in and out on others. If you listen to the remastered CD of this show, "Live Peace In Toronto", it sounds incredible. Another reason it sounds better is that they had the good sense to turn off Yoko's wailing vocal track on the Lennon songs. Her 20 some minute solo routine is one thing, it may be your cup of tea or not (although at one point, I swear, John grabs her from behind near the end of her performance and says 'stop'-you can hear it!) but she shouldn't be tunelessly screeching during the rock and roll numbers. Anyway, what they should have done here is to go back to the original multitrack tapes and sync them to the film and do a proper surround sound mix. The only extra here is a short bit at the 1988 London gallery opening of John's artwork, where Yoko tells the by-now-familiar story of how the Plastic Ono Band got it's name.
This is history, and still worth a look, but I'm tired of these lazy DVD releases that don't live up to the potential of modern video technology.

I guess I am lucky. Those of you who want to see Sweet Toronto are at a great disadvantage, because you are only seeing a part of this wonderful film. I reviewed this film as part of my cinema class in college in 1970. Sweet Toronto was more than a venue for John Lennon it was intended to be a loving tribute to Rock pioneers and two pioneer rebels of the generation who had just died namely Janis Joplin and . It was a great film, using the cinematic techniques set forth in Woodstock. As I researched further to find a complete copy, I realized that the producers of the DVD took it, No! tore it apart. Putting Chuck Berry's whole performance on one DVD and Jerry Lee's on another and Little Richard on still another. So seeing Lennon's performance was just a tiny segment of the entire show. Bo Diddley alone went on for 15 minutes of hard driving blues with his daughter singing backup. The two hour movie has now been cut up leaving you with only a glimpse of the beautiful event that D.A. Pennybaker set down on film. Yes,the end of the film was ruined by Yoko Ono's non performance where she screamed wailed and moaned, to the absolute horror of everyone who was at the world Premier of Sweet Toronto at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Sweet Toronto was a wonderful film and I urge everyone to demand that the film be produced on DVD intact and uncut. That my friends will be a great treat for music fans.

This DVD is essential for any serious Lennon fan. Too many reviewers worry about the avant-garde nature of the Yoko Ono performance. The film documents one of the best and most feral rock concerts ever given. Lennon's performance is raw and exciting. And, if you've ever doubted Lennon's estimation of "Don't Worry Kyoko..." as one of the best rock songs ever, you must see him and Clapton getting into a fine guitar groove that works like a mantra. And the live version of "Yer Blues" is as exciting as the performance in the Stones' "Rock and Roll Circus" (not to mention "Cold Turkey"! This is a classic moment in rock history that testifies to the power of Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band. Don't miss it! I waited years to get this DVD. It rocks.

John Lennon along with Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry performed a rock and roll revival concert in Toronto. One song from each is presented here, as well as John Lennon's entire performance. The music here is fantastic; the problem is that the cameramen seem way too focused on John's beard. First there's a close-up on it, then the camera leaps back for a full shot of John. This technique is very disturbing, and heavily plagues the film. But the music is great, so for that, the film is worth it.

I just wish to point out that this DVD begins with a fantastic
surprise & treat for those who bought it for the Plastic Ono Band
performance at Toronto, 1969.
HEY BO DIDDLEY!!!!! Wanna talk about a religious experience?
BO DIDDLEY invented a groove that is "at one" with the universal
field...and he blesses us with this all-out ecstatic jam...
words fail in trying to describe how great this segment is...
perhaps...if you imagine the absolute musical climax of a wild
Baptist church service...when dogma no longer matters and the
people are just going off--flying into universal ecstasy...
this comes close to describing the BO DIDDLEY performance
which begins this DVD. The cliche: "this alone is worth the
price of admission" certainly applies here. I especially like
the sexual horseplay that happens during the music.
As for the rest of the DVD, it was interesting to view after
growing up with the "Live Peace In Toronto" Album.
John is great throughout...I only wish Eric Clapton's guitar
was miked a bit better...you can barely hear him.
As for Yoko, well, that's not everyone's cup of tea. I happen
to like her...but you must admit, it's extremely interesting
to watch John maneuver his guitar in all sorts of wild ways
to get the "sound" for the final track...here he REALLY looks
like the "mad wizard" in the secret laboratory from
Magical Mystery Tour.
Lastly, I must also HIGHLY recommend the DVD which features
Chuck Berry's full performance from this same concert.
It is also a demigod-like performance.
And lastly, how much does Little Richard look like Prince
during the Lucille track? About 99% identical!

I really enjoyed watching this, but I agree with the reviews that state that the sound is not great. I have the remastered CD version and the sound is fantastic. Also, the film has too many zooms in and out and that can tire the eyes some.

I am a huge Yoko fan and think that her back-up of John is great and really love her set, both for her and for the ability to see just how John and the others made those feedback sounds. Yoko really has a quite lovely stage presence. Because of the awkward camera angles, it is hard to see, but you can tell that she is directing the musicians during her set. She clearly is in control of what is going on. I have seen other footage of John playing for Yoko when she is doing her thing, so I know he was very supportive and encouraging of her work. But the way they are filmed with the constant cut-aways and zooms in and out, you don't quite get as genuine a sense of their chemistry as you would if they took longer shots and zoomed much more slowly.

Still, I am glad to have the film in my collection. But I look forward to a restored version with better sound and chapters so I can look at an individual song if I so wish.

Sweet Toronto...ah yes! Bo Diddly, Jerry LEEe, CHUCK BERRY, and the Little Devil Himself (Little Richard);are well worth the price of this DVD,and then some. To see them at this point of space/Time...and their "Top Hat", 50s Hippie-Rocker Roller, Sterling preformances, is a Keep-Sake. John had his Magical Mystery Hat on, in arranging for them to be there.
Johnny's Presence, guitar, Voice, and "signature", is also Star Striking ! As for Yoko.... well...thats Called "ART", and Eric Clapton is a very Kind Friend To John Lennon.
This Segment of the Film MUST BE Viewed, atleast once. Persona
Gratis, and the First Preformance of "Give Peace a Chance", besides other Charms, are well worth it. John was not my Favorate Beatle, sadly to say (most of his Life was Really..Tragic), But the Beatles and his solo music could not be seperated. OWN THIS FILM...now !!

As with the album that came from this concert ("Live Peace in Toronto 1969"), the quality of performances is very uneven. Yoko's songs are not ready for prime time, and her attempts at singing and vocalizing make Linda McCartney sound like a nightingale. Nevertheless, the rough, underrehearsed sound of the Plastic Ono Band is still exciting 31 years later.

The film would be worthy of three stars just for capturing Lennon and Clapton in a historic concert were it not for the low quality of the cinematography. The film looks lousy, even for an impromptu filming. Buy it ONLY if you are more interested in the authenticity of Lennon trying to establish an identity separate from "Beatle John" and less interested in a polished product.

This is an interesting DVD. It starts out with a few peformances from classic rockers like Chuck Berry, and then Lennon takes the stage along with Eric Clapton on lead guitar and Yoko on annoying squawks. It is cool to see Lennon on the stage at this point in his life, but Yoko's wailing quickly drives you to insanity. At one point Yoko crawls into a bag and lays on the stage, unfortunately, she climbs out and finds her way back to the mic. Yer Blues and Cold Turkey are pretty interesting versions. Clapton looks stoned out of his gourd. All in all, nice DVD for a Lennon fan.

For the true Lennon fan this concert represents an interesting look at the Plastic Ono Band and at a period in which Lennon redefined his style. The concert as a whole must have been great, because of the atmosphere and all the great musicians. Lennons performance is clearly below average (as is the quality of the footage), but a below average Lennon concert still gets 4 stars. The only thing that totally ruins it for me, is Yoko's performance at the end. The whole spirit of the evening is destroyed by her barking and out of tune screaming. I can't understand where she got the guts (and the ego) to pull of something like this, and why the audience didn't revolt (maybe they still hoped for some music from John)? John visibly gets uneasy during the end of her performance, nervous and probably embarassed by her. I would have loved to have a DVD with the complete concert, and with Yoko edited out (just like the CD version). I would have given 4 stars if it wasn't for that screaming pigmee.