Customer Reviews

Live at Knebworth Box Set [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As a big Tears For Fears fan, the 1990 Knebworth Concert was the final performance for the duo of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. This was my impetus for purchasing the "Live At Knebworth" DVD, but it also gave me a chance to see many of the legendary acts perform on one stage. In a lot of ways, the 1990 Knebworth Concert would be almost a final hurrah for the fabled 'British Invasion' of the rock era. The good news is their is some real good stuff on this DVD. The bad news is that there are some flaws that do detract from the enjoyment of the program.

"Live at Knebworth" is often knocked for having poor sound quality. If you know about the Knebworth Concert, you will know that some of the acts (like Tears For Fears) performed in horrific weather conditions - rain and wind. Yes you will hear some feedback on the equipment at certain points of the concert, but it is minimal. With the wind blowing the way it did, you wouldn't even know it was from just listening to the recordings. Therefore, I think a lot of credit should be given for to the production of this DVD from an audio standpoint. The problem is with the editing of the concert. First up, this is NOT the complete Knebworth concert. There are selected highlights from each of the acts. Most of the acts did around 6 to 8 songs. (I know this from following Tears For Fears very closely that they did other songs NOT included on the DVD set.) On the DVD set, all of the acts will perform only 2 to 4 songs. This set is well priced for what you get, but I think it would have been terrific if they offered a complete concert version as well. This would help with the flow and continuity of the concert. Continuity and flow are also affected due to the fact that the acts do not appear in the same order in which they actually performed. Much of this had to do that this DVD set was originally a three volume VHS set that 'packaged' the concert into three parts. However I find the re-ordering to really detract from the enjoyment. Much of the magic of a concert recording is watching it as you would have seen it. It is a shame that this collection doesn't do that.

A synopsis of each act:

Tears For Fears: I'm biased here. They are my favorite group and they don't disappoint. They do three songs - "Change", "Badman's Song", and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". I know from listening to some bootlegs that they really were impacted by the weather, but watching this recording you wouldn't know it. This is a top-notch performance and it was a great way for a great band to go out on top.

Cliff Richard and the Shadows: My first reaction was 'Cliff Richard'? But Cliff and the band are sensational. Cliff Richard proves he still can rock performing "On the Beach", "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "We Don't Talk Anymore". A highlight is a couple in the audience singing along to "We Don't Talk Anymore".

Phil Collins and the Serious Band: Phil's version of "In the Air Tonight" is sensational. He starts by sitting down, then gets up mid-song and smacks the drums! He does "Sussudio" with his Phenix Horns section.

Paul McCartney: Has four songs. The best of the four songs is "Hey Jude". McCartney gets the whole crowd into this song. McCartney's guitarist Robbie McIntosh is terrific on vocals as well - especially on "Coming Out".

Status Quo: Not a big fan of theirs. I was surprised they got 4 songs, while bigger names had less. The best song performed was "Whenever You Want".

Supergroup: First it's Eric Clapton, then Clapton is joined by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, then Elton John joins them. Clapton does some very bluesy numbers . Knopfler and Dire Straits and with Clapton do a terrific version of "Solid Rock". They then do a new Straits tune called "Then I Love You Too Much". Following that is a terrific version of "Money For Nothing" that has a bluesy like intro and a terrific ending. The Elton John stuff really disappoints. He has Knopfler and Clapton on stage and picks two tunes not making the most of their abilities - "Sacrifice" and "Sad Songs"? Also renowned background vocalist Tessa Niles is on stage for all 3 acts of the Supergroup.

Robert Plant: Starts out slow with "Hurting Kind". Things pick up with "Tall Cool One". Jimmy Page then joins him on stage for "Wearing and Tearing" and "Rock and Roll" and Page really puts on a show.

Genesis: They do a version of "Mama" in which Phil is in fine form with the evil laugh in the microphone. "Throwing It All Away" is the version seen at many Genesis performances. They then go into a sensational version of the "Turn It On Again - medley" that includes "Turn It On Again" and covers of some non-Genesis stuff. What is cool about the medley is that Phil's band joins Genesis on stage for it - adding the horns section and making for some great entertainment.

Pink Floyd: They wrap up the collection. Only two songs - "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Run Like Hell". Both songs feature some great special effects and sax player Candy Dulfer will steal the show with the first song.

The liner notes include a brief writeup on background behind the concert. The acts and numbers they perform are listed. There is also a very brief summary of each of the performances. All of the musicians who participate are credited. Despite some of the shortcomings, this is still one great performance. I'd still recommend getting it because there isn't anything else out there that covers this concert of better quality.

Don't be fooled. This Box set, although very good, was very disappointing if you were looking for a great Pink Floyd concert. Although MTV aired this concert in 1990 with footage from four of the Pink Floyd songs in the concert, the box set here only has two songs to offer. The initial song and the concluding song of this great concert are all that is avialble in this box set. The box set contains several other great artists like Genesis, Dire Straits and many more. So if you were looking for more on Pink Floyd then you should buy Pulse or Delicate Sounds of Thunder.

I only gave this 4 stars because there was too much of acts I don't care about, and not enough of Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, and Jimmy Page. Here's a run down of everybody that's on this video set:

Vol.1 Tears for Fears, Cliff Richard, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney Vol.2 Status Quo, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Elton John Vol.3 Robert Plant (guest starring Jimmy Page), Genesis, Pink Floyd

Highlights: Tears for Fears does "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Phil Collins does "Sussudio" Paul McCartneys entire set "Coming Up", "Birthday", "Hey Jude", and "Can't Buy Me Love" Dire Straits doing "Money for Nothing" Robert Plant and Jimmy Page two songs "Wearing and Tearing" and "Rock 'N' Roll" Pink Floyd two songs "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Run Like Hell"

The Pink Floyd set was the best. Excellent views of Gilmour playing "Shine On ...". Great light show too.

Low Points: Too much of Cliff Richards. Elton John does "Sacrifice" and "Sad Songs". He could have picked some better songs to play. Too much Genesis.

I hope if this ever goes to DVD they include the whole set of Pink Floyd.

Yes, I am disappointed. The sound is terrible. Crowd sound levels are out of proportion to the music performed. We have come to expect a much better editing job. Of particular note, is that the sound track is out of sync with the video performances - especially on the Status Quo numbers.

It is nowhere near as complete as it could have been. So many good performances were omitted.

I give it 3 stars simply because it was such a moving concert. And it is better to have this record of it than to have none at all. Maybe someday this event will get the first class treatment it deserves.

I have the original copy of this on DVD with dolby pro logic sound track. Love the disc so I bought the new DVD with DTS and Dolby Digital. I was therefore disgusted when I started watching and noticed that the audio tracks and the video portions are not in sync and it looks like all the performers are doing a really bad job of lip syncing. Whoever is responsible for the terrible audio job should be disbarred from whatever technical organization they belong too and horsewhipped for having no professional pride in their work whatsoever.
Two thumbs down from this disgruntled buyer.

Question to the publisher of "Knebworth live' 90" : Is there any reason not to release the DVD edition ever again? Do you know that those famous various artists performed an important part the history of live concert? I believe it's already been a legend in most people's mind. Why not release the legend in full version in DVD format? It is unacceptable to lock up in your own library. I really want to enjoy the concert again. Please......

The earlier stereo release DVD was a disappointment because of the annoying video artifacts. The editing was pretty much a hack job with most of the best performances from each artist eliminated. In spite of that, I decided to purchase this version. This has the same faults as the other along with a major audio sync problem most of the time. Its so bad you may wonder at times if the audio recording was from the same performance. There is no excuse for audio sync problems this severe.

What a shame!! This could have been a great DVD had someone taken the time to correct the technical and editorial issues. Perhaps somebody will see the sales potential and release a new longer version in the future without the technical problems. Anyone who recorded the MTV airing years ago on VHS has better video than this DVD has.

I agree with other reviewers...I remember this concert quite well and the audio/video work is terrible. In addition my copy was unusable with severe mfg flaws beginning at Phil Collins performance and continuing through the remainder of the DVD causing lock-up, video and audio 'stutter' and severe pixelization on high caliber equipment. I am highly dissappointed with this purchase and hope that whomever remastered this onto the DVD with 5.1 never produces another deliverable again. In addition, the company that released this DVD lacks quality control in their cutting process....

Fabulous Concert; the finale with Pink Floyd playing in the rain and David Gilmour's souring solos on a wet stratocaster are breath-taking. I hope that the DVD is released again!

After so many reviews regarding the audio and video of this DVD I have to say that I don't have these problems with my copy.
Ok, the video it is mediocre (almost like a VHS or maybe a little more fuzzy) BUT the audio, (and I am referrring here to the DTS track) it's outstanding, this by no means degrade the entertainment factor of this DVD and it beats, in my opinion, having instead the VHS by far.
My copy was made in 2002 by "eagle eye" and it is region 1 (NTSC). If you find this DVD with this characteristics and you have a good receiver with a DTS decoder then don't even think twice and buy it. The performances are awesome and tight and it is worth the price, I'll guarantee it.