Customer Reviews

Motown: The DVD

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This DVD was something I looked forward to, but unfortunately, fell short of my expectations. First, off.... the first video of "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes carries HORRIFIC film faults running down BOTH SIDES of the picture throughout the entire performance. The sad part is that Universal released this sad quality version on DVD when the same footage on YOUTUBE doesn't carry that fault (Only has minor fault on one side, intermittently)a rank amateur obviously did the transfers for this DVD, as color balance if off many times, and some clips have been artificially sharpened, and the result is VERY grainy footage. Universal was also very cheap in that they did no digital correction of any film or video tape faults. The clip of "Tears Of A Clown" looks great, until the color flickers in a couple of places, something that could have easliy been corrected with today's technology.

With the thousands of hours of video that must be available of these fabulous Motown stars, I can't believe this is the best they can come up with. The film is often very grainy and in poor condition. The Temptations are seen doing My Girl with such poor footage that their heads are cut off at the top for much of the song. There is more bad than good. And forget about the "Bonus" features. There are way better Motown videos available.

Wow...Motown at it's BEST..The variety presented here is fabulous..all of the early greats PLUS some very rare performances by some of the rarely seen performers like Mary Wells and Brenda Hollaway....A few of the clips are a bit ragged but hey, the stuff is almost 50 years old in some cases...This is nit picking though..the fact that Universal is still producing these freat DVDs is the key and we should all support their efforts with great reviews!!!

track listings: 18 full-length performances
don't mess with bill, & please mr. postman (The Marvelettes), dancing in the street, & nowhere to run (Martha & The Vandellas), do you love me (The Contours), ain't that peculiar, & hitch hike (Marvin Gaye), every little bit hurts (Brenda Holloway), my girl (The Temptations), i can't help myself/sugar pie, honey bunch (Four Tops), back in my arms again (The Supremes), take me in your arms/rock me a little while (Kim Weston), uptight/everything's alright (stevie Wonder), war (Edwin Starr), what becomes of the brokenhearted (Jimmy Ruffin), my whole world ended/the moment you left me (David Ruffin), i heard it thru the grapevine (Gladys Knight & The Pips), & the tears of a clown (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles).
I rated this music DVD a 5 (EXCELLENT).

What can I say, I loved it, especially knowing that the great voices of Mary Wells, Eddie Kendrick and David Ruffin are no longer with us. This is must if you fans of MOtown and wnat to catch one of the lat real performance of Mary Wells. This is a collectable DVD.

Great song selection and interesting extras but the guts of this DVD were disappointing. Almost all were lip-syynched TV show performances. Although there were some historically interesting Mike Douglas, Lloyd Thaxton TV show videos, I was anticipating more live music performances. Oh well. Still the price was right.

I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the film, it was poor. This DVD was certainly over priced, but I do love Motown music.

If you've bought the other DVDs in the series (Supremes/Temptations/Miracles/Four Tops/Marvin Gaye),you know what to expect here....Some great footage of some of the 'lesser' Motown acts-Marvelettes,David Ruffen,Jimmy Ruffen,Edwin Starr,Brenda Holliway,plus a few Supremes,Temptations,Miracles & Four Tops clips not used on their respective DVDs.And a clip of Stevie Wonder--where's HIS DVD?????----Overall very well done,and as with the other Motown DVDs,there's a number of audio options. The only possible negative comment I can say is the qualitly of some of the clips are noy quite top-notch,but at the same time,as a hard-core collector of vintage music,I know for a fact,that the original masters for some of these clips no longer exsist,and the producers had to work with the best available sources....As for the 'bonus' footage...one of the extras is a homemovie of a Motown picnic.Intresting footage it is,but the narrator(former Motown exec,-the footage is silent)-A)Id's the footage as being from "1970",when it's obviously from 1973/74 B)Mis-identifies a few artists C)Refers to BERRY Gordy,Jr.-repeatly-as BARRY Gordy.

I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH THIS DVD. FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR HAVING JUST ONE PERFORMANCE BY THE SUPREMES.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO MOTOWN THAN THE SUPRMES. THE STANDOUTS FOR ME THE CONTOURS LOVE THE WAY THEY ARE GROUPED
IN THERE PERFORMANCE. THE MARVELETTES NOW THEY WERE THE GIRL GROUP DANCERS. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MARVELETTES ARE
FINALLY GETTING THEIR DUE WITH 2 PERFORMANCES PLUS PLEASE MR. POSTMAN BEING PLAYED WHILE THE CREDITS RUN. GOOD TO
SEE ARTISTS LIKE KIM WESTON, EDWIN STARR,BRENDA HOLLOWAY, JIMMY RUFFIN. WHAT A AMAZING PERFORMANCE BY MARTHA
AND THE VANDELLAS SINGING NOWHERE TO RUN WHILE WE SEE A MUSTANG ASSEMBLED WITH THE GROUP SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT
THIS VIDEO IS SO COOL AND STILL STANDS UP. AND THE FOUR TOPS LIVE PERFORMANCE IS FUN TO WATCH. MARVIN GAYE,
TEMPTATIONS, SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES. THIS IS A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF ALL THE MOTOWN GROUPS WHICH
SHOW THE CONTRIBUTION EACH MADE. I RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY MOTOWN FAN

This was a great concept. Although there were times in certain areas of the video, the quality was gritty and streaky. Overall, this is an excellent dvd showing the classic motown performers in their prime. The video also shows, these performers had a strong support system in Berry Gordy. With that factor, and their strong work ethic to their profession, they were successful. Hard work and dedication paid off for many of these performers. I would recommend this treasure to anyone who would like see how the motown sound was created.