Customer Reviews

One Night Only

5 star:		(165)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you got this far, you are probably interested in getting this historical concert on DVD. Filmed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in November of 1997, I can attest that having been at this concert, it is remarkable. Over 30 hits with a great light-show presentation was accompanied by live duets with Celine Dion on "Immortality", a pre-recorded duet with Franki Valli on a blasting "Grease" and a truly heartbreaking quartet with the late brother Andy Gibb on "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away". The large movie screen served as a backdrop for many old family videos as well as the Bee Gees performing songs from over four decades.

The technicalities: If you have a simple DVD player without a DTS Surround Sound player and receiver, you can buy any of the DVD's. If you are fortunate enough to own a DTS Surround capable DVD player and receiver, you are set for what the concert really sounded like! Remember that this was recorded in the 80,000 plus seat MGM Grand and the acoustics add something that is different than a regular studio recording. The crowd is recorded perfectly to coincide with the performance. Check your system, then decide. If you plan on a new system, I highly recommend spending a few extra bucks and getting this DTS Surround feature. It is that good.

The Bee Gees have always been great performers, but this is their career topping concert. Four decades of songs are showcased here with impeccable harmonies and a first class band. The highlights are the guest appearances whether ala 'Nat King Cole' style or real like Celine Dion. Yup, Franki Valli and a tear-jerking Andy Gibb can be heard here as well as the Celine highlight. There is too much and too little as great songs like, "Nights On Broadway" and "Guilty" are cut short, but the typical 'Bee Gees song medley' and the 'Night Fever/More Than A Woman' segment made up for that. In retrospect, the concert could have had more lighting effects, but, geez, the sound is just so good, you wonder if it really makes a difference. This was a historic event.

I will not argue the merits of whether one cares for the music of the Bee Gees or not. You either like them or you don't. I would have to take great exception to other posts stating that the "sound" of this recording is poor? I have the DTS version. For reference I also have James Taylor Live at the Beacon Theater, Fleetwood Mac's The Dance as well as The Eagles Hell Freezes Over. Anyone that has heard any of these titles is aware of the quality of each of those recordings. The Bee Gees One Night Only is every bit as good as any of the above listed titles. The mix between all 5 speakers is well balanced with a very light and open sound. The mix between the front 3 speakers is very even and natural. The rear speakers are primarily for the ambient concert sounds, as they should be. If you have this DVD and it does not "sound right", I would suggest examining your 5 channel set up.

I love bee gee's songs and I own this DVD(DTS version). I am not sure whether it is just my copy. The audio is not up to any dolby digital standard not to mention DTS. Most of the time, the center and the sourround channels do not have much music effect/instrument or vocal, except occasional background noise and audience's applause.

I am not sure whether this is malfunctioning that happened to a certain number of DVD produced at a certain time. If it is, then i would ask for a return/refund.

If all DVDs produced are like this.Then this is really bad production. A bad DVD at the expense of very good, memorable songs by BEE GEEs. (e-mail:dlee_at@yahoo.com)

A good dts music dvd to model after is 'Hell freezes over' by Eagles - best use of all 6 channels in a well planned/beautifully mixed architecture. (i am not as great fan of Eagles, but this dvd is by far the best engineered, audio-ly and video-ly)

Saw on cable and searched for this DVD. Got DVD with DTS sound coded and it is magical! If you are a Bee Gees fan, this is one item you shall not miss. Brought back a lot of memories.

The encoding of the 5.1 DTS track was amazing, this disc retains the much love stereo sound with the right amount of centre & surround mixing to create the ambience of 'live in concert' effect. It brings you right 'in the front row'. Fans of Bees Gees who has a DTS surround decoder got to own this.

It would be but a few years after this triumphant return to live performance that Maurice Gibb would tragically pass under unfortunate circumstances. In the mid to late 90s, the Brothers Gibb were enjoying a much-deserved and much-belated re-evaluation and renaissance of popularity, with the release of the great album Still Water. Not only that, but everything 70s was cool again- disco, bell bottoms, smiley faces- and of course, the "disco" inventors themselves, the swaggering, hairy-chested, big-teethed, gold-medallioned falsetto-singing Bee Gees.

But it is unfortunate that this iconic caricature attached to a popular fad of the era is what the Bee Gees are mostly known for. Because take away this albatross from their necks and what you have are amazing songs, dating back to the late 60s, when their unique take on Beatle-esque harmonics, combined with a talent for melodies of great sensitivity, melancholy, and beauty, as well as their trademark vibrato, created a distinct sound.

The fact remains that the Saturday Night Fever tracks were in the can BEFORE the movie, and were added at the request of boss Stigwood. These were not "disco" songs. They were funky, tropical Arif Mardin-produced Miami rnb/dance and sublime balladry. Granted, they took the disco ball and ran with it- but wouldn't you, given the opportunity? For a while there, the Bee Gees bestrode the pop world like a 3-headed beast. And unlike the Beatles, they outstayed their welcome, oversaturated and thrown into the trash heap of disco hatred, accelerated by the Sgt Pepper film debacle. Forced to retreat, they became in-demand songwriters and producers.

All that musical history is here, as Barry states as the show gets started. They re-trace 30 years of stunning songwriting genius. From the 60s into the early 70s, from the disco era, from the underestimated 80s and 90s tracks, as well as the classics written for others- including an emotional, poignant "duet" with Andy Gibb on Don't Throw It All Away. There is also a nice appearance by a Titanic-peaking Celine Dion, on the underrated gem "Immortality", with the Bee Gees on backing vocals.

With a great backing band, heavenly harmonies, people like Olivia Newton-John in the adoring audience, and the classic self-deprecating Gibb wit, humility and brotherly barbing, you can't lose on this wonderful concert

I hate to admit it, but I can't stop playing this DVD! Even my girlfriend, who didn't give a hoot about the Bee Gees prior to listening to this, loves this DVD.

Barry Gibb undoubtedly gets better after the first few songs. He doesn't quite hit his highs until he gets warmed up a little. Amazingly, his voice quality is quite consistently great. However, don't expect him to sing studio-quality every single song--no way ANYONE can maintain that in a live concert, esp. with the range he has, and also since he carries nearly all of the songs.

Initially, I wasn't too impressed with the vocals. However, I realized I was playing through some terrible speakers on my laptop. But, when I plugged my Sony headphones (enclosed-ear type), the concert became an entirely different experience. (Apparently, the speakers were cutting off the highs and lows). If you're just using your TV speakers with this DVD, you're missing most of this concert!

The only way this could have been a better concert is if John Travolta had showed up!

Now, the only question I have is whether "The Very Best of the Bee Gees" as good a DVD? I need some more Bee Gees... :-)

Concerts don't get much better than this one. We've watched it countless times and still enjoy it as much as the first time.
If you like the Bee Gees, this one is definitely a green light. DTS and surround sound gives you a front row seat at the concert. Awesome!

This DVD is dynamic with great entertainment.The sound and video was done subperb, sounds great.If you are looking for a DVD with good songs and talented singers then this is the one to get.This is a classic.