Customer Reviews

REAL LIVE ROADRUNNING

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This set comes as a CD / DVD combo, but after listening to (and viewing) the DVD, I can't imagine when I would ever listen to the CD. There is nothing wrong with it, but the DVD has more songs and when played through a good home theater with DTS capability, it has an unmatched sound quality. Even if I simply wish to hear music, I'll load the DVD, set it up to DTS, and then turn off the TV. This is the quality of sound that makes it clear why we don't just have a DVD player hooked straight into the TV, and why we tolerate a room full of speakers. If you can't decode DTS, you are missing a lot with this DVD.

The DVD has a mini interview / photo shoot where both Knopfler and Harris talk about the project that became their previous album. There are some other nice things included, such as a warm-up session where the players all sit around and play acoustically to get into the mind-set for the show... just a little jam session.

The actual concert was a nice mix of songs from the Knopfler / Harris album, "All the road running" along with some gems from Knopfler's solo work and even a couple of Dire Straits tunes. Knopfler is not stingy about allowing Harris to sing songs from the back catalog, and some of the duets from even the Dire Straits era sound like they could have been cut for the last project.

A couple of highlights for me:

Song for Sonny Liston: Wow! This track is a real minimalist delight. Mark sits on a chair hits that shuffle and sings. A bit later some drums and an acoustic upright base come into the mix. It is feel, rhythm and story, not flash or superficial fluff. Knopfler takes a verse to solo a bit, but this is also understated, yet great. The base player and Mark play off of each other and then some more vocals. I kept hitting replay on this song when I first saw it.

Speedway at Nazareth: From "Sailing to Philadelphia", the song is nicely rendered, but I loved the last couple of minutes after the singing was finished. The band is simply fantastic. It is a real team thing here, with the appearance that everyone is soloing at the same time, yet not once is anyone showing off or walking over the next person. The stage is full of world-class musicians that most people could never name, who are so in sync and meshing perfectly. With no visual cue, they all land on one single terminal note and the music stops. It is so nice to see professionals in action.

Why Worry: This Dire Straits tune becomes an Emmylou Harris song here. It ends the show, and makes you want more. Terrific.

There are great bits throughout the entire concert. Mark does bring out several guitars and while not playing blinding speed runs, he says more these days with a few very well chosen notes than most people can with a hundred. It was nice to see him with that thumb / claw style of finger picking that has become his signature just serving the song, rather than showing off. At just over an hour and a half, I never felt it was dragging on too long. An overall great show.

O.K. For the record, aside from my comments above about the CD being less important than the DVD, based on the quality, I did listen to the CD all of the way through. It is a first rate music disc in everyway, and will be nice in a car or office CD player if that is the only sound system that can be used. If I am home, the DVD will be my first choice, even for audio-only playback. Again, it has more songs and that 5.1 surround sound from the DTS track makes this a no brainer for me.

I was at the Gibson Ampitheater when this concert was filmed. It was, without a doubt, one of the best concerts I have ever been to, second only to Led Zepplin at the LA Forum in 1976. Knopfler played wonderfully, and his interplay with Harris was superb. Their voices combined surpisingly well, and the instrumental work was top notch. I hope the DVD will capture the energy in the crowd - people were usually on their feet and dancing with total strangers. Each song from the "Roadrunning" album was played, but the outstanding cuts will be Emmylou's "Red Dirt Girl", and Mark's "Song for Sonny Liston". My favorite, though, was the slow buldup to a crashing version of Knopfler's "Speedway to Nazareth", one of my favorite rock songs of all times. I have heard Mark play this live before, as well as a few reorded versions, and this was penultimate. I read on Knopfler's UK website that Warner Brothers will be releasing this November 14th, but it can't be too soon for me!

The blending of Mark and Emmy Lou's vocals do make for an amazing collaboration. I saw this tour live at Radio City Music Hall, and they certainly were a crowd pleasing act.

By the time this show was recorded Mark and Emmy Lou had plenty of time to hone their craft with regards to singing with each other and performing these songs. As a result I find them more entertaining than the studio produced versions of these songs (especially the songs from the "All The Roadrunning" Album).

Highlights here are: "Right Now"...(a great extended live version)

"Red Staggerwing"...(check out the extended fiddle solo!)

"This Is Us"...(beautiful piano ending)

and "Speedway To Nazareth" (for all you Dire Straits fans; Mark's guitar work is incredible!)

Emmy Lou's voice is beautiful and here classic song: "Red Dirt Girl" is included here also.

These two are legendary musicians, and this live CD/DVD makes a winning combination. This live show is a must have for fans of either (or both) artists.

Cheers!

Two great artists working together! A great CD & DVD from beginning to end! I saw their show in Boston just before this one and they were amazing together. Highlights: Mark playing "Song For Sonny Liston" and Emmylou playing "Red Dirt Girl". Each disc ends with Dire Straits "Why Worry" with Mark & Emmylou singing together, a great rendition of a great song! If their CD "All The Roadrunning" isn't nominated for a Grammy then somethings wrong with the system!

Mark and Emmy put on an amazing performance. It is very relaxed, and comes off as an incredible musical night. If you are not already an Emmy fan, you will be. Her voice is like magic. Watching her sing and play guitar will bring tears to your eyes. The interplay between her and Knopfler is magic. You can feel the respect Mark has for her. The interviews on the disc are also very good. The dvd is perfect. The musicians are all top notch. Mark Knopfler is truly a genious on guitar. As understated as it is on this performance, every note is special. And this music transends todays choices. If you value good music, you will watch the dvd over and over. The 1st time I started to watch it, I could not stop. As a bonus, you get the cd also. Great package. I just hope Mark and Emmy - get a grammy for this. If they do not, something is wrong. And I can't wait for their followup. With a product so strong as this, they can't stop now. Buy this and you will be very happy you did.

Simply put, Emmylou Harris has the voice of an angel. And her pairing with Mark Knopfler is superb. We were fortunate to actually be at the concert that was recorded so it makes it really special for us. We have been fans of Emmylou's from her beginning with Gram Parsons. And although I am familiar with Mark Knopfler's work with Dire Straights I did not know his solo work, which is featured on this DVD. Although his work was new to us it did not let us down. Their voices blend beautifully from song to song, whether singing from their well crafted All The Roadrunning CD to their own works. It was an incredible moment when Emmylou starts into Boulder To Birmingham. It is a true classic.

One thing I really enjoyed about this concert DVD is that it is the concert and nothing more, except for the bonus added features. There isn't alot of those annoying audience shots and no commentary in between songs. It's the concert and it's well worth it.

In Spring 06, superstar duo Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits fame) and Emmylou Harris issued a long anticipated collaborative album "All the Roadrunning", which for me personally was a bit of a let down, as it felt more like a Knopfler solo-album that featured Emmylou Harris. Last summer they toured together to promote the album, and this CD/DVD combo, released November 06, is the result of it.

"Real Live Roadrunning" brings both a CD and DVD. As to the CD (14 tracks, 75 min.), it becomes immediately clear that this is superior to the studio album and feels much more like a true collaberative effort. The setlist is of course heavy on the "Roadrunning" studio album, as it should be, and there are many stand-outs, like opener "Right Now" and "Red Staggering". There are a couple of Dire Straits tracks as well, but even there, Emmylou gets to contribute significantly, none more than on the concert closer "Why Worry", a gem from the "Brothers in Arms" CD (now 20+ years ago), just beautiful.

The real beauty in this combo is the DVD (130 min.), which brings the concert in its entirety (something the CD could not do because of CD time limitations). Tracks not on the CD include among others "I Dug Up a Diamond", "Born to Run" (no, not the Springsteen song), "Song for Sonny Listow", and "Belle Star", Emmylou's best contribution to the "Roadrunning" studio album. Best of all is that the editing of the concert maximizes viewing pleasure (PBS-like, compared to, say, MTV-like), thankfully not changing camera angles every 2 seconds or so. The interview and pre-concert bonus features are nice (and short), but not essential.

In all, this is clearly the better choice if you are tempted to buy "All the Roadrunning" studio album. Truly 2 legends at the top of their game.

I don't have enough words to qualify this DVD.

Performance of both MK and EH is flawless, they mix perflectly well. MK's own songs are even better with EH adding her voice. I love EH's cristalline voice and her solo songs gave me tears.

The DVD mixing is incredible (thanks to Guy Fletcher). Sound and picture are great and bonuses are worth it.

If you are already a fan I bet you already have bought this DVD, but if you are not yet, I strongly recommend it, you won't be disappointed.

"Across a dozen duets, pieced together over seven years Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler sing these tunes with deep emotional overtones. Much of this CD relates to the life of an itinerant musician, "trying to juggle family and relationships and just the wear and tear of being in the world". Mark Knopfler

Emmylou says of making this CD," Mark is very much in control and knows what he wants, but on the other hand, he understand the mystical process that happens when you make a record and that record becomes what it is. It has everything to do with the people involved, but there's this other ingredient, of something set in motion. When I heard these songs together, it was so listenable, and I mean that in the most positive way, It a very rich album, musically and lyrically, yet it doesn't requires a lot of work." All of these songs were written by Emmylou and Mark.

"Beachcombing" which starts off the album is evocative of Hurricane Kristina although it was written well before. It is a song about loss, personal and emotional, says Mark, "wreckage washing up all along the coast."

"This is Us", is selected to become the single of this album. It is infectious and many will relate to this.

A lighter touch comes to "Red Staggewring, which is a Cajun-like tune where lovers compare themselves to motorcycles, cars and vintage guitars.

On "Belle Star", Emmylou compares herself to an old West infamous female outlaw, "Belle Star" and Mark as Jesse James. This banter is reminiscent of Johnny and June Cash in their early albums.

"Donkey Song' as a song written by Mark and meant for an earlier CD. They both enjoyed the freedom and silliness.

"Love and Happiness:" is the only "proper" song that Emmylou says she has written. "You cannot always protect your children and this is my homage to them".

"All the Road Running" paints the picture of the musician always on the road singing about love found and lost, missing family and friends, and life in the fast lane.

"If This Is Goodbye" came out of 9/11. Mark Knopler talks of reading Martin Amis and Ian McEwan, both of whom he found affecting," I remember the McEwan piece honing in on people in the twin towers using their mobiles to make that final phone call home to say "I love you, this is goodbye. If there is anything positive to take from 9/11, that expression of love is surely it."

This live CD and DVD makes this experience all the more real. Both Emmylou Harris and Mrk Knopfler are making the best music of their lives, and this CD/DVD stamps the mark of excellence on their efforts. Bravo.

The underlying emotions, the straight from life sessions, the day to day existence on the road of this album, is extraordinary. This Is Them: Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler and now "This Is Us", my best friend. So Highly Recommended.

prisrob 11/25/06

Road Running was basically my first introduction to MK, having been an ELH fan for years. Roadrunning is an excellent cd; professional musicians, great songs and killer duets. When this concert came to Gibson it was a spur of the moment thing and before I knew it, I was sitting there.

This dvd is excellent and well worth the price of the admission. I agree that some shots were lacking but then when I looked back on the concert I couldn't really tell they were filming it; where the camers? Well, behind the stage a good part of the time.

The sad part of that is that they missed the final notes of Speedway at Nazareth which had killer lighting. This is still my favorite piece from the show and what a jaw dropper it was live; great way to be introduced to a new song. Everyone plays together, there is no grandstanding, this is what professional musicans are about.

I never knew ELH had such a sense of humor either, she usually just sings flawlessly and surrounds herself with the best musicians there are. Her 'high school flashback' was funny. Plus the extras on the dvd are great to have, again ELH and her humor, what a treat.

Killer concert, professional, taleneted musicians and I do believe that Guy Fletcher a minor diety.