Customer Reviews

Randy Newman - Live at the Odeon

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

 

 

I recall when this came out on laser disc last decade and it was a charming, intimate performance of Newman in a New York club. I was thrilled to own the LD and hoped to see more of Newman in this format.

While the LD was the same length (I believe the entire performance should have been released), the quality of the laserdisc video and audio were superior in all aspects. Tape hiss was so minimal you could actually hear Newman hitting the sustain pedal. However, this DVD sounds like the audio was recorded in a tin can.

Rhino, what's going on here? I'm wondering if the Rhino engineers were sleeping on the job, but it's a shame they didn't get this one right. This lack of respect and concern suggests Rhino cared little about the historical significance of documenting Newman's live performances. After all this is the only video performance of his career in release today.

Come on Rhino, make amends, admit your mistake, reissue it and give a great performer like Newman the respect he deserves. Once again, this is another example of a DVD company releasing everything with so much expediency to "make a quick buck", the quality of the product suffers.

"Hate New York City. It's cold and it's damp. And all the people dress like monkeys." These are Randy Newman's opening lyrics as he plays to a packed New York club, in front of a bunch of New Yorkers. He goes on to tell them how much he loves LA. Of course, Newman wouldn't care if it were New York or New Year, he'd still find time for irony, potshots or just plain humour. And he does, regularly, in this vintage performance, in songs like 'Political Science', 'My Life is Good' and the matchless 'Rednecks'.
For those who are unsure, Randy Newman is, quite simply, one of the greatest songwriters ever. He came from a wealthy upbringing, gained a degree in music at University, and then took a job as part of the songwriting staff at a record label for a pittance. His voice was not considered good enough even to record demos and his songs rather off-key with the popular music of the early sixties.
Eventually, he made his breakthrough and caused a stir with his self-titled debut album, which included the quirky 'Linda' and the unrivalled disaster dirge 'I Think Its Going To Rain Today', both featured here. He went on to make more and more records, each time taking different musical influences and styles and making them his own. The most notable would be 'Good Old Boys' and 'Sail Away', two classics which are both well represented in this performance.
This show presents Newman at his flowing best. His live demeanour is engaging and warm to behold. His gags are delivered with the timing of an old pro, inevitably conjuring up Victor Borge and Tom Lehrer, but also the sincerity and awareness of his peer Loudon Wainwright III - possibly THE performing songwriter. The audience don't stop smiling because of it.
The guest appearances in the show are welcome, especially when Linda Ronstadt takes the mike for 'Texas Girl At The Funeral Of Her Father', although Ry Cooder's zombie-like delivery on 'Rider In The Rain' could have warranted a parental guidance certificate for the recording.
As the show unfolds, you see everything of Randy Newman that he wants you to see. His political concerns ('Christmas In Capetown'), his relationships ('Real Emotional Girl') and his constant awareness of how loneliness, religion, love and hate need eachother to exist ('God's Song', 'Baltimore' and 'I Think It's Going To Rain Today'). This makes the video worthy of bearing the man's name. It makes seemingly off-the-cuff ditties like 'Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear' resonate with all the meaning of any of the accepted standards.
This is Randy Newman live at The Odeon. Buy it, see it, hear it. Your life will be good too.

I own every one of Randy's CD's, but had never seen him perform. This DVD exceeds my expectations, and with each viewing becomes even more enjoyable.

I feel as if I've been to a live performance of his, with front row seats. It's amazing to hear the great sounds he gets out of his piano, and he appears to do it effortlessly. What a treat to get to see him sing and play at the same time. His self-deprecating comments to the audience are hilarious.

I'd never truly appreciated his song 'Rider in The Rain' before, until he performed it on the DVD with Linda Rondstadt and Ry Cooder. It's now one of my all-time favorites of his. His comments about his own singing while performing this number are priceless!

The ominous sounds that Ry Cooder achieves on his guitar while playing 'Let's Burn the Cornfield' gives me goosebumps. It's great!

Other reviews mentioned a Hissing sound, which must have been cleaned up on my copy, since I never heard any such sound. I even listened to this with earphones on my personal-sized DVD player, as well as on our full-sized sound system, and the sound quality was excellent.

This DVD is a real treat and I heartily recommend it to all Randy Newman fans, and anyone else who likes top-notch entertainment. My only disappointment is that I don't know of any other Randy Newman live performance DVD's available and I want MORE!!!

I really enjoy Randy Newmans songs. I grabbed this DVD when I saw it on the shelf, I had to have it. Imagine my dissapointment when I listened to it. The background hiss is absolutely terrible. I know technology was not as good back in 1983 but come on! With the way technology is today, and the remastering of older recordings being what it is, whoever produced the sound for this disc should be ashamed. I am using the Bose Lifestyle 35 system to play it on and it sounds like ... Other than the bad sound the disc is great (good selection of songs). Maybe they should Remaster it and send new copies to all who bought this copy.

... Anytime you can find Randy Newman on a DVD........AND you get Ry Cooder to join you.........You've got to buy it. The playing is great great great. The sound [is terrible]! 5.1 channels of loud air. Bad background noise; but if you love the music.........you gotta buy it.

As mentioned by other reviewers, the audio on this DVD is terrible. It is filled with HISS. I understand it's from 1980 but even then it is inexcusable. It seems to me like they didn't go back to clean up the audio at all before releasing the DVD.

I still give it 3 stars because I'd rather have it on DVD with hiss, then not at all. But if you are just a casual Randy Newman fan, I wouldn't recommend this as one of your first purchases.

I was really disappointed with this DVD. I've never seen Mr. Newman live before (and probably never will, living in Norway). The sound is so bad. No matter how much I love Randy's music, there is no way I can recommend this DVD.

Wow - perhaps the best small venue concert video I have ever seen - Randy Newman is in fine form, sings many of his best songs, Ry Cooder (as usual) is nothing less than brilliant on slide guitar, backing Randy's piano on about 3 tunes - Linda Ronstadt is stellar as the voice of "Joan Sutherland" to Randy's "Kermit the Frog"

I love the entire Randy Newman library of songs. That being the case, why then am I only rating this DVD 2 stars? It's because the DVD has a terrible hissss in the background thoughout the entire program (as many other reviewers here have mentioned). The hissss is so obnoxious it's next to impossible to enjoy the concert. Crank up the volume to hear your favorites and you only get more hissss to fill the room. It's enough to give you a major headache.
I had a VHS copy of this concert previously and loved it enough to want to upgrade to the DVD. I was hoping that the comments I was reading here about the background noise were minimal. That wasn't the case. At least the tape never had a problem with the background noise...no doubt because the range of highs on tape don't come close to those on a DVD. But I could at least crank up the volume on the tape without that dreaded hissss. I never thought I'd say this, but this is one time where the VHS copy of the program is a better buy than the DVD. Unfortunately I gave my copy of the VHS version to someone when I knew I was buying the DVD. Bad move. I honestly doubt I will be playing this very often. And like I said, it's not because of the music.

Thank goodness for this DVD. For a late-comer to Randy Newman (and one who lives in Australia), this is the closest I'll ever get to a live performance. Newman fans will know that there's something magic about when it's just Randy and a piano - he makes no mistakes and executes some very tough piano work with ease. There's no denying he's a very skilful pianist with considerable melodic gifts (much more so than the three J's: John, Joel and Jackson).

Couple of complaints though, but nothing that should dissuade a fan from buying it. The first, in relation to the performance itself, is that Newman doesn't really sing with much passion. He tends to rush and doesn't necessarily *feel* the music as he plays it ('Marie' feels particularly rushed). But that's quite a subtle thing and he certainly throws a lot of himself into the performance - watch as sweat trickles down his face on 'Christmas in Capetown'. Technically, the DVD quality isn't that flash. There's some background noise that's pervasive, but with mind-power can be shut out. The piano also sounds rather tinny on occasion because of the recording quality.

These problems however don't add up to a hill of beans. Ultimately 'Randy Newman Live at the Odeon' is like having your own personal Randy Newman concert in your living room. Surprisingly, the most effective song on the whole DVD is also one of his worst album songs: 'Let's Burn Down the Cornfield'. Ry Cooder adds some moody slide guitar to the mix and it sounds terrific. Other highlights include 'Christmas in Capetown', 'I Love LA', 'Rednecks', 'Sail Away' and an early Newman song 'Linda'. Both Linda Ronstadt and Ry Cooder make guest appearances, and Newman himself entertains the audience with his throwaway gags. "This is going to be one of the most exciting nights of my life," he comments unenthusiastically, going on to say: "I hope it's also one of the most exciting nights of your life too."

PS. For another great Newman performance, buy 'Sessions at West 54th Volume II' - he sings 'I Miss You'.