Customer Reviews

The Rankin Family: Backstage Pass

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since I first saw the Rankin Family Backstage Pass special on PBS one St Patricks Eve some 10 years ago, I have looked high and low for it on DVD! I ordered it as soon as it was available for pre-order in Canada where the release date was 12/5, and it arrived today! It's a tad bit on the short side with the main concert with transitional interview snipets clocking in at just over 46 minutes and the "Story of the Family" documentary clocking in at just over 13 minutes. It was wonderful seeing the Rankins at their peak along with John Morris in fine form on the piano and other instruments. Although he usually let his brother and sisters take the spotlight as the vocalists, John Morris was a hell of a musician! He has truly been missed! There are 13 complete performances in the concert part:
1. As I Rove Out
2. Leis An Lurgain
3. Fiddle Tunes
4. Eyes of Margaret
5. You Feel The Same Way Too
6. Sir James Baird
7. The River
8. Your Boat's Lost At Sea
9. Rise Again (My favorite track on this DVD. Raylene shines!)
10. Forty Days and Nights
11. North Country
12. Fare Thee Well (Jimmy and Cookie at their finest!)
13. Mull River Shuffle (Jimmy's great here!)
I highly recommend this DVD for the beauty of the venue, the wonderful performances (not all groups can sing as well live as these guys), and the fact that this is their only official live concert video. This DVD would be a wonderful introduction to anyone who has not heard the Rankins and like celtic music. After I watched this on PBS 10 years ago, I went out and bought everything these guys had release to that point and bought everything they have put out since- both solo and as a family! You won't regret this purchase. I thought it was worth every penny!

The DVD is excellent in every sense of the word. The audio and video quality is great; and the performances are wonderful! There is a real sense of magic about watching this family perform at what was the height of their career. They were full of youthful energy and spirit; and yet, they somehow seem so innocent compared with so many show business acts. The exude the spirit of Nova Scotia; and are the pride of Canada. You will love this DVD!

The Rankin CD's are so meticuously produced, that it would be hard to beat their quality. But, after seeing them in DVD, it is really like being there! What a pleasure to see them "in person"!

This DVD is essentially all interviews. The music is only in segments. This group badly needs to provide a live CD and DVD for their fans.It is really surprising this has never been done. Most of their CD's are over produced. If you ever saw them live years ago, you'd know what I mean. There is no comparison to their studio CD's vs their live performances.

This was filmed before the death of one of the family, but if you want to see who sings, plays and dances what, this is the way to go. It's well produced and filmed.