Customer Reviews

The Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon 1998 [VHS]

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although I am not a 'wild nut' type of Stones fan I saw this concert at the Orange Bowl, in Miami, and Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, et. al. are THE consumate professional showmen giving the audience more than their money's worth performance. Even though Mick may be getting a little long in the tooth for rock concerts (aren't we all) and rumours have it that Keith Richards is really dead, you could see and feel that this band loves performing, and would put together a 5 hour show if they could.

The band shows up on time, (something very unusual now a days for rock star wanna be's) and rocks your socks from beginning to end, non-stop.

The DVD brought back memories of that performace and did not fall short in any respects. The video is crystal clear, sound is exact and sharp, and the editing absolutely fabulous. The director seemed to know where one would be looking during the concert and it made me feel as if I was back there again.... some of the editors of concert videos that I have seen had no clue as to where and when to focus attention during the concert .....

Although I would give 'Voodoo Lounge' concert DVD a slight edge, (I mean a very very slight edge) over Babylon, trust me, this is a must have DVD that will, like Voodoo, go out of print and you'll be buying the DVD for 50.00 bucks just to have it in your collection......

This is a MUST HAVE if you like the Rolling Stones. This DVD has excellent sound quality and visual quality. This is the best Rolling Stones DVD on the market. This covers 40 years of hits with today's dvd technology.

The Stones put on a great show and it's captured beautifully on video but this DVD is lacking in a few things that would have really made it special. First of all, why no DTS sound? If you're not sure what this can add to a concert video, watch the DTS version of The Eagles "When Hell Freezes Over" and compare it with this or another non-DTS DVD (provided your player supports DTS).

The other minor complaint is there are no bonus features (ie. interviews, backstage scenes, music videos, etc) that would have added greatly to the live performance. It's as though the makers of this DVD did not realize the potential of the format they were using. A few little additions would have made this one of the all-time greats. I'd still recommend this DVD to any Stones fan because it's wonderful to see Mick, Keith and the boys in this format and the concert itself is a fantastic performance. I just hope the next time they release a DVD, it has more bells and whistles.

This solid show has some great moments. The 10 minute Miss You version here is the best available, with the whole band acting like they never want it to end. Lisa Fischer, the awesome support singer, is in rare form as she and Mick bump and grind all over the stage. She gets in everybody's business on this one. Surprisingly, Miss You doesn't appear on Four Flicks. Neither does Its Only Rock and Roll, which is a highlight from the B-stage here. Also is a terrific Wild Horses duet with Dave Matthews and Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone-performed better here than on Stripped. Another highlight is Keith's I wanna Hold You, from Undercover. The sound is a slight step down from Four Flicks, but certainly great for when it was released. At the end we get a blazing Juming Jack Flash with Mick sporting cool shades and Keith and Ronnie weaving in and out like they're trying to outdo themselves. Lots of Fun!

Here you'll find Mick, Keith and the boys together with some "cool friends" doing what they do best. ROCK & ROLL!

They have the lovely & talented Lisa Fischer on backup vocals. She really used her "assets talents," all of them. Her voice hits all of those amazing notes that few singers will ever hope aproach.

The "really cool" Joshua Redmond joins in with his saxophone.

Lets not forget the inovative theatrics that we've come to expect from the Stones. The never disapoint me in that area. In this film they do actually cross "a bridge" to Babylon.

If you love the Stones and you love seeing them live or wish you could, this is a great way to see them!

All right, I admit it. I am a huge fan, (can't fool you) since the begining. I've spent more than I'll admit this year on concert Tickets, T-Shirts and DVD/CDs. Not to mention plane tickets!

The Rolling Stones, thirty years after their prime, are still the best live act in the world, bar none. This concert, which was originally telecast as a pay-per-view concert in December 1997, is indisputable proof. They still have their edge, they still give it everything they've got in live performance, and their sell-out concerts are proof of it. All music acts should look at this concert to see how hard work, huge talent, and impeccable professionalism is done. The Rolling Stones are the masters of live performance.

I spent the twenty dollars it cost for the pay-per-view telecast and even taped it over the air. I have seen it at least 60 times and still love it. What struck me is, despite his age, Mick Jagger still has tremendous energy to play so well in front of an audience (and this concert was late in the evening, finishing after midnight). It takes a great deal of energy to be able to go back and forth on a stage about the size of a football field and under those hot lights. Not only that but he looked the best he ever looked in his life. About 25 pounds heavier than in his youth, Jagger was filled out, and, for being a member of a band not known for pulchritude, actually looked almost attractive. The rest of the band was in fine form, too, and contrary to some reviews, Keith Richards does not looked bored here. He was very much animated and seemed to enjoy himself.

The concert consists of a mix of both old hits and more recent songs, with three of the original concert tunes cut out of the DVD version ("Corinna," with Taj Mahal--not a high point of the show; one of Keith Richards' songs; and "The Last Time," which should probably be the last time for this tune as Jagger and company can no longer hit the notes). What remains is still great, with the second half of the concert being slightly better than the first half. Highlights include "Saint of Me," "Gimme Shelter," "Honky Tonk Women," "Jumping Jack Flash," "Start Me Up," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and a rousing finish in "Brown Sugar." Personal favorites of mine include Keith Richards' "I Wanna Hold You," featuring Keith duelling guitars with the underrated Ron Wood (in super form here), and an absolute killer version of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" performed during the small stage sequence.

There is only one complaint I have about this disk which others have said elsewhere, and that's the sound quality. Where in the world were the microphones set up for the soundtrack? It sounds as if it had been recorded clear in the back of the building. Jagger and his backup singers sound like they are in a cave. The sounds of the audience should have been muted by having the mikes put in an appropriate place. I still have my tape of the original pay-per-view telecast, and the sound quality on that is perfect with NO distortion. I strongly recommend the makers of this DVD get hold of the original soundtrack from the pay-per-view telecast and replace this dreadful one.

This 1998 Rolling Stones dvd is probably the best " live " dvd ever issued. The tape joins my other concert dvds on the shelf.
The sounds are crystal clear. The dvd opens up with shots of the
band's limo pulling up to the concert location. The show kicks off with Keith Richards leading the band out on stage with the powerful opening chords of " Satisfaction ". The show continues at a pace that never slows down. The dvd features enthusiastic
versions of " Let's Spend The Night Together " and " Honky Tonk
Women ", a great cover of Bob Dylan's " Like A Rolling Stone ",
and a song sung by Keith ( " I Wanna Hold You " ). Also, " Start
Me Up ", " Jumping Jack Flash ", " Miss You ", " It's Only Rock
'N' Roll ", " You Can't Always Get What You Want ", and " Tumbl-
ing Dice " are all thrown in. The dvd also features Dave Matthews
sharing the stage ( and microphone ) with Mick on a heartbreaking
" Wild Horses ", and saxophonist Joshua Redman plays a solo on
" Waiting On A Friend ". The highlight to me, however, is a
" haunting " performance of " Gimmie Shelter ". The only thing bad about the show is the three new songs " Flip The Switch ",
" Saint Of Me ", and " Out Of Control ". Also, when the Stones visit their website to see which song their fans want to see them
perform ( the winner was " Waiting On A Friend " ), we realized that there were many great songs they could have done ( " She's A
Rainbow ", " Under My Thumb ", " When The Whip Comes Down ",
" Love In Vain ", " Respectable ", " Fool To Cry " ). The dvd's final number is a great " Brown Sugar ". This show is perfect.

This 1998 dvd of the Stones' 1997 tour to promote the " Bridges To Babylon " album is the best thing to happen since " sliced
bread ". The dvd opens up with the Stones walking out on the
stage as Keith Richards blasts out the opening chords of
" Satisfaction ". Just make yourself a big bowl of popcorn, and
it's almost like you're there. The evening commences with delightful versions of " Let's Spend The Night Together " and
" Honky Tonk Women ", a showstopping " Sympathy For The Devil ",
and a chilling " Gimmie Shelter ", with Keith still playing the
tremelo rhythm on guitar. The album is features a lead vocal by
Keith ( I Wanna Hold You ) and a cover of a Bob Dylan song
( " Like A Rolling Stone " ). It also features guest appearances by Dave Matthews, who shares the mic with Mick on a beautiful
" Wild Horses ", and saxophnist Joshua Redman, who solos on
" Waiting On A Friend ". We also get songs like " It's Only
Rock 'N' Roll ", " Miss You ", " You Can't Always Get What You
Want ", " Jumpin' Jack Flash ", " Start Me Up ", and " Tumbling
Dice " thrown in the mix. After we see the Stones bow out at the
end, it almost makes you wish that Bill Wyman, Brian Jones and
Mick Taylor were there. But even if it's only Keith, Mick and
Charlie there, it's still a great show. The show has great sound.
The screams are loud and clear. This a perfect album for any
Stones lover

I first bought the VHS of this tour, right when it came out and already enjoyed it although the sound quality in some parts left room for improvement. Well, the DVD version is awesome. The camera work is consistently great, the sound quality is as good as on the Stones IMAX movie (also highly recommended) and overall the guys show that they still have the right stuff. The movie also highlights and gives credit to their excellent additional stage musicians and singers, most of all the fabulous Lisa Fisher who does the female vocals on "Gimme Shelter", definitely one of the absolute highlights of this concert. This was the first tour where the Stones used the smaller second stage to showcase some of their old R&B tunes, and one could have had a bit more of that, but then again: choices and cuts have to be made from a stage show that is usually well over two hours long and the selection is overall pretty satisfying, a good balance of new stuff from the "Bridges to Baylon" album and old favorites.

Seeing Mick come out for the encore in shades belting out Jumpin Jack Flach with more energy than Pearl Jam on their best night was the coolest thing I've seen in years. I was a little disappointed he didn't go up in the crane like in "Let's Spend the Night Together." But walking across the crowd on a glass bridge was neat.

These guys define rock and roll and all other bands follow. Jagger is the coolest man to ever live.