Customer Reviews

Salt of the Earth: A Film of Politics and Passion

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

 

 

This is not what I expected. It's actually impersonators, not the real thing. From the other reviews, we thought we were buying the concert with the actual stars (Frank and Elvis) where Frank welcomes Elvis home from the army. This is not that concert. So if you are expecting to receive that, you will be disappointed. We returned it to Amazon.com.

I don't know who Sam Graham is, but if you've read his official Amazon review of this disc you've been mislead. (Mostly) Live was far from a vanity project. George Leonard is the proprietor of a dry cleaning establishment in Rhode Island, it's true, but he is also a veteran musician and performer who has shared the stage with the Rolling Stones in the sixties, produced a groundbreaking cable television show in the seventies, and recorded numerous albums with respected jazz artists like Diamond Centofanti, Bob Petteruti, and Debra Mann. One of his songs was recently featured in the movie "Shallow Hal," he's a perennial favorite on MP3.com (and featured on one of their compilation discs in late 2001), and a club favorite in New York and New England. This DVD won the prestigious French award the Prix Moreno in 2001. George accepted it without any trace of vanity.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Elvis Sinatra's and his virtual orchestra perform "live" in the New York's East Village, and this DVD is a wonderfully way to capture this incredible talent. I'm most attracted to the original songwriting which is a unique blend of lounge and pop which, for me, conjures the sophistication of Sinatra and the wildness of Presley but adds a tragic/comic quality that puts it all over the top.

Elvis Sinatra's orchestra which appears on digital tape in the nightclub act is in full view on the DVD and you get to select different camera angles. Nice touch! I'm still exploring other features like the French lyrics. (I understand the French love Elvis Sinatra and the nightclub is usually full of them.)