Customer Reviews

Shindig Presents Jackie Wilson [VHS]

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Shindig! presents Jackie Wilson is at this point the definitive video on this immencely talented performer. It is also the best volume in the entire Shindig! series of video releases. It is produced better than all the rest and with good reason. When it came to performing on stage this man put all the rest to shame. When watching the other volumes in this series it is so apparant why Jackie Wilson always headlined the shows he appeared on. He was a dynamic performer. Just watch the other shows and you will see what I mean. Not to knock all the performers, but they either have a staged routine or they look like they are just throwing themselves around the stage. When Jackie was on the show he was incredible. He seems to know how to work the camera angles without missing a beat. The production value seems to be a little better when Jackie is on, or maybe he just makes everybody look good. While it's not without flaws, such as the dancers and the stage sets (watch the microphone bounce while The Wellington's are singing backup on top of a platform during
"I Believe I'll Love On"). However you can't fault Jackie for these things. They are just part of 1960's television. It's fun to see these things and the interaction of the performers, such as Jerry Lee Lewis, The Righteous Brothers and Jackie singing "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin' On", or Billy Preston on key boards during "I'm So Lonely", or when Jackie invites Darlene Love & The Blossoms, Bobby Sherman, Donna Loren, and Glen Campbell to "Sing (And Tell The Blues So Long)". This video is probably the closest thing to seeing the man in concert. It only offers us a glimpse (as we were not getting a full Jackie Wilson show but performances taken from shows that aired between 1964-1966.) In his day Jackie Wilson was the most explosive performer to walk across a stage. He could drive audiences into frenzies and no performer could go on after Jackie. A Jackie Wilson show was something to see and this Shingig! video offers us just a glimpse at what a talent this man was. Sadly he is often forgotten or overlooked and his music dismissed. Which is a shame as Jackie's music may vary but his talent always shines through. While there hasn't been a tv show or film or documentary on Jackie maybe some day some one will see this video and change all that. Hopefully this show will be made available on dvd as well.

although i wasnt born in wilson's heyday, i am a tremendous fan of his music because of my mother playing his records.the first picture i saw of him sadly was an article by sun times columnist bob green titled "teardrops real now for forgotten star" that showed him after his collapse on stage. when i purchased this video about 10 years ago i coulnt wait to get it home. i have watched it religiously ever since. he could really emote during a song and his range is incredible. there was a quote in nelson georger book" the death of rhythem and blues that referred

to "danny boy" as "crap", but anyone who sees this tape will realize that wilson was a magician who could and did sing anything.buy this video!!!!!!

p.s additional footrage of wilson is available on various ed sullivan rock and roll classics volumes.footage of him performing the following songs:"lonely teardrops", "im comin on back to you", "night" "thats why"

I was tremendously enthralled by this video, it really has everything. Shindig is a very impressive all-out party show from the sixties and there is balconies of dancers all doing THAT sixties dance (with the arms waving up and down!) and also you can see the musicians bopping away too, the atmosphere is excellent. Imagine all of this and then Jackie Wilson in the middle being possibly the most suave man I have ever seen, his expression is one of pure love for the music, the singing here is outstanding, especially in Danny Boy, where it breaks down to a vocal solo and, unshielded by the safety of backing music, he hits a killer note spot on before the music comes back in, i can't stop watching it! All the tracks appear to be live performances here. There are two curiosities included too, one - a kind of everybody who was on that nights show jam, which was centred around Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano singing 'Whole Lot Of Shakin Goin On' including the Righteous brothers and Jackie, and two - an advert for milk from the sixties which is at once cringeworthy and priceless. All in all a classic video showing Jackie singing, doing back drops and spins and having a great time.

I am 25 from England, I dj at a Motown and Northern Soul night and sing in a band. My other favourites are The Temptations, Four Tops and Billie Holiday.

Jackie Wilson was the Olivier of rock'n'roll--a fantastic technician who was also a great artist. Both men were unafraid to go over the top and did so fearlessly. Jackie's story is far more tragic however; he deserved to be as big as Elvis but instead died--like Elvis--too early. In live performance he was said to be even the superior of James Brown when it came to stagecraft and dancing and I belive it. But Shindig's compilation does not fully do service to the man. They simply didn't film very well. He is often placed on pedestals--thus severely limiting his moves--and the camera tries focusing too much on the dorky looking back-up dancers rather than closely capturing Jackie's every move. If you got Jackie Wilson performing in front of you, don't clutter the stage up. Shindig is said to be the best of the '60's RnR shows--if so how rancid were the rest? Jackie doesn't quite work up the level of energy that would arise from a continous performance--these are isolated three minute appearances, so momentum doesn't truly build up. Additionally, his sterling performance of "Danny Boy" is not of the complete song. It's either been edited or Jackie was told to simply sing a short version(To make room for bad commercials like the one included in this video perhaps?). Unfortunate. So why, after having spent so much time picking holes, do I still greatly recommend this video? Because if, like me, you've fallen in love with this magnificent singer's voice, you'll want to collect every piece of video with him on it, and this video seems to be the only one around. To paraphrase Van Morrison, I'm in heaven when Jackie Wilson walks onstage.

The classic years of R&B were legendary for their live perfomances as well as the recorded music. Unfortunately, little remains available to the masses on video from this era (even the legendary TAMI Show sadly exists in mutilated form) and the racial policies of the time limited such appearances on American television. Jackie Wilson's 1964 Shindig appearance thankfully survives. This is a truly breathtaking performance that you cannot watch just once (especially his acrobatic finale) and his stirring ballads "No Pity in the Naked City" and "Danny Boy."

This is a classic! See what you missed at the Apollo Theater.

Quite simply the greatest singer / mover / looker aof all time. only one problem with this, it is not yet out on DVD. America did not realize they true extent of this man's talent. I do, and anyone who has his music does. To see him live, even though he is restricted by the TV of the times is imperative. This is the only music video that everybody should have - NO HYPE (None needed.) Jackie you are sorely missed. You were indeed THE GREATEST. You're greatest fan, Lee Boyall [England]

Jackie Wilson, "Mr. Excitement" of late '50's and '60's is captured quite well in this highlight of his Shindig appearances.A former boxer, Jackie's athletic stylings and great voice quality are evident in this video as they were when he perenially headlined Supersonic and Universal Attractions Tours. Though he is limited in this showcase by awkward and unfortunately non-talented dancers...who also got in his way...his talents still shine as they always will. Little doubt why Michael Jackson and Prince patterned many of their performances after the Great Jackie Wilson.

This video is a great buy. If you've never seen or heard Jackie Wilson this video is a wonderful showcase of his talent. If you're looking to find a genuine singer with natural talent, in today's world of prefabricated music, Jackie Wilson is the one you've been looking for. He's an incomparable talent, and I can't say enough great things about him. Prepare to be amazed.

With as little video of this great legend as there is, this video is a must for even the casual fan!! Jackie, we really miss ya'!

I received my video today. Jackie is soooooo wonderful. All I can say is, I need more. His rendition of Danny boy made me cry. I thank God for the time he was with us to share that VOICE. I was about 10 years old when I first heard him sing Danny Boy and never forgot it. I was so surprise to see it on this video. Thank you, thank you. I loved it all, except the commercial.