Customer Reviews

Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This film, shot in Texas in June of 1995, features a whole host of talented musicians. The littany of names is enthralling. Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Vaughan, Robert Cray and Eric Clapton, who was nominated for best male rock performance in 1997 at the Grammys for his performance. Each musician performs his own incredible piece and the film also includes each performer's reflections on Stevie and all culminating to an incredible blues guitar jam with each musician having a solo. Filled with beautiful slides, riffs and solos and heartfelt thoughts each artist pays tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan in his own way. A befitting tribute to a once in a life time bluesman.

Buy this but keep the remote close by after the first listen. Frankly, I'm getting very angry by the many DVDs that are almost ruined, as this one, by interruptions that are boring after one or two listens. To add insult to injury, the chapters begin with the interviews, not the music, so hitting the advance button when talk interrupts the flow doesn't work. You'll have to frequently and carefully fast forward to keep the energy flowing, it's infuriating! DVD also has the capability of alternative tracks so the option to hear the interesting talk when desired is there. I doubt anyone will desire to hear this great music interrupted by talk. If you listen to this music as it was performed, ie loud, then get ready to have your ears blasted when the talk begins. At least they could have made the talk volume consistent with the typically loud music playback volumes. I propose a test, if the talk is so damned compelling why not release audio CDs with talk between cuts. Does anyone seriously believe that would sell? Music on video has had this problem for so long, and it's so pervasive, that I believe this greatly accounts for the poor sales of music on video, which is why there aren't many releases and production runs are so short. Check out the auctions and notice that music videos almost always get the highest bids due to their scarcity. Meanwhile, you can find almost any mainstream 20 or 30 year old audio release, without interruptions for talk, still in every music shop. I like music on video and I demand releases that can stand up to many enjoyable repeat playings!

"A Tribute To Stevie Ray Vaughan" shows some marvelous performances of Vaughan's work by some of the great bluesman and guitarists. Clapton, Cray, Guy, Raitt, King and even Vaughan's very talented brother crank through the better known Stevie Ray tunes with incredible musical mastery.

Interupting some great jams, unfortunately, is a bunch of interviews. They are interesting, but kill the flow of the concert. It seems like a PBS special.

I recommend "A Tribute To Stevie Ray Vaughan," but get one of Stevie Ray's concert CDs or DVDs instead if you are looking to hear top Vaughan blues.

Or, get a BB King or Buddy Guy CD. If you buy this one, fast forward through the interviews.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

The greatest blues players pay tribute to the man who may be the greatest blues player ever. The full song clips of BB King, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray are enought to stir the soul and Art Neville's song "Six Strings Down" is on target for the long lost genius of Vaughan. The interviews are placed in the wrong places but are still good material. The true highlights are the clips of Stevie Ray doing what he did best - playing the blues in another world.

Please notice that I'm from Denmark and that my english probably ain't perfect, sorry !-But I would like to say that a Tribute to SRV. are one of all time greatest tribute concerts - to a man who really deserves it ! SRV is and will always be the king of blues. And the musicians who honours him on this concert are delivering some of their greatest perfomances ! Of course it's bound to be so , with all that great material Stevie left them ! Despite what many people might mean , the clips between the songs are lovely !The short ( all to short )concert moments with Stevie himself is a gift to all SRV. Lovers - they really shows what a great player and performer he was ! And it makes it easy to everyone to see and feel his greatness ! He was really one of a kind ! This video which also is available on CD is a must to all SRV. Fans / lovers - Buy it now ! You won't regret it ! The video is also filled with comments from the artists who plays on it !Those are very lovefull moments and a joy to hear and watch ! - And to Stevie - while you're probably sitting on a cloud playing the Blues with a big smile on your face : You and your music will live forever - Thanks for all what you gave us ! Keep playing - PEACE BROTHER - from a dedicated fan .

I have read reviews of this that knocked it becuase Stevie's brother Jimmy played. What these reviews failed to see was that Stevie loved his brother and that this was a blues review. His brother did just fine. If you enjoy the blues then buy this.

Only Stevie Ray could bring this many stars together, and what a concert it is. Everyone is there to pay tribute to Stevie not for themselves. Each does their song in their own style, not imitating SRV. This video is worth it, if for nothing else, to see Eric Clapton rip into Ain't Gonna Give Up on Love and the SRV Shuffle at the end. Totally spectacular, I am proud to have it.

What a great DVD! To see all of these great musicians paying homage to the late great SRV is inspiring. Nothing over the top, just great to see all of these players together at one time playing SRV's songs.
Big Rand

Clips of SRV, Raitt, Clapton, BBKing, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy and John Vaughan, Dr John on the piano Double Trouble all helping each other out in a great concert.

This is one of the best since the Last Waltz

I am glad that DVD does not degrade from use, as I have watched this disc at least 20 times! The Dolby Digital soundtrack quality is excellent and the Performances are GREAT! Jimmie, Buddy, Eric and B.B. have a good time playing Stevie's favorites. If you are a blues fan, this is a must have.