Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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74 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute must for Blind Faith fans, July 24, 2006
If it is true that Sanctuary is not releasing this DVD in the United States due to contractual problems, that is very unfortunate for Blind Faith fans. This is probably the only footage one will ever see of this group, so if you're a fan, you will want to see this DVD. Amazon UK sells this DVD but you must have a DVD player that plays PAL. So do yourself a favor, buy a DVD player that can play both NTSC and PAL, not just to play this DVD, but for so many other DVDs that are only available in the PAL format because they aren't released in the U.S. for whatever reason. Various electronic companies on the Internet sell these type of machines, so get one now, open yourself up to the world of PAL DVDs!
Now to the DVD itself. Blind Faith probably should have waited until they had more songs in their repertoire before they started touring because they really didn't have many of their own songs under their belt yet. So their actual set for this concert is only about 40 minutes or so. Before we actually see the concert, there is an introduction that discusses the musical climate of the time and the background of the members of Blind Faith. The footage is crisp and the colors are beautiful. The editing of the concert footage is fine, luckily we really don't get that horrible MTV style with the super quick edits that makes one want to vomit.
I felt that the group played very well considering this was their first concert. Winwood and Baker were outstanding, they seemed to be really into it. Clapton and Grech looked like zombies but they played well. Grech was an excellent bass player who probably doesn't get enough recognition nowadays.
The high points of the concert were Sea of Joy (eventhough I miss Grech not playing the violin on this), Can't Find My Way Home, In the Presence of the Lord, and Had to Cry Today (excellent bass by Grech makes this song memorable). I also enjoyed the crowd scenes, I love seeing people do those crazy, acid influenced dances and also seeing those colorful outfits, far out!
The bonus material could have been better on this DVD. Traffic, Spencer Davis Group, and Cream each get only one clip while Family (Grech's original group) doesn't get any representation.
It is a shame this group only put out one album, I would have loved to have seen where they would have went with their music. At least now we have this DVD.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Keep the technical aspects in perspective, February 9, 2007
I understand the technical complaints made by some here, and wish the footage was shot differently. But it is what it is, and the perspective I have mentioned is this was a shortlived band but an incredibly talented one, with this being the only available video material. I think the music holds up extremely well, and the differences from the album they put out make this that much more interesting, particularly the different, electric version of Can't Find My Way Home, plus the tracks not on the album, including a rousing rendition of Stevie's Means to an End, the blues Sleeping in the Ground (Winwood had a great voice for the blues - it is too bad he didn't sing blues more often), and a great version of the Stones' Under My Thumb.
Looking back at Blind Faith, I feel particularly nostalgic and regretful about it. I was and remain a huge fan of Cream and the Traffic both before and after Blind Faith, but feel that Clapton got off track when he left England to go with Delaney and Bonnie and eventually the Dominoes, as that period coincided with his decline into drug use, which began before he left. Clapton never played with a vocalist who equaled Winwood, and it is wonderful watching him focus on the accompanist role as he does here. Baker is more restrained, tasteful and effective than in Cream here, and that is no knock on his Cream performances. Traffic was great, but Winwood never had the quality of bandmates for live performance he had here. It really was a shame Blind Faith did not stay together, and I am not sure I understand why they did not. Seeing this video makes me wish again they had, with all the great music that definitely would have brought.
I disagree with those who have criticized Winwood's vocal performance here. This is not a studio performance, and Stevie would take chances at times. It was part of his appeal as a performer.
I have greatly enjoyed this disc, and despite the technical limitations it has quickly become one of my very favorite ones. I have watched it a number of times and enjoy it more and more. I have recommended it to friends who have given it near universal raves as well.
In addition to the songs mentioned above, Sea of Joy is great, as the soloing on the studio recording of Grech playing violin or viola is covered by Clapton and Winwood switching off. Clapton does not use the wah wah during the solo on Presence of the Lord, and in general there is less of the two songs in one feel that you have in the studio version. Had to Cry Today closes the concert, and unlike the double tracked guitars in the studio version, this version has Winwood on keys. Do What You Like was truncated and rather sloppily so, but it is the exception in that regard.
In fact it is fascinating the way the band was able to get the range of expressiveness they did with very little use of different instrumentation or effects. It is a lesson to all casual performers who overuse effects as a crutch.
In short, I highly recommend this.
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28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lower Your Expectations, September 24, 2006
The film is disappointing, with terrible, twitchy camera work and editing. (I thought perhaps I was just getting stodgy in my old age, but a clip from an earlier Cream concert included among the DVD extras assured me that even in those long-ago days, there WERE people who knew how to shoot a concert video.)
By contrast, the audio quality during the concert is good. The DVD cover says the sound is stereo. It sounded like mono to me.
The concert itself is frustrating. This show is a precious memory to those where were there, a legend to those who were not, unheard for almost 40 years, and... well, it's not that great. These are all solid professional musicians, but the performances here seem tentative and uninspired. They certainly don't hold a candle to the performances on the album.
Nothing I say will dissuade real Blind Faith devotees from getting this DVD. Nothing I've said would have dissuaded me. Just don't get your expectations too high, and you can enjoy this.
Track list:
Well All Right
Sea of Joy
Sleeping in the Ground
Under My Thumb
Can't Find My Way Home
Do What You Like
Presence of the Lord
Means to an End
Had to Cry Today
DVD extras: 3 promo videos, photo gallery
I'm a Man - Spencer Davis Group
Hole in My Shoe - Traffic
I'm So Glad - Cream
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