Long
John Baldry In Concert (Ohne Filter)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Concert: B-
You don’t
have to know anything about the Blues to have heard of Long John Baldry. Joined by vocalist Kathi McDonald, this is
one of the better Blues sets from the series to date, though it is sad that the
sound is not as good as the series usually offers. The set includes:
1)
Everyday
I Have The Blues
2)
Do
You Wanna Dance?
3)
One
Step Ahead Of You
4)
Shake
That Thang
5)
Insane
Asylum
6)
I’d
Rather Go Blind
7)
I’d
Rather Drink Muddy Water
8)
A
Thrill’s A Thrill
9)
Black
Girl
10)
It Ain’t Easy
11)
Hoochie Coochie Man
12)
Flying
This
works because it is not repetitious, does not paint itself into a corner, and
does not follow any set of Blues clichés.
Baldry is an original and a legend, while many other Blues artists still
get caught up in a slight wanna be syndrome, even when they have talent. You are much more likely to believe Baldry
(and McDonald for that matter) as storytellers and that they may have actually
experiences the joys and pains they sing about. Excellent musicianship is not sufficient enough to make that
work, no matter how good a musician is.
This may be the best Blues DVD from the Ohne Filter DVD series to
boot.
The full
frame PAL color video is about what would expect for a taping of the time,
having limits in its good color and limited definition. The sound is available in the usual PCM
CD-type 2.0 16bit/48kHz Stereo, as well as Dolby Digital 5.1 AC-3, but both are
more limited than usual. The depth in
the 5.1 here is not as good as the Mark King DVD, but a bit better than
America’s installment in the series.
Besides repeating the same stereo cords ad placement, other DVDs in the
series, and Ohne Filter producer
interview, it has a biography of Baldry that shows how long and authentic his
history in the Blues really is. The
Beatles, Elton John and Rolling Stones thought so. Fans should really enjoy this, though audiophiles may have some
reservations.
- Nicholas Sheffo
