Chic
Live At The Budokan (1996/Charly/MVD Visual DVD)
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Concert: B
Of the many acts of the Disco era
that came and went, Chic was one of the few that not only managed to be more
than a one-hit wonder, but created music that continues to influence and endure
today. Still written off by so many
so-called music experts as a minor act, the duo of Bernard Edwards and Nile
Rodgers behind the group became one of the most successful in music history and
their songs are some of the most sampled of all time, down to their megahit Good Times being one of the square roots
of all of Rap/Hip Hop. Chic Live At The Budokan (1996) is
their last concert together before Edwards' premature death.
A fine show, better than you might
imagine, the songs include:
1)
Do
That Dance
2)
Hes
The Greatest Dancer
3)
We
Are Family
4)
Dance,
Dance, Dance
5)
I
Want Your Love
6)
Good
Times
7)
Le
Freak
8)
Slash
guitar solo
9)
Chic
Cheer
10) Just One World
Besides former Guns n Roses guitarist
Slash joining them, Sister Sledge (now down to three members) join the group
for their big hits (tracks 2 & 3) and both guests are in top form, but then
so is Chic, though original drummer Tony Thompson is sadly not here and would
himself pass away in 2003. This was a
concert 20 years after the band had formed.
They had even made some new albums around this time, but Discophobia
stopped all but the Dance clubs and DJ circles to pick the materials up, though
they perform so many of their classics here.
Running about 70 minutes, it is short but loaded with great music and is
a historic final note in the history of one of most underrated bands of all
time.
The 1.33 X 1 image is a little
softer than a 1996 taping should be, looking a generation or so down, while the
Dolby Digital 5.1 mix may be better, but is far from the fidelity their best
records are known for, though I wonder if it is also the victim of source
materials not being first-generation. Extras
include optional intro clips to each song by Rodgers, a color booklet with illustrations
and notes inside the DVD case, two text tributes to Edwards and text
bio/discography sections on the DVD itself.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
