Barbra Streisand - The Concert (Live at the MGM Grand)(Keep Case) Review

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(More customer reviews)Why buy this DVD when you saw the special on HBO? Because this DVD, filmed on Dec. 31, 1993 and Jan. 1, 1994 has never been released. If you thought the HBO special was exciting, wait till you see this DVD -- when the audience at Las Vegas' MGM Grand greeted Barbra with a 10-minute standing ovation. This was the historic return to live performing that Streisand fans waited for.
The song line-up for THE CONCERT: LIVE AT THE MGM GRAND resembles the HBO special, with a few exceptions. Never before heard on this new DVD are "I'm in the Mood For Love / Speak Low / Guilty", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", and the Disney medley. A special appearance by Mike Meyers as his SNL character Linda Richman is another bonus on this DVD. He and Barbra do a funny skit utilizing various Jewish expressions.
The MGM concert varies from the HBO concert in several other ways: "I'm Still Here/Everybody Says Don't/Don't Rain on My Parade" is longer, with more lyrics by Sondheim for "I'm Still Here". "Lover Man" is longer as is "I'll Know". Barbra's pyschiatrist skits in the first act feature a different script that varies slightly from the Anaheim show.
Most importantly, the reason to own this DVD is because Barbra wears that gorgeous empire-waisted, split-up-the-middle dress in the first act!! Also, Barbra's voice is in exquisite form during the Vegas concert.
Sony & Barbra's people have done fans a great favor in releasing the MGM Grand concert for home video.
It's been 10 years since Barbra sang "As If We Never Said Goodbye" as her opening song. Now, after watching LIVE AT THE MGM GRAND, you'll remember why Linda Richman said Barbra was "like buttah."

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Studio: Sony MusicRelease Date: 03/30/2004Run time: 125 minutesRating: Nr

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The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live, 1966: The "Royal Albert Hall Concert" Review

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(More customer reviews)1966, Royal Albert Hall Manchester, England. Bob Dylan straps on an electric guitar to the chagrin of all his fans. Yes, it's the infamous Judas concert. This also is the best-recorded Dylan concert you could hope to find. The quality, both technical and musical, is superb. This may be billed as a "bootleg" but the sound is nearly that of a studio album.
The first CD of course is Dylan's acoustic set. For seven songs, it is just Dylan, an acoustic, and a harmonica and it is nothing short of amazing. Dylan does not make one false step in the entire set, perhaps wanting to give the old folk days a good send off before ripping into R 'n R. He seems to be playing with a new sense of vigor, although it may be just excitement at not knowing how the crowd will respond to the coming electricity (he had had bad experiences when first plugging in at the Newport Festival - he had to come back and do some acoustic numbers to calm the crowd down). Even the song Mr. Tambourine Man, which I never liked that much, has new life breathed into it
The second CD is Dylan's electric set, backed by a full band. When I first listened to this, I expected to hear loud booing right away but I was surprised that the audience not only claps loudly for Dylan, but actually laughs when he jokes at the beginning of I Don't Believe You ("This is `I Don't Believe You', it used to be like that (referring to acoustic) now it goes like this") before ripping into the song. I was expecting an immediate outcry and I admit I was slightly disappointed that the much-hyped Judas concert was turning out to be nothing like I thought. Then at the end of Tom Thumb's Blues the crowd really starts to lay into Dylan, interrupting him when he talks by clapping loudly as well as heckling him (I could barely make out someone yelling "Sell out!!"). It really gets bad before Like a Rolling Stone though. After the clapping for the previous song dies down there is a moment of nearly complete silence and someone yells clearly "Judas!" and is met with rousing applause from the rest of the crowd. When that dies down you can hear someone once again yelling about how Dylan has "sold out". "I don't believe you" Dylan replies, then right before the song he says "You're a liar!" The crowd is so loud at this point that Dylan turns to the band and yells "Play f**king loud!" And they certainly do! The version of Like a Rolling Stone that follows is something to behold. Dylan's singing is fueled by the crowd's boos and insults and is without a doubt his best performance of the song to date.
Ignoring the historic significance of the concert, the music itself on the electric half is Dylan's best. Every song is infused with new energy, and puts the original versions to shame. Perhaps it is because of the crowds boos, the novelty of performing with electrics for the first time, but whatever it is you can't deny it is something special. If I had to pick favorites, I would pick everything from Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat through Rolling Stone. The whole thing is great, but the band seems to get more energized and louder as the evening goes on (again, probably propelled by the reaction from the crowd). This is nothing short of essential listening for any fan of good music.
Whether you buy it to hear the rock and roll history, the great music, or just because you are a Dylan completist, the reason does not matter. What matters is that you buy this. It is an experience that you won't soon forget.

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