PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Live by Request-Kenny Rogers (2000)

Live by Request-Kenny Rogers (2000) (NTSC)

If you create a user account, you can add your own review of this DVD

Released 6-Jun-2003

Cover Art

This review is sponsored by
BUY IT

Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Music None
Rating Rated E
Year Of Production 2000
Running Time 85:46
RSDL / Flipper No/No Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By Lawrence Jordan
Studio
Distributor

Warner Vision
Starring Kenny Rogers
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI $34.95 Music Kenny Rogers


Video (NTSC) Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame Full Frame English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 5.0 (448Kb/s)
English dts 5.0 (768Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio None
16x9 Enhancement No
Video Format 480i (NTSC)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    Live By Request is a US cable-based (A&E network) television series featuring famous artists performing "live" in front of a studio audience as well as broadcast on TV. The artists accept requests from TV watchers via telephone and e-mail and then perform them.

    It is an interesting concept, created by Tony Bennett with his son Danny and the backing of Columbia Records. It certainly puts the artists in the "spot" in terms of being familiar with their repertoire. This disc features Kenny Rogers accompanied by a full sized band (consisting of drummer, lead, rhythm and bass guitarists, and no less than three keyboard players). The programme was recorded and broadcast live from Sony Music Studios in New York City in September 2000 and was hosted by Mark McEwen.

    It's amazing that Kenny Rogers has been belting out adult contemporary love songs and country ballads for over 25 years - his latest album Back to the Well has just been released as this review is being written. Yet he is still pretty much sporting the same "Gambler" look that many American men seem to either consciously or unconsciously emulate (for a rather weird look at the phenomenon, check out www.menwholooklikekennyrogers.com!)

    Kenny starts off by singing a solo version of one of his most famous hits: Islands In The Stream (the original was a duet with Dolly Parton), and then follows a pattern of Mark McEwen introducing a new caller (or an email from the Intenet) who then requests a song, followed by Kenny adding a few words describing what the song means for him before singing it. It does look like they vet the requests beforehand (presumably to allow the band to get familiar with the song) because on one occasion the caller had dropped out but Mark knew what the request was anyway.

    Linda Davis joins Kenny for two duets: Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer and We've Got Tonight.

    If you are a fan of Kenny Rogers, rest assured that most of your favourite songs will be covered in this concert. I know mine certainly were.

Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration.

Track Listing

1. Islands In The Stream
2. Daytime Friends
3. She Believes In Me
4. Ruby, Don't take Your Love To Town
5. Love Will Turn You Around
6. The Greatest
7. Love Or Something Like It
8. Through The Years
9. Lucille
10. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer
11. Coward Of The County
12. Lady
13. Crazy
14. The Gambler
15. We've Got Tonight
16. You Decorated My Life
17. Slow Dance More

Transfer Quality

Video

    Given that this was originally broadcast on TV, the intended and original aspect ratio is 1.33:1 and accordingly we are provided with a Full Frame transfer.

    This is a fairly sharp transfer typical of a TV "live" broadcast and features good colour saturation. The video source is obviously interlaced, resulting in the usual aliasing every now and then, but thankfully the transfer seems reasonably clean and devoid of artefacts.

    Detail levels are about average, resulting in a pleasing but slightly soft transfer.

    I did not notice any compression artefacts.

    There are no subtitle tracks on this single sided single layered disc.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There are three audio tracks on this disc: English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s), English Dolby Digital 5.0 (448Kb/s), and English dts 5.0 (768Kb/s).

    I found both 5.0 audio tracks to be quite pleasant to listen to, and so similar to each other that I could not reliably differentiate between them.

    The 5.0 mix appears to be discrete, with decorrellated audience clapping across both front and rear channels but with slightly more emphasis on the rear channels. Most of the music is conveyed by the front left and right channels, with the centre channel acting as a filler and the rear channels mainly used for ambience. The subwoofer is not used.

    Dialogue was easy to understand at all times and I did not detect any audio synchronization issues.

    The Dolby Digital 2.0 track is mixed at a much lower level than the other two tracks and is not worth listening to, sounding quite dull and compressed.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    There are no extras on this disc. The menus are full frame and static.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This title appears to be identically featured in Region 1 and 4.

Summary

    This is yet another programme in the A&E Live By Request series, this time featuring adult contemporary and country crooner Kenny Rogers.

    The video transfer quality is good.

    The audio transfer quality of the 5.0 tracks is good, but the 2.0 track is mediocre.

    There are no extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Christine Tham (read my biography)
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Review Equipment
DVDCustom HTPC (Asus A7N266-VM, Athlon XP 2400+, 512MB, LiteOn LTD-165S, WinXP, WinDVD5 Platinum), using RGB output
DisplaySony VPL-VW11HT LCD Projector, ScreenTechnics 16x9 matte white screen (254cm). Calibrated with Video Essentials/Ultimate DVD Platinum/AVIA. This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
AmplificationDenon AVC-A1SE (upgraded)
SpeakersFront and surrounds: B&W CDM7NT, front centre: B&W CDMCNT, surround backs: B&W DM601S2, subwoofer: B&W ASW2500

Other Reviews
DVD Net - Amy F