Live by Request-Kenny Rogers (2000) (NTSC) |
BUY IT |
General | Extras | ||
Category | Music | None | |
Rating | |||
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 |
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.
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 |
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.
Sharpness | |
Shadow Detail | |
Colour | |
Grain/Pixelization | |
Film-To-Video Artefacts | |
Film Artefacts | |
Overall |
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.
Dialogue | |
Audio Sync | |
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts | |
Surround Channel Use | |
Subwoofer | |
Overall |
There are no extras on this disc. The menus are full frame and static.
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.
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.
Video | |
Audio | |
Extras | |
Plot | |
Overall |
Review Equipment | |
DVD | Custom HTPC (Asus A7N266-VM, Athlon XP 2400+, 512MB, LiteOn LTD-165S, WinXP, WinDVD5 Platinum), using RGB output |
Display | Sony 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 Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials. |
Amplification | Denon AVC-A1SE (upgraded) |
Speakers | Front and surrounds: B&W CDM7NT, front centre: B&W CDMCNT, surround backs: B&W DM601S2, subwoofer: B&W ASW2500 |