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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.
The Blind Boys of Alabama-Go Tell It on the Mountain: Live in New York (2004)

The Blind Boys of Alabama-Go Tell It on the Mountain: Live in New York (2004)

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Released 3-May-2006
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Details At A Glance

General		Extras
Category	Music	Menu Animation & Audio Interviews-Cast & Crew Featurette-Behind The Scenes Music Video Web Links Booklet
Rating
Year Of Production	2004
Running Time	91:43 (Case: 125)
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL (79:15)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu	Cast & Crew
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Michael Murphy
Studio Distributor	Eagle Eye Media Rajon Vision	Starring	Michael Franti Chrissie Hynde John Medeski Charlie Musselwhite Aaron Neville Robert Randolph Duke Robillard Mavis Staples Clarence Fountain George Scott Jimmy Carter
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip	Starring
RPI	$29.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English dts 5.1 (768Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No	Miscellaneous
Subtitles	Dutch German Spanish French Portuguese Italian	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

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

Plot Synopsis

Originally formed at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf & Blind in Alabama in 1937, The Blind Boys of Alabama are one of the best known of the traditional gospel vocal groups in the US. Their line-up has changed many times over the years but three of their very early members are included here being Clarence Fountain (Born 1929), George Scott (1929-2005) and Jimmy Carter (Born 1932) who are all blind and strangely enough from Alabama. This concert was recorded at The Beacon Theatre in New York City in Dec 2003 shortly after the release of their Christmas CD of the same title. The youngster (only 71 at the time) is the most active of the three, dancing around the stage and walking through the audience. He is a joy to behold and you cannot help but be affected by his enthusiasm. The other two do not move around as much (and sit down for most of the show) but are certainly in fine voice. Since this recording George Scott has passed away and Clarence Fountain has given up touring due to ill-health. Jimmy is still going strong leading the group with a new vocal line-up.

This concert features a mixture of straight gospel vocal music, Christmas songs and secular songs some featuring guest stars. For my money, the tracks without the guests are the highlight when the Blind Boys do what they do best, shout and sing about their beliefs. Those who do not ascribe to the religious messages involved can still certainly enjoy the marvellous singing and musicianship. The highlight tracks were If I Had A Hammer, Amazing Grace, Look Where He Brought Me From, Someone Watches Over Me & Soldier. These tracks show the incredible passion and excitement involved in this music which cannot help but move you. Of the guest stars the best tracks are the ones involving Aaron Neville & Mavis Staples. Other guest stars include Chrissie Hynde, Michael Franti, Charlie Musselwhite (Harmonica) & Duke Robillard (Guitar).

This is an enjoyable concert, however, I personally think that more of the Blind Boys and less guests stars would have made for a better concert experience.

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Track Listing

1. Run On
2. Go Tell it On The Mountain
3. Little Drummer Boy
4. If I Had A Hammer
5. Nobody's Fault But Mine
6. Born in Bethlehem
7. Joy To The World
8. People Get Ready

9. In The Bleak Midwinter
10. Higher Ground
11. Amazing Grace
12. Look Where He Brought Me From
13. Someone Watches Over Me
14. Soldier
15. Down By The RIverside

Transfer Quality

Video

The video quality is excellent.

The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which seems to be the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

The picture was very clear and sharp throughout. Shadow detail is very good.

The colour was excellent with no colour artefacts.

There were some mild interlacing artefacts perhaps indicating an NTSC-PAL conversion.

There are subtitles in Dutch, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese & Italian which were clear and easy to read. They are only for onstage dialogue, not lyrics.

There is a layer change at 79:15 which was well placed but caused a significant and obvious pause.

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

Audio

The audio quality is excellent.

This DVD contains three audio options, an English DTS 5.1 soundtrack, an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack encoded at 384 Kb/s and an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack encoded at 192 Kb/s.The DTS is certainly the pick of this bunch featuring a bigger, warmer sound with significantly more bass. The DTS also showed better separation of instruments. The 5.1 track is also very good but the 2.0 sounds really flat after the others.

Lyrics were mostly clear and easy to understand except for Chrissie Hynde's slurring

The surround speakers were well used especially on the DTS track adding significant immersion to the concert experience.

The subwoofer was also well used by the DTS track.

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

Extras

All of the extras are non 16x9 enhanced widescreen.

Comments From the Blind Boys (1:47)

Short interview about their history. Clarence Fountain does nearly all of the talking.

Behind the Scenes

Chris Goldsmith - CD Producer (2:26)

Talks about how they got the guests artists involved.

Interview & Rehearsal Footage

Michael Franti (1:13)
Mavis Staples (4:35)
Aaron Neville (2:08)
Chrissie Hynde (1:31)
Robert Randolph (1:58)
Charlie Musselwhite (0:45)

Nothing terribly groundbreaking here.

Videos

Go Tell it on the Mountain Electronic Press Kit (6:36) Promo film for the CD
There Will Be A Light - Ben Harper & the Blind Boys (4:01) The highlight of the extras.
Last Month of the Year (3:47) Amusing clip for a Christmas song
Higher Ground (3:34) Video for the Boys cover of the Stevie Wonder classic

Weblinks

Booklet

Includes an interesting essay on the band.

R4 vs R1

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

The Region 1 release is identical.

Summary

An enjoyable gospel performance with too many guest stars.