The Wall in Berlin DVD

James Galway, baby!

Just got the DVD today, it's pretty damn good. Not something I think I'll be watching again and again though (unlike Roger's live DVD and The Wall film DVD). Some of the performances are classic, some are total crap. I was disappointed that Levon Helm and Rick Danko (RIP both) were delegated to backup vocals only... they're one of my favourite rhythm sections ever.

Listen to Up On Cripple Creek on The Band's brown album and you'll see what I mean.

I think the versions of In The Flesh are both just as good as the original versions by Pink Floyd themsevles. The Scorpions give the song a sense of power and anger above that felt in the original (roll the sound efffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeccts!). What a rush it would have been for them to kick off the concert infront of about 500,000 in their home country. The concert itself is quite good I think, my highlights are Sinead O'Connor on Mother, Bryan Adams was perfect for Young Lust, Roger singing Goodbye Cruel World and behind the last brick to be put in the Wall, and the theatrical aspect of The Trial. And The Tide Is Turning is better than the one on Radio KAOS, it was written to be performed by a cast like that imo.

As you can see I quite like the performance. Also i'm pretty surprised it fit on 2LP's, they must have compressed it quite a bit.

Botley, you have such excellent taste. I hadn't heard Levon Helm was dead?

He's not, I must've been thinking of Richard Manuel (the OTHER drummer in The Band). Richard has a terrific feel behind the kit as well, just as unique as Levon and even more off-kilter!

Examples: Rag Mama Rag, Jemima Surrender, Strawberry Wine, Time To Kill, Daniel and the Sacred Harp