New Who films coming on DVD

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New Who films coming on DVD

Postby lukpac » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:26 pm

[url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-30-2007/0004654158&EDATE=]
The 'Amazing Journey' Project, Two Powerfully Charged Films About The Who, Lays Bare One Of Rock's Greatest Icons Like Never Before
[/url]

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- "Amazing Journey: The
Story of The Who and Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones", two exhilarating
feature-length films about one of the seminal and most influential rock
bands in history, produced by Spitfire Pictures in association with
Trinifold Management, will be released by Universal Studios Home
Entertainment on DVD on November 6, 2007.
Marking 40 years since The Who's first U.S. appearance in North
America, "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" will make its worldwide
debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2007.
Spanning over four decades, "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who"
reintroduces The Who now and to generations-to-come, as it tells one of the
greatest stories of rock. The film tells the unfolding story of The Who and
how they have straddled the rock world for forty years, in a tale as
gripping in adventure, life and personality as the searing power of their
music. The film features all-new, exclusive, never-before-seen interviews
with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and others, rare and recently discovered
concert footage, artist profiles and much, much more, all in 5.1 Surround
Sound.
"Amazing Journey transcends all generational barriers and offers a
profoundly personal account of rock history," commented Craig Kornblau,
President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures
Digital Platforms. "As an authorized piece, the film is the definitive
anthology of one of the most important bands of our time. We are very
pleased to be able to make this film available to those who already love
the band, and perhaps more importantly, to showcase its legacy to those who
may have not had the good fortune to have seen them perform live."
The companion feature film, "Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones", takes
the viewer inside the mysteries that drive a rock band to the pinnacle of
musical achievement.
Deliberately conceived as two complimentary pieces of work, one film
for a wide audience and one for the die-hard rock fan, the two films
present a complex and complete picture of the legendary musicians as they
have never been seen before. Music greats including Sting, U2's The Edge,
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Oasis' Noel Gallagher, offer insightful
commentaries on The Who's indelible influence. Alongside a companion
booklet and additional DVD
bonus content, this set comprises one of music's most collectible and
comprehensive compilations ever assembled about one of rock's greatest
bands.
"Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" was produced by Spitfire
Pictures' Nigel Sinclair, and Trinifold's Bill Curbishley and Robert
Rosenberg. It is directed by Paul Crowder (ONCE IN A LIFETIME) and Academy
Award(R) winner Murray Lerner (FESTIVAL). The film is presented by
Universal Pictures, and was produced by Spitfire Pictures in association
with Trinifold, VH1 Rock Docs, MLF Productions and Pony Canyon.
"Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones" was produced by Spitfire Pictures'
Nigel Sinclair, and Trinifold's Bill Curbishley and Robert Rosenberg. The
film is presented by Universal Pictures, and was produced by Spitfire
Pictures in association with Trinifold.
Added Nigel Sinclair: "If there are four legs to the table of the 60's
rock movement that has inspired and defined popular music ever since, they
are The Who -- as well as, of course, The Beatles, The Stones and Dylan --
and it was both daunting and thrilling to be charged with producing the
authorized story for this work. As part of the foundation of rock n' roll,
The Who's legacy is still evolving, of course, as they continue to fill
houses and inspire artists all over the world. Part of the power of The
Who's music is its honesty and authenticity and we have tried our hardest
to remain true to that spirit while making these two films."
Beginning with their first hit single "I Can't Explain," The Who
emerged from Mod-Era London to electrify the world with their unique sound.
The music and live performances of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John
Entwistle and Keith Moon tore through the existing boundaries of rock. The
band has recorded 11 remarkable albums, including the world's first rock
opera Tommy, and the ensuing masterwork Quadrophenia. The British legends
produced some of the most compelling and original music of the era,
including the songs, "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Happy Jack," "Pictures of
Lily" and the immortal "My Generation."
The two-disc set is priced at $29.98 SRP. Pre-Order close is October 2,
2007.
ACCOMPANYING FEATURE FILM
The band's monumental legacy is celebrated not only by flagship title
"Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" but also by a second feature film,
"Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones". The films will be released side-by-side
on two discs in 5.1 Surround Sound. The two features represent
approximately four hours of must-see materials, much of which have never
been seen before.
"Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones" takes us through, in four individual
pieces, the virtuoso musical abilities of each band member: Roger Daltrey;
Pete Townshend; John Entwistle; and Keith Moon.
Then, in "Who Art You," the fifth constituent part of this feature, the
viewer is taken into The Who's trademark bullseye, and the Mod and Pop Art
movements, as The Who's 1960s journey to become a band as visual as they
were musical is explored.
Finally, in a coup de grace, during 2003, The Who allowed legendary
filmmakers, the Pennebakers, into the studio to film them record the hit
song "Real Good Looking Boy." Recorded for the album Then and Now, this
work was the band's first new studio recording in over 20 years. "Who's
Back" -- the sixth "Quick One" -- is the intimate portrait that emerged of
these artists at work.
IN ADDITION, THE DVD SET CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ADDED BONUSES:
- The Scrapbook: Five Additional Insider Insights into the World of The
Who:
-- Dinner with Moon
-- A Legal Matter
-- Won't Get Fooled Again
-- Cincinnati: The Whole Story
-- Royal Albert Hall 2000
- The High Numbers at the Railway Hotel: The earliest footage of the
band known to be in existence, seen in its entirety here for the first
time.
SYNOPSIS
"Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" is the definitive, authorized
film of the iconic rockers. The filmmakers amassed a wealth of
never-before-seen personal images, all-new interviews and rare and
unreleased concert footage to tell the story of how four diverse Londoners
-- Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon -- combined
to create their own style of rock music, building a dedicated fan base the
world over, and, as a result, surviving at the top for over 40 amazing
years.
Whether they were The Detours, The High Numbers or The Who, their music
and their story is the ultimate rock and roll tale. The film chronicles it
all: from their roots as a 1960s pub cover band, through their meteoric
rise, encompassing all the fascinating ups and downs, twists and turns,
stops and starts, successes and failures that made this band one of the
greatest in the world. Follow them as they evolve four decades of rock.
The narrative of "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" and
sister-film "Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones" are both driven by compelling
new interviews -- with surviving members Daltrey and Townshend, and those
close to the band -- in which thoughts and memories of The Who, their
music, and their history are shared with the viewer. These eyewitnesses
include The Who's manager Bill Curbishley (the film's Executive Producer),
and Chris Stamp (with Kit Lambert, one of The Who's original co-managers).
Additional insight is provided by close friends, family and colleagues; and
commenting on their musical legacy are Sting, U2's The Edge, Pearl Jam's
Eddie Vedder and Oasis' Noel Gallagher.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Street Date: November 6, 2007
Pre-Order Close: October 2, 2007
Selection Number: 61102505
AWS Running Time: 120 minutes Disc 1; 117 minutes Disc 2.
Layers: Dual Layers
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: Not Rated
Languages/Subtitles: English
SDH Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
"I know because it is impossible for a tape to hold the compression levels of these treble boosted MFSL's like Something/Anything. The metal particulate on the tape would shatter and all you'd hear is distortion if even that." - VD

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Postby Rspaight » Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:03 am

Best Buy copies include a third bonus DVD with 90 minutes of footage from Chicago 1979 (including some stuff already seen on the 30 Years of Maximum R&B video). The sound on this disc is pretty good -- much better than the mix on the 30 Years video at least.

The doc itself (Disc One) is pretty good stuff. I had to giggle a bit at the framing device -- a guy pulling the documentary (in the form an a double LP) out of a wall covered in shelves stuffed with albums, turning on a tube amp, and playing the record (complete with Track labels and "liner notes"). LP surface noise comes in and out throughout the film, and the four segments are split up by showing the record flipped over or changed. (Individual sections within these four segments are indicated by "tracks" on the record.) SH.tv will love this documentary.

All that aside, it's pretty comprehensive for the two-hour running length. Though at this point I'm over-stuffed with Who lore and so didn't experience any new insights, most of the needed ground seemed to get covered (the discussion of the failure of Lifehouse, for example, was impressively concise yet not inadequate). A few thoughts:

- THERE'S FILM OF LEEDS? I had no idea.

- The film was quite candid about Moon's problems, and his general uselessness in the mid-70s. A clip from Kilburn of the band attempting to play "Who Are You" is damning. The song is a mess, (even by embryonic standards) mainly due to Moon's embarrassing flailing about. I'd heard audio of this before, but the video is even worse.

- Unlike what I'd expected, the post-1978 years weren't given the gloss-over. (The four "sides" were "up to My Generation," "My Generation to Tommy," "Lifehouse to 1982," and "1982 on.") Kenney Jones was interviewed, and he was remarkably insightful about his tenure, including his observation that the band's guilt over Moon's death was a bigger barrier for him than any difference in playing style. (The 1979 footage on the bonus disc, by the way, includes some impressive playing by Jones, including a barnstorming attack on "Punk Meets The Godfather.")

- Townshend's arrest was mentioned at some length.

- The band's performance at the Concert for New York was given the coverage it deserved. My opinion is that this show was for the Who what Live Aid was for Queen -- a last hurrah where the washed-up band comes back to knock the crowd on its heels one last time. Whatever Pete and Roger may do in the future, I doubt that moment will ever be topped as the last great roar of the Who, especially considering the loss of Entwistle.

- The penultimate section, a 2007 performance of "Tea and Theater," was perfect.

- The 5.1 mix is very ballsy, with Entwistle loud and proud. It's probably compressed to hell and back (there's a big difference in level between the talking heads and the music), but it's effective.

A good job all around. Not perfect by any stretch (the gimmicky editing effects got old fast and I'd have gladly sat through another hour for some complete songs and a bit more depth), but hardly a mess either. Worth a watch.

(Haven't looked at Disc Two at all yet.)

Ryan
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney

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Postby Rspaight » Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:58 pm

Oh, and I'll renew my membership as a Who Pedant by pointing out the following errors. (There were others but I remember these.)

- There's weird bit of editing in the run-up to Entwistle's death where Pete says something about going to Vegas for contractual reasons. It's pretty clear he's talking about having to make up the date they canceled when John died, but the sequencing suggests they were working off an old contract by playing Vegas in the first place.

- They say the only live Who performances between '82 and '96 were Live Aid and the '89 tour. AFAIK, they played with Jones in '88 at the BPI awards (as the closing credits rolled), and participated in the traditional jam when they were inducted into the Rock Hall (which probably doesn't count as a Who performance). I don't think they were all on stage for together for Daltrey Sings Townshend -- IIRC Pete's only appearance there was a solo "Who Are You."

I expect my updated membership card in the mail shortly.

Ryan
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney

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Postby lukpac » Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:04 pm

Rspaight wrote:I expect my updated membership card in the mail shortly.


Better fork up $50.
"I know because it is impossible for a tape to hold the compression levels of these treble boosted MFSL's like Something/Anything. The metal particulate on the tape would shatter and all you'd hear is distortion if even that." - VD

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Postby Rspaight » Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:41 pm

Feh.

Anyway, here's the alleged full setlist for the '79 Chicago show. The tracks actually included on the DVD I've starred.

(I didn't mention above that the video quality on this is totally wretched. But for a freebie, I'm not complaining.)

Substitute*
I Can't Explain*
Baba O'Riley*
The Punk And The Godfather*
My Wife* (as on 30 Years video)
Sister Disco* (as on 30 Years video)
Behind Blue Eyes*
Music Must Change* (as on 30 Years video)
Drowned*
Who Are You
5.15* (as on 30 Years video)
Pinball Wizard*
See Me Feel Me
Long Live Rock*
My Generation
I Can See For Miles
Sparks*
Won't Get Fooled Again
The Real Me* (massively truncated)
Dancing In The Streets
Dance It Away
Young Man Blues
Roadrunner
Big Boss Man
How Can You Do It Alone* (as on Face Dances remaster)
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney

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Postby lukpac » Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:02 pm

I'd have to search through recent O&S digests, but supposedly one of the tracks that is edited on 30 Years is *not* year...

At least on my laptop speakers, Kenny's cymbals come through more clearly than anything else. He isn't bad when he isn't laying on the hi-hat (which unfortunately he does too much).

The little bit with Shel Talmy and Glyn Johns is nice.
"I know because it is impossible for a tape to hold the compression levels of these treble boosted MFSL's like Something/Anything. The metal particulate on the tape would shatter and all you'd hear is distortion if even that." - VD

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Postby David R. Modny » Sun Nov 11, 2007 4:16 am

Rspaight wrote:Oh, and I'll renew my membership as a Who Pedant by pointing out the following errors. (There were others but I remember these.)


- They say the only live Who performances between '82 and '96 were Live Aid and the '89 tour. AFAIK, they played with Jones in '88 at the BPI awards (as the closing credits rolled), and participated in the traditional jam when they were inducted into the Rock Hall (which probably doesn't count as a Who performance). I don't think they were all on stage for together for Daltrey Sings Townshend -- IIRC Pete's only appearance there was a solo "Who Are You." Ryan



MTV aired that award performance around the time it occurred - I happened to see it at the time. Was it '88 though? Somehow, I thought it was a bit earlier than that ('86?)...using where I was living at the time as a marker.

And yeah, only Pete, John, and of course Roger were there for the tribute show. John came out first and played with Rog and the Chieftains on "Behind Blue Eyes" (and maybe another tune..."The Real Me?"...I can't remember). Pete came out at the end for "Who Are You" and "And I Moved." I taped the live pay-per-view when it aired.

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Postby Rspaight » Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:05 am

I'm reasonably sure it was '88.

http://brits.co.uk/show/1988/

I watched some of the second disc last night, and had laugh out loud at the bit about recording "Real Good Looking Boy." At one point, Pridden and Townshend were arguing about how many tracks to use for the drums to achieve the "Glyn Johns technique." And here I thought that was something only Luke obsessed about.

Ryan
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Postby lukpac » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:38 am

Rspaight wrote:I watched some of the second disc last night, and had laugh out loud at the bit about recording "Real Good Looking Boy." At one point, Pridden and Townshend were arguing about how many tracks to use for the drums to achieve the "Glyn Johns technique." And here I thought that was something only Luke obsessed about.


Heh, I hadn't watched that yet. Funny.

I think Pete is right, BTW. You'd only be using 3 or 4 mics anyway (4 if you had one on the snare).

It is a nice sequence of them recording as a band. Has Greg Lake *always* looked like that though?
"I know because it is impossible for a tape to hold the compression levels of these treble boosted MFSL's like Something/Anything. The metal particulate on the tape would shatter and all you'd hear is distortion if even that." - VD

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Postby Rspaight » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:57 am

He's significantly larger than he used to be.

Image

(That's such a sublimely awful album cover.)

Yes, I liked that footage a lot. It surprised me that they did as much "live" as they did (and how collaborative the process was), though I'm sure the end product was heavily overdubbed. (Roger's vocal was clearly comped, since the stuff he was laying down with the band was wretched compared to the final product.)

Ryan
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney