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Reviews
The Machine That Changed the World (1992)
Lots of early computer history if you like that sort of thing.
This five part series takes viewers on an absorbing journey from the dawn of the computer to the early 1990s. It was released in 1992 so unfortunately it missed the start of Win95 and the boom time of world wide web. Very little time is spent on modern day personal computers with the PC and Mac so for me it's a bit dull to watch. My favorite episode is 'The Thinking Machine' all about the rise and fall of A.I, artificial intelligence. Episode 1 -Giant Brains. 2 -Inventing the Future. 3 -The Paperback Computer. 4 -The Thinking Machine. 5 -The World at Your Fingertips.
This web site has ton of info about this series.
http://ei.cs.vt.edu/%7Ehistory/TMTCTW.html
Woodstock: The Lost Performances (1990)
Fantastic and a must see if you like the film!
I finally got my hands on this out of print gem. I prefer this full screen version as it seems like you see a lot more during the 68 min. What's great is the cutaway footage of the crowd (most are not in the movie) and a lot of nudie shots during Canned Heat Going Up The Country. Melanie really belts out Birthday of the Sun. Janis Joplin Work Me Lord is in color and they added different angle camera shots in B&W. The only footage that looks like it's the same as Woodstock Diary is Arlo Guthrie, Tim Hardin, Blood, Sweat and Tears. The Paul Butterfield Drifting Blues footage is very dark and on Diary it's looks good. The audio is stereo and sounds great. I can rec this to DVD but why Warner Bros never released it on DVD is beyond me.
dwillsxbr @ gmail.com
The Band: The Weight Joe Cocker: Let's Get Stoned Canned Heat: Going Up The Country Paul Butterfield: Drifting Blues Arlo Guthrie: Walking Down the Line Blood, Sweat and Tears: More and More Country Joe McDonald: Rockin" Around the World John Sabastion: Darling Be Home Soon Sly and the Family Stone: Love City Tim Hardin: If I Where a Carpenter Melanie: Birthday of the Sun Joan Baez: We Shall Overcome Crosby, Stills, Nash: Marrakesh Express and Blackbird Janis Joplin: Work Me Lord Richie Havens: Strawberry Fields Forever
Woodstock Diary (1994)
Fantastic footage and mostly music
Recently via trade I received Woodstock Diary on 3 dvdr's (one for each day. Fantastic footage and this is mostly music just a few short interviews with Joel Rosenman, John Roberts, Michael Lang, Wavy Gravy, and Lisa Law are quite funny at times. Originally shown on the ShowTime Channel in 1994. What I have is a rebroadcast from the (now defunked) 'Trio' channel in 2002. Picture is excellent (full screen) and sound quality is very good but mono. At the end of the fast scrolling credits for each hour show is 'Copyright licensed to Gravity Limited 1994'. What's odd is the fist day (1 hour) is titled Woodstock Diary. The second day (1 hour) and the third day (1 hour) are titled Woodstock The Lost Performances. All three have the same flying dove animation and music at the start of each hour and the same style opening and ending credits.
Art That Shook the World: The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (2002)
Fantastic! A must see for anyone who loves Pet Sounds
Starts off with a Brian Wilson sitting in front of his piano saying "listen to Pet Sounds with earphones in the dark". Great interviews of Brian as he talks about his father and music. Mary Wilson (his first wife) is also a great interview and very touching. Eric Clapton and many others are interviewed. The Pet Sounds tour in 2002 is shown at the the end and the credits start with Brian singing 'God Only Knows'. There is short history about the band at the start and also what happened to Brian and the Beach Boys after Pet Sounds. Mary talking about Caroline No is very moving when she says she just cut her hair when it was released as a single and could barley listen to the song. Good Vibrations is talked about. Seems like all the basis are covered in this 50 min program. Great job BBC!
Earth Scapes (1994)
Fantastic and the best 'Video Album' ever!
I bought two Earth Scapes DVDs. The problem with the first one was the audio level was way to high and distorted. The second DVD audio level is still to high but not distorted so be sure you can return it to the seller just in case. It's a shame this title is OOP on VHS and DVD but keep looking, it's worth it. I have quite a few other titles that are similar to this 'video album' but this is the best of the bunch and only 36 min but the music for the six videos are by five different artists. Suzanne Ciani, Patrick O' Hearn, Vangelis, Mychael Danna, Richard Burmer. 'Desert Vision' is another great video album. 'Natural States' is OK but a 7 min segment is fantastic. Windham Hill released many video albums. My favorite is 'Seasons' and 'Winter'. 'Chronos' is very good. It's all good and worth the time collecting. In 1986 VH1 started a program called 'New Visions' on Sunday nights hosted by Frankie Crocker the famous DJ at WBLS in NYC. Clips from the many 'video albums' released in the 80s and early 90s were played along with Smooth Jazz music videos and live clips.
Canyon Dreams (1987)
A must see...............
I bought the VHS years ago and I watch it now and then. I have quite a few other titles that are similar to this 'video album'. Including rec of VH1 'New Visions' New Age/Smooth Jazz/Prog-Synth music Videos from the 80s. New Visions regular VJ was Frankie Crocker the famous DJ at WBLS in NYC. Celebrity guest hosts could invite other artists. Guest Hosts that I know of: Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson, Chick Corea, Anthony Phillips, Micheal Hedges, David Torn, Mark Egan, Bill Evans, Wynton Marsalis, Larry Fast, Carlos Alomar, Gary Burton, Bill Bruford, Nile Rodgers. Ben Sidran took over as VJ when the format went to all Jazz in 1990. 'Earth Scapes' OOP on VHS and DVD is my personal favorite. 'Desert Vision' is another great video album. 'Natural States' is OK but a 14min segment is fantastic. Windham Hill released many video albums. My favorite is 'Seasons'. 'Chronos' is very good. It's all good and worth the time collecting.
VH1 New Visions (1986)
Sunday nights 2 hours of New Age Smooth Jazz Prog Rock-Synth Music Videos
On Sunday nights 2 hours of New Age Smooth Jazz Prog Rock-Synth music Videos. Sort of the flip side to what MTV played at that time. Some of the videos are rare one of a kind. New Visions regular VJ was Frankie Crocker the famous DJ at WBLS in NYC. Celebrity guest hosts could invite other artists. Guest Hosts that I know of: Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson, Chick Corea, Anthony Phillips, Micheal Hedges, David Torn, Mark Egan, Bill Evans, Wynton Marsalis, Larry Fast, Carlos Alomar, Gary Burton, Bill Bruford, Nile Rodgers. Ben Sidran took over as VJ when the format went to all Jazz in 1990. Some of the invited artists: Makoto Ozone, Susan Vega, David Van Tieghem, Mark Ribot, Kazu Makino.
A track list from my VHS rec in 1986. The first video by Jerry Goodman I like to refer to as the 'flying geese' video.
Jerry Goodman - On The future Of Aviation, Chick Corea/Gary Burton - Finale, Jean Michel Jarre - Rendez-Vous4 Houston Live, Paul Winter Consort - River Run, Laurie Anderson 'One on One' interview, George Howard - Dancing In The Sun, Steven Halpern - Greensleeves, Daniel Sofer - The Fourth, Bill Oskay/Micheal O'Domhnaill - The 19A, Philip Glass - Act 3, Pat Metheny Group - Are You Going With Me? Clannad/Bono - In A Life Time, Kitaro - Cloud, Patrick O Hearn - Beauty in Darkness, Jean Luc Ponty - Open Mind, Shadowfax - The Big Song, Michael & Kevin Shrieve - Transfer Station Blue, Paul Speer & David Lanz - Behind the Waterfall, Mike Oldfield - 5 Miles Out, Liz Story - Deeper Reasons, Andreas Vollenwieder - Pace Verde, Tangerine Dream - Tiergarten, Apsaras - Apsaras, Michael Hoppe & Michael Grunstein - Eyes of the Wind, Mike Oldfield - Wonderful Land, David Sanborn - Love & Happieness, Eddie Jobson - Memories of Vienna.