– –
The Performance
[Rating:4/5]
The US had Elvis, France had Johnny Halllyday, and England had Cliff Richard (born Harry Webb). I am here to tell you that Richard is still bringing it at age 73 and then some as this 2013 Still Reelin’ And A-Rockin’: Live In Sydney concert attests. A consummate entertainer and still in amazing shape, lucky viewers get two hours of prime-time Richard and a playlist that is chock-full of favorites:
- Reelin’ & Rockin’/My Kinda Life
- Dreamin’
- Living Doll
- Poetry In Motion
- Sealed With A Kiss
- Dream Lover
- 12th Of Never
- “D” In Love
- Miss You Nights
- Summer Holiday
- The Next Time
- What Car?
- Singing The Blues
- Move It
- Willie And The Hand Jive
- I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine
- Fabulous/Paralyzed
- Ocean Deep
- The Young Ones
- Devil Woman
- Some People
- Suddenly
- It’ll Be Me
- Rip It Up
- We Don’t Talk Anymore
- Wired For Sound
- I Could Easily Fall/In The Country
- High Class Baby/Dynamite/Please Don’t Tease/Forty Days/Do You Wanna Dance
It does not take very long to see how this ageless UK pop idol wins over his audiences with charm, good vocals and just great personality. Since Richard has not had a significant presence in the US, this two-hour concert, a generous mix of vintage and newer material, is a great way to see what many of us might have missed over the last 50 years.
Video Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
The videographers had to face the challenge of a flotilla of spotlights that flood the stage of one of the most amazing venues in the world, the Sydney Opera House. For the most part, this challenge is successfully met with great colors and definition. More importantly the vitality of the moment is captured by some darn good camera work.
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
This on-location live recording is spot-on with great balance between stage and audience with just enough surround information to put viewers in the venue. The two-channel version is also quite good.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2.5/5]
We get a 20 minute interview with Cliff Richard (English LPCM Stereo 48kHz/24-bit) that precedes the concert and gives us a nice portrait of the artist, intermixed with performance and rehearsal footage. As a behind-the-scenes video of this concert, other members of the performing team are included. Well worth watching.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3.5/5]
There is a reason why some performers continue to draw audiences to their shows and Cliff Richard has absolutely got the right stuff. While the material is mostly dated (and what’s wrong with that?), Richard delivers it so well that no one should care. Case in point, Richard’s cover of Guy Mitchell’s “Singing The Blues,” a timeless anthem to love lost. With echoes of some of his contemporaries and rockabilly moments to cherish, yet with a refreshing take on these songs, this is one good concert. A charismatic performer who makes no apology for getting older, Cliff Richard can still put some of the 20-somethings to shame when it comes to conveying the essence of a good song. For viewers who want to see a consummate professional deliver the goods, this is a concert that is well recorded and well worth getting repeated plays.
Additional Screen Captures
[amazon-product]B00FFLBXN2[/amazon-product]
[amazon-product]B00FFLBXN2[/amazon-product]
Great review, although I don’t think the reviewer has done enough research. He doesn’t appear to realise that there is a lot of ‘dated’ material because Cliff was to record a rock & roll CD (which entered at no.7 in the UK charts the other week) and was showcasing songs to be recorded for the album. He fails to mention the hits like Devil Woman and We Don’t Talk Anymore which were big hits in the US and more recent hits like What Car. Also he refers just to England and not the UK so I assume the guy is American. Americans tend to forget Scotland, Ireland and Wales…but Cliff is very popular in all these countries too!!