- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080i/60
- Audio Codec: DTS-HD Master Audio; PCM Stereo
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Region: ABC (Region-Free)
- Rating: Not Rated
- Run Time: 148 minutes
- Discs: 1 (1 x Blu-ray)
- Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
- Blu-ray Release Date: November 20, 2012
- List Price: $19.98
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Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:4/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(All TheaterByte screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG at 100% quality setting and are meant as a general representation of the content. They do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
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The Film
[Rating:4/5]
Question No. 1: what is a “doobie?” If you were a creature of the late ‘60’s or early ‘70’s, you would know immediately that the drug subculture used this term for a marijuana cigarette or joint. The Doobie Brothers formed in the San Francisco area (shock and surprise!) around 1971 and with few exceptions has been on public stages ever since. While personnel have changed over time, founding brothers Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnson are still there bringing it at age 64! Question No. 2: when is a documentary not a documentary? In this case, Let The Music Play is really more of a travelogue than a documentary that covers the actual and virtual “trips” that the Doobies have taken over the years. Interspersed are vintage film clips featuring lots of long hair, tight harmonies, pounding rhythms, obvious drug use, and free spirits galore. A number of interviews with surviving band members, producers Tim Templeton and manager Bruce Cohn give us a three-dimensional picture of life on the road with the Doobies and others. Running throughout the film’s soundtrack is song after fabulous song affirming the total DB experience.
Video Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
With a lot of historical performance footage, there is the expected amount of blurry, grainy films mostly in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Fear not, the present day interview footage is crisp and clean. Considering the provenance of the band’s filmed concerts, many from private collections, they are quite view-worthy and give us a real sense of place and time.
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack treats the pre-recorded cuts from the Doobies’ albums quite clearly, but when the live performance extras come into play, mamma mia, you get the real deal that put thousands of fans in the stadiums.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:4/5]
San Francisco pop critic Joel Selvin (who also contributes to the film interviews) has put together a nice booklet covering the creation of this film and the band’s history. However, the real excitement comes from 45 minutes of live complete concert performances from varying venues and eras. The sound is 2-channel stereo only but delivers the musical goods quite well.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:4/5]
Once again, Eagle Rock Entertainment hits the bull’s-eye with this BD. Here is the four decade saga of one of the great bands in rock‘n roll history that survived numerous makeovers, and changes in style and personnel. First and foremost, you get some of the best musicians that ever graced the pop stage and who have kept their musical genius alive in spite of the psychological and physical toll that constant touring and recording exacted. There have been big rock bands that have kept it going at a high level, think Chicago, but no band that I can recall has kept it going at this level and for so long. For those like myself that have loved the Doobies from the beginning, this BD is self-recommending. For newcomers, you don’t need a doobie to appreciate how great this band is. Just pop this disc in your player and you will get a great musical high without breaking any laws or developing some bad habits.
Additional Screen Captures
[amazon-product]B009410IAS[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Let the Music Play: The Story of the Doobie Brothers on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
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[amazon-product]B009410IAS[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Let the Music Play: The Story of the Doobie Brothers on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:4/5]
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