Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night

The first great concert DVD I ever bought was this one. I use the word "great" for several reasons: 1 - the surround sound was (and may still be) the best I had ever heard on disc; 2 - the songs are all outstanding; 3 - the singers and musicians are fantastic; and, 4 - the beautiful black-and-white photography brings a nice touch.

This concert was a "10," however, even on the VHS, which I stumbled on shortly after this was released and was grateful to have discovered. If you like old-fashioned rock 'n roll with updated instrumentals, this is about as good as it gets with (along with "Carl Perkins' and Friends: Blue Suede Shoes" DVD).

This is a fun, nostalgic feel--good disc, which always pleases and is outstanding, as mentioned to both see and hear. Why can't all music DVDs sound this good?

Orbison does all his hit songs, and sings them well, with excellent backup from talented and famous musicians and singers. The black-and-white photography also is nicely done. The contrasts and shades are magnificent.

Orbison's classic songs are embellished by Bruce Springsteen, T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, Mike Utley, Tom Waits plus other lesser-known but very talented artists. Also, you get all- star male and female backup trios. The female backups are Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Warnes and k.d. Lang - not bad, eh? Jackson Browne leads the male trio. There are a bunch of celebrities in the audience, too, ranging from Kris Kristofferson to Tiny Tim!

Most of the times I get more pumped listening to the fast songs, although the slow ones are very good, too. The fast songs are fantastic, and the 5.1 sound is highlighted more on them as you hear different instruments come out of all five speakers - and they are distinct. On "Pretty Wonan," you hear the three guitar players on three different speakers. It's amazing.

Everyone on stage is having a super time. Just the look on Springsteen's face tells it all. These artists revered Orbison and it shows. You can just see how thrilled they were to be on stage with the legend. What a fantastic concert and DVD. Rating this 10 stars doesn't seem to be enough!

On October 23rd, 1999, I bought an imported VHS of this concert and I was astounded with such a wonder. Later, I replaced my VHS by the DVD, and I have watched this show at least ten times on these medias. The icon Roy Orbison, who had a personal life filled with many tragedies, playing and singing with names like Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne, Jennifer Warner, K.D. Lang, T. Bone Burnett and Tom Waits, is spectacular. The concert was shot with black and white 35mm film, basic condition imposed by Roy Orbison to participate of this party, and the result is amazingly wonderful. This DVD is to be part of any collection of music lovers. Roy Orbison and his friends sing and play the following classic songs:

1) Only the Lonely; 2) Dream Baby; 3) Blue Bayou; 4) The Comedians; 5) Ooby Dooby; 6) Leah; 7) Running Scared; 8) Uptown; 9) In Dreams; 10) Crying; 11) Candyman; 12) Go, Go, Go; 13) Mean Woman Blues; 14) Dream You; 15) Claudette; 16) It's Over; 17) Oh, Pretty Woman.

It is hard to select, but "In Dreams", "Crying" and "Dream You" are my favorite songs. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Roy Orbison: Black & White Night"

Note: On 21 August 2011, I saw this wonderful concert again.

I had the honor of touring with Roy Orbison as a roadie way back in 1980. He had just won a Grammy for "That Loving You Feeling Again" and was touring to promote it. After being on the road for 6 weeks with him, I developed a true love of his music. His vocal range was amazing. He would drink iced Grand Marnier out of a silver goblet onstage. He said it helped his voice.

In this concert Roy Orbison was surrounded by an aristocracy of stars in their own right from a younger generation. But almost completely self-effacing they were there to pay tribute to the master himself and to be present at the great occasion. And what an occasion it turned out to be. The world is familiar with Orbison's classic songs recorded from 1960 onwards and most remember how he then sang them. The surprise was that at this, what was to be his last, concert he brought enhanced interpretations to his established classics There was more expression, sometimes in places more power and real unexpected drama. The climax at the end of Running Scared was absolutely electrifying. All participants paid verbal tribute in their own ways to Orbison in pieces to camera at the end. k d lang said it best: Orbison didn't sing songs, he sang epics. Of all that younger generation she was perhaps best placed to make that judgement.

I own this on DVD, but to this day whenever it shows up on PBS (roughly every 24 hours, where I live, lol!), I am compelled to watch it start to finish.

There is a phenomenal array of musicians on stage, all there to play with one of the greatest talents in musical history. It's quite possible that a lot of people think Elvis and Chuck Berry when they think of the start of popular rock and roll music, but Orbison's writing, musicianship (and that voice!) tower over the others of that era. The presence of all the other names doesn't make one think of a 'star studded' VH1/MTV made-for-TV extravaganza, but more a group of able musicians both paying homage and participating in a real musical performance, in concert with each other, not taking star turns even as they step up to play a solo or sing with 'the master'.

All the players are fantastic and are thrilled to be there, but Springsteen in particular looks like a little-league 11-year old getting to play ball with Mantle, Ruth, Robinson and Aaron. His awe and exuberance at being there mirrors what anyone has to feel watching this show.

(and a P.S. - no audio problems on my disk or on the televised version.)