Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31019 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-02-17
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Worth The Wait!
If like me you never got to see the band live (I once had tickets for a performance in Manchester and it was cancelled aaarrgghhhh!!) this goes as far as you can to make up for it. (B Wilson future tours excepted?) Get in front of a large screen, crank up the surprisingly good quality raw sound on a decent system and have a few cans or in true Dennis' spirit a vodka or two to hand and enjoy! Most non-BB fans are invariably surprised at how well they ROCKED and how brilliant they were as a live act in their prime, i.e. circa '71 thru '80-ish. Any of the usual preconceptions about a soft, shallow, pop group that are still sadly held by many are dispelled on viewing such a performance, and perhaps listening to Holland, Surfs Up and Dennis' Pacific Ocean Blue afterwards to futher the education, experience and enlightenment. Highs? Well the whole thing! But for me: the way it gathers momentum in the second half; Carl on God Only Knows, Darlin & Keepin The Summer Alive; Al's very nice Lady Lynda compliments superbly with variation and a change of pace; Carl's and Ed Carter's great guitar work; Ditto Mike Meros' k/boards; Dennis' 'powerhouse' drumming. The sheer energy of which carries the whole concert thru' on the crest of a wave!; And in contrast his achingly beautiful 'You Are So Beautiful'. Lows: Mikes prancing at the end on Fun Fun Fun, (creates a bit of a light hearted laugh if nothin' else) and his general cheesyness throughout; The intro and ending could have been much better than the precious few words from Al Jardine; The booklet could have been more lavish with say some colour shots of the band performing, surely some exist somewhere?; No Marcella, Would'nt It Be Nice, Sail On Sailor or Dont Worry Baby. You cant have it all thou and the 'more recent'/lesser heard live tracks more than compensate. Don't watch it in 'bits', it doesnt work nearly as well that way,(Obviously in the car and whilst not around the television or wanting to 'edit'/random track it put the cd version on) I found it so much more enjoyable seeing the whole thing thru, also actually watching the band perform enhanced the experience far, far more than I anticipated. Just when you think it hints it might be getin' a bit 'samey' or a bit 'flat'.....POW! it comes back at you with a great rocker or a beautiful ballad. It has such a great flow to it. This DVD impressed me greatly, and left me craving to hear and SEE more live performances. Yes they really were THAT good. A great historical 'document'.

Worth the wait
Finally we get the famous Knebworth concert with all six official Beach Boys last performance together on British soil. What a blast, 70 minutes of smiles and fun,fun fun. Dennis frantically holding it together on drums, Mike camping it upsave for an elusive Brian looking a little bewildered. Loved every minute, cried for a couple as well. Highlights include a rousing call & response Good Vibrations, Carls voice on Darlin' & God Only Knows, Dennis beautiful & tragic on You are so Beautiful and a touching Surfer Girl that at pulled every heart string. A fantastic live concert and fantastic live band, no home should be without a copy and the world would be a better place.

An Excellent Release
Finally, the Beach Boys recieve a DVD release they deserve. This DVD presents the concert at Knebworth on the 21st June 1980. The big selling point of this DVD is that it features the last live performance of all six Beach Boys in the UK.

Song selection is pretty good featuring a mix of classics and then new material. Highlights have to include the superb rendition of 'Lady Lynda' and Dennis's beautiful performance on 'You Are So Beautiful'.

The picture quality is great and the sound quality excellent, featuring Dolby 5.1 and DTS soundtracks. Extras are a little thin on the ground, consisting of text comments from the boys on some of the songs.

Recommended to both the dedicated and casual Beach Boys fan.