Chris Isaak – Baja Sessions

• Cert: E
• Running time: 58 minutes
• Year: 1996
• Cat.no: 7599-38457-3
• Released: 7th April 1997
• Sound: Dolby Stereo
• Presented in fullscreen
• Price: £12.99
  

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  Director:

  Jonathan K. Bendis

  Producer:

  Kyra Shelgren

  Performers:

  • Chris Isaak (vocals, guitar)
  • Kenney Dale Johnson (drums, vocals)
  • Rowland Salley (bass, vocals)
  • Hershel Yatovitz (lead guitar)

On23rd September 1996, Chris Isaak released his album, Baja Sessions,but its genesis began during the last 3 days in June of that year when ChrisIsaak and his band were unexpectedly stranded during the middle of theirMexican tour, where they took the opportunity to record a collection of old andnew songs, filmed on location in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The video is a spontaneous account of a surfing and souvenir safari that Christook south of the border along with his band.

In his own words…
“If you drive down the California coast, and just keep goin’ and goin’,you’ll find yourself in a place called Baja – more cactus than people, more timethan worries, and surrounded by the ocean and the sea. It’s a great place toslow down and play your guitar and the perfect setting for romance. I hope thesesongs bring a little of Baja to you wherever you are.”

Chris Isaak came to the fore in the UK in late 1990 when his track, WickedGame became his best known song to date by featuring in the David Lynchfilm, Wild At Heart and reached No.10 in the UK pop charts. By this timehe had already had three albums out, one of which, his self-titled ChrisIsaak carried the track, Blue Hotel, which also gained considerableairplay in the UK and rode into the Top 20 shortly after “Wicked Game”. Hiscareer as a singer-songwriter also includes memorable tunes such as SanFrancisco Days, Dancin’, and Lie To Me. Chris has also made hismark on Hollywood with cameo appearances in Jonathan Demme’s Silence of theLambs as a SWAT team leader, and Married To The Mob, as well as moresizeable roles in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me, BernadoBertolucci’s Little Buddha, and Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do!

This video features the following songs :

• Think of Tomorrow
• Pretty Girls Don’t Cry
• Back On Your Side
• Only The Lonely
• I Wonder
• Yellow Birdy
• Dancin’
• Return To Me
• Sweet Leilani
• Waiting For My Lucky Day
• Two Hearts
• Wrong To Love You

as well a live rendition of Wicked Game.

Picture quality is good, the visuals capturing the essence of the locations,and the stereo sound is a knockout. Of course the people who are mostly goingto buy this are those who are already big fans of Chris Isaak, but the filmis equally accessible to those who perhaps only know him for his major hits.

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1997.