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Elly Roberts reviews
Virgin (EMI)
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 5441039
- Running time: 140 minutes
- Year: various
- Pressing: 2004
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Sound: Stereo
- Languages: English
- Fullscreen: 1.33:1
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £13.99
- Rating: 10/10
- Extras:”A Kiss Across The Ocean”: an entire concert filmed at Hammersmith OdeonLondon in December 1983, with track listing on menu, Band interview from 1998,CD ROM section featuring discography, screensaver, weblinks & wallpaper
Track Listing:
- 1. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me ?
2. Time ( Clock Of The Heart )
3. Ill Tumble For Ya
4. Church Of The Poisoned Mind
5. Karma Chameleon
6. Victims
7. Its A Miracle
8. Miss Me Blind
9. The War Song
10. The Medal Song
11. Mistake No.3
12. Love Is Love
13. Move Away
14. God Thank You Woman
15. I Just Wanna Be Loved
16. Your Kisses Are Charity
17. Cold Shoulder
I can recall some memorable moments from BBCs Top Of The Pops.
The following stay with me forever. When George Alan ODowd hit our televisionscreens in September 1982, he caused a sensation and disarmed the nationwith his playfulness and wholesome wit. His androgynous persona ‘Boy George’booked his place in Pop music history. Not since the days of Marc Bolan ofT.Rex had the world seen such an outrageous cross-dresser.
Leading his band Culture Club, (made up of an Irish Queen (George), a Jew (drummerJon Moss), an Anglo-Saxon (guitarist Roy Hay) and a Jamaican (bassistMikey Craig) – and originally called The Sex Game Children) they were aninstant success with one of the best pop songs ever – Do You Really Want ToHurt Me, going straight to the top of the charts.
Time, the follow up waseven better. Boy Georges colourful costumes set a trend when fans attendedtheir shows. Look-a-likes were everywhere. How do I know? I actuallywent to see them in the spring of 83 at the Royal Court Theatre inLiverpool. Why? Because I loved their infectious brand of music. Were theyany good? Yes, they were and still are a great live band. How do I know? Iwent to see them again at Liverpools Summer Pops last year where everybodyhad a great time.
Using a sophisticated fusion of pop-tinged reggae andblue-eyed Soul, George and Co. wrote 3-minute classic pop songs withsensual rhythms and irresistible melodies and choruses. Added to this BGhas a great voice on record and live.
Twenty two years on, I still get agreat feeling when I hear them on the radio. Now you and I can enjoy thewhole experience once again – this time with the visuals. Back to backvideos, including their comeback singles from 1998/9, an interview, and aconcert are all packed into this great package.
In 1984 they won both Brit (Best Group) and Grammy Awards (Best NewArtist)
Weblinks:Culture Club.co.uk andThe Raft.com
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.