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Elly Roberts reviews
Wienerworld
- Cat.no: WNRD2374
- Released: May 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 6/10
- Running time: 99 minutes
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Digital 2 Stereo
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English
- Retail price: £12.99
- Extras:Documentary “Leo Sayer – The Show Must Go On”
After years in the wilderness,Gerrard Hughes-Sayer aka Leo Sayer re-emerged this year on Mecksre-working of Sayers 1977 hit Thunder In My Heart.
This intimate gig filmed at the Basement Nightclub in Sydney in 2001,and broadcast live on a webcast on 17 October the same year, we see littleLeo turn on his inimitable style in a cracking concert.
Backed by an excellent five-piece band he strolls through an enviable catalogueof mostly hits and some album tracks. Always a demonstrative showman, he putshis heart and soul into every song and is greatly appreciated by the smallcrowd.
Appearing in a venue similar to his early gigs, “The Mystery Man” isalmost telling the world that the show must go on, whatever highs and lowshe gets. The Grammy winner, in a black suit and red shirt, never stopsparading and gesticulating. On several occasions he ventures into the crowdfor hand shakes, but on an early move the lighting doesnt follow him andthe cameraman struggles to find him, as he embarrassingly shouts, “Can weget some light up here?”
The setlist is a good balance of ballads and dancetunes, displaying the eclectic nature of his memorable pop songs, eventhough his heart really lies with the Blues. There are several highlights a stunning Bedsitterland features a blistering guitar solo, and a stonkingextended cover of Bobby Vees More Than I Can Say that includes a clevermedley of Tracks Of My Tears, My Girl, and Every Breath You Take.
On a mellower note he delivers arguably his most sophisticated ballad OrchardRoad, 1983, using all the expression he can muster. (DVDfever Domadds: “‘Orchard Road’ is definitely one of my guilty pleasures from the ’80s” 🙂
Taking an improvised jam angle for Raining In My Heart, he embarks on anifty bit of harmonica playing, complimented by two outstanding guitar solosby Simon Baisley and Ronnie Johnson. Diana Ross Motown hit Reflectionsraises the atmosphere again, leading to two excellent dance tracks Easy ToLove, a slick jazz-funkster, and anthemic You Make Me Feel Like Dancing asthe ladies hit the stage, much to his surprise. More hits follow asparkling How Much Love, Long Tall Glasses and a chilling When I Need You.
Predictably he gets a standing ovation, which he thoroughly deserves.
The documentary lead by Aussie rock historian, looks at his rollercoastercareer, with brief snippets from Sayer himself.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Intro
2. Giving It All Away
3. Thunder In My Heart
4. Blame It On The Night
5. One Man Band
6. Moonlighting
7. Show Must Go On
8. Bedsitterland
9. More Than I Can Say
10. Orchard Road
11. Raining In My Heart
12. Reflections
13. Easy To Love
14. Feel Like Dancing
15. When I Need You
16. Long Tall Glasses
17. How Much Love
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.