Black & White Night

This concert is executed in such an outstanding way. Roy Orbison was one of the outstanding vocalist in my generation. You add all the top name performers he surrounded himself with, makes this a must have. His voice is one that keeps coming back in your mind because ha had such power. Elvis Presley admired his voice, and you can hear in some of his later songs, an almost operatic delivery. The filming so good, I even enjoyed the views of the audience, I recognized many individuals. He was loved by so many. His music transcends the generations, many try to match him, but few can come even close. We are lucky to have this excellent record of his talent. By the way, if you think about it, these concerts are just like time travel, you go back and witness history.

This review is for Roy Orbison "A Black & White Night on BluRay. I remember watching this concert back in 1988 on Cinemax. It was simulcast in stereo on FM radio stations around the country. Many of us had just upgraded to stereo TV, but most cable companies had not yet converted to the new TV stereo system. So the FM stereo simulcast was a nice touch. But now I have it in 1080i and 5.1 surround. This video is advertised on Amazon as being PAL TV mode. It says on the label that it is made in the EU. But it is Region Free and plays perfectly in my Region A/1 NTSC BluRay player. So buy it and enjoy. Roy and his friends...... Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, JD Souther, Steven Soles, Bonnie Raitt, KD Lang, Jennifer Warnes, and a few other top musicians, decided to get together at the Coconut Grove Ambassador Hotel in L.A. and jam for an HBO Productions special called, "Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black And White Night. And boy did they put on a show. The room at Coconut Grove is big but not huge. The band and the audience were not far from each other. It was aired on Cinemax. Yes it is in B&W but the 1080i HD 16:9 widescreen picture is as sharp as it can get, even for black and white. Yes I said 1080i and not 1080p. Don't know why, but I don't care. You can see dust floating around the room on close-ups. I even noticed a few tiny sprays of moisture from their mouths as they sang. The soundtrack is offered in PCM 2.0 Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround. All three are fantastic but I always prefer the DTS HD MA 5.1 tracks on everything. Better dynamic range and 100% uncompressed. The DTS tracks are superb. They make very good use of the rear surround channels on this disc. They are not just for audience reaction or echo effect. All 5 channels are active with different instruments. The girls singing in the background, as well as some guitars and all strings and horns of the orchestra, are heard on the back channels with rear left to right separation. The sound is audiophile clean and wide ranged. The song "Blue Bayou' was not included in the original airing of the show due to time constraints. And the songs "Claudette" and "Blue Angel" were not included before now. But all 3 songs are added to this BluRay release. The nice part is that everyone in the band looks so happy and are enjoying making this concert. Roy himself is so professional. We all know he is blind, but he moves around the stage and looks at each person he is near as if he sees them. Roy Orbison may be gone now, but his music will live on forever, and so will Roy as one of the best songwriters and musicians from his time. R.I.P. old friend. We won't forget you. Ooby Dooby.

It's not often that a performing musician makes a comeback in his or her own lifetime. Usually performers wear themselves out or outlive their time. Or, they reach a certain age, meaning that age when they are labeled a has been, or never was. After that they just disappear. However, if they do survive to win the appreciation of a new generation, it's usually after a dry spell and then, well, blest be those lucky ones who find that they are once again new. Such was the case with Roy Kelton Orbison, one of the pioneers of rock and roll, or was he rock-a-billy, or was he just Roy Orbison. My answer is the latter, since Roy was one of the few early rock musicians who charted his own course. Blessed with a unique voice and singing style, and not schooled in the typical way of writing and performing a song, he struggled to find an audience in an era of Elvis, Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell. His best time was in the early 60's when "Oh, Pretty Woman" was on every radio station imaginable be they AM or FM. When it fell off the charts it seemed like we never heard from him again until people started producing documentaries on early Rock and Roll featuring those few who survived into obscurity. Fortunately, something different happened to Roy, for unbeknownst to the disk jockeys and music mavens of the 50's and 60's Roy had become the artist of choice for a whole new generation of rock musicians. It is they who are with him on this DVD video and audio. It's been said that a man or woman can have no greater tribute than the admiration of his peers. Roy Orbison never lived long enough to be honored by the Kennedy Center, as did Bruce Springsteen, his greatest fan. However this DVD is the evidence that he received something greater. It was T.Bone Burnett who gathered Springsteen, Elvis Costello, James Burton, Jackson Brown, and a dozen or so other top music professionals to honor Roy by singing and playing his music, with him as the featured performer. Solid professionals all, and many of them stars in their own right, all of these people come together as a group and perform in a manner that leaves no doubt as to who is the star of the show. My favorite out of all of these are the women's backup team: Bonnie Rait, Jennifer Warnes, and k.d. lang, all of them singing with a smile as they back Roy in Dream, Dream Baby and Mean Woman Blues as only they can. And while all the songs aren't from the master's pen, we still have Only the Lonely, Cryin', Blue Bayou, Oh,Pretty Woman and other Roy Orbison classics. To my mind Roy Orbison - A Black and White Night is the very best of the best, the very best of Roy Orbison and his music, and the very best tribute the man would have. Buy it, request it, get it, for there was only one Roy Orbison, and after him there will be no more. Thank you.

I first heard/saw a couple cuts from this Blu-ray at a local high-end audio dealer; they were using it as a demo disc in their high-end theater room. I was very impressed with the production: sound quality, mix, video editing, etc., so much so that I thought I'd add it to my collection even though when Roy Orbison was popular I really, really didn't like his music. Last night I fired up our home system, then watched and listened to the entire concert. It is an amazing event. The talent assembled to back up Mr. Orbison points out how little I knew at the time. The "name brand" artists who assembled to play and sing back-up are all award-winning talent! I guess I never really understood or appreciated just how much talent Roy Orbison had - my loss. What I found is that I experienced more than one of those rare "hair raising" moments while listening and I would highly recommend this Blu-ray to anyone looking for: 1. A high-quality demo disc: the engineering, while not "instrument accurate" is very well balanced, highlighting the instruments and artists needed to create a coherent, artistic, and engaging experience. 2. A very emotionally engaging listening experience. 3. A well-recorded snapshot of American music from the 60s performed by an American icon, backed by American icons. My bottom line - I went from "why bother" to "listen to this" after one sitting. If you grew up during the 60's and 70's you'll enjoy this concert. If you're "of the age" AND you have a decent+ home theater system you should consider this a "must have" part of your collection - one that you'll use to demo your gear to others. BTW - I don't know if others took note of the audience, but I'm going to go back and pause the concert in may places to take a hard look at the audience. I am certain that I saw many named musicians and actors of the day in the audience.

Love this dvd. Roy Orbison was such a talent. And this video has many stars playing and singing right along with him.

Roy Orbison's 'Black and White Night' has certainly got to be one of the best DVD rock and roll concerts ever. Orbison himself is in fine form. His operatic voice resonates magnificently, and his guitar playing, which isn't heralded much to my knowledge, is marvelous as well. He has able support. At his forefront are Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne to name all but a few. The black and white film gives us the vintage experience, and the ambiance of a nightclub (rather than an arena) provides the intimacy as few concerts are presented. Every song is a classic. "Oh Pretty Woman," "Blue Bayou," "Only the Lonely," et al, are given the red carpet treatment. Even the lesser songs are familiar and are welcome additions from his repertoire of passionate love songs. Each celebrity player is in awe of Orbison, and each contribution is done with the same devotion. The extended versions of the songs don't make them tedious like many concert performances do. They are, rather, playful and engaging. We don't want them to ever stop. The interplay from these worshipping guest stars also is entertaining. It is hard to criticize this DVD. The shots of the audience (including ones of Kris Kristoferson at one of the tables in the gathering) are lively and fun. The editing of the enthusiasm of the band gives us glimpses of the brilliance all around. Occasionally, a guest walks past the camera, but this only makes the affair more informal and intimate. If you love vintage rock and roll, this is a must-have video. I was introduced by this classic (made in 1987, shortly before Orbison's death) on PBS, and since then I've had to have it. The DVD audio extra disc does not work for me, but the first disc clocks in at just over an hour and a half. This DVD is going to have many repeat viewings!

Great sound one of the best live recorded cvideos s ever

Love this video!