Friday, December 12, 2008

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Live at the Troubadour DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Hall & Oates Concert DVD Features Group’s Greatest Hits

Since the early Seventies, Daryl Hall and John Oates have been a veritable hit making machine, producing dozens of dance tunes which reached the top of the pop and R&B charts. Still together after first teaming up in Philly forty years ago, the talented singing/songwriting duo returned to the stage of The Troubadour, the Los Angeles nightclub where they were the opening act when they got their big break there as virtual unknowns in 1973.
Though now a little long in the tonsils to hit the high notes anymore, the pair brought along a back-up band to record 19 new versions of their perennial crowd pleasers in front of a live audience, including “Rich Girl,” “Maneater,” “Out of Touch,” “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “She’s Gone,” “Say It Isn’t So,” “I Can’t Go for that,” “One on One” and “Sara Smile” among others.
Be forewarned: this DVD is recommended for ardent fans curious to see what the 21st edition of Hall & Oates sounds like. While the guys certainly are gung-ho and throws themselves wholeheartedly into the concert, they quite evidently are considerably older and quite frankly no longer have either the same stamina or vocal range to deliver as phenomenal a show as they once could.
Still, the DVD is a pleasant enough diversion for a nostalgic walk down Memory Lane. Just don’t be surprised if this film has you breaking out their original CDs so you can enjoy how great the group sounded in its prime.

Very good (2.5 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 120 minutes
Studio: Shout! Factory

To see a clip of Hall & Oates performing Sara Smile, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3C5BWaziMY

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