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List Price: $24.99 | | Label: Image Entertainment
Salesrank: 124803
Released: October 14, 1998 |
| Our Price: $326.00 |
| Used Price: $37.89 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
They were the prototype New Romantics--the group that looked as good as they sounded. But Spandau Ballet were built to last, surviving the late-Seventies movement they'd helped create to conquer the world with their great songs and spectacular shows. With 19 Top Fifty hits to their credit, every other song in this concert is a classic. Songs: Raw, Highly Strung, Only When You Leave, Big Feeling, Matter of Time, Crashed Into Love, Motivator, Windy Town, Empty Spaces, Handful of Dust, Fly for You, Gold, Communication, Lifeline, Free with Your Love, Through the Barricades, True, Cut a Long Story Short, Chant No. 1.
Description of Spandau Ballet - Live:
"If you know this one, you're showing your age," a wry Tony Hadley says by way of introducing "Cut a Long Story Short," Spandau Ballet's 1980 hit from their formative years as a prototype New Romantics band. Still fun, still refreshing with its post-punk vitality and Bowie-esque sound, "Cut a Long Story Short" cheerfully closes out this 1990 Birmingham, England, concert before a massive crowd. Not that the preceding 17 or so songs on this performance document are anything less than spirited. But in Spandau Ballet tradition, they are monuments to the kind of musical proficiency and gloss originally washed away by the recording industry's sea change, almost a lifetime ago, to a rock-friendly medium. Without a lick of irony, the band's determination to be your father's preferred pop wins one over through sheer earnestness. While there isn't a heck of a lot of variation in the sound and arrangements of these songs, that's no reason not to admire Hadley's ripened vocals, stronger and more expressive than ever. Gary Kemp, so menacing as a character actor in films, is Hadley's delightful stage partner, anchoring the band while dancing in and out of the shared spotlight. (By contrast, handsome brother Martin Kemp barely makes it into the camera frame for a full 90 minutes. For shame, Mr. Director.) From the hit catalogue, "Gold," "Chant No. 1," and "Only When You Leave" are reminders of just how good drummer John Keeble and the versatile Steve Norman (saxophone, percussion, etc.) can be. "Communication" is glazed gospel touched by glee, and "Lifeline" demonstrates how you don't have to be in Oasis to flaunt a Beatles influence. --Tom Keogh
Spandau Ballet - Live Reviews:
OOP but now re-released 
2004-03-16 - Just wanted to let everyone know that although this edition is now out of print, the exact same concert has been re-released on DVD under the title "Classic Rock Legends: Spandau Ballet" by Wave Imports.
OOP but now re-released
2004-03-16 - Just wanted to let everyone know that although this edition is now out of print, the exact same concert has been re-released on DVD under the title "Classic Rock Legends: Spandau Ballet" by Wave Imports.
Spandau Ballet 
2004-01-09 - This is a cool group and I wanted to review its DVD before purchasing it.
Spandau Ballet Live...Stunning Sound and Musicianship!! 
2003-03-04 - Didnt know this DVD existed..just bought it today, here in Liverpool,England(4th March 2003)The U.K. version is identical in content...only the cover is different.
I'm 41 yrs of age, so I remember Spandau in their glory days of the early eighties...must say, I wasn't a big fan back then....I preferred more rock oriented stuff..plus Duran Duran (!!!!)However, the sands of time do strange things to a man...lol...and over the last couple of years or so, I have picked up their last CD.."Heart Like A Sky"(1989),not a big seller for them..and discovered a really well- produced melodic rock/A.O.R. gem...GREAT SONGS AND GOOD SOLID MUSICIANSHIP...this switched me on to re-examine some of their earlier hits...and I listened with new(mature) ears,and I was impressed.Still not too sure about their very early"New Romantic" hits "Chant No 1" and"Long Story" which unfortunately feature here too, but I suppose they had to honour their heritage!! The rest of the DVD Live show is par excellance..to my joy, featuring a big chunk of the CD I mentioned earlier.."Heart Like A Sky",plus most of their hits.
The sound is only in stereo, but the"mix" is fab....my compliments to the audio engineers..they did a good job!! The band show just how musically talented they were...forget the teen-idol thing....seeing this from 13 yrs ago, just goes to show how "lame" todays T.V. manufactured "pop idols" really are....Any wannabees like to know how it really should be done...go grab an instrument..guitar, keys, drums or sax,take a few years out learning how to play it properly,develop your song-writing talents...view this live DVD..then go out there and do it!!
Summary : This DVD Rocks....Go Get It
Regards
Neil T. (England)
Great Live Show
2002-03-25 - I was so happy to find this DVD Live concert of Spandau Ballet!
It brought back a lot of memories.
It has good quality and the show is great. They sound even better live! The only thing about this DVD is that I was also hoping for some backstage footage or interviews or at least some extra clips of the group. I hope they release more Spandau Ballet stuff, maybe even a collection of their old videos. If you love Spandau Ballet, you NEED to buy this!
