Soul to Soul DVD with Soundtrack CD DVD with Willie Bobo, Roberta Flack, Eddie Harris (G) +Movie Reviews

For IKE & TINA TURNER fans

JJM | USA | 11/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to say this was a great show to watch; The intro was a great attention getter. I mean, if you're an Ike & Tina fan, like I am, then you got to get this video/DVD. Watching Tina & the Ikettes dancing from this 1971 film makes it clear to me where a lot of today's artisit get the desire to dance in front audiences, at least got it indirectly. Hip shaken and everything--did TV even show those kind of moves back then? Well with the exception of James Brown of course. And as most Ike & Tina fans know, there isn't that much legit footage of their performances. So this is worth getting for Ike & Tina viewing only. I was kind of disappointed that Santana wasn't shown much; although their performance of Black Magic Women was great. THe guiter sounds and intensity, it was great. I liked watching the energy of the Voices of East Harlem. I never even heard of them before watching the DVD. The young singer on that DVD was like another MIchael Jackson of that day. This kid was even doing the moon walk way before Michael. For the DVD, the commetary was good. You get to hear Ike Turner speaking w/ Les McCann about where his ideas fit in for his reveue, interesting. One thing to note, is that the Guanians (?) new who Wilson Pickett was; it's like they only came to see him, and no one else. The last performance of the film shows Picket singing land Of 1000 dances--wow! I mean the audiance went crazy. Watching them dance gets you energized. They start flying over the stage--mosh pit, I think. It's like everything done today by muscians really isn't something just invented, it's been around for years. You can also tell by the African dancers. Man, they really had it--I mean it's just soul, and they show it."

A great bargain

Kevin Killian | San Francisco, CA United States | 09/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When this film came out back in the 1970s, Roberta Flack was proud and happy to appear in it. She was the undisputed star of the film, taking away even from the grdaneur of Tina Turner. I wonder why she has now refused to let her performance be shown on the DVD version. She can still be glimpsed from above and below on several occasions, and she stil looks glamorous. Maybe it has something to do with her recent weight loss campaign, but I miss her and her astonishing voice, which could bring the African birds right out of the trees.

There are still some amazing moments of culture shock in the film, which has never looked better by the way. Some of the US musicians and their R&B seem like they are hurting the ears of the Ghanaians, and yet at other times all, audience and performers, are in the right groove. Check out the incredible JOLINKOMO by the Voices of East Harlem for example. Tina and Ike sizzle their way through I SMELL TROUBLE. And Santana turns in an inspired JUNGLE STRUT, with the real life jungle wafting its scents from not too far away. Eddie Harris and Company also do HERJORLER and it sounds like liquid magic.

God bless the enterpreneurs who delivered this package back from Movie Heaven. And it's a great bargain with the CD thrown in!"

No hype, truly a legendary concert film

Gaylen Halbert | Weimar, California United States | 12/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I still have the soundtrack LP I purchased more than 30 years ago. I did not see the original film. The DVD release is an absolute joy. It is as much an educational documentary as it is a profound musical experience. Yes, I am disappointed the Roberta Flack performances were deleted, but the balance of what is provided is thoroughly satisfying.
"

Roberta Flack denied her permission to be included!

Victoria Sanders | NYC | 10/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sadly, Roberta Flack denied permission to the filmmakers to include her or her wonderful music in this dvd release. A real loss for all of us. However, the film is still a classic and worthy of inclusion in all serious film and music libraries.

"

Truly wonderful and remarkable

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 08/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Basically, some of the popular American Soul acts of 1971 entertain their distant cousins in Ghana during their independence anniversary celebration.

And celebration it is! The sadly underrated Voices of East Harlem perform their rousing "Shaker Life." Pre-teen marvel Kevin Griffin carries on like little Stevie Wonder directing a choir. Near the end of this tune, his sister Gerri is overcome with emotion, gives the Black fist, the crowd roars it's approval, and Gerri does a trancelike spin before departing the stage-what a moment! Hopefully, this will encourage the release of more VOEH Cds.

Ike and Tina Turner do an excellent version of River Deep Mountain High. Check out the Ikette's choreography doung this one. Unfortunately, there is an ouutake on the bonus feautre where Tina and Ike do some nasty simulation on Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long." Shocking then and tasteless now, this leaves a bad aftertaste with what we now know of Tina's "relationship" with Ike, and Tina's admission in her bio that she was forced to perform this trashy routine.

The Staple Singers tour the slave dungeons of Ghana and do a moving "When Will We Get Paid," which one can now picture as an anthem for the reparations movement.

Wilson Pickett was the favorite of the Ghanians, and he does a rousing "Land of 1000 dances." While this song is always fun on its own, it adds special meaning as some African dancers join him on the stage for a rousing and unforgettable conclusion.

Since classic soul performances are so hard to find on legitimate non-bootleg American DVDs, this is a welcome addition to the collection of fans of the classic Soul era. However, people who have seen the original will be disappointed to learn that Roberta Flack ordered all her performances removed from this DVD (wonder why?) and the Voices of East Harlem's version of the title track is not on the accompanying CD soundtrack (again, wonder why?). But since another tune from the VOEH is on the soundtrack, that ommission is not so bad. But that aside, enjoy!"

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