Search - Trevor Horn and Friends: Slaves to Rhythm on DVD

The best concert film I've seen this year - The Producer get

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 05/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The name Trevor Horn didn't mean much to me - and it's probably not at the top of your pop music "names" list but , after watching this fabulous two-hour-plus concert, recorded in 2005 at Wembly Stadium in London, I now know that I've been listening to his productions for over 25 years!

Horn is a bassist and was a recording star in the 1980s. Though his name didn't appear as a the "artist" on the label, he was the co-writer and lead vocalist on the song that "launched" MTV: "Video Killed The Radio Star". He and his partner were known as The Buggles. Shortly thereafter he began producing hits for others and many - if not all - of them were at this concert to aid The Prince's Trust (Prince Charles' annual benefit concert). It was filmed in what looks like high-def and was produced by Clear Channel (now known as Live Nation). The camera work is some of the best I've seen and the sound is near perfect. Horn either sings or plays on nearly every one of the songs and, recruited the original back up singers (and many of the original studio musicians) to appear on the stage. While he could have used synthesizers to replicate the string and horn sections, he chose to have a large live string section and a top-notch horn section filling the huge stage. There's even a harpist who doubles on backing vocals!

The guest artists appear mostly in chronological order by the year the hits were released and most perform one song. There is Grace Jones, and Lisa Stansfield (performing a new song, not one of her hits) - well known in the US - along with lesser known acts like the German group Propoganda and the duo Dollar. Throughout the first 90 minutes the large crowd moves to the music in their seats, unlike many US concerts where everyone stands through the whole concert. But then come the Pet Shop Boys (for three songs) and they are out of their seats. Following that comes a super-fine performance by Seal (whose hit song is the basis for the title of this DVD) and then the reunion of most of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the concert reaches it's peak. Oh yes, there's also a performance by most of the group YES as well as ABC and Belle & Sebastian. There is literally something here for everyone who lived through the pop music scene of the 1980s and 90. And Horn makes a wonderful MC for the evening.

The bonuses don't disappoint either. There is a short documentary on the staging of the concert and another on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's audition to find a new lead singer for the concert. And, finally, a "juke box" option to play the songs.

This is one of the highest quality DVDs to be released by MVDvisual - a division of Music Video Distributors - which usually just distributes European-produced DVDS. It's a lot of fun and highly recommended.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
"

Surpassed my expectations

C. Williams | santa ana, california United States | 11/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anything Trevor touches turns to gold! I wasn't familiar with Dollar but enjoyed the sweet musical confection the duo sang before the show got down to the nitty gritty. Grace Jones, ABC, Seal and FGTH were all outstanding. Lisa Stansfield is an aging cougar who cheapened the show with here cheesy stripper moves that I was expecting from TATU who in turn, kept there performance pg rated. Trevor Horn is a talented yet modest, humble man. Throughout the show he gave credit to the backup singers and musicians he's worked with throughout his career. The show starts on a high note with 2 songs by Trevor's group, The Buggles and ends with the bombastic Welcome To The Pleasure Dome by FGTH. A must have for any fan of '80's-'90's British Pop."

PBS Trevor Horn Special

Watch This | Orlando, Fl | 04/18/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the same DVD that you had to subscibe to your local PBS station to get. Music and video is great. Highly recommend if your into 80's new wave /prog and rock. Check out all of the artists that performed at this Prince's trust concert."

The 80's are all right.

NeuronPetkowski | Lake Orion, MI | 10/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful DVD, with some amazing performances. No one can dismiss that Trevor Horn is the best producer around and knows his stuff. Some of the better performances are from Seal, Yes and other less known bands/artists from the other side of the pond. Most comical moment for me? The the 2nd lead from Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Paul Rutherford) exposing a gut that had maybe one too many pints from the 80's. But, the "new" lead singer of FGTH was interesting, though screechy unlike Holly Johnson's smoother delivery. Ahhh. It's all good. Just hearing all the music that Trevor's touched is distinctly there and a joy to watch as it's performed live. You're not going to get the crazy rawk n' roll frenzy of say, a Stones or Springsteen concert (Let's face it, the Prince of Wales is watching - so no stage diving), but performances from ABC and the Pet Shop Boys did manage to rile up some English boogie-ing. Rawk on, Trevor Horn. Rawk on."