Roy Orbison: Black and White Night (Image DTS DVD-Video Version)

 

Picture: B+     Sound: A     Extras: D     Film: A+

 

 

To be perfectly honest I never considered myself a Roy Orbison fan prior to getting the Roy Orbison: Black and White Night DVD and if you told me years ago I would be listening to his music over and over again, I would have laughed at you.  Yes, I listened to his music and thought he had some catchy little numbers like the classic “Oh Pretty Woman” or “Dream Baby”.  Even one of my favorite films Blue Velvet features the song “In Dreams”.  But I never really listened to Orbison’s music before.  Heard it, but never paid attention to what I was hearing.  Perhaps that was because of the inferior ways in which we are all subjected to older music.  Radio, poor cassettes, scratchy vinyl, or even compressed CD’s are out there for us and we have become accustomed to mediocrity.

 

When thinking about DVD, most think of movies and the numerous benefits that are reaped from this format, but on the other hand the real benefit comes to us with music, music videos, and concerts.  When done correctly, DVD can offer the viewer/listener so much more than any format has before.  This can mean reshaping the way one thinks and hears music.  My opinion of Orbison transcended in moments from a ‘decent singer who always wore shades’ to an absolute music genius in terms of harmonies, instrumentation, and delivery.  This concert features Orbison in perfect form along with guests such as Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Warnes.

 

Track Listing

 

1)     Only The Lonely

2)     Dream Baby

3)     Blue Bayou

4)     The Comedians

5)     Ooby Dooby

6)     Leah

7)     Running Scared

8)     Uptown

9)     In Dreams

10)  Crying

11)  Candyman

12)  Go, Go, Go

13)  Mean Woman Blues

14)  Claudette

15)  It’s Over

16)  Oh, Pretty Woman

 

 

It’s so important to mention the stunning picture quality on this DVD before anything else.  Image Entertainment gives us a feast for our eyes and ears with this one. Presented in full-frame the black and white photography is astonishing.  Shooting this concert in black and white was truly a spectacular choice that certainly paid off in capturing the essence of the music.  The concert was shot using both 16mm and 35mm film.  Crowd shots were done in 16mm, which are slightly grainy and have a different texture compared to the stage shots, which are in glorious 35mm.  Most of the framing centers on Orbison, but also tries to highlight certain guests during important spots such as solos, or other important moments. 

 

Next to the stunning picture quality is the superb sound that this concert produces.  This is where a 5.1 mix truly shines and can show off a performance if done correctly, which in this case is done exceptionally well.  Although this performance took place in the 80’s the sound design is top-notch.  The soundtrack is available in three forms.  There is a Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 mix as well as a top of the line DTS 5.1 mix, which is featured on a DTS sampler disc, so you know that is it that good. 

 

The only extras are a little bit of a background on the guests, which are done by text descriptions.  There are a also a few moments when the concert ends and the camera is rolling backstage to interview each of the guests on what it is like working with Orbison.  Of course, most of them are all in amazement of being able to work with one of their heroes.  Sadly, Orbison passed away not too long after this was performed, so it clearly was a once in a lifetime experience.

 

I would like to mention certain song highlights and site-specific points in which the DTS soundtrack shines.  Although the DTS 5.1 audio option always out-delivers the opposing standard Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack certain reference points are in need for the non-believers.  From the get-go the concert starts out just right with “Only the Lonely”, which quickly demonstrates the amazing mix in its ability to take the backing vocals and place them in the surrounds.  If you do an A/B comparison between the DTS and Dolby you can quickly hear that the fidelity is lessened in the Dolby version and the bass seems to drop off.  In order to regain this you may have to turn up the volume, but in doing that you start to lose some of the clarity. 

 

“Dream Baby“ thumps its way as “Only the Lonely” ends.  You can instantly hear the different instruments especially that of the guitars since there are four guitar players.  Orbison is playing rhythm, as is Costello.  Picking up leads are Springfield and Burnett.  Costello is the only player using an acoustic guitar, while the others are electrics.  Orbison’s guitar is always on a clean setting and you cannot hear him at times, but it’s not important because he is the singer.  There are times when he is the only one playing and the mix compensates, by bringing his guitar up in the mix to make up for the lack of other instruments. 

 

Track Six is the song “Leah”, which features some beautiful bells that come around the listener in the rear surrounds.  This mix is so smart because it knows where and when to place the sounds.  Since this concert was performed in front of a small venue the sound mix did not try to give you that ‘typical’ live feel.  It did not place the audience and ambience in the surrounds and let the front three channels do all the work.  Rather it took the audience and the ambience and placed them in the rears, but only brought them up during key moments, such as in between songs.  During the songs though the mix focuses on being sonic with bass, guitars, piano, drums, and vocals all in the right places so that everything can be heard and never buried. 

 

“Running Scared” is Orbison with only some accompaniment, and it shows off his ability to song write and deliver.  His vocals are so chilling as he sings about a girl that might leave him.  His songs are simple, but are poetic and like Opus’s.  “In Dreams” is also very light on instruments, but focuses more on the vocals, which pierce right through the speakers and straight into the heart.  Too bad MGM’s DVD of Blue Velvet does not have the song featured with sound like this! 

 

To wrap the show up we get a cranked up version of “Oh, Pretty Woman” and I do not care how many times you have heard this song or watched the stupid movie you have not heard the song like this!  This is clearly one of the punchiest tracks and a demo for any home theater system.  Each vocal can be heard and felt as it comes through the mix beautifully.  The drums snap through and the sub-woofer is on constant bump mode.  You will want to crank this up and get the neighbors a real shake.  Who would have thought that Roy could deliver, but this DVD is a testament to the capabilities with the format when handled properly.  We need more DVD’s like this!

 

 

-   Nate Goss