Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Concert: C+

 

 

The Rolling Stones and their contribution to music are inarguable, but even they need to go off and do different project away from each other.  In Bill Wyman’s case, he launched The Rhythm Kings and though there is some good musicianship and good choices of material, the performance of that material is shockingly poor from their April 26, 2000 concert for German TV’s Ohne Filter concert series.

 

The classics include:

 

1)     Let The Good Times Roll

2)     Walking One & Only

3)     Jitterbug Boogie

4)     Melody

5)     Jump Jive & Wail

6)     I Put A Spell On You

7)     Anyway The Wind Blows

8)     Baby Workout

9)     Mystery Train

10)  Hello Little Boy

11)  Groovin'

12)  Tear It Up

 

Jump Jive & Wait lacks energy and has none of the edge or authentic feel or enthusiasm the Joe Jackson versions have had.  Baby Workout cannot keep up with the Jackie Wilson version by a longshot, while Smokie Robinson’s Groovin’ is drained of its romanticism and adultness in the flat way it is presented here.  These and other classics are done with a casual “just throw it out there” attitude that undermines each performance and makes this a tortuous disappointment.  The only point they gained is that they know good music and the musicians have some talent.  The vocals are less impressive, though who knows what we would have got if these singers had tried with more ambition and effort.  Maybe they were having a bad night?

 

The full frame PAL color video is about what would expect for a recent taping, having the usual limits in its good color and limited definition.  The sound is available in the usual PCM CD-type 2.0 16bit/48kHz Stereo, as well as a slightly better Dolby Digital 5.1 AC-3, which plays better all around.  There is not the depth in the 5.1 here heard in the Mark King, Tony Joe White or even the band America’s DVD from the series, all reviewed elsewhere on this site.  Besides repeating the same stereo cords plug, other DVDs in the series, and Ohne Filter producer interview, it has a biography of the band and is at least an obvious curio.  It is only for the most curious.

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo