Etta James and the Roots Band - Burning Down the House

Customer Reviews:

Etta.......2007-01-05

This was purchased for a friends birthday, the review i got from them was it was pretty good, but they exspected a little more. (from her)

This set is scorching all the way!.......2003-05-24

Etta James has expanded her boundaries during the last several years, incorporating more sophisticated and lavish productions, particularly with her jazz and gospel recordings. Despite the forays into other musical genres (where she is imminently competent), her rockin' blues songs on this live set are incredibly soulful and arguably represent the peak of her achievements since her Chess and Cadet days in the '60s.
Do yourself a favor and get this set on dvd or cd, and also get her blistering set from 1963, "Etta James Rocks the House". Then you'll have 2 remarkable shows bookending 40 years of the ongoing career of the real Queen of Soul.

NOT EXACTLY BURNIN' DOWN THE HOUSE.......2003-05-20

Being a long time Etta James fan, I leaped upon this DVD when it was first released to own an actual live concert of the legendary artist. It was not what I expected. Burnin' down the house this ain't! I found a lot of the songs offered were mediocre at best. Gone were the classic growls that this awesome lady usually delivers. Being in her 60's I guess has stifled some of her voice, I dunno, but this is bland. She sits the entire program and at the outset I thought this is gonna make me sorry I invested in this DVD. For all her ups and downs, I feel this is a poor initial gift to her many fans. This concert is a yawner!

A Living Legend !.......2003-04-03

Etta James has had a long, distinguished career in music, which is reflected in the 90-minute concert now available on this DVD.
In front of an enthusiastic audience, she delivers 15 songs in her trade-mark, tough and tender, take-no-prisoners style that puts her up with the elite artists of our time. The songs cover blues, soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, funk and even some flat-out rock--Etta handles sensitive ballads and raucus ravers with equal emotion and heart. Although seated throughout the concert, she knows how to connect with an audience.

She is backed by The Roots Band, a large group of talented musicians, that includes two of Etta's sons. I guess talent can be hereditary ! The set includes Etta's most famous song, "At Last", which still retains its magic after so many years--but there are other highlights too--" I Just Want To Make Love To You ", "Breaking Up Somebody's Home"' "I'd Rather Go Blind", even "Born To Be Wild"--also I'm betting that her rendition of "Love and Happiness/Take Me To The River" would bring a smile to the Reverend Al Green's face !

The technical quality of the DVD is good, but not perfect. The picture occasionally seems a bit hazy--the sound perhaps not as sharp as it should be. At the same time, it adds to the atmosphere of the event--an R & B concert in a blues club is not a Mozart quartet recital ! This music is supposed to be a little rough around the edges.

When you are thinking of the great "ladies of song"--Bessie, Billie, Ella, Sarah, Dinah, Aretha--don't forget Etta--she belongs !

"I'd Rather Go Blind" is worth the whole DVD!!!.......2002-09-17

Get this DVD if you are into Blues... Etta will be history someday and you wont want to miss out on this. This concert kind of reminded me of watching BB King now a days...she sits during the whole show. Don't get me wrong she belts out the blues, she's just getting older.

My favorite song she does is I'd Rather Go Blind. This is one of the better versions of this song that she does. The only version I've seen better is only available on VHS (hint, hint, please re-release and remaster on DVD). It was a special with Etta, Dr, John, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King and many others. Some of the others are not around anymore.

Description

Directed by Philippe Mora. A down-and-out film director has a vision he wants to bring to the big screen. The problem is that he doesn't have the money to pull it off. When all else fails, he decides to burn down his own house to collect insurance money in order to finance his film. Soon everyone wants a piece of the action. Burning Down the House is an unflinching and out-of-control black comedy in the flavor of The Player and Mistress.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable.......2003-06-07

It's always a pleasure to watch John Savage and this movie is no exception. He plays a Hollywood director who's desperate to rekindle his career. So desperate that he would do almost anything, including destroying the only thing he has left: his home. Unfortunately for him, more and more people get wind of his deed and now everybody wants a piece of the action.

Unfortunately the DVD does not have a lot of extras. Only two: a picture gallery and the electronic press kit. Although John Savage has not been interviewed for the press kit, it's well worth watching for the comments of the other actors and the director. The picture quality of the DVD was not very good, but I might just have gotten a flawed copy.

Burning Down the House is a low budget independent movie and will not be to everybody's taste, but if you like black off-the-wall comedies go for it. ;-)

Enjoyable black comedy.......2003-05-31

Anything with the great John Savage catches my eye. Here he plays an out of work film director who ends up desperately burning down his home to finance his next project. Film has some very funny moments wrapped around the desperation of the characters. Arye Gross is also particularly funny (and a cameo by Mick Fleetwood). I would describe the film as a low budget version of "The Player". Not perfect but worth a look.

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