Opry Video Classics is a new 8 DVD box set from Time Life. Time Life got together with the folks at Grand Ole Opry and collected 120 video performances by many of the greatest country musicians. If you love to see as well as hear the good ol’ classic country music from the 50s, 60s and 70s you might want to check out this review...From cowboy hats to rhinestones, watching these videos make you appreciate what these stars contributed to our American heritage.
Country music is one thing that everyone in America has in common. Even if you don't like it, just check your heritage. One thing you will find is that country music is intertwined with all genres in one way or another. Whether it is the wording or how the instruments are played, there will be common roots. Even in the past twenty years, you will find that it is breathtaking to see how many of the early pioneers influenced some of music's biggest named stars of today.
Opry Video Classics brings back fond memories
What is the Opry Video Classics All About?
Each [tags]opry-video-classics[/tags]DVD includes fifteen live performances along with bonus features such as interviews with various Opry veterans. The material is drawn from old Opry TV broadcasts and other venues such as "The Bobby Lord Show" and other, long-forgotten shows that were the country equivalents of "Soul Train" and "American Bandstand."
Some performances are filmed in black and white while others are in color. You will see some of the sponsors that have helped pay for the Grand Ole Opry like the Purina Grand Ole Opry, Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry, National Life and even Prince Albert Tobacco. Just like it is today, every half hour, or an hour there is a different sponsor showcased. This tradition continues to happen every night the Opry doors are open.
Time Life 8 DVD Box Set Includes the Following:
There have been numerous stars that have walked across this prestigious stage. Upon creating this set, Time Life broke each DVD into volumes to make it easier to view your favorite artists.
Volume 1 is titled Songs That Topped The Charts. Every song on this album went No. 1, and helped establish the career and legacy of each star.
Volume 2 showcases the classic duets performed on the Opry.
Volume 3 gives you an inside look on some of members of the Country Music Hall Of Fame. These performances show the talents of this elite group of stars.
Volume 4 pays tribute to a group of artists that made it OK to go to the bar and listen to the jukebox while you drank your problems away.
Volume 5 is dedicated to the priceless Legends. There is a volume dedicated to the Love Songs and one for Pioneers.
The Queens Of County sums this collection up with the leading ladies. This whole collection is priceless! Every country fans needs this set or their collection is not complete.
Some of the Performers
It's a chance to see stars such as Bill Anderson, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Porter Wagoner, Tammy Wynette and many, many others playing at the peak of their powers. In many cases they were also at the start of their careers, and just starting to learn the ropes.
The set also includes a surprisingly strong representation of lesser-known artists, folks like Bill Phillips, Jeannie Seely, Jeannie Pruett and others, great singers who were hitmakers many years ago, but are remembered only by a few fans today.
Some of the most rewarding volumes are the "Pioneers" set, "Queens Of Country" and the "Duets" disc, which features many gems, among them a bluesy performance from Patsy Cline, who sang with other artists live, but never actually recorded any duets on record.
Positive Consumer Comments
- Fantastic collection of old country stars performing live (you know, back when country was really *country*, and not the garbage that passes for "country" nowadays).
- The interviews on each DVD are priceless as well. I highly recommend buying this DVD collection.
- I love these DVDs. It's a step back in time. The fashions and the hair styles are fun to see. The audio and the video is really great.
- There are even a few performances of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings before they looked like bums.
- The video quality is very good and the sound quality is excellent.
- Very enjoyable and a keepsake for a long time. One cannot find this quality of entertainment and good music today.
- This is a great way to preserve our heritage and roots of country music.
- The later performances are in colour.
- The discs also are offered individually, organized by themes that are actually quite useful.
- This box set gave me a chance to see performances from artists that I had only heard singing their hits.
- If you want a fun, high-class collection that shows many of the biggest stars in Nashville playing real, honest country music, this collection is a true gift. Highly recommended.
Negative Consumer Comments
- There is only one change I would have made and that is to limit each singer to one song and add a
few more singers.
- All of the DVD'S were excellent but some had flaws such as freeze frame, skips, etc
- I was expecting more comprehensive liner notes on each performer.
- The collection was ok, but not as good as it could have been. Some of the commentary was repetitive and unnecessary.
- The clips of the Opry performances would have been better if entire broadcast segments (aired programs) were used instead of clips of individual performances. One misses the nostalgia and atmosphere of the opry if the programs are edited as you have done. The old commercials, dialogue and antics of the announcers and others on the program are all part of the experience. I was at best somewhat disappointed by the brevity of the clips. I remember the performances vividly from both radio and television. They WERE Saturday evening entertainment for us when I was a youngster.
- I was very disappointed with the b/w clips in general! These clips were not remastered!
- Glaring omissions with some filler content. First, this seemingly huge set is, alas, surprisingly brief, bolstered by some clever marketing: Since a single disc can store hours of info, why use 8 discs for less than 8 hours of total running time (bonus features included!)? Obviously, the idea is to make the package appear gargantuan when, in fact, 3 or 4 discs would have done the trick. Hard to justify charging 120 hard-earned dollars for 3 or 4 discs, but that is essentially the case.
Time Life Opry Video Classics in review. If you can overcome the negative issues that consumers have than you will more than likely really enjoy this set. The majority of those who bought this set really cherished the memories and truly enjoyed these DVDs. If you don't like the set Time Life offers a 60 day money back guarantee on opened items. I think that's a very fair policy. This looks like a wonderful collection that truly honors the history of country music (and of the Nashville music business) without cutting corners or playing it safe. And now for another golden oldie from TV history, the review of the Johnny Carson Box Set on DVD. You're going to be sitting in front of the tube for hours and hours with these two DVD sets!
Related posts:
