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15 of 15 found the following review helpful:
 Powerful, creative, great sound and video qualityNov 21, 2004
By Firebrand
The video is 1999, from A&E, and contrary to the Chicago appearance on "live by request" (whose sound was horrible...don't buy that DVD), this one was perfect.
The band plays all their major hits, about 17-18 tracks in all. Long concert. People have complained about Maurice White not being there, but Sheldon did a great job of replacing him, and Philip Bailey still strips the paint off walls with his voice. What power and range!
The band is awesome (I'm a drummer, and would have loved to see Sonny Emory, but Gordon Campbell is equally a master on the drums, and actually sounds like Emory in his style).
This DVD is hot...and in DTS 5.1 sound....can't beat it. Buy it today!
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
 Sounding great, even without MauriceMay 09, 2003
I'm more of a casual fan of EWF, but I'm a professional musician and can testify that this band still sounds great, even without Maurice on vocals. Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, and Sheldon Reynolds pass the vocals around, and (supported by backup vocalists in the keyboard and percussion section) do a great job. It sounds a little *different* than before, but that's all. In fact, it sounds much tighter than the Gratitude album, so whining about the "old days" really doesn't hold any water as far as I'm concerned.From the opening version of Shining Star (with a updated hip-hop groove that fits like a glove) the band is "on". Philip Bailey hits the high notes, even when "Fantasy" is requested early in the program. I saw the band "live" about two weeks after this show was broadcast, and this is a pretty accurate record of what they sounded like in 1999, though the tunes are in a different order. The horn section in latter years has been cut down to 3 members, but even with a smaller section, they are the best-sounding horn section in the business. The horns on the Gratitude album (and in many cases, the studio versions) just sound loose and sloppy by today's standards, so it's especially nice to hear it done right by the current lineup in a live performance . If you're just absolutely despondant over Maurice's retirement, you might want to skip this one, but otherwise don't hesitate to pick this one up. The in-between-songs chatter can get annoying, but you can always skip to the beginning of the next tune. And yes, Maurice does call in with a request.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!Jun 13, 2004
By Wes Wood
Long-time die-hard EWF fan. I have done their music live, there is no greater musical high. This is a superbly produced DVD. The arrangements take EWF to the highest levels yet. Musicanship (although not all-original band) is awesome. Sound and video technology is near perfect. If all my favorite bands did this quality of DVD production, I would never get anything done.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
A very good one but not 10 !Mar 08, 2002
By Marik Mishiner
A good collection of songs, Good stage performance. Great vocal performance of Philip Bailey although I would have expected to hear more of his personal collection. The phone conversations between songs (for the requests) are annoying. The sound is good and clear (Dolby Digital 5.1) but I would have expected to have it on DTS format also as other "Live By request" DVD's I own. The live dancers add a colorful background and make it a good live entertaining show which looks like was prepared pedantry and worth watching again and again. Includes all of EWF greates hits.Enjoy.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Blown AwayAug 04, 2003
By Sean McGee
Though a die hard Maurice fan, I still had to grab this dvd and see how good it could be without the captain....they still take the house down. The horns, Sheldon, Ralph, Verdine, and Philip are more than able to keep the high musical integrity of the band. Listening to sheldon sing September and After The Love Is Gone, was different, but REALLY friggen cool! This guy has a gem of a voice, so don't be led away from this dvd because Maurice isn't on it. Listening to Ralph, Philip, and Sheldon share the vocals that Maurice did gives the audience a new way to appreciate the music, and is a purchase I'll never regret.
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