Reading Rock

Starring:Various
Studio: Allumination Filmwor
Product Type: DVD

The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits

Average customer rating:

Fun Look Back

The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits
Starring: Skip Hinnant , Joan Ganz Cooney , Joan Rivers , Luis Avalos , and Bill Cosby
Director: David Leaf , and John Scheinfeld
Manufacturer: Shout Factory Theatr
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Best Of The Electric Company - Volume 2
The Best of the Best of Electric Company
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ASIN: B000LW7OYC
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Description

When The Electric Company made its television debut in October 1971, it was instantly clear that it would fulfill its mission of helping struggling and reluctant readers. With a cast that broke new ground in its diversity, clever writing, innovative direction and an original visual and musical style, the show was so effective that by the end of its first season, nearly a quarter of all U.S. grade schools were using The Electric Company in the classroom. Generations of young people learned to read from the series, making it one of the most important and enduring shows in television history. The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits is a clip-filled celebration featuring many of the series' most popular segments (with Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman and the multi-talented Electric Company cast), and includes new interviews with cast members Jim Boyd, Judy Graubart, Skip Hinnant, Tom Lehrer, Rita Moreno and Joan Rivers, as well as with series creator Joan Ganz Cooney.

Customer Reviews:

Fun Look Back.......2007-03-27

First shown on PBS, "The Electric Company's Greatest Hits and Bits" is a fun look back at the 1970's TV Show. It consists of several clips from the show as well as interviews with cast members Skip Hinnant, Jim Boyd, Rita Moreno and Judy Graubart as well as contributors to the show Joan Rivers and Tom Lehrer. There is also an interview with Joan Ganz Cooney who helped create the show. The special features include deleted interviews with the cast members and an audio review with Tom Lehrer.

For the most part, "The Electric Company's Greatest Hits and Bits" is an enjoyable documentary. At the time it debuted in October 1971 it was a groundbreaking show with a fully integrated cast teaching children how to read using comedy and music. It's always fun to watch a show as an adult that you loved as a kid and catch some of the references you missed back then. Easy Reader was of course based on Easy Rider but it was interesting to hear Skip Hinnant say that he stole largely from "Get Smart" when doing Fargo North, Decoder; Jim Boyd saying J. Arthur Crank was based on Ralph Cramden; and Rita Moreno saying "Hey you guys" came from Abbott and Costello. There are plenty of clips from the show including animated ones such as "The Adventures of Letterman" and several based on Tom Lehrer's delightful songs including "Silent E" and "-ly". The live action skits include "I'm in love with a giant" and "The Super is eating his supper" which is fun to watch just to see the cast trying to keep a straight face as water pours down on them.

Since this is a documentary and not full episodes of "The Electric Company" adults will probably enjoy this DVD more than children. It does have quite a bit of praise for Morgan Freeman, currently the most famous of the then unknown actors, but it stops just short of going overboard on the praise. While it was nice to see Hinnant, Boyd, and Graubart, I hope other actors from the show such as Luis Avalos, Hattie Winston, and Lee Chamberlain show up in interviews on future DVDs. For some reason the show focuses solely on the adult members of the cast, with no mention at all of the Short Circus and the child actors, a bit surprising since Irene Cara was a member of the Short Circus for awhile.

"The Electric Company's Greatest Bits and Hits" is good nostalgic fun.

No Reading Required: Easy Rock Bass Lines

Average customer rating:

No Reading Required: Easy Rock Bass Lines

Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EMGJMC
Release Date: 2006-03-01

Average customer rating:

This Holy Night
Starring: This Holy Night
Manufacturer: Mvd Visual
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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Description

Filmed at Saint Luke's in Chicago with it's congregation that is ethnically, economically and vocationally diverse encompassing variety in both age & gender, This Holy Night is a classic Christmas Eve service for all the family to enjoy, emphasizing music performed by a 35-voice broadcast choir, a 20-voice children's choir, a 20-piece orchestra featuring brass and strings, six-piece jazz ensemble and an organist! Celebrate This Holy Night together with your family and friends as a time to remember the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ, a time to reflect on the contribution we can make to uniting a world of diverse cultures in lasting peace.

Average customer rating:

Much Better Than I Expected
Getting back in touch
Technically sound but emphasis on fusion more than pop
Review corrections
Level 42 - "Unlevel today"

Level 42 Live 2001 at Reading UK
Starring: Level 42
Manufacturer: St Clair Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

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Live at the Apollo, London
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Retroglide

ASIN: B0000VLKX0
Release Date: 2004-01-05

Customer Reviews:

Much Better Than I Expected.......2005-12-15

I will start out by saying that I wrote a review of L42's "Greatest Hits Live" CD and gave it a lukewarm review. I believe this is the DVD version of that CD performance and, surprisingly, I thought the DVD was excellent. My biggest problem on the CD was the bootleg quality sound. Well, that was fixed here. I believe the visuals helped, seeing the band perform as well as hearing the great song selection.

I am also proud of the last reviewer for sticking up for the band. If you are a fan of L42, then you will undoubtedly enjoy this DVD. Granted, it does not include the other original members, but they do a good job of recreating the enjoyable and varied set list. And, of course, Mark King commands attention with his vocals and signature bass playing. Also, you absolutely cannot beat the price!! I actually found this- to my surprise- at a local store for $6 and pounced on it! I am glad I did.

Once again, if you are a TRUE fan, like "Mr. Close The Book" apparently is NOT, then take advantage of this low priced entertainment and pick it up NOW!

Getting back in touch.......2004-12-27

Being a huge fan of Level42 since the 80s, I welcome a video such as this. I'm very glad to see bassist/singer/leader Mark King carrying on the music with integrity. Each of the concert videos produced in the last 4 years (since Mark acquired the rights to the L42 name) have been healthy reprsentations on the entire L42 catalog.

It's true that this video is not the same lineup that was Level 42 at their peak fame and success. However, for all the misunderstood perceptions of Level 42 as a one-hit wonder band, this concert video (like all their others) does wonderful justice to their musical and playing ability. If you like very good bands that can play, with an overiding pop sensibility, this band/video is for you. Like Sting, Peter Gabriel...good music, performed with spectacular musicianship. Plus some good jamming. L42 music is not like Sting's and PG's, I'm saying you will get the same calibur of musicianship. If you are new to Level 42, and appreciate pop music with a foundation of funk, fusion and jazz elements in the playing, Level42 will be a nice surprise for you. (Don't let their only two U.S. hits "Something About You" or "Lessons In Love" persuade you this band is wimpy and can't play ferociously.)

Varying the setlists per their small tours enables true fans the chance to hear the more intense adventurous compositions of the band's early years, as well as the refined pop gems of later. And it keeps the band fresh and inspired. Thus, this video (like the recent Live at The Apollo from 2003) lets the band work through songs that Level 42 haven't played live in over 20 years.

But I must say, I have to disagree with the reviewer Mr. Osgood who believed that "the book should be closed" on Level 42. I feel his review was much more indicative of what he likes and not what the video/performance was. (Granted, the lighting was minimal, the venue small, and the audience sat most of the time. It did not take away from the band's ability or zest.)

His review said more about his tastes regarding L42 than it did the taste of the video. And I also disagree that they "limped through the titles." The band performed these songs as they are (and were) from the original lineups days. If anything, there's more player-performance from this drummer Gary Husband and Mark's brother Nathan on guitar than when the Gould brothers were in the band (for this batch of songs). The Gould's leaned even more to a subtle, nuanced groove playing style than the current lineup. I don't understand where Mr. Osgood is finding such fault.

If a fan is in it for the music (as should be), here's the music, being done it's justice by players who truly beleive in it. Would you rather L42 not do anything at all just because its not the original 4? Or would you like to hear the music, played live for you, by fellow fans of the music (i.e. the current lineup) who WANT to play it? For themselves AND you?

I'm simply glad Mark is taking the time to go out and play. If it was a lame, play-the-same-setlist-as-they-did-in-1987 arrangement, it would last 3 months and never happen again. Fans want the band to play, because they did it very well. If real fans support the band, and respectfully offer that support thru purchasing the products the band uses to keep the machine going, it allows the band more leeway to do what they want for the fans. Like, change the setlists around to pull out the hits AND the deep cuts for the diehards who like to watch the band play those challenging pieces.

Plus, if you would love to see the original lineup play together again, there has to be a tangible market out there to prove that the demand exists for this music. If we all give up on L42 the music because we get mad that we didn't get what we wanted some times, why would MIke Lindup and the Gould Brothers have any reason to make the effort to reform, write more music, and go on tour to play (for no one) if the word is spread that no one should care about them anymore?

If Mr. Osgood believes a "book should be closed" on L42, or ANY band for that matter, he should close the book just for himself. Don't fool others who might actualy like it to beleive your negativity so they lose/avoid a chance of discovering they might actually like Level 42. Don't get in their way. Spend your energy on sharing info with others regarding bands you DO like. That helps the world much more.

If L42 truly IS that bad now, people will figure it out for themselves in time. Mr. Osgood's help in steering them away is a needless waste of his time. If he feel's it is so bad now, why was it worth his time and effort to talk about it? Surely since it's so bad it will naturally be ignored and die since it's sustenance (i.e. fan support) will cease, thus causing Mark/Level42 to stop? Right? Then why interfere with that natural progression? By posting his negative review, it caused someone such as myself to come to L42's defense to tout their merits. Now this product is back to 50/50 for the Amazon surfer. It sucks/It's great. People get to decide. ( My review is genuine and honest.)

Good art survives.

Technically sound but emphasis on fusion more than pop.......2004-05-24

Tracks:

1. Hot Water
2. Love Games
3. Sooner Or Later
4. Why Are You Leaving?
5. Play Me
6. You Can't Blame Louis
7. I Want Eyes
8. The Sunbed Song
9. A Floating Life
10. Sleepwalkers
11. Mr. Pink
12. The Sun Goes Down
13. Something About You
14. All Over You
15. Foundation And Empire

After a 6-year hiatus, Britain's Level 42 regrouped for this Dec. 2001 concert at Reading Concert Hall.

While in the 80s they were cleverly marketed as part of the "New Wave", seeing them again after all these years I realize that we were had. What they actually are is one great jazz-fusion unit which managed to masterfully traverse the border line into pop, much as Steely Dan had been able to accomplish a decade earlier. But whatever label one may choose to slap on them the fact is that I like their music, with its characteristic twangy funky bass and bouncy beat.

The focus in this DVD is entirely on the music, with all on-stage banter being cut out and the screen fading to black between songs. While this may be seen to eliminate distraction, I feel it also greatly removes the human touch from the concert, and I found myself wishing they had just left everything in.

The concert hall reminds me of a church, and adds to the classy atmosphere of the band's music.

As for the actual music in the concert itself, although I consider myself a fan and own one of the band's greatest hits extended mixes CDs, I found that I only recognized a few of the songs out of the 15 in this set. The emphasis here seems to be on the band's jazz-fusion side, and its forays into pop stardom are kept to a minimum.

They are very proficient at the music they do play, and even the instrumental track here "Mr. Pink" is very hot and impressive. But somehow I found myself missing some of their more familiar hits which I so enjoyed listening to on CD, such as "Children Say", "The Chinese Way", "Running in the Family", and especially "Lessons in Love".

I am happy that this DVD exists and that I own it, and especially at this price I found it to be an amazing bargain. But I feel that the song selection here may cause some disappointment to those who are just casual fans of their music. I cannot fault them for what is a technically perfect performance, but you should be prepared for and looking forward to a concert which clearly showcases their jazz-fusion side.

Review corrections.......2004-03-12

O.K......O.K. before everybody sends me tons of e-mail about my errors.It wasn`t until I re-read my rating did I see it myself.
Apologies to all concerned.That should have read as the Gould brothers...Boon & Phil,and not the Boon brothers.I`m sorry :-)

Level 42 - "Unlevel today".......2004-03-12

Anxiously and with enthusiasm last night I loaded in the new Level42 - "Live at Reading Concert" dvd.The concert hall,being more like a high school stage with full indoor lighting had no atmosphere and the audience were all totally dead and frigid,offering the band no support whatsoever.Some sort of light show as with past concerts might also have helped a little.Having had many years of experience in their musical history I was extremely disapointed with this,Level 42s` last ditch effort in producing the old style sounds.Mark King still today exceeded and performed with his phenomenal style and experience but it could clearly be seen that he strained to pull the others along in the band as their leader,as they tried to maintain the traditional sounds that went with the name of Level 42.This dvd shows that the sounds of Level 42 days are truly over as they limped along through the titles.
In years gone by hitches were well overcome and smoothed over with the unified skills of Mike Lindup and Mark King sticking close, for example, back in the days with the Boon brothers disintigrations.However it wasn`t until Mike Lindup finally stepping out leaving Mark to carry the name alone, did it sadly start to slowly conclude as we see it today.The music of Level 42 has carried a great deal of strong and diversified musical history milestones from their start in the early 80`s until their end at the parting of the two leaders.
Mark and Mike today are both making a sucess in their efforts to venture into their own careers, as do many famous bands at the end of its time.But I believe it is now time to close the book on the great sound of Level 42 that was so prevelant in the years past and leave it as that ....a great memory.

Average customer rating:

Reading Rock
Starring: Various
Manufacturer: Sterling Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Reading & Phonics | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Leap Frog - Talking Words Factory

ASIN: B00026L826
Release Date: 2004-05-04

No Reading Required: Easy Rock Drum Beats

Average customer rating:

No Reading Required: Easy Rock Drum Beats

Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

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( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000EMGJOA
Release Date: 2006-03-01

Average customer rating:

Reading Test-Taking Strategies
Starring: Vic Mignogna
Director: Richard Caudle
Manufacturer: Rock 'N Learn
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Product Description

Nobody s sharper than Marko the Pencil when it comes to preparing students for tests. His secret tips are super-effective and his outrageous antics help students stay focused. With Marko s guidance, students ace a practice test by learning how to read passages for meaning, underline key words, eliminate poor choices, and determine the best answers. A team of teachers who consistently get superior performance from their students on standardized tests helped create this DVD video. Rock 'N Learn carefully examined reading tests administered in several states to identify winning strategies for boosting scores and reducing anxiety. You ll find them all here along with fun songs, wacky humor, and lots of cool practice.

Level 42: Live 2001 at Reading UK - Forever Gold

Average customer rating:

Level 42: Live 2001 at Reading UK - Forever Gold
Starring: Level 42
Manufacturer: St. Clair Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Album Description

Recorded live at Reading Concert Hall in December 2001 with Mark King, Gary Husband and band. Supported by top session musicians, a strong selection of hit singles and concert favorites are played. DTS, 5.1 surround/widescreen/NTSC/Region 0. 85 minutes. 15 tracks plus extra features, including photo gallery & biography. Alpha Centuri. 2003.