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Noticed months ago that Neil Young had a new DVD out - live concert with a bit of a "difference" - had some history attached to it (any fans of Mr. Young will probably know that "history").......anyway - checked the local HMV every week to see if they had it in........no luck. About 3 months ago, I went in (as usual) to see if it was on the shelves.....no sooner had I walked through the door, when one of the female assistants asked "are you looking for something in particular?"......I told her ......she said "let's have a look on the computer"............so we looked.
No.....they didn't have it, but she would order it for me if I wanted. I said, "no it's ok, I'll be going up to Newcastle at the weekend, I'll have a look in their larger store, there". She said, "Oh they'll have it in there for sure".
Went to Newcastle that weekend......sure enough there it was on sale.
Got home......later that Saturday night.............bottle of red wine open, cheese cut, French bread buttered and grapes at the ready (I like to treat me self on a Saturday night...lol).....sliped the DVD into the player............................................ .................................................. .......................note on the screen comes up "WRONG REGION" !!!!!!!!
Looked at the box.......sure enough, it was NTSC (zone 1) format - not PAL (zone 2).
For those who know, forgive me......but for those who don't......"NTSC" or "zone 1" can ONLY be viewed in the USA or Canada - Europe is "zone 2" and uses PAL format.
To say I was a bit disapointed is an understatement........however, I still drank the wine and ate the cheese, bread and grapes.
Took the DVD back to HMV in Shields the following Monday........explained the problem to the young lad behind the counter.........checked on the computer......."Hmmmm", he said, "you can't buy it in the UK until 20th November"......................................... .."WHAT'S THIS THEN ??", I asked, holding up the DVD I'd bought from their shop in Newcastle 2 days earlier, "SCOTCH MIST??".....................I asked why they'd been selling material which could not be viewd in this country......"ermmmmm, I dunno", he said........."but I can order you one for when it's released here on 20th", he said.
Anyway.........upshot is...........got the PAL version last week after the lad had ordered it for me...........I can thoroughly recommend it to any Neil Young fans - it's brill..............when you know the history behind some of the songs, it's quite an emotional concert - had me in tears towards the end.
Watched it again tonight with my wife - now she's not a HUGE Neil Young fan, but she was also moved to tears.
DVD is called "Heart of Gold" and features a concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (the original home of the Grand Ol' Opry")...........as well as some other stuff.
The 1st half of the main disk is a live performance of his 2005 "Prairie Wind" album - before it had been released.
Just prior to writing the songs for the album, he was diagnosed as having a cerebral anurism which was life threatening. All of the songs are a look back at his life and relationships with family and friends - particularly his dad (who had just recently died).
The 2nd half of the concert features some old favourites.......... "I Am a Child", "Heat of Gold", "Old Man", "Harvest Moon", "Needle and the Damage Done", "Comes a Time", "Four Strong Winds", + others..........and a particular favourite of mine, "One of These Days". Although not part of the concert, there is a solo version of "The Old Laughing Lady" played by him on the satge of the empty Ryman Theatre during the end credits..............best version I've ever heard of this song, which was on his first album.
Here's a clip:
No.....they didn't have it, but she would order it for me if I wanted. I said, "no it's ok, I'll be going up to Newcastle at the weekend, I'll have a look in their larger store, there". She said, "Oh they'll have it in there for sure".
Went to Newcastle that weekend......sure enough there it was on sale.
Got home......later that Saturday night.............bottle of red wine open, cheese cut, French bread buttered and grapes at the ready (I like to treat me self on a Saturday night...lol).....sliped the DVD into the player............................................ .................................................. .......................note on the screen comes up "WRONG REGION" !!!!!!!!
Looked at the box.......sure enough, it was NTSC (zone 1) format - not PAL (zone 2).
For those who know, forgive me......but for those who don't......"NTSC" or "zone 1" can ONLY be viewed in the USA or Canada - Europe is "zone 2" and uses PAL format.
To say I was a bit disapointed is an understatement........however, I still drank the wine and ate the cheese, bread and grapes.
Took the DVD back to HMV in Shields the following Monday........explained the problem to the young lad behind the counter.........checked on the computer......."Hmmmm", he said, "you can't buy it in the UK until 20th November"......................................... .."WHAT'S THIS THEN ??", I asked, holding up the DVD I'd bought from their shop in Newcastle 2 days earlier, "SCOTCH MIST??".....................I asked why they'd been selling material which could not be viewd in this country......"ermmmmm, I dunno", he said........."but I can order you one for when it's released here on 20th", he said.
Anyway.........upshot is...........got the PAL version last week after the lad had ordered it for me...........I can thoroughly recommend it to any Neil Young fans - it's brill..............when you know the history behind some of the songs, it's quite an emotional concert - had me in tears towards the end.
Watched it again tonight with my wife - now she's not a HUGE Neil Young fan, but she was also moved to tears.
DVD is called "Heart of Gold" and features a concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (the original home of the Grand Ol' Opry")...........as well as some other stuff.
The 1st half of the main disk is a live performance of his 2005 "Prairie Wind" album - before it had been released.
Just prior to writing the songs for the album, he was diagnosed as having a cerebral anurism which was life threatening. All of the songs are a look back at his life and relationships with family and friends - particularly his dad (who had just recently died).
The 2nd half of the concert features some old favourites.......... "I Am a Child", "Heat of Gold", "Old Man", "Harvest Moon", "Needle and the Damage Done", "Comes a Time", "Four Strong Winds", + others..........and a particular favourite of mine, "One of These Days". Although not part of the concert, there is a solo version of "The Old Laughing Lady" played by him on the satge of the empty Ryman Theatre during the end credits..............best version I've ever heard of this song, which was on his first album.
Here's a clip:
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