Various Artists: The Strat Pack-Live in Concert: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Stratocaster (DVD)

It's too bad Eric Clapton couldn't have made an appearance at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Fender Stratocaster. Held in fall 2004 at London's Wembley Arena, The Strat Pack Concert captured on this 155-minute DVD (with Stereo, 5.1 Surround and DTS audio options) not only paid homage to Leo Fender's famous invention that literally changed the face of music with its wide array of tonal possibilities, but it also served as a benefit for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Center — a powerful facility developed under the belief that everyone can respond to music, regardless of how ill or disabled they may be.

Despite Clapton's absence, the bigger names at this gig still put on the most enjoyable performances: Joe Walsh, playing with an edge you don't see or hear too often when he's with the Eagles; David Gilmour, mesmerizing listeners while standing completely still; and Paul Rodgers, strutting through "Alright Now" as if he were still a young man and inviting his son and daughter (Steve and Jasmine) onstage to sing a beautiful ballad they wrote called "Drinking." A deep bow, however, also goes to alt.country rhythm guitarist Theresa Andersson, who electrified the crowd early on with a song called "I'm On My Way."

I understand that the point of this party was to celebrate and explore the breadth of the Strat's cumulative effect on music. That explains why rockabilly, jazz, blues, pop and rock was on display. But young jazz-pop pianist Jamie Cullum? The dude plays piano! Why stick him and another unknown like Amy Winehouse in between Gary Moore (who stuns with his rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Red House") and Rodgers (who in a portentous display, invites Queen's Brian May to join him on "Alright Now")?

Approximately 30 minutes of interviews with everyone from The Crickets (reportedly the first band to use a Fender Stratocaster on record, for a song called "Blue Days, Black Nights") to Genesis' Mike Rutherford (who calls the Strat "the only guitar that can be a bit of everything." That statement was certainly true this night.

Track Listing:
* The Crickets, Albert Lee & Brian May: Peggy Sue, Maybe Baby, I Fought the Law, Oh Boy, That'll Be the Day
* Hank Marvin & Ben Marvin: The Rise and Fall of Flingel Blunt, Sleepwalk, Apache
* Theresa Andersson: I'm On My Way
* Albert Lee & Theresa Andersson: Country Boy
* Mike Rutherford & Paul Carrack: How Long, All Along the Watchtower, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, I Can't Dance
* Gary Moore: Red House
* Jamie Cullum: Angel
* Amy Winehouse: Stronger Than Me
* Paul Rodgers: Muddy Water Blues
* Paul Rodgers featuring Jasmine & Steve Rodgers: Drinking
* Paul Rodgers & Brian May: Alright Now
* Paul Rodgers & Joe Walsh: Can't Get Enough
* Joe Walsh: Funk 49, Life's Been Good, Life in the Fast Lane, Rocky Mountain Way
* Phil Manzanera: 6PM
* David Gilmour: Marooned, Coming Back to Life, Sorrow
* Ronnie Wood: Ooh La La
* All-Star Lineup: Stay With Me

Added: August 2nd 2005
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score:
Related Link: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Hits: 39192
Language: english

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