To DVD or Not to DVD

A few months ago I mentioned DVD as the new medium in the music business and the way that the industry was heading,so this week I would like to elaborate a little on this theme and bring you details of progress to date as far as country music is concerned. While acknowledging the fact that the Movie and Pop industry have got quite a head start in the DVD  market,the good news is that we are catching up fast and new product is becoming available each  week.Recently I came across a company called White Star which has released quite an amount of country   music DVDs over the past year. Following some inquiries I had following my previous article I am now listing  the DVDs that I have been able to locate,mainly on the Internet,I should add.There are probably a lot more that I have missed and any reader knows of any that are available I would appreciate hearing from you.

Daniel O'Donnell : In Concert.Shades Of Green.( ROS DVD 7821 ).
Daniel O'Donnell fans will be delighted with this DVD which is his first on the market,as it contains in-concert versions of 28 songs and runs for a total of 1 hour and 43 mins.Full marks to Daniel for being the first Irish artist to recognizes the potential of the DVD market.

Patsy Cline : Remembering Patsy. ( D 3084 )
This is an authorized biography of the late great Patsy Cline who died in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, and contains 17 great Patsy songs as well as 10 rare TV appearances, which were discovered recently and never before seen on home video.The DVD also features tributes from Trisha Yearwood,k.d.lang, Ronna Reeves, Lisa Stewart, Marsha Thornton and others.

Nanci Griffith: Winter Marquee.
Filmed at the historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, on May 29,2002,with special guests Emmylou Harris,Tom Russell and Andrew Hardin, this excellent DVD features Nanci and the Blue Moon Orchestra in top form and includes most of her major hits.There are 18 songs in all.

Waylon Jennings : Renegade. Outlaw. Legend. ( D 3089 )
According to the sleeve notes this is the true story of Waylon Jennings and features rare footage and over 20 classic song clips and performances of Waylon's greatest hits including Honky Tonk Heroes,This Time,Good Hearted Woman,Luckenbach Texas,Are you Sure Hank Done It This Way,Amanda,America and The Eagle. It also features special guest appearances by Chet Atkins,Johnny Cash,Jessi Colter,Rodney Crowell,George Jones,Willie Nelson,Hank Williams, Jr, Bobby Bare,Harlan Howard and others.It also includes as a special bonus The Lost Outlaw Performance which Waylon and his band The Waylors performed on the concert stage of the Grand Ole Opry on August 12, 1978.Total running time of the disc is 110 mins.

Merle Haggard in Concert ( BDVD 936 ).
This is the ultimate collection for Hag fans and features live concerts from Nashville as well as other shows with special guests including Willie Nelson,Bonnie Owens and others,and includes most of his favorite songs.Running Time: 115 mins.

Willie Nelson : My Life. ( D 3087 ).
This is Willie's official authorized biography and is a close-up portrait of America's favorite singer/songwriter from the days when he sold one of his songs-- Family Bible,for $50 to buy milk for his children.Included also are frank and sometimes humorous interviews with Willie and his friends,Johnny Cash,Kris Kristofferson,Ray Charles, Emmylou Harris, Sydney Pollock,Gary Busey, Mel Tillis, Ray Price, Jerry Jeff Walker and others. Included are vintage live performance clips of over 20 of Willie's biggest hits including Crazy,Stardust, and Red Headed Stranger.( 60 mins). Willie Nelson also has at least two other DVDs on the market and they are:
The Willie Nelson Special (RZ 1909 ) with special guest Ray Charles, also Willie Nelson-- Nashville Superstar. ( DCW 387 ) which is a double-feature DVD containing two concerts by Willie,with a total running time of 88 mins.

George Jones: Golden Hits. (D 1683 ).
This DVD features country music superstar George Jones in rare interviews discussing all of his greatest hit songs. It also contains 14 full length film clips of George performing these hit songs at the time they were on the music charts from 1959 to the present day.Also included are two duets with Tammy Wynette,Golden Ring and Near You.Running time 50 mins.

George Jones: Live In Tennessee & Same Ole Me. ( 7322798 ).
With a running time of 114 mins, this DVD contains not only 38 vintage performances by George Jones,it also includes guest appearances by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Ricky Van Shelton and others.

George Jones: Same Ole Me.( D 3085 ).
This a newly updated version of the Same Ole Me contained in DVD 732278 with additional footage and includes guest appearances by Roy Acuff, Tom T.Hall, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Ricky Skaggs and Johnny Cash.

Ronnie Milsap: LIVE. (ID 1777 LCDVD ).
Ronnie Milsap has enjoyed one of the most distinguished and honoured careers of any artist in the music business.This 90 min DVD features him singing most of his top hits as well as an interview.

Johnny Cash: The Man. His World. His Music. ( CRDVD 002N). 90 mins.
This is a fly on the wall account that follows the legendary singer on tour in the USA during the late 60s.It includes live performances, duets with June Carter, and performances by the Carter family,Carl Perkins and Bob Dylan.

Johnny Cash: At Town Hall Party.( BVD 20001 AT ).
The 24 tracks on this DVD are from two of Johnny's appearance's on Town Hall Party and were recorded on Nov. 15, 1958 and Aug. 8, 1959. Included with the disc is a lovely booklet containing many rare color pics of a young Johnny Cash in action.There are other DVDs of Johnny available on the market but I haven't tracked them down yet.

Brooks & Dunn: The Greatest Hits Collection. ( BMG 07822 )
Randy Travis: LIVE. ( IDO 743TZDVD ).This also contains an audio DVD.
Dolly Parton : Blue Valley Songbird. ( ID 0752HEDVD ).
Alabama : Greatest Hits. ( ID 1481 LYDVD ).
Tim Mc Graw : Greatest Hits. ( D2- 70001 ).
Tammy Wynette : In Concert. ( RZ 2040 ).
Tanya Tucker : Hits and More. ( 72434-77953-9-8 ).
Glen Campbell : In Concert.
Hank Williams : In the Hank Williams Tradition. ( D 1659 ).
Good Rockin' Tonight. The Legacy Of Sun Records. ( ID 1701 MFDVD ).
Merle Travis : Rare Performances. 1946--1981.( 13012 ).
Ray Price and Jim Reeves with Ernest Tubb. ( Shanachie 603 ).
Marty Robbins & Ernest Tubb : ( Shanachie 602 ).
Road To Nashville : (R2 972848 ).
Down From The Mountain : ( Artisan 1234 ).
Gather At The River : A Bluegrass celebration. ( BMG 72333 ).
Bill Monroe : Father Of Bluegrass Music. WHE 73040 ).
The Women Of Country : (DVD 2020 ).
Hillbilly In A Haunted House : ( 8234 ).
Chet Atkins : The Guitar of Chet Atkins. ( GW 941 ).
Wynonna : On Tour.
Lorrie Morgan : Color Of Roses.
Farm Aid Concert 2001 : ( PA-11906 ).

Well that completes the list of country DVDs that I have been able to locate to date.I do know that there are others available and hopefully there will be lots more to come in the near future.If you require any further details of any of the DVDs listed here,please feel free to drop me a line at the Evening Echo office and I will be only too glad to help out in any way I can.


Article by Roger Ryan
© Jan. 2003
Email:   rogerryan@eircom.net
DJ of Radio Show C.U.H. FM
4 Silverdale Road,
Ballinlough, Cork.
Ireland.