Elly Roberts reviews
Leo Sayer: One Night In Sydney
Distributed by
Wienerworld
- Cat.no: WNRD2374
- Released: May 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 6/10
- Running time: 99 minutes
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Digital 2 Stereo
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English
- Retail price: £12.99
- Extras:
Documentary – "Leo Sayer - The Show Must Go On"
After years in the wilderness,
Gerrard Hughes-Sayer aka Leo Sayer re-emerged this year on Meck’s
re-working of Sayer’s 1977 hit Thunder In My Heart.
This intimate gig filmed at the Basement Nightclub in Sydney in 2001,
and broadcast live on a webcast on 17 October the same year, we see little
Leo turn on his inimitable style in a cracking concert.
Backed by an excellent five-piece band he strolls through an enviable catalogue
of mostly hits and some album tracks. Always a demonstrative showman, he puts
his heart and soul into every song and is greatly appreciated by the small
crowd.
Appearing in a venue similar to his early gigs, "The Mystery Man" is
almost telling the world that the show must go on, whatever highs and lows
he gets. The Grammy winner, in a black suit and red shirt, never stops
parading and gesticulating. On several occasions he ventures into the crowd
for hand shakes, but on an early move the lighting doesn’t follow him and
the cameraman struggles to find him, as he embarrassingly shouts, "Can we
get some light up here?"
The setlist is a good balance of ballads and dance
tunes, displaying the eclectic nature of his memorable pop songs, even
though his heart really lies with the Blues. There are several highlights –
a stunning Bedsitterland features a blistering guitar solo, and a stonking
extended cover of Bobby Vee’s More Than I Can Say that includes a clever
medley of Tracks Of My Tears, My Girl, and Every Breath You Take.
On a mellower note he delivers arguably his most sophisticated ballad Orchard
Road, 1983, using all the expression he can muster. (DVDfever Dom
adds: "'Orchard Road' is definitely one of my guilty pleasures from the '80s" :)
Taking an improvised’ jam’ angle for Raining In My Heart, he embarks on a
nifty bit of harmonica playing, complimented by two outstanding guitar solos
by Simon Baisley and Ronnie Johnson. Diana Ross’ Motown hit Reflections
raises the atmosphere again, leading to two excellent dance tracks Easy To
Love, a slick jazz-funkster, and anthemic You Make Me Feel Like Dancing as
the ladies hit the stage, much to his surprise. More hits follow – a
sparkling How Much Love, Long Tall Glasses and a chilling When I Need You.
Predictably he gets a standing ovation, which he thoroughly deserves.
The documentary lead by Aussie rock historian, looks at his rollercoaster
career, with brief snippets from Sayer himself.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
