Later With Jools Holland - Giants (DVD)

...anyone who doesn't know what Later is... it's basically a music show set in a large studio that has a host of bands set up, ready to play live. Jools Holland is the compere and as mentioned before he often joins in, along with his band, on piano (he seems to specialize in Boogie/Bigband). There is an audience that stands around the studio and this is often studded with the odd star or two. Jools will often have a brief conversation with the top drawer ...
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The bands that play are usually a mixture of new and old. Sometimes you'll see a band that has just arrived on the scene next to a well established band. There are strictly no pop puppets on the show (though someone like Robbie Williams would be let on). And a lot of the time you'll encounter a band or set of musicians you've never heard of. This is partly why I like the show. You see stuff you probably wouldn't see anywhere else. And due ... more

I like the 'Later' programmes. They seem to fit somewhere inbetween Top Of The Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test. I'm far too old for TOTP's these days (I found this out when I caught myself muttering 'What a load of cr*p' it was some time ago) and The Old Grey Whistle Test is long gone (and I was a bit young for that and The Tube).

The only thing I find mildly irritating about 'Later' is Jools Holland - which is a bit of a shame seeing as he's the host. It's just that he often wants to join in with everything, that and the fact that he's very smug sometimes. Thankfully he doesn't do much joining in on this one.

For anyone who doesn't know what Later is... it's basically a music show set in a large studio that has a host of bands set up, ready to play live. Jools Holland is the compere and as mentioned before he often joins in, along with his band, on piano (he seems to specialize in Boogie/Bigband). There is an audience that stands around the studio and this is often studded with the odd star or two. Jools will often have a brief conversation with the top drawer bands and anyone of significance in the audience.

The bands that play are usually a mixture of new and old. Sometimes you'll see a band that has just arrived on the scene next to a well established band. There are strictly no pop puppets on the show (though someone like Robbie Williams would be let on). And a lot of the time you'll encounter a band or set of musicians you've never heard of. This is partly why I like the show. You see stuff you probably wouldn't see anywhere else. And due to Jools good taste (or the show advisers good taste) they are usually pretty good.

You'll also often see very good performances from established bands (I remember being blown away by Radiohead doing 'Paranoid Android' and R.E.M. doing 'Country Feedback'). And the show has a distinctly grown up feel to it.

Over the past 5 years or so the BBC have released a series of 'Later' DVD's. These are pretty much categorized so that if you like a particular style of music, you should be able to find a DVD that suites your taste. This particular DVD is a collection of 'Giants' i.e. people who have been around a while. Most would be regarded as legends....

ARTISTS/TRACKS ON THE DVD
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1.PAUL MCCARTNEY - BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN
(Recorded 6/11/99)
One of Paul's more recent tracks. Nothing particulary stunning going on but nice to see the old fella enjoying himself.
2.JOE STRUMMER - LONDON CALLING
(9/5/00)
One word 'Excellent'. Everything you'de expect from the old punk stalwart. God bless his soul.
3.JOHNNY CASH - FOLSOM PRISON BLUES
(11/7/94)
Ditto. Johhny Cash the legend. Looking ancient but having a rip-roaring time. Brilliant choice of tract excellently played.
4.PRETENDERS - KID
(21/5/99)
Not a band for me but well played all the same.
5.DR.JOHN - CREOLE MOON
(9/10/01)
Not my kind of thing.
6.BRYAN FERRY - WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW?
(14/6/93)
Another track I can't pass judgement on. Not a big fan of his solo stuff.
7.GEORGIE FAME - YEH YEH
(24/11/00)
Catchy tune that some of the older folks will remember being covered by Matt Bianco (so my Nan tells me).
8.PATTI SMITH - BECAUSE THE NIGHT
(26/4/02)
Legendary female singer that I've never got to grips with. Good all the same.
9.LEONARD COHEN - DANCE ME TO THE END OF LOVE
(14/5/93)
The usually dour singer/songwriter having a lot of fun on this annoyingly catchy song.
10.PAUL WELLER - A TOWN CALLED MALICE
(25/10/02)
Great work from Paul, and what looks like half of Ocean Colour Scene.
11.AL GREEN - HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART
(16/7/93)
Not my favourite Al Green song.
12.RONNIE SPECTOR & DIVINE COMEDY - DON'T WORRY BABY
(11/12/98)
A legendary voice teaming up with Neil and the gang.
13.WILLIE NELSON - SHE IS GONE
(11/4/96)
Excellent. Willie plays a beat up guitar to death. His fingers are so fast!
14.ELVIS COSTELLO - (I DON'T WANT TO GO TO) CHELSEA
(3/5/02)
Another brilliant choice. Excellent Elvis. Play it loud!
15.DUSTY SPRINGFIELD - WHERE IS A WOMAN TO GO
(10/6/95)
Inspirational (I'm running out of superlatives) woman. Great to see her singing this.
16.ROBBIE WILLIAMS - SUSPICIOUS MINDS
(28/12/00)
Robbie comes good. He can't match the King vocally but he's a brilliant entertainer. A real foot stomper.
17.SOLOMON BURKE - CRY TO ME
(31/12/02)
Not my bag. Fat bloke on a throne singing soul.
18.TOM JONES - CRAZY ARMS
(27/11/01)
Tom does his cabaret turn. Not unusual.
19.JEFF BECK - BRUSH WITH THE BLUES
(23/10/99)
Looking good considering his age. Excellent guitar work.
20.PAGE & PLANT - GALLOWS POLE
(19/11/94)
Half of Led Zeppelin with a great tune that builds and builds.
21.PETE TOWNSEND - MAGIC BUS
(18/5/96)
The Who guitarist playing one of there slower songs (I WANT MY MAGIC BUS!)
22.BO DIDDLEY - BO DIDDLEY IS CRAZY
(15/6/96)
Respect to the old codger. On of the cornerstones of the blues.
23.BLONDIE - HEART OF GLASS
(11/12/98)
Disappointing sound on this one. Just don't think they can hack it live anymore (could they ever?)
24.GEORGE BENSON - ON BROADWAY
(24/4/98)
Not one that I'd like to pass judgement on.
25.BOBBY WHITLOCK & ERIC CLAPTON - BELL BOTTOM BLUES
(25/4/00)
Standard stuff from 'Old slowhand'
26.R.E.M. - THE ONE I LOVE
(1/5/01)
Brilliant. R.E.M. never fail to dazzle. What a great band.
27.STEVE WINWOOD - GIMME SOME LOVING
(13/6/03)
Good tune from the 60's/70's legend.
28.LOU REED - SWEET JANE
(16/5/00)
Another good track from the former Velvet Underground singer.
29.ROGER MCGUINN - EIGHT MILES HIGH
(14/6/97)
Excellent. An acoustic version of the ultimate Byrds song. Very fast 12-string guitar work.
30.TONY BENNETT - ALL OF ME
(24/5/97)
Lounge lizard looking ancient. Does what he does in his own unique way (not sure if that's a compliment or not?)
31.THE KINKS - TIL THE END OF THE DAY
(14/6/93)
Great work from the boys. Still sounding fresh and energetic.
32.IAN DURY - SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK N ROLL
(16/10/98)
Brilliant Ian Dury. Looking frail but sounding brilliant.

DVD FEATURES
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MENUS -
Fairly easy to navigate once you've spent a liitle time with them. The music on the menus can be a bit annoying after a while though.

INTERVIEWS-
A selection of 'snippet' interviews with some of the people on the disc (i.e. Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson Etc).

OTHER FEATURES-
You can also program a number of tracks (up to six) to play in sequence. Though I find playing them individually from the menu the easiest option.
Sound quality throughout is excellent.
There are subtitles in English, French, Dutch and Spanish.

BOOKLET/CASE-
Top quality booklet with some info on each artist and track. Packaging is sturdy and attractive.

OVERALL
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A good value package if you can pick it up for around £15. There is a mixture of artists on here so you won't like everything. But listening to this kind of DVD can often broaden your musical horizons!

DVD ORIGINALLY PRODUCED 2003 

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