Some of you might remember my thread about the attempt to find a good copy of earl's court 77'. Well still no proper luck in that department however I did go with the ebay seller who was selling cheap DVDs for a fiver. I decided to create a new thread to update people not so much on the earl's court issue but on the general quality of these ebay DVDs. I am not advocating you buy or don't buy from this seller. I am just giving you an honest account of the picture quality of the discs.
Three for one deal - Hammersmith 74/75/79 £5
Line at Rainbow 74 (edit) Format: PAL Grade: A
The quality of this disc is amazing. It appears to be a DVD transfer from the old Box of Trix VHS.
Hammersmith 75 Format: PAL Grade A
Once again excellent quality. Only annoying thing is the logo that appears on the top corner of the screen from time to time (WOW???)
Both Hammersmith 74 and 75 come on the one disc. There is a Chapter selection via song title. I think also it allows for an audio selection mode. Very professional menu.
Hammersmith 79 Format: NTSC Grade C/B
Originally shot in PAL video but this source has came from an NTSC composite. This is not the TV special that appeared on European TV but some sort of fan edit that is made up of 3 different sources. Picture quality is average/good most times however some sources appear very colour clashed. There is no fan interviews like the TV special, this is purely 100% concert footage.
The tracklist of video is:
We Will Rock You (Fast)
Let Me Entertain You
Somebody To Love
Death On Two Legs
Killer Queen
I'm In Love With My Car
Get Down Make Love
Your My Best Friend
Save Me
Now I'm Here
Don't Stop Me Now
Love Of My Life
'39
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Tie Your Mother Down
Sheer Heart Attack
We Will Rock You (Slow)
We Are The Champions
God Save The Queen
Get Down Make Love (Alternate Edit)
Screenshots link link link link
It appears to be roughly 70 minutes.
Earl's Court 77' Format: PAL Grade: C
I don't think I will ever come across a good video source copy of this concert but at least this version is better quality than the old one I had lying around. Quality is something similar to the 2 part mpeg that appeared in the announce section. The screen splits during Liar and Doing Alrite however the seller is honest and states this in the auction. Quality is grainy and appears to be a mult-generated VHS tape transferred to DVD. Great show but has some of the worst cameras angles for a concert ever shot. The cameras are rarely on Freddie and often appear to be still on Rodger's drumkit for long dragging periods of time.
Houston 77' Format: PAL Grade: C
Originally shot in NTSC but transferred to PAL. Other than the annoying speckling and flicker screen this concert is very watchable and the sound is good. 2 hours long. Vastly superior to earl's court not because of the setlist but the fact that the camera people could actually work their units. Excellent concert although the crowd could be rousing!
Overall Verdict: Excellent DVDs considering I paid £10 for all 5! Bargain!
Yeah sorry it was Live at the Rainbow. Can't believe I made that mistake. Anyways more screenshots (from Peru seller selling same source material for over charging price!). All screenshot quality is identical to the pic quality I picked up for a fiver.
Rainbow link link link link
Live at Hammersmith 1975 link link link link link
Hi indo77 i think you had a real good deal on them dvd's just out of curiosity is the EBAY seller that you had them from go by the name of " A NATION OF HAIRCUTS" by any chance.
I tell you why because i had more or less the same set but with also Hyde park ,japan/spain79 and japan82 and japan final live all for 20pounds which i had last year for my birthday of which it is today.
Happy birthday to me and getting back to the dvd's yes they are of excellent quality and well worth the price if you haven't got time to download them yourself or can't be bothered.
I hope you enjoy them and carry on collecting queen as there are a few more out there.
Cheers.
Yes Brenda it was Nation of Haircuts. I ordered the Japan 79 DVD of someone else but regret this now as the discs still have not come back. I should have just waited for Nation of Haircuts to start an auction.
I have to say this guy rules! I spent forever attempting to download Houston (on 2MB Broadband) but just got so frustrated with it. For me to just get these DVDs for such a cheap price (some 10/10 pic quality) I can't be arsed waiting on a torrent. Plus it's the full versions. You will NOT get better than this guy! He won't rip you off like Trancer or some of the others on ebay.
Brenda
What was the quality of Hyde Park 76, Japan/Madrid 79? I will DEF deal with Haircuts Again.
Hi indo77 the hyde park gig is very good in colour good sound and with time counter on the right handside of screen, and the japan gig/madrid gig(a few songs and a funny interview) are good the former being great quality and madrid gig average but watcheable quality.
I agree there are a few to watch out for but with a nation of haircuts you won't go far wrong.
Cheers.take care.
Hi, yup I've also bought Houston 77, Hammersmith 75/79 from Nation of Haircuts. Excellent service and saves so much trouble downloading and converting to DVD formats. Thoroughly recommend buying these gigs from him.
Out of curiousity did Queen not perform Boh Rhap at Hammersmith 79? I know it's been compiled from 3 different sources so it's fragmented but I woulda loved to hear it (as his voice is in sparkling form at this gig).
rwon041 wrote: Hi, yup I've also bought Houston 77, Hammersmith 75/79 from Nation of Haircuts. Excellent service and saves so much trouble downloading and converting to DVD formats. Thoroughly recommend buying these gigs from him.
Out of curiousity did Queen not perform Boh Rhap at Hammersmith 79? I know it's been compiled from 3 different sources so it's fragmented but I woulda loved to hear it (as his voice is in sparkling form at this gig).
They performed it as it appears in the sound recordings. There is a substantial amount missing from the concert as a whole.
Have you noticed that the alternate edit of get down make love is the exact same one that was played in the concert, i mean it's just been added on as a alternate version when it clearly is not.
Yeah thought that myself, the sequence is completely identical. I converted the 2 part Earl's Court mpeg to vcd yesterday. Quality is actually superior to the ebay DVD. I am still looking for the 4 part svcd that appeared in the announce section from here ages ago. I believe this one is the best quality of the concert available. Anyone have it?
Unfortunately I only have access to broadband at the weekends as I work most of the week in a different location. I would try and join the hub but it probably wouldn't be fair on other users me just making appearances at weekends. I am genually looking a trade for the 4 part vcd.
BRENDA SAID: - "Have you noticed that the alternate edit of get down make love is the exact same one that was played in the concert, i mean it's just been added on as a alternate version when it clearly is not."
Sorry to be contrary Brenda, but the "Alternative Edit" IS just that. It's an alternative VIDEO edit. I wonder if you expected it to be a different sound edit?
The difference between the version in the concert and the bonus alternative edit is that the latter uses a split screen/mirror effect for the pictures.
This "alternative edit" can be found on the Queen fan clubs master tape of this concert.