The Who Live at the Isle of Wight 1969 (DVD)

From hotwacks.com

Isle Of Wight 1969 – Sunday, August 31, 1969:1. Heaven And Hell, 2. I Can’t Explain, 3. Fortune Teller, 4. Young Man Blues, 5. It’s A Boy, 6. 1921, 7. Amazing Journey, 8. Sparks, 9. Eyesight To The Blind, 10. Christmas, 11. The Acid Queen, 12. Pinball Wizard, 13. Do You Think It’s Alright?, 14. Fiddle About, 15. There’s A Doctor, 16. Go To The Mirror, 17. Smash The Mirror, 18. I’m Free, 19. Tommy’s Holiday Camp, 20. We’re Not Gonna Take It, 21. Shakin’ All Over Woodstock Festival – Saturday, August 16, 1969:1. Heaven And Hell, 2. I Can’t Explain, 3. It’s A Boy, 4. 1921, 5. Amazing Journey, 6. Sparks, 7. Eyesight To The Blind, 8. Christmas, 9. The Acid Queen, 10. Pinball Wizard, 11. Do You Think It’s Alright?, 12. Fiddle About, 13. There’s A Doctor, 14. Go To The Mirror, 15. Smash The Mirror, 16. I’m Free, 17. Tommy’s Holiday Camp, 18. We’re Not Gonna Take It, 19. My Generation, 20. Naked Eye Bonus Footage:  1. “Pictures Of Lily”, 1967 Studio Sessions, 2. “I’m A Boy”, French TV 1968, 3. “Pinball Wizard”, The Tom Jones Show 1969, 4. “Go To The Mirror”, 20 second color clip shot by French TV Crew, Isle Of Wight 1969 Bonus Audio CD:  Live At The Boston Tea Party November 11, 1969    1. Heaven And Hell, 2. I Can’t Explain, 3. Fortune Teller, 4. Young Man Blues, 5. Overture, 6. 1921, 7. Amazing Journey, 8. Sparks, 9. Eyesight To The Blind, 10. Christmas, 11. The Acid Queen, 12. Pinball Wizard, 13. Do You Think It’s Alright?, 14. Fiddle About, 15. Tommy Can You Hear Me?, 16. Go To The Mirror, 17. Smash The Mirror, 18. Miracle Cure, 19. Sally Simpson, 20. I’m Free, 21. Tommy’s Holiday Camp, 22. We’re Not Gonna Take It

A must-have for every Who collector, issued Winter 2005 by 4Reel Productions. This is just a precious and enjoyable DVD that captures a previously unavailable performance by The Who at The Isle Of Wight Festival 1969 (not to be confused with The Who Live at The Isle of Wight Festival 1970).  Interestingly, the black & white footage is shot in the front pit of the stage from the left shooting up at the band.  Obviously “pro-shot” but from a hand-held cam and not from the steadiest of hands either! But that is knit-picking and there’s no need for that with this “classic and historical treasure”.  The angle remains the same for the entire hour-or-so and while we certainly get nice shots throughout of Rog, Pete and John…Keith is unfortunately hidden for nearly the entire performance. Once in awhile our ace camera operator turns to catch an audience shot and surprisingly they are all pretty well-behaved (things would certainly change the following year!).  The footage is clear and wonderful though the video does have some tracking issues during the dubbing execution but it simply doesn’t detract from the goings on at all.  The other interesting aspect to this newly discovered film is that the audio is straight from the professional camera and can only be described as superb audience mono getting the sound coming right off the stage. It’s quite clear and has some nice depth too! Just incredible getting that front row perspective and everything so tame and enjoyable. A real treat. And things only get better. Part 2 of this glorious disc features newly sourced 1st generation from the master, black & white footage from the legendary Woodstock Festival in August of 1969 – this performance from Saturday, August 16th…the wee hours of the morning of the 16th I might add. This is approximately 45 minutes of the most pristine and beautiful black & white footage you will see. What bolsters the whole experience is that it’s synched up with a beefy and wonderful stereo soundboard.  Our producers “fiddle about” with the synching effort at the start but overall it’s a fabulous job and you couldn’t really ask for anything more. Though incomplete, it’s really awesome.  The encores of “My Generation” and “Naked Eye” are taken from an alternate colour pro-shot source and are also excellent quality. Also featured on the DVD are some bonus footage tracks. They are certainly a nice touch, particularly the black & white network, near-master source quality of “Pinball Wizard” from a 1969 This Is Tom Jones TV show.  Another noteworthy thought to share is in regards to the 20-second colour clip from a French TV crew at The Isle Of Wight ’69 Festival that rounds out the disc. When you see this,  you cannot help but think how fun it would be to have more of that footage to edit into the stellar black & white feature on the DVD!  Great stuff abounds at every click with this highly collectible collection 4Reel has provided.  Finally, this set is housed in another stellar looking cardboard foldout DVD Digipack with exceptional artwork choices and layout, ala “The Summit 1975” release last year. Seek this one out. As if the above wasn’t enough for the Who pallet!  4Reel has included a previously unavailable audience tape from their November 11, 1969 performance at The Boston Tea Party as a bonus CD.  A superb inclusion, wonderful cardboard sleeve art and picture disc presentation – securing the collectible grading for this DVD pack in the “must-have” category.  The tape is a very good to excellent stereo audience recording for the era with a little bit of evidence of age…but the recording showcases a very aggressive performance by the band.  Brilliant.