Paul Rodgers – Live in Glasgow (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

What can be said about Paul Rodgers that hasn’t been said already? His recording career started in 1968 with Free and he has consistently put out quality product ever since, which includes this DVD. Live in Glasgow was filmed in October 2006 and is more than just a live version of greatest hits set. Sure, you do get some of the hits like Bad Company, Wishing Well, and Feel Like Makin’ Love but you also get some more obscure tracks like Radioactive (I know, it was a hit for The Firm but it certainly isn’t a classic) and Warboys which made it onto his last project The Cosmos Rocks by Queen + Paul Rogers. What you get here is an artist who is performing on his own terms. If you are a Free fan, then you will definitely be happy with the song selection here because more than half is culled from his days with Paul Kossoff and company. I think it’s great that Paul has decided to really dig into his past and show us where he came from but I was a little shocked at the lack of Bad Company songs. Of the 17 song set, only 4 tunes come from that period of his life. Anyway, that is a minor quibble considering the quality of the songs and the performance. Since Paul was more of a natural singer as opposed to a screamer like Robert Plant, his voice has held up beautifully over the years. He still possesses a great set of pipes and this DVD shows that he can manage material from any period of his career.

Now, I’ve talked about the music but since this is a DVD, I must note that it is a joy to watch. It was beautifully filmed in a venue that not only gave the music a wonderful sound but also great sightlines. The stage is a good size to give the performers and cameramen room to move and capture all the action. The editing is more in line with older releases in that it focuses on a person for a bit before moving on to the next person. Recent DVDs do quick cut-away making for difficult viewing (in my humble opinion). My only real complain for this whole package is that the bonus material is pretty weak. We get an interview with Paul which is good but the rest of the band is interviewed also and that is not as interesting. Also, fans are interviewed and to me, this is the worst thing you can add. I know Paul has some long time fans and they are only going to show the ones that gush over the man. I could do without that and instead, some other footage would have been better. I realize I am being a bit harsh on the bonus material as it is an extra but we, the consumer, have been conditioned to expect cool little bits and this DVD doesn’t really have any. As my final thought on this release, I recommend it very highly for the main feature and it would be a great addition to your DVD collection, just don’t expect much in the way of bonus goodies.

Greg Olma