Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]

Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]
by Hamish Hamilton

Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]

List Price: ~~$14.90~~
Our Price: $14.86
You Save: $10.08 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Blu-ray
See more Blu-ray details

Buy this Blu-ray movie at online store in your country
Canada

Blu-ray details

Actor: Neil Diamond
Director: Hamish Hamilton
Brand: Sony
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 143 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2010-02-23
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 62712
Studio: Columbia
Product features:

1. Holly Holy (Live At Madison Square Garden).2. Beautiful Noise (Live At Madison Square Garden).3. Street Life (Live At Madison Square Garden).4. Love On The Rocks (Live At Madison Square Garden).5. Play Me (Live At Madison Square Garden).6. Cherry Cherry (Live At Madison Square Garden).7. Thank You Lord For The Night Time (Live At Madison Square Garden).8. Home Before Dark (Live At Madison Squar

Blu-ray Reviews of Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]

Blu-ray Review: Diamond sparkles ----what a beautiful noise !
Summary: 5 Stars

First off, let me say this, never mind what else you've read, this blu ray disc's surround audio is very good, not perfect but say a 4 or a 4 1/2 out of 5. I played it on a PS 3 connected HDMI to a digital amp with ability to decode the usual and the more recent audio formats and have this to report. The LPCM 2.0 output played through the stereo mode of the amp is satisfactory but nothing to shout about -- stable sound imaging, but congested with slightly boomy bass at higher volume. The Dolby True HD 5.1 output when I perversely played it through the 2 channel mode of the amp sounded worse. The sound was muffled with poor stereo image and sounded awful enough for me to switch off in a hurry. But this same True HD 5.1.output when properly decoded and played through the 5.1. mode of the amp brought back the smile to my face. The differential output through the various speakers varies of course with the track played but generally is about 20-25% each from R and L front, 15-20% subwoofer, 10-15% each from R and L rear speakers and only 10-15% from the central speaker. Despite this timid output from the centre however, the stereo imaging from the 2 front speakers is excellent and the vocals from Diamond and the backup singers are easily discernible even with the full band playing, down to the last p's and t's and sibilants. This type of mix is much preferable to one with a strong centre speaker output which overwhelms and destroys the stereo illusion (for audiophiles getting a centre speaker is akin to getting the bubonic plague). The interesting thing about this particular 5.1 mix is that whilst it uses the centre sparingly as an in between "filler", it uses it more as an ambience channel. Listen to tracks with strong audience noise like claps and whistles and sing-alongs and you'll notice strong ambient noise coming from the centre. This, I think is to convey the illusion of sitting in the front row facing the stage in the gold fish bowl that is Madison Square Garden where of course the ambient noise surrounds you 360 degrees ! Good sound then and not a bad sound stage either.
The video quality is more of a mixed bag. When the lighting is just right you get the high def picture you expect from a blu ray but oftentimes when Diamond moves to a darker area the picture is noticeably softer and some long shots of the audience in poor light show up fuzzy and grainy. A 4 out of 5 perhaps.
But nitpicking aside it is the performance that matters most, and man can this guy perform ! Whether it is in the all out sock-it-to-'em numbers such as Holly Holly, Cherry Cherry, Crunchy Granola Suite and Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show, or in the declamatory I am...I Said, or the syrupy Sweet Caroline or the intimate You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Neil Diamond sizzles, the band is hot and the audience laps everything up clamoring for more, more. What a night. Diamond seldom ever disappoints in a live concert, and this performance is a real gem, 5 carats and all of flawless.

Write your own review

More Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray] reviews:
1 2 3

Description of Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]

Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 02/09/2010

Bestsellers in DVD

The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image

The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]
Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video

Wresting With God [VHS] Image

Wresting With God [VHS]
by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$19.99~~

Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS] Image

Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]
Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: ~~$44.00~~

Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS] Image

Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/Party Video [VHS] Image

Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video

Strike the Original Match [VHS]
New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$14.95~~

Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image

Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]
JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99

Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008 Image

Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008
by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops: ~~$1,463.24~~

Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User Image

Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User
by Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops: ~~$1,463.24~~

Cost Accounting [VHS] Image

Cost Accounting [VHS]
by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video

Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs

Neil Diamond - Greatest Hits Live
Sony; Release date: 1997-10-01; DVD
Best price: $6.32
Price in other shops: ~~$11.98~~

Hit Man: David Foster And Friends [Blu-ray]
WEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2009-03-17; Blu-ray
Best price: $15.71
Price in other shops: ~~$24.99~~

Neil Diamond: Thank You Australia Concert - Live 1976
Universal Studios; Release date: 2008-07-01; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

REO Speedwagon: Live in the Heartland [Blu-ray]
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2011-09-06; Blu-ray
Best price: $12.32
Price in other shops: ~~$17.97~~

Peter Cetera with Special Guest Amy Grant: Live in Concert... [Blu-ray]
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2011-12-06; Blu-ray
Best price: $10.97
Price in other shops: ~~$17.97~~

Foreigner: Live [Blu-ray]
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2011-07-12; Blu-ray
Best price: $11.00
Price in other shops: ~~$14.97~~

Paul Simon and Friends [Blu-ray]
Universal; Release date: 2009-06-02; Blu-ray
Best price: $17.55
Price in other shops: ~~$28.99~~

Elton John: Elton 60 - Live At Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]
Uni; Release date: 2007-12-04; Blu-ray
Best price: $14.01
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium [Blu-ray]
Sony; Release date: 2011-04-05; Blu-ray
Best price: $15.18
Price in other shops: ~~$24.98~~

America: Live in Chicago [Blu-ray]
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2011-09-06; Blu-ray
Best price: $10.56
Price in other shops: ~~$17.97~~