Cat. No. DVD 1241: RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE ~ VARIOUS ARTISTS. GRAPEVINE VIDEO.
FORMAT: NTSC REGION: ALL
BLACK & WHITE RUNNING TIME: 129 MINS.
REVIEW: Rhythm & Blues Revue is a collection of exciting R&B performances from the mid 1950s filmed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York City. The show is hosted by Willie Bryant who keeps things moving. Some of the artists include Lionel Hampton (unk. Inst), Faye Adams (Everyday), Amos Milburn (Bad Bad Whiskey), The Larks (rocked up version of The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise), Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie (unk.inst.), Big Joe Turner (live version of Shake, Rattle & Roll), The Delta Rhythm Boys, Martha Davis, Nat “King” Cole, Cab Calloway (Minnie The Moocher) & Ruth Brown (Raining Teardrops From My Eyes). All these performances are interwoven with dance and comedy skits. The equality is very good for it’s vintage.
Although the second part of the DVD, states that it is the Basin St. Revue (1956) it appears to be simply a part of the Rhythm & Blues Revue. Most of the performers are wearing the same clothes as the Rhythm & Blues Revue also a number of the performers indicated as starring in the Basin St. Revue are the same as Rhythm & Blues Revue but some do not appear and are replaced by three other acts namely, Jimmy Brown with the Paul Williams Orch., The Clovers and Coles and Atkins, a singing and dancing duo. Once again the revue is hosted by Willie Bryant and interwoven with comedy skits and features Lionel Hampton (Ding Dong Baby), Sarah Vaughn (Not The Kind Of Boy), Jimmy Brown (My True Love), Martha Davis (We Just Couldn’t Say Goodbye), Amos Milburn (Bewildered), Faye Adams (with Jimmy Brown) ( Somebody Somewhere), The Clovers (Lovey Dovey), Sarah Vaughn (For A Lifetime), Cole & Atkins (tap dance routine) (Be Bop), Herb Jeffries (A Woman Is A Worrying Thing) and Cab Calloway (Galaway Boogie).
The third part of the DVD features seven short films. The first three are shorts of Maurice Rocco performing “Beat My Daddy”, Bob Howard performing “She’s Too Hot To Handle” and Noble Sissle performing “Everybody’s Jumpin’ Now”, the four remaining shorts are very forgettable dance routines from Artie Young, Frances Grey and Doris Ake and Avanel and Mildred. Please Note: The Rhythm & Blues Revue appears on “Rock’n’Soul – 20 Great Music Shows” DVD set. Mustang Cat # DVD 1182.
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