REO Speedwagon Live.

Recorded "live" in 2000, at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis. Engineer: Claus Trelby. Silverline 288064.

As usual for those who do not have a DVD-A player this DVD-A release also includes Dolby digital tracks at 448 kbps. There are no DTS alternate tracks.

Overall the sound is quite spacious, and as with the Lynyrd Skynyrd disc reviewed above, the DD tracks tended to sound a bit richer and fuller than the DVD-A tracks. The reason probably involved the same bass-management issues. Also like with the Lynyrd Skynyrd disc, the lack of distance compensation with the DVD-A tracks did not seem to work any hardship on the sound, probably because the presentation was not trying to simulate a live-music experience--in spite of this being a "live" recording.

While not exactly a studio recording, the on-site sound was more enveloping and modem sounding than what I have been hearing lately from the spate of reissues that Silverline has been regurgitating in 5.1 form from earlier (sometimes much earlier) pop-music two-channel originals. Rather than chaotically spattering instruments all over the place (which is moronically typical with a lot of pop 5.1 releases), here we have the performers up front, with live-concert reverb and audience noises coming from the surround speakers. In other words, a decidedly more mature effort than most. Overall, it came across as a pretty good recording, although a CD version with some DSP ambiance simulation (Dolby Pro Logic II, for instance) would probably sound just as good.

The disc includes a live video of one of the songs (in DD), liner notes, artist photos, and interviews with the principles that showed them to be more articulate, intelligent, and candid than your average rock musician.