ALIVE - CLASSIC HITS TOUR

The main reason to give value to this concert DVD is the fact that (as far as I and PA know) there simply aren't any 10cc DVD's featuring the band in its glory days. Filmed in 1993, this features only Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman from the classic line-up. Not that it should necessarily matter so much, but I felt this concert to be rather dull and lifeless, as if there wasn't a real 10cc on stage but just a tribute band led by Stewart who wears sun glasses and remains sort of distanced from the audience. Like the rest of the players, bass-playing Gouldman is almost out of the picture all the time, except when he sings (with audible uncertainty) the Beatles cover 'Across the Universe'. Both camera work and stage setting lack any inspiration. DVD doesn't include any extra material and even the concert representation gives an impression of low-budget release. If I remember right, there were some misspellings on track titles.

As the title suggests, this is mostly a cavalcade of their most accessible (and less artistic and original) stuff, hits like 'Things We Do for Love', reggaeish 'Dreadlock Holiday', sleek 'I'm Not in Love' and Slade-reminding 'Rubber Bullets'. I can't say to be an advanced 10cc connoisseur, but to me there weren't many highlights. Sadly the choise from my fave album How Dare You! is probably its dullest track 'Art for Art's Sake'. The playing is OK and maybe towards the end the contact with the audience gets a bit warmer, but frankly I got bored on the way there. Not recommended, listen to their classic albums instead.