Remastered in 5.1 surround, the listener is seated at the head table of a joyous occasion. Its truly an audiophile feast served up with generous helpings of ragtime, folk, boogie and even funk.

As with most 5.1 live recordings , the soundtrack to "The Last Waltz" uses the rear channels sparingly thus saving them for the rebounding echo that comes from typical concert hall acoustics. On the original release, the acoustics are swallowed up by the spaciousness of the room. On the DVD-A version, Levon Helm's drum kit drives the subwoofer with sharp rapid punches of bass. Robertson's tone sparkles like burnished gold. All the nuances of Danko's vocals come through with the majesty of an entire gospel choir. If there's one failing, its in the keyboard mix. Garth Hudson's contribution is a little light in the mix and should've been eased up a little.

This recording also comes in a high resolution stereo format just in case your system isn't capable of surround sound. Important to note: this is a DVD-A disc meaning it will NOT waltz in your cd player. Surprisingly enough; I rather enjoyed the still photographs included as a menu option. Where the film exploited stumbled failings and apparent discomfort....the photographs all captured moments of bliss and mutual respect...

With that said; I prefer the music to the drama. The Band's legacy is best remembered through their music. As a film, "The Last Waltz" is best viewed as a documentary of excess and endearing discomfort.

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