DVD Review - AC/DC: Family Jewels - Page 2

Family Jewels is a chronological journey through AC/DC’s career with videos and live footage of the band’s most well-known songs. Many of the material on disc one has probably never been seen by the casual fan except for bits and pieces such as when VH1’s AC/DC Behind The Music showed bits from “Baby, Please Don’t Go” which opens disc one. It’s mainly notable due to Bon Scott’s ridiculous schoolgirl outfit even down to the panties he wears. Bon Scott in drag was a scary thing.

There isn’t a bum note at all on disc one, it’s all highlights, but some stand out more than others: Angus and his Chuck-Berry-on-speed act during “T.N.T.”, the footage of the band playing “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)” in the back of a flat bed truck, “Let There Be Rock” filmed in a church with Bon Scott as the minister and Angus wearing a halo, and the horror shock end of “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)" where the front cover of that album is recreated.

Disc two begins with four videos filmed for Back In Black all during what looks to be a tour rehearsal. The songs are great, but the antiseptic nature of the performance footage all done on a soundstage is rather dull. This is remedied by the time we get to “Let’s Get It Up” which is actual live footage, but the sound is muddy. The videos from the Flick Of The Switch album are again rehearsal space videos. The only really noticeable change being the departure of Philip Rudd (am I the only one who feels the music got worse faster after he exited the band?) from the drummer’s chair. AC/DC were never too big on the idea of making videos (they did name an entire album Blow Up Your Video) so the lack of MTV style from this time frame is understandable.

When they did decide to enter the video heavy rotation sweepstakes, unfortunately an entire suite of film was created for the Fly On The Wall album. I found myself wishing for the plot free performance shots from before. The disc concludes with the career rejuvenating “Thunderstruck” and “Money Talks” period.

Sony has done a nice job with this release. Family Jewels sounds great and the video footage is as shiny as a new penny. The only complaint might be that there are no extras, but with over rwo and a half hours of footage and priced under $15 who needs extras. I was bouncing around the house like a lunatic after watching it; felt like I was 14 again. In an odd twist I’ve grown up to be against letting kids wear rock and roll T shirts to school. I favor uniforms and while some may say it’s because I’m against letting the kids express themselves, I think it’s still a case of being influenced by AC/DC. Here’s to Angus. Let there be rock!!!

Article Author: Wally Bangs

Visit Wally Bangs's author page — Wally Bangs's Blog