Classic songs like "Cry To Me," "Georgia On My Mind," Proud Mary," and "A Change Is Going To Come" were all reduced to safe and tame renditions that didn't do the originals any justice. It's like he's gentrified them to make them safe for as a mass an audience as possible so he can revel in the role that he's created for himself as "King of Soul."
The packaging of the DVD isn't bad with the usual making of and behind the scene features glorifying the event and the performers. Some of the other performers have been interesting – John Hiatt is always amazing – but some are the likes of former Spice Girl Melanie C. and other bland pop stars of similar pedigree. It's very much like some sort of Las Vegas in Switzerland.
When it comes right down to it there is far more of Sammy Davis Junior to Solomon Burke then there is Sam & Dave, and this disc reflects that. This is one of those cases where the Godfather definitely wins out over the King. James Brown can rest easy – he had more soul in his little finger than Solomon Burke has in all of his three hundred plus pounds.
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