WHAM! In China: Foreign Skies DVD (1985)

(Remaster from LaserDisc to DVD)

This "Remaster from LaserDisc to DVD" is on line at Music Video Resource and the description below along with any photos of the DVD has been used with permission by Music Video Resource. 

Remasters: LaserDisc to DVD

This special category from MVR displays all the music video collections and live concerts that have been digitally remastered in both picture and sound from the original LaserDiscs with digital audio converted to Dolby Digital 2.0 Sound on DVD. In most cases these titles were offered only on LaserDisc exclusively with some also released in the VHS format. Check individual descriptions for original format history of each title along with track listings and photo of MVR’s exclusive artwork. Each DVD in this series includes beautifully customized artwork that mimics the theme of the original art work that was made exclusively for the LaserDisc release. ALL of these titles offered here have NEVER been released on DVD until now! An entire exclusive selection from your team at MVR.

Technical note for ideal listening: If your DVD Player has an optical out and is connected to your amplifier that has a built in decoder in your home entertainment system; you will experience the true dynamic range of the original digital audio recording.

WHAM! In China: Foreign Skies DVD (1985)(Remaster from LaserDisc to DVD)

Released exclusively on the long since discontinued and deleted formats of  VHS, Betamax, VHD and LaserDisc. This particular release has NEVER been available on DVD until NOW!

This REMASTERED DVD is sourced directly from the original high quality LaserDisc to DVD for the first time ever! Quality is unmatched as it transferred from the long since deleted LaserDisc from OVER THIRTY SEVEN years ago.

Background information: Originally this documentary/Live performance collection was released on LaserDisc in 1986. The LaserDisc format was only available in Japan and America no other countries. The VHS however was more widely available and released also 1986 in the United Kingdom as well as Japan along with Australia and New Zealand.

Some audiophiles and sound purists argue that unless the remastering process includes completely “lossless” compression of audio that no matter how it may be converted/processed, it still is compressed audio thus producing some say a more audibly muddled sound. This is due to the lessening of the dynamic range between the loudest and quietest parts of the audio signal thus producing some distortion and a clipping audio effect. The DVD offered here is sourced from the LaserDisc from 1986. Because of the large 12 inch size of the LaserDisc format it can easily support the amount of physical space required to successfully playback large uncompressed sound and in this case even digitally remastered in uncompressed form. This Remastered DVD  features the original completely uncompressed digitally remastered audio recording allowing the original true recorded mix to come alive as it was originally intended to be heard in optimum sound quality. This original mix featured with completely uncompressed audio is exclusively preserved here and available in it's original intended state of production for the very first time on DVD.

COMPATIBILITY: Region FREE Playable on ALL DVD Players WORLD WIDE

Description:  An In-Depth look at the band during their first trip to China. George Michael and Andrew Ridgely tour China with their group WHAM! as the first Western band to tour the Communist country, beating out Queen for the privilege. Director Lindsay Anderson was the surprise choice to chronicle Wham!'s tour of Communist China, taking in performances in Hong Kong, Beijing and Canton for a two week period in the month of April, 1985.

George Michael gained artistic control over the film, Wham!'s management decided to fire Anderson - a move which saw the editing team quit in protest. In October of that year the film was hastily recut, renamed and released as Wham! In China: Foreign Skies. It received its world premiere at Wembley Stadium ahead of Wham!'s farewell concert The Final on June 28th in front of a record-breaking 72,000 spectators.

Several sequences depicting everyday China possess the unmistakable visual eye and compositional skills of Anderson, but in the context of the subject matter overall, they're just travelogue pieces; beautiful evocative ones. The real heart of the film has to be Wham! George Michael often appears to be, with Ridgeley arguably the only one happy to participate and play before the camera, getting them to accompany him buying clothes in the marketplace or showing off his football skills in a friendly with the members of the British Embassy.

There's a particularly hilariously pointed needle-drop during the scene in which Wham! are guests at the British Embassy; when the ambassador is heard to say something like "let's go into the garden and have drinks", their hit Club Tropicana arrives on the soundtrack with its opening lyrics "Let me take you to the place, where membership's a smiling face". I'm guessing this was not an original feature of Anderson's edit!

But what this film is most emphatically of all is a striking time capsule. The concert footage assembled is remarkably solid, both in its ability to showcase Michael and Ridgeley at the peak of their powers and also the reaction a Western pop group initiated in such a previously sheltered Communist country.

TRACK LISTING

1. Bad Boys
2. Club Tropicana
3. Blue
4. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
5. Ray Of Sunshine
6. Young Guns (Go For It)
7. Careless Whisper
8. Everything She Wants
9. Like A Baby
10. Runaway (cover version of the Del Shannon song)
11. Love Machine

The Band

Featuring – Andrew Ridgeley
Featuring, Producer, Arranged By – George Michael
Guitar – Hugh Burns
Bass Guitar – Deon Estus
Drums – Trevor Murrell
Percussion – Danny Cummings
Saxophone – Dave Baptiste
Trumpet – Paul Spong, Raul D'Oliveira

Tour Crew

Make-Up – Melanie Panos
Presenter – Jazz Summers, Simon Napier-Bell
Wardrobe – Yioda Panos
Photography – Alvin Allen, Dennis Smith, Lee Kenower, Paula Goldsmith and Peter MacKay

Production Crew

Directed By – Lindsay Anderson
Film Editor – Finn Arden, Len Tremble, Mark Mostyn, Peter Culverwell
Edited By – Nigel Galt
Cameraman – Bobby Shepherd, George Stephenson, Leslie Otis, Paul Cameron
Cameraman [Technician] – Ernest Jew
Design [Lightning] – Jonathan Smeeton
Production Manager [Concert] – Benny Collins
Sound Designer [Documentary] – Paul Rusnak
Gaffer – James Sofranko
Grip – Bill Moore

Management [Assistant] – Siobhan Bailey
Management [Location] – Joel Hinman
Management [Tour Assistant] – Stella Y Nelson
Management [Tour] – Jake Duncan (2)
Public Relations – Connie Filippello
Advisor [Financial] – Leigh Genis

Total Running Time: 1 Hour 2 Minutes

COMPATIBILITY: Region FREE Playable on ALL DVD Players WORLD WIDE

Description above used with permission from the on line site Music Video Resource. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Photo/photos used in this auction of the DVD were provided with permission by Music Video Resource on line. Please note: The DVD normally is $18.99 PLUS SHIPPING. I am offering the item at cost with FREE SHIPPING. Considering that cost and savings, I think that the opening offered amount is more than fair. Feel free to visit Music Video Resource on line and confirm the price for yourself. Thanks.

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This is a natural addition for any avid collector or devotee as you will NOT see this particular type of collectable likely to be offered elsewhere on Ebay as it was purchased online at Music Video Resource. 

CONDITION: We have checked this DVD and it is in perfect working order. So be sure to make us a seller favorite as we have 100’s of these DVD Singles or Collections that we will be offering from various bands and artists spanning the years. EACH DVD is BRAND NEW and NOT sealed. They were never sealed as they are not full length CD or albums. They are PROMOTIONAL DVD’s. In Ebay’s “Brand New Section” it says “if applicable” and it is not applicable here as it pertains to being specifically sealed because (once again) this item was never sealed. We wanted to be clear so there is no confusion to you, the potential buyer. They have been used and “pre-owned” with a minimal to no wear at all. Item has only been played a few times including the time to ensure playback capability.

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These types of promotional DVD’s that are created by the various record companies are used for marketing purposes and general visual promotion of the particular music videos of the said band or artist. They are 100% OFFICIAL copies that have been acquired directly from mainly Record Companies, Director’s Reels and the artists/bands that produced them. 

All releases, licenses, clearances as well as promotional considerations are courtesy of one or more of the following: record companies, directors, the specified band or artist or managers any and all of which submitted the material for the intent of visual marketing for the record and/or CD for the purposes of promotion.


Important information about this product:

When you purchase this DVD you are purchasing only the physical DVD and agree that you are NOT purchasing rights to the music or the right to copy and/or redistribute any of the material you receive. This is a Promotional DVD of an official music video compilation and/or concert as specified above and is NOT a bootleg. You are paying for production time, handling and software. The music itself is free and is meant to be used for Promotional and or Marketing Use Only. The music is provided on a promotional only basis by the Record Label, band/artist and is intended solely to increase the promotion, marketing and sales of said band or artist via marketing of this DVD. It is important to understand that when purchasing this DVD that you are NOT receiving any fair use rights to the music as you do when you purchase a regular album. 


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