Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute To Cole Porter (2006)

The wildly successful Red Hot + Blue project, featuring such world-class artists as U2, Annie Lennox, Tom Waits, and Sinead O’Connor, and such acclaimed directors as Wim Wenders, Alex Cox, and Jonathan Demme, is finally being released with the care that it deserves. Originally issued in 1990, the Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute To Cole Porter album created massive media attention for AIDS relief and became the first release in a 15-album series. An eclectic musical homage to the legendary songwriter Cole Porter, it went platinum, spent 24 weeks on the Billboard charts, and generated $3 million dollars for AIDS charities worldwide, but its companion piece, a VHS collection of music videos, was somewhat relegated to the shadows. That changes with the 2-disc Special Edition package of Red Hot + Blue, which contains all the music videos on a DVD and the album, complete with a much-needed remastering, on a CD, both in the same package.
DVD Program Listing:
1. David Byrne—Don’t Fence Me In
2. Neneh Cherry—I’ve Got U Under My Skin
3. Jimmy Somerville—From This Moment On
4. Jody Watley—After You, Who?
5. Salif Keita—Begin The Beguine
6. Erasure—Too Darn Hot
7. Sinead O’Connor—You Do Something To Me
8. The Jungle Brothers—I Get A Kick Out Of You
9. The Neville Brothers—In The Still Of The Night
10. k.d. lang—So In Love
11. Les Negresses Vertes—I Love Paris
12. Aztec Camera—Do I Love You?
13. Debbie Harry & Iggy Pop—Well, Did You Evah!
14. Lisa Stansfield—Down In The Depths
15. Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues—Miss Otis Regrets / Just One Of Those Things
16. Tom Waits—It’s All Right With Me
17. U2—Night And Day
18. Annie Lennox—Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye
19. Bill Irwin—Comedy Sketches
20. Annie Lennox—Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (Live on VH1 Honors)

Plus bonus remastered CD with the same tracks in a different running order

Good all around

Excellent purchase. Classics revisited and redone in the late eighties by various artists. Annie Lennox's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" is perhaps one of the best songs she has performed. Iggie Pop and Debbie Harry are hilarious. The DVD has videos for many of these songs that I forgot even existed. The video from Tom Waites is surreal. August 23, 2007

No Problems here

I was skeptical when I read some of the reviews here. However when I viewed my copy, It was great, just as my original VHS tape. It is an important piece of work, even today. We should not forget until a cure has been found.
March 8, 2007

(UNFORTUNATELY) DATED AND (UNFORTUNATELY) STILL POIGNANT

You can learn a lot from watching the new DVD release of "Red, Hot and Blue." One is the importance of safe sex. Another is the uncanny resemblance between k.d. lang and Roddy Frame.
This 2-Disk collection (which contains the DVD, plus a CD with all of the music), which originally dates circa 1990, compiles some very interesting interpretations of Cole Porter songs as performed by a wide variety of artists. Because of his own sexuality, the choice of Porter's songs may distract from the important point that AIDS is not a `Gay' disease, but it also communicates the need for open-minded awareness and non-prejudicial intelligence, especially as it regards to a health issue of universal scope. While the artistry of these interpretations varies widely, the entertainment factor is fairly consistent. For example, Sinead O'Connor's version of "You Do Something to Me" is fair to middling, but if you ever wondered how attractive she would be if she grew out her hair, here's your answer. Erasure may not be one of my favorite artists, but their video and recording of "Too Damn Hot" is a coy highlight of the DVD. Iggy Pop's pairing with Debbie Harry is an absolute hoot, as is Jim Jarmusch's video for Tom Waits' version of "It's All Right with Me". Other highlights are Neneh Cherry's ultra-pithy recording of "I've Got You Under My Skin," and the ever-reliable Annie Lennox, whose video for "Every Time We Say Goodbye" may move you to tears. The world may have since forgotten about Jody Watley (a winner of the `Best New Artist' Grammy in 1990) and Lisa Stansfield, but they both provide excellent material for this project.
One interesting (and depressing) observation is how the politics and statistics presented during the course of the program have not aged at all, while the careers of a few of the performers have fared much worse. While the number of deaths in other than third-world countries has subsided, the number of people infected by AIDS has increased spookily in accordance with the predictions. Because of this shift, it feels as though our political focus on this disease has shifted as well. The media addressed AIDS with some regularity when American and/or European artists were among its highly visible victims. Today, hard economics decide who survives and who dies, with poor countries struggling to prevent the disease from ravaging their population. Proceeds from the sale of this collection benefit AIDS research and relief, so here's an opportunity to reminisce, be entertained, and provide assistance where it is most needed. A- Tom Ryan May 20, 2006

Red Hot & Not Blue Tribute

I was glad I purchased this set. I think the imagining was abit soft but the picture quality did not lack at all. I did like the varied videos along with the CD mixture. There were a few stand outs U2, k.d. Lang, Salif Keita's, The Neville Brothers, Annie Lennox.

It was not a waste of time I thought but money well spent. I was not disappointed at all but with a slight imagining issue that is not overt to most eyes. The songs & text was a mixed bag that also was in the underlying issue of AIDS and I felt it did a good overall job and enjoyed them both. Recommended. May 10, 2006

red hot + blue died and gone to heaven

it took them 15 years but it was about time that they did a clever mix of a dvd music video with the classic original extra songs included in with the cd and well worth the wait.

i found the quality excellent and liked the fact of the different styles of musicians and celebrities through the entire compilations to enhance in a blend of great interpretive songs/gems from the exceptionally talented songwriter cole porter.

the overall, i see was high in content and extras and for a good cause of course with excellent art form to boot. it's content talking about education, take precaution with history and current news on aids with people different takes with music videos. some examples were richard gere, john malkovich, debbie harry, annie lennox and others which also did brief clips with these people in between the music videos to break up the songs.

of course, the premise of this is for sales, music, help and awareness and i found the talks were not intrusive but brief and with interesting points from each person. i liked all the music videos but the ones that stood out the best to me were kd lang, sinaed o'connor, lisa stansfield, neneh cherry, annie lennox and the beautifully sung "do i love you" remix from aztec camera.

it's definately an interesting mix of sounds from various types of musical artists but i enjoyed the balance and think it was well worth the price for everything.

i would highly recommend it and found it a timeless treasure at home or on the road... May 7, 2006

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