DVD Released: March 29th, 2005
Approximate Running Time: 150 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Full Frame & 1:85:1 non-Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
DVD Release: Sony
Region Coding: Region 1,3,4,5,6 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.98

Over the last thirty years the music industry has adjusted to the various trends while one thing has remained the music of ACDC. The band has replaced several members along the way including replacing their lead singer Bon Scott who would die at the peak of their popularity with the release of their album Highway to Hell. Most bands would have just called it a day and folded up. The remaining members of the band decided to regroup and hire a new lead singer. The bands next album Back in Black would offer the band a chance to pay tribute to their fallen leader Bon Scott and it would go on to sell nearly twenty million copies making it one of the best selling albums of all time. Their sound and image has remained constant through the years as the band goes with the philosophy “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it”. Their videos for the most part are just standard performance clips featuring the band performing or live concert performances. Unlike many other hard rock groups in the 1980’s ACDC always went with a more simple approach when making a music video and in the end they just let the music do all the talking.

Family Jewels collect’s rare clips and videos from three pervious released video collections Fly on The Wall, Who Made Who and Clipped. The real gem of the set is the first disc which is devoted to the late great Bon Scott. By the time I discovered ACDC with their Who Made Who album in 1986 Brian Johnson, Scott’s replacement had already firming established himself as one of rock’s best front men. So many of us who had never seen Bon Scott the consummate showman perform watching these rare performances are a dream comes true. The second disc contains ACDC’s most creative and ambitious video productions to date. Overall this collection is non-stop rock & roll music with no interviews or filler in between the songs. ACDC is a true original that never followed trends and always respected the rock.

Disc One The Bon Scott Years 1975-1979: Baby Please Don’t Go, Show Business, High Voltage, It’s A Long Way To The Top, T.N.T., Jailbreak, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Problem Child, Dog Eat Dog, Let There Be Rock, Rock N Roll Damnation, Sin City, Riff Raff, Fling Thing/Rocker, Whole Lotta Rosie, Shot Down In Flames, Touch Too Much, If You Want Blood, Girls Got Rhythm, Highway To Hell

Disc Two The Brian Johnson Years 1980-1990: Hells Bells, Back In Black, What do You do For Moneny Honey, Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution, Let’s Get It Up, For Those About To Rock, Flick Of The Switch, Nervous Shakedown, Fly On The Wall, Danger, Sink The Pink, Stand Up, Shake Your Foundations, Who Made Who, You Shook Me All Night Long, Heatseeker, That’s Why I Wanna Rock & Roll, Thunderstruck, Money Talks, Are You Ready

The DVD:

All the video clips included in his collection are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratios except Sin City, Fly on the Wall, Danger, Sink the Pink, Stand up and Shake Your Foundations are all presented in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The colors are nicely saturated and the flesh tones look healthy. There are no problems with compression or edge enhancement. There is some minor print damage during some of the T.V. performances and video clips featuring Bon Scott, still is never becomes so distracting as to take away from the quality of the band’s performances. I have seen many of these videos several times through the years via MTV or the home video releases Fly on the Wall, Who Made Who & Clipped video releases and this is the best I have ever seen these video look. Considering the rarity and age of some of these clips the overall quality of this release will amaze even the most hardcore ACDC fan. This DVD release comes with only one audio option a Dolby Digital Stereo English audio track. The sound never sounds distorted and there are no problems with hiss or other audio defects. The overall quality of the audio mix is pleasing as the sound is robust and all the speakers get a full work out. A few extras have also been included for this release including ACDC full discography and a twenty four page booklet that contains an informative essay written by David Fricke about the history of band. Family Jewels, is packed with nearly three hours of down and dirty rock & roll. This collection of videos besides offering a rare glimpse into the Bon Scott era of the band proves that even after all these years that ACDC still kicks ass and takes no prisoners.