"Actor: Mark McEwen"

• K.D. Lang - Live By Request | DVD | (24/09/2001) from £7.99   |  Saving you £7.00 (87.61%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Live by Request is, most certainly, a live recording of KD Lang, though nobody in the audience seems to do much requesting. Taped in December 2000 in New York, it shows Lang and her band before a smallish audience, rattling out a few of her better-known songs and some of Lang's generally creditable readings of standards, in between interruptions from a host who walks Lang through brief discussions of her career and influences. Listening to Lang sing is, of course, no hardship: few indeed are the vocalists who can mix it with the legacies of Roy Orbison ("Crying") and Patsy Cline ("Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray") and emerge with dignity intact, never mind reputation enhanced. That said, whatever intensity there may have been about the show on the night has not translated to this recording, and this is little more than a succession of polite performances greeted by polite applause. On the DVD: The picture format is the 4:3 television standard, and there are three sound modes to choose from (Dolby Digital Surround, DTS Surround, PCM Stereo). The menu of songs is easily navigable, but there are disappointingly no bonus features. --Andrew Mueller

• Chicago - Live By Request | DVD | (01/03/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  One of the most popular touring and recording artists of all time Chicago has been around the world a dozen times but few concerts compare with a special 2002 show in New York City. The band took the stage without a pre planned set list instead allowing listeners across the United States to call in or email requests. Celebrating 35 years of making music Chicago performed 14 fan favourites in their 'Live By Request' concert special for the A&E network. The live audience was tr