Music Television
this week we are GROOVING! tw: line dancin'
Back in late November, I digitized the first of several line dancing tapes I’ve had kicking around for awhile, and some of y’all let me know that you were VERY interested. Since then, I’ve picked up another, so I thought it would be a great time to share what I’ve got, including a double feature of Melanie Greenwood!
In addition, I’ve got two tapes featuring just music and nature footage (a favorite of mine and many readers of this blog), and a quick, 25 minute long bootleg oddity.
In the mid 90s, Juice Newton was working on a series of duets featuring some of the most popular touring and recording artists of years past, but due to legal issues with licensing the tracks, the whole project was scrapped. Just a year later, however, bootleg copies of the sessions started popping up in music stores, being sold as Platinum & Gold Volumes 7 and 8.
Platinum & Gold was an established name in compilation albums since the mid 80s. A typical P&G volume would be an aggregate of a couple years of pop or rock radio’s biggest hits, often in a multi record or dual CD set. As far as I can tell, there’s no real information about how the Dream Sessions became available on the market for consumers, or how it ended up branded with the Platinum & Gold name, but today I have something pretty special: a behind-the-scenes look at the recording process.
The footage provided on this 25 minute tape was filmed with the intention to be edited into an television infomercial that would be aired in support of the album, but when the project was cancelled outright, my understanding is that the footage was never meant to see the light of day. Thankfully, you can watch it for free on Archive.org right now!
So whether you enjoy new age ambiance or honkytonk, pop music or classical, we’ve got a little something for everyone. Let’s get right into the tapes!
Kitaro: The Light Of The Spirit
1997 | Runtime 49 Minutes
Spanning a celebrated career of nearly 30 years, Kitaro is a Grammy nominated, international composer and recording artist world renowned for his unique style of contemplative, progressive, and ethereal synthesizer music. His instrumental themes capture the imagination and inspire harmony between the spirit and the environment. Co-produced with Grateful Dead drummer, Mickey Hart, The Light of the Spirit blends cinematic melodies and images from nature to explore spiritual aspects of the life cycle. Featuring an ensemble of musicians and digitally remastered tracks, The Light of the Spirit is an enthralling exploration of melodic imagery, and includes the Grammy nominated song "The Field".
The Grand Canyon National Park
Spectacular HELICOPTER Exploration Through 2 Billion Years
1986 | Runtime 60 Minutes
Featuring The Music of: (In order of performance)
Albinoni: "Adagio", Dvorak: "Symphony No. 9, Allegro Con Fuoco" (excerpt), Deuter: Divine Dust" (excerpt), Klaus Schulze: "Friedrich Nietzsche" (excerpt), Richard Wagner: "Siegfried's Funeral Music", "Tannhauser - Overture" (excerpt), Kitaro: “Magical Sand Dance”
Platinum & Gold: The Making Of The Dream Sessions
1998 | Runtime 25 Minutes
In 1995, Newton recorded a double-album of pop duets (which was slated to be sold via infomercial), but the project was riddled with legal issues, resulting in a low-impact, "accidental" release of the "Platinum & Gold" series of duets in the early 2000s (the CD set was released without Newton's permission). Subsequently, bootleg CDs including most of the duets turned up on U.S. store shelves as Gold & Platinum, Volumes 7 and 8. Those CDs also contain 1995 solo versions of three of Newton's pop hits "Angel of the Morning", "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" and "Queen of Hearts". Newton's duet partners included Willie Nelson, Melissa Manchester, The Pointer Sisters and Frankie Valli.
Melanie Greenwood's Hot Country Dancin'
With Special Guest Lee Greenwood
1984 | Runtime 40 Minutes
By popular demand, MELANIE GREENWOOD'S easy, basic instruction on HOT COUNTRY DANCIN' is showcased in this entertaining cassette. This upbeat, 40 minute video features special guest LEE GREENWOOD, plus 4 major country hits by your favorite MCA artists!
”LADY'S LOVE” by LEE GREENWOOD
”IN TIMES LIKE THESE” by BARBARA MANDRELL
”COMMON MAN” by JOHN CONLEE
”POISON SUGAR” by REBA MCENTIRE
Melanie Greenwood's Hot Country Dancin' Vol. 2
1992 | Runtime 50 Minutes
Join Melanie and 20 Hot Country Dancers in a boot stompin', stretchin' denim good time. This entertaining, 50 minute video has easy step by step instructions to three new dances, and basic and advanced steps to the Achy Breaky. Besides Achy Breaky Heart, enjoy dancing to these country hits and favorite artists in the comfort of your own home:
Lorrie Morgan "Watch Me"
Marty Stuart "Now, That's Country"
Patty Loveless "Jealous Bone"
The Two Step: Country Dancing
With Anita Williams
1993 | Runtime 28 Minutes
You don't have to be a cowboy or cowgirl to love country dancing. Country music fever has swept the nation - and it's time you learned how to get in on the fun! But before you hit your favorite club or honkytonk, you've got to learn all the right moves. Country Dancing with Anita Williams features dance steps set to your favorite country songs. From classics such as the Texas Two-Step to today's hottest line dances, you'll get step by step instruction that's fun, easy to follow and ready whenever you are. You won't be a beginner for long, because this five-volume series can make you an expert in no time.
This tape includes:
■The Texas Two-Step
■Sweetheart Turns on the Two-Step
■ Polish & Tips and Putting it all Together
And features the songs Every Time You Look Into Her Eyes, and If It's Love.
So, grab your partner, and get ready to swing into a whole new world of fun and entertainment. Every country music lover will be ready to hit the floor after a few lessons with Country Dancing!
Christy Lane's Line Dancing Vol. 2
1992 | Runtime 30 Minutes
CHRISTY LANE, one of America's most respected (and most traveled) dance instructors, just completed a national survey of the top ten line dances in the country. With the line dances in this video, plus the line dances in Vol. 1 of LINE DANCING, you have the top 10, including the superhit, ACHY BREAKY. Look and feel confident on the dance floor as you learn, at your own pace, all of the basic steps plus variations, if you feel the urge. The music is hot and the learning is easy. For those of you preferring the nightclub top 40 scene, Christy has a special section at the end, re- teaching the same dances FUNKY STYLE! Of course, you can also use some of these variations with your country friends as well. Join The Fun! LET'S DO IT!
Well, that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the tapes! If you’re looking for more, please check out my page on Archive.org for the full list of digitized media. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message right here or drop a comment below. If you haven’t already, please check out this Hip-Hop Line Dancin’ Instructional Videotape or any of my other previous posts here. Thanks so much for checking out this week’s edition of Diptych!
See you soon!
—Forrest
I've never come across the visuals for Kitarō, but I've listened to it so many times. It's coproduced by one of the members of The Grateful Dead!