New York, NY, June 5, 2006: Sony BMG Music Entertainment will release its first Blu-ray titles this summer: Rod Stewart – Live at Royal Albert Hall and John Legend Live at the House of Blues, which includes three never-before-seen live videos. The source video for both titles was shot in high-definition (HD). These discs are set to arrive on the heels of movie titles from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Lions Gate Home Entertainment.
âWe are delighted to announce the release of the first SONY BMG titles on the Blu-ray format,â commented Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, SONY BMG Music Entertainment. âThese dynamic concerts from John Legend and Rod Stewart have all of the immediacy and excitement of a live performance, giving fans high definition video, and uncompressed surround sound for an extraordinary entertainment experience.â
Rod Stewart – Live at Royal Albert Hall features live performances of Rod Stewart classics like Maggie May/Gasoline Alley and Stay With Me, both of which feature Ron Wood; and Reason To Believe, First Cut Is The Deepest, and Youâre In My Heart. Also included are songs from Stewartâs 14x platinum Grammy-winning Great American Songbook series, including his renditions of timeless standards like Blue Moon, They Canât Take That Away From Me, What A Wonderful World, and As Time Goes By, which features Chrissie Hynde. In addition, the disc includes a 10-minute behind-the-scenes/making-of piece on the artist.
The Blu-ray version of John Legend Live at the House of Blues includes exclusive live video of the Grammy winning artist performing Ordinary People, So High, and Alright. Also included are performances of Letâs Get Lifted, and She Donât Have To Know, among many other tracks. Special guest appearances include Kanye West, and Snoop Dogg. The disc also features an interview with John Legend, and behind the scenes footage.
Other content producers supporting Blu-ray include Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, MGM, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Home Video. Sony BMG notes that to date, 108 titles have been announced for release on the Blu-ray Disc format.
