Music Video & Concerts

The Beatles Anthology

Initially broadcast as a TV miniseries to go with the series of three Anthology double-CD albums, this set of eight documentary tapes has the heft and scope of one of Ken Burns's expansive projects. Still, unless you are either a historian or a truly committed fan, you'll find yourself with way more material--particularly about the Beatles' early lives as lads in Liverpool--than you'll want to watch. The documentary material is copious, including early performance films and tapes, at the point before they found their true voices. The actual Beatlemania years--beginning in 1963 and concluding in 1970--feature extensive performance films, as well as home movies and archival material. The best parts, of course, are the interviews with the Beatles themselves, who produced the entire thing. Along with reworking two previously unreleased John Lennon tracks as "new Beatles songs," the Anthology includes some unseen Lennon interview tapes so that his acerbic voice can be heard as well. This stands as a comprehensive document of that heady period, the second coming of rock & roll, as the Beatles took what Elvis had started and expanded upon it exponentially. The tapes give a solid sense of the historical context and the way these four musicians changed the world around them in the 1960s. --Marshall Fine

MTV20 Collection

Here's a surprise: Instead of celebrating its 20th anniversary by repackaging, say, the contrived spontaneity of The Real World or the "Party down, dude!" vapidity of Spring Break, MTV is marking this milestone with a boxed set of music videos--the channel's raison d'être in the first place, of course, but pretty much an afterthought in recent years. And an impressive undertaking it is, with more than 50 selections spread out over four DVDs. They're arranged chronologically on their respective discs, which are divided by category: "Rock" (with 16 videos ranging from Robert Palmer to Godsmack, it may be the most interesting of the lot), "Pop" (the most fun disc, with 15 largely trivial but irresistible tracks by Tears for Fears, Elvis Costello, and others), and "Jams" (the most wide-ranging disc of the set, with a 15-track mix of rap, hip-hop, soul, and R&B). The fourth DVD, entitled "Bonus Beats," is the only one not available separately; while it's the shortest of the four (28 minutes), it's also the coolest, with six superb tracks by Moby, the Chemical Brothers, and others covering techno, acid-house, and other electronic dance styles.

There will undoubtedly be disputes about these somewhat arbitrary choices, or complaints about some of the omissions (what, no Madonna or Michael Jackson?). But those are the very things that make MTV20 worthwhile; in eschewing the obvious, the compilers have put together a package that's consistently surprising and engaging. Bonus DVD features are limited (some background info on the artists, along with a "Pop-Up Video"-style on-screen option) but effective. And seeing those MTV animated logos, commercial bumpers and other promos again is a joy. --Sam Graham

On August 1, 1981 at 12 midnight, music history was made! Although it didn't seem like it at the time, the launch of MTV, the world's first 24-hour music channel, not only revolutionalized the music business, but also transformed film, fashion and television around the world. Not bad for a cable channel that started with a mere eight hours of programming, no advertisers and very few supporters. On its 20th anniversary, MTV brings you an over-the-top compilation of more than fifty groundbreaking music videos that made MTV the cultural touchstone now watched by over 300 million viewers in 139 countries. "Rock," "Pop" and "Jams"--you want your MTV...we've got your MTV!

Rock: Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer), Firewoman (The Cult), Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Right Here Right Now (Jesus Jones), Livin' on the Edge (Aerosmith), Round Here (Counting Crows), Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden), Run-Around (Blues Traveler), Wynonna's Big Brown Beaver (Primus), Santa Monica (Everclear), Here in Your Bedroom (Goldfinger), The Impression That I Get (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Space Lord (Monster Magnet), Never There (Cake), All the Small Things (Blink-182), Voodoo (Godsmack). 76 minutes.

Pop: Cars (Gary Numan), I Ran (A Flock of Seagulls), Promises Promises (Naked Eyes), One Thing Leads to Another (The Fixx), In a Big Country (Big Country), Everyday I Write the Book (Elvis Costello), All Night Long (Lionel Richie), Hold Me Now (Thompson Twins), Shout (Tears for Fears), All Around the World (Lisa Stansfield), Barbie Girl (Aqua), Walkin' on the Sun (Smash Mouth), Tubthumping (Chumbawamba), All My Life (K-Ci and Jojo), Closing Time (Semisonic). 71 minutes.

Jams: Walk This Way (Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith), Eric B. is President (Eric B. and Rakim), Me Myself and I (De La Soul), Humpty Dance (Digital Underground), Forever My Lady (Jodeci), Rebirth of the Slick (Cool Like Dat) (Digable Planets), Bump n' Grind (R. Kelly), This is How We Do It (Montell Jordan), All I Need (Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige), Sentimental (Deborah Cox), On and On (Erykah Badu), Anytime (Brian McKnight), My Way (Usher), Angel of Mine (Monica), Back That Thing Up (Juvenile). 74 minutes.

Bonus "Beats" DVD only available in the box set! Songs: Pump Up the Jam (Technotronic), Jump Around (House of Pain), Setting Sun (Chemical Brothers), Atom Bomb (Fluke), Bodyrock (Moby), Get Down (Jungle Brothers). 221 minutes.

The Fantasia Anthology (3-Disc Collector's Edition)

Along with Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, the anthology set contains a third disc that examines a segment of both movies in detail. Each segment has an introduction that has experts (including Leonard Maltin), producer Roy E. Disney, or the animators setting up the piece's history. Notes on the music and dozens of design photos are included on all the segments, although others offer more intriguing features. Abandoned animation is shown on many segments, as are a few behind-the-scenes shorts; the most intriguing are experts from Walt Disney's hosted documentaries on how his company made movies. As for the photos, they are awkwardly catalogued and only the most patient of viewers would want to look at all of them. In some segments, though, these images are entertainingly produced as a "story reel," presenting these images--rough animation, sketches, pastel paintings--with the musical accompaniment. For those looking for a more well-rounded view of the films, the two one-hour documentaries on each film's disc lay the groundwork, but none of the anthology looks at how the first film was seen through the years or gives time to anyone who wasn't gung-ho about every element of the films. There is hardly a mention of embarrassing stereotypes that were matted (and still are) out of the "Pastoral" segment, or the intriguing aspect of the film as a '60s icon for the ultimate head-trip. Disney does let their guard down to show sequences that were being readied in 1940 for future editions (including a recently restored short scored to "Clair de Lune"). Most tantalizing is a look at how the special effects were done in the original film. The guide is a scrapbook that one of the technicians kept and was discovered only in 1990. Fans can only hope a reproduction will be made available someday. --Doug Thomas

Doo Wop at 50, Volumes 1 & 2

Taped during a 1999 tribute in Pittsburgh, this straightforward, live review honors rock 'n' roll's '50s and early '60s legacy of vocal groups. For oldies fans hoping to bask in nostalgia, the caliber of the hits and the inclusion of most of the groups originally associated with the recorded hits make Doo Wop at 50 a satisfying stroll down memory lane. In light of the focal importance of the songs, rather than the singers, for the majority of listeners the program's choice of material will be sufficient reason to watch, as underscored by the success of PBS's broadcast of the complete concert.

Veteran soul stylist Jerry Butler, who hosts the show, is himself a legitimate bridge between the street corner symphonies of the '50s and the more sophisticated urban pop and soul that succeeded them. Butler shepherds a lineup including current editions of the Platters, the Del-Vikings, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, the Penguins, the Cadillacs, the Moonglows, the Flamingos, and other fondly remembered groups. A competent if not exactly inspired revue band accompanies all the acts, taped performing on a set decorated with oversized portraits of '50s icons like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, with a few vintage hot rods parked alongside to hammer home the nostalgic thrust of the night.

More impassioned doo-wop fans and rock historians, however, will be a tougher sell. If the groups indeed carry the names associated with the hits, many feature reconstituted lineups with few of the members actually heard on the original singles, a practice that can be traced back to the '60s (as with the Platters). Alternatively, more authentic lineups, like The Marcels (heard performing their galloping version of "Blue Moon" for the first time in decades), reflect their advancing years in rough vocal edges or arrangements transposed to lower keys. Given the show's inspiration (Rhino's exemplary Doo Wop Box anthologies, which unearthed both big hits and forgotten gems and placed the music and performers in a rich historical context), it would have been intriguing to provide some documentary context. --Sam Sutherland

The Songmakers Collection

Several of rock and pop music's best and most important early songwriters, along with some stellar performers, are profiled on The Songmakers Collection, a two-DVD set culled from five separate episodes of the A&E Network's Biography series. The centerpiece is "Hitmakers: The Teens Who Stole Pop Music," a 90-minute documentary about the many writers who worked side-by-side in New York's legendary Brill Building in the '50s and '60s. It's a fascinating story, featuring duos like Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, and Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, nearly all of them Jewish kids from Brooklyn who were at ease writing classic tunes for black and white artists alike. The tale is told in standard documentary style, via interviews past and present, photos, extensive film footage, and, of course, lots of music.

The remaining programs, all about 40 minutes in length, concentrate on individual artists or partners (inevitably, some of the same footage appears several times). Singer Dionne Warwick, best known for her interpretations of Burt Bacharach-Hal David material (and maybe for the Psychic Friends Network), is profiled in Volume One. The three features in Volume Two focus on the life and loves of Bacharach, the classically trained composer of so many pop standards; on Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, dubbed "the fathers of rock & roll songwriting" for their work with everyone from Big Mama Thornton and the Coasters to Elvis Presley and Peggy Lee; and on Bobby Darin, the ultra-versatile, swingin' talent who lived with the prescience of an early death due to heart problems (he died at 37). Great stuff, all in all--although a few more complete performances would have been nice. - -Sam Graham

In an office building a few blocks from Times Square, a group of talented teens rewrote the soundtrack to the American experience. Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and Bobby Darin are among the legends who passed through its doors. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "Up on the Roof," and "Hound Dog" are just a few of the hits that came pouring out. This unprecedented look at "The Hit Factory" includes in-depth portraits of some of the biggest names in music, along with a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the heady days when the Brill Building was the center of the pop universe. A treasure trove of unforgettable songs, rare photos, and interviews with everyone from Carole King to Phil Ramone makes The Songmakers Collection the definitive story of a musical revolution.

The story of a musical revolution, told by the writers, producers, and performers who made it happen. Includes: performance footage of stars like Dionne Warwick, The Righteous Brothers, Dusty Springfield, The Coasters, and many more; almost 100 interviews, including Burt Bacharach, Elton John, Dick Clark, Neil Sedaka, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Sinatra, and Dionne Warwick. >From the producers of A&E's award-winning Biography series. 300 minutes.

Jazz - A Film by Ken Burns

Accompanied by a menagerie of products, Ken Burns's expansive 10-episode paean, Jazz, completes his trilogy on American culture, following The Civil War and Baseball. Spanning more than 19 hours, Jazz is, of course, about a lot more than what many have called America's classical music--especially in episodes 1 through 7. It's here that Burns unearths precious visual images of jazz musicians and hangs historical narratives around the music with convincing authority. Time can stand still as images float past to the sound of grainy vintage jazz, and the drama of a phonograph needle being placed on Louis Armstrong's celestial "West End Blues" is nearly sublime.

The film is also potent in arguing that the history of race in the 20th-century U.S. is at jazz's heart. But a few problems arise. First is Burns's reliance on Wynton Marsalis as his chief musical commentator. Marsalis might be charming and musically expert, but he's no historian. For the film to devote three of its episodes to the 1930s, one expects a bit more historical substance. Also, Jazz condenses the period of 1961 to the present into one episode, glossing over some of the music's giant steps. Burns has said repeatedly that he didn't know much about jazz when he began this project. So perhaps Jazz, for all its glory, would better be called Jazz: What I've Learned Since I Started Listening (And I Haven't Gotten Much Past 1961). For those who are already passionate about jazz, the film will stoke debate (and some derision, together with some reluctant praise). But for everyone else, it will amaze and entertain and kindle a flame for some of the greatest music ever dreamed. --Andrew Bartlett

The story, sound, and soul of a nation come together in the most American of art forms: Jazz. Ken Burns, who riveted the nation with The Civil War and Baseball, celebrates the music's soaring achievements, from its origins in blues and ragtime through swing, bebop, and fusion. Six years in the making, this "soundbreaking" series blends 75 interviews, more than 500 pieces of music, 2,400 still photographs, and over 2,000 rare and archival film clips. The 10-part musical journey spotlights many of America's most original, creative--and tragic--figures, including Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. Special features of the PBS DVD Gold include bonus performances and The Making of Jazz documentary.

Elvis - The Great Performances Box Set

No Description Available.
Genre: Music Video - Pop/Rock
Rating: NR
Release Date: 13-AUG-2002
Media Type: DVD

Searching for a real American idol? Well, look no further. Over the course of these three marvelous discs (totaling about 160 minutes and over 40 songs, including repeats), we are nearly overwhelmed by the charm, charisma, and sheer talent that made Elvis Presley so extraordinarily popular and influential. There are songs from television shows (emphasizing the mid-'50s appearances that helped cement his iconic status), concerts, and movies, along with interviews, some revealing (mostly silent) home movies, and photos galore. And by favoring the music Presley made in his earlier years, as well as by loading the discs with complete, uninterrupted performances, executive producer Andrew Solt and company show us how Presley combined country, gospel, and R&B to make rock & roll the most vital pop culture phenomenon of the past 50 years. This is the mother lode, and a must-have for longtime adherents and newcomers alike. DVD bonus options include a discography, a filmography, and "trivia tracks" on all discs. --Sam Graham

Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics Boxed Set

With a total of 144 songs (including repeats) and well over 500 minutes of playing time, this massive boxed set, whose nine discs each contain between 12 and 19 performances, truly is, as host Ed Sullivan famously said, "a really big show." With some 20 songs between them, the two most important rock acts of the 20th century, Elvis Presley and the Beatles, both of whom received huge career boosts from the Sullivan show (garnering a reported 80 percent audience share and 70 million viewers, respectively), are well represented; so are other genres, like Motown and '60s rock. And wonderful, galvanizing performances by, among others, the Jackson Five (especially "the little fella in front," as Sullivan calls Michael), the Animals, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Jackie Wilson, the Rolling Stones, and even the Association ("Along Comes Mary") are enough to counter the curious inclusion of the Brooklyn Bridge, Jay and the Techniques, and other obscure minor talents.

Still, the boxed set (whose DVD bonus features include "trivia tracks" and limited discographies) has serious flaws. Audio and video (color and black and white) are good, but far too many songs are repeated (the Jefferson Airplane's "Crown of Creation" appears twice on the same disc!), while others are obviously truncated; and there's no excuse for programming two songs each by the likes of Dino, Desi and Billy, and Freddie and the Dreamers. In the end, the good music saves the day, but the set's drawbacks keep Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics from being an essential purchase. --Sam Graham

On Sunday nights throughout the '50s and '60s, Ed Sullivan brought pop culture into America's living rooms with th e most influential show of its kind. If you made it there, you had it made because for the first time, the entire county was at home watching. During the course of the show's run, many of the early rock and roll legends were featured in career-defining p erformances. These cultural milestones have been compiled for Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics, along with archival footage and narration for insight on the artists, their eras, and their classic appearances. Now seen with half a century of hindsight , it's clear Ed Sullivan was right--his was a "really big show."

•Chart Toppers Volume 1: Top Hits of 1965, Top Hits of 1966, Top Hits of 1967
•Chart Toppers Volume 2: Top Hits of 1968, Top Hits of 1969, Top Hits of 1970
•The Soul of the Motor City: Motortown Review, Sweet Sounds of Soul, Motor City Magic
•Elvis and Other Rock Greats: Elvis Presley, Move to the Music, The Temptations & The Supremes, The Temptations, The Supr emes
•Love Songs: Classic Love Songs, Rock 'n' Roll Love Songs, Teen Idols
•Rockin' the Sixties: San Francisco Scene, Smash Hits of the Sixties, Psychedelic Sixties
•Legends of Rock: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rock Legends - Vol. 1, Rock Legends - Vol. 2
•The British Invasion: The British Invasion Vol. 1, The British Invasion Vol. 2

Plus trivia tracks, selected discographies, interview with John Moffit (director), rare footage of Ed & Sylvia, variety acts.

The Beatles DVD Collector's Set

This four-disc set includes two feature films and two documentaries (all previously available on DVD). Help! (1965), in which a religious sect is in pursuit of a sacrificial ring stuck on Ringo's finger, is a broad spoof of the spy flicks of the time, with James Bond-like themes and locales. Songs include "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "Ticket to Ride." Only two years later but strikingly different in mood and tone, Magical Mystery Tour (1967) is chiefly a series of psychedelic music videos, including "Fool on the Hill," "I Am the Walrus," and "Blue Jay Way," loosely organized around a plot of a bus trip through the English countryside.

The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit is an 83-minute black-and-white documentary by acclaimed directing brothers Albert and David Maysles that captures the group's trip to the U.S. in February 1964. It includes plenty of songs as performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, of course, as well as footage of the band riding the train or sitting in their hotel room watching television coverage of themselves. A subsequent performance in Washington, D.C., suffers from grainier footage and spotty microphones, but still captures the frenzy of the fans.

You Can't Do That!: The Making of "A Hard Day's Night" is an hourlong documentary that traces the creation of the historic 1964 film. Hosted by Phil Collins, who appeared in the original among a crowd of screaming teenagers, the film features extensive clips and interviews with those involved with the movie (though George Harrison is the only Beatle whose voice is heard). A highlight is "You Can't Do That," a performance that was cut from the original film. Obviously, a perfect DVD set would include A Hard Day's Night itself, but rights issues have kept it out of circulation. --David Horiuchi

The Beatles DVD Collector's Set includes:

Help!
Nominated for two British Academy Awards, this 1965 theatrical feature takes the Beatles on a worldwide comedy adventure. After a magical ring gets stuck on Ringo's finger, a group of oriental mystics and a mad scientist stop at nothing to try to get it back. Special features include a fully restored print from the film's original negative, a digitally remastered soundtrack, 15 minutes of bonus footage, Spanish and French audio tracks, and English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Songs include "Help!", "You're Gonna Lose That Girl," and "Ticket to Ride."
Color, approx. 90 minutes, Dolby Digital

Magical Mystery Tour
A musical film fantasy that follows the Beatles on a psychedelic bus tour along the English countryside. It made its British debut on Christmas day 1967. Special DVD features include a fully restored print, a digitally remastered soundtrack, bonus newsreels, a history of the project, and English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Songs include "Magical Mystery Tour," "I Am the Walrus," and "Fool on the Hill."
Color, approx. 54 minutes, Dolby Digital

The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit
An historic, musical ride back in time as the Beatles come to America for the first time on February 7, 1964 and appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. Special features include 13 Beatles performances, a fully restored print, a digitally remastered soundtrack, a Beatles chronology, discography, and other statistics, and English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Songs include "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," "Till There Was You," and "Twist and Shout."
Black and white, approx. 83 minutes, Dolby Digital

You Can't Do That: The Making of "A Hard Day's Night"
The extraordinary evolution of the Academy Award-nominated film that convinced the world that the Beatles could be as influential and memorable as the music they sang. Hosted by Phil Collins. Special features include cast profiles, A Hard Day's Night trivia quiz, biography and discography for Phil Collins, and English, Spanish, and French subtitles.
Color and black and white, approx. 65 minutes, Dolby Digital

The Judy Garland Show Collection

Destined to remain the single most comprehensive record of Judy Garland's latter-day career, The Judy Garland Show Collection is an astonishing treasure of great lasting value. Preserving 14 complete episodes from Garland's rarely seen CBS-TV variety show from 1963-64, the set also offers a wealth of excerpts, outtakes, performances, and supplements packed onto all 8 sides of four DVDs. Of course Garland's established fans must have this set, which is handsomely boxed in a miniature show-biz trunk (to honor Judy's signature stage prop), and includes a paperback edition of Coyne Steven Sanders's definitive book about the show's one-season glory. Better still is the value this boxed set has for those who are unaware of Judy Garland's amazing talent beyond The Wizard of Oz. For anyone with only a cursory awareness of Garland's skill as an interpreter of great songs, this box will be a dynamic revelation.

Here, after all, is a mature performer at the peak of her song-styling craft, and The Judy Garland Show Collection gathers many of her finest performances. Side One of Disc One is "Just Judy"--28 songs that demonstrate Judy's amazing range and her penchant for melancholy, introspective tunes of loneliness and sorrow, brilliantly combined with such trademark showstoppers as "When You're Smiling" and "Keep Your Sunny Side Up." Elsewhere in the set, Judy shares the stage with such luminaries as Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Mickey Rooney, and many others, including her 17-year-old daughter Liza Minnelli, who was then on the cusp of her own stardom.

This was not the most stable time in Judy Garland's life, and she makes mistakes here and there--a show-biz great who'd falter occasionally, only to recover in grand style. But what's most evident is the sheer power of Judy Garland's talent, showcased by the finest musical and backstage talent that TV had to offer (including director Norman Jewison prior to his move to feature films). Watching this 15-hour compilation is a joyous reminder that a TV variety show, in the right hands, was the premier source of mainstream American entertainment. The Judy Garland Show had to struggle for ratings (it competed in the same time slot as NBC's popular series Bonanza), but this boxed set restores its timeless value. Pioneer has done a superlative job in presenting what is certainly one of the most impressive DVD packages ever produced. --Jeff Shannon

This 4 DVD collection contains a staggering 14 episodes - that's over half of the 26 programs taped in the golden age of variety shows. Guests include: Liza Minnelli, Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Martha Raye, Peggy Lee, Diahann Carrol, Tony Bennet, Count Basie, Mickey Rooney, Vic Damone, Peter Lawford, Terry Thomas, Steve Lawrence, Ray Bolger, Jack Jones, Ken Murray, Jerry Van Dyke and Mel Torme among others. Special features include: 14 episodes including two concert shows, "Just Judy:" over an hour of Judy singing her best solo songs taken from the "Judy Garland Show," digitally remastered and restored, newly created 5.1 surround sound track, original mono track, over 15 never-broadcasted outtakes from all of the shows in this set, paperback edition of "Rainbow's End: The Judy Garland Show" by Coyne Steven Sanders, complete index of the shows in the 1963-64 season as well as an alphabetical song listing for all songs in the box set, photogallery of behind-the-scenes, press and glamour shots from the show, and an audio commentary with people involved in the original broadcast of the series.