Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads...

Starring:Eric Clapton
Studio: Warner Bros / Wea
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Martin Scorsese's 1978 capsule history of the Band is mixed with footage of the group's allegedly last performance (certainly their last performance as a quintet) in this particularly stylish concert film. Scorsese shoots the players and their sundry guests with the same flair and enthusiasm one can see in the later The Color of Money or Goodfellas. He also proves a good interviewer with Band members, particularly Robbie Robertson, whose sleepy-sexy good looks make a star-caliber impression in close-up. But the film's real hook is the stage show, which features a rotation of rock legends (Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan, and so on) playing with the Band before a wildly appreciative audience. --Tom Keogh

Description

It started as a concert. It became a celebration. Join an unparalleled lineup of rock superstars asthey celebrate The Band's historic 1976 farewell performance. Directed by Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas), The Last Waltz is not only "the most beautiful rock film evermade" (New York Times) it's "one of the most important cultural events of the last two decades" (Rolling Stone)!

Customer Reviews:

Best music you'll ever hear all in one place.......2007-07-08

This movie LOOKS fabulous also. The history and highlight of rock and roll. Filmed by an artist, Scorsese gives viewers a breath-taking experience. Emotionally loaded, you'll be tired after watching ALL this high-energy REAL Art! Music that transcends will amaze all ages. Should be in the video library of every home.

The Last Waltz.......2007-07-05

Hailed as the greatest concert movie ever, it just may be. Robbie Robertson, the film's producer and guiding light behind The Band, is charismatic off-stage, electric on-stage. All the guest musicians sing and play at the top of their games. Highlights include Joni Mitchell's "Coyote", Waters's earthy, soulful "Mannish Boy", Dr. John's dreamy "Such A Night", and Clapton's jaw-dropping guitar work on "Further On Up The Road". Scorsese hired top directors of photography to film this event from every conceivable angle, and the result is an intimate, exhilarating ride into the heart of rock music.

good music.......2007-06-14

this dvd is excellent. there is nothing else to be said.

Just adding to.......2007-06-08

There's enough reviews of this Classic. I'm 50+ and showed my copy of this DVD to my teenage kids last Thanksgiving. They were enthralled! My daughter asked for it as a gift for her graduation from UT (uhhh, I guess that means she's not a teenager anymore! but my son is and a Music major at UT). That about says it all I think.

The Standard for Concert Films - A Trip down Memory Lane!.......2007-05-16

Viewing "The Last Waltz," was like a trip down rock history memory lane. This is the DVD you show your children to introduce them to rock music of the seventies. The direction of Martin Scorsese provides the viewer with insightful interviews coupled with lush musical productions. I am still trying to decide on my favorite performance - there are just too many! Also, buy the CD - you will not be disappointed.

The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus

Average customer rating:

NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! STONES FANS HAVE DREAMED OF SEEING THIS FOR YEARS!
Rock and Roll Circus a wonderful memory of Brian Jones.
Keith Moon in his prime
Great.. and greater!
Rock and Roll Circus

The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus
Starring: Mick Jagger , Keith Richards (II) , Charlie Watts , Brian Jones , and Roger Daltrey
Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Manufacturer: Abkco Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
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ASIN: B000621484
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Amazon.com

Unavailable at all for nearly three decades, then issued in a VHS edition in 1996, the Rolling Stones' legendary Rock and Roll Circus finally gets the full treatment with this DVD release documenting the 1968 event. The Stones were reportedly unhappy with their performance (hence the long delay), and it isn't their finest moment; performing "Jumping Jack Flash" and a variety of songs from their then-new Beggars Banquet album, Keith Richards is game, but Jagger's preening (especially on "Sympathy for the Devil") is over the top, and guitarist Brian Jones looks dissolute and well on his way to his death the following year. A certain weirdness permeates some of the other musical acts as well: Jethro Tull lip-syncs unconvincingly, Taj Mahal and band were obliged to perform before the circus set was completed and the audience had arrived, and John Lennon's outing with impromptu supergroup the Dirty Mac (with Richards, Eric Clapton, and drummer Mitch Mitchell) is hampered by Yoko Ono's caterwauling, although their version of the Beatles' "Yer Blues" is cool. Still, the Who are brilliant, Marianne Faithfull is beautiful, the various circus acts are fun, and the crowd clearly loves it.

The DVD comes with some fascinating bonus features, including three extra songs by Mahal, some lovely classical piano by Julius Katchen, and a "quad split-screen" version of "Yer Blues." Best of all are a new interview with the Who's Pete Townshend and the various commentary tracks added for the DVD--especially those by Tull's Ian Anderson, director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and Stones Jagger, Richards, and Bill Wyman (who dryly attributes Jagger's reluctance to issue the show to his dissatisfaction with his own performance, not the band's). Flaws notwithstanding, this is a treat. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! STONES FANS HAVE DREAMED OF SEEING THIS FOR YEARS!.......2007-06-29

Like most Stones fans, I had read about this canceled show for years. I had constructed and imagined the concert in my head many times for three decades. The DVD treatment is excellent and there are some nice extras. The DVD has extra songs that the VHS release didn't have. It is great to have it, but it didn't quite live up to my vision I had conjured in my mind all these years. It is still a great addition to any fans collection.

Rock and Roll Circus a wonderful memory of Brian Jones........2007-06-12

Move over Mick, the Rolling Stones Band was Brian Jones group in the beginning. Just like when you and Keith Richards, got rid of Mick Taylor. Far to good a guitarist for the likes of Keith Richards.
Yes, we all know what happened to Brian. Yep friends just watch there friends go down the tubes without doing anything.
Gosh does this mean that we'll see you guys still marketing yourself when your in your 70's? I hope not.
I'd rather remember you, Wyman, Keith, Charlie because he cared about Brian more than you ever could.
All of the other performers were fabulous !!!! Keith Moon before his demise. Pete in his youthful heyday ! Awesome stuff.
Wolfhouddennis from Lincoln Hills, California

Keith Moon in his prime.......2007-06-11

There is nothing more exciting than seeing Keith Moon on film, whether In "Kids are Alright" or here, where the Who steal the show from the Stones and Lennon and others with an incredible performance that captures all four of them at their peak. But particularly Moon, the greatest rock drummer of all, when he was still a beautiful maniac before his sad (and short) dissipation.

Also noteworthy for me on this video is Taj Mahal's performance. Taj had 2 albums out at this time, 1968, and was still in his 20s but sang like a Delta octagenarian. His first 2 Columbia albums are classic blues rock, and feature, like the performance here, Jesse Ed Davis on lead guitar. Jesse Ed was a native American blues-rocker who had great chops and died way too young. Also, in the spirit of this London hippie party happening, Brian Jones sits in on drums for Taj Mahal's number.

John Lennon's performance of "Yer Blues" is also phenomenal, featuring Clapton and Keith Richards on guitars and Mitch Mitchell on drums. Yoko also does a number (no comment.)

The Stones are just fine, but apparently they felt so overshadowed by some of the other performers, and it WAS their gig, that they released this on audio only until just recently. Thank you, boys, the world needed this video if only for the KEITH MOON RUSH!!!!

Great.. and greater!.......2007-06-01

All these years, I wanted to listen to it. Now I own it! The Stones were absolutely fabulous. It is so great (and sad) to see Brian Jones in his last year. If I'd only known Dirty Mac was a group composed of Lennon (Beatles), Clapton (Cream), Keith Richards (Stones) and Mitch Mitchell (Hendrix Experience) - from the top 4 groups of the time. The only disappointment was that the inspirational 'Yer Blues' was followed by 'Yer Bitch'.

Rock and Roll Circus.......2007-05-30

If you are a fan of the Stones and Beatles, you should have this. Great performances by the Stones in Particular.

Average customer rating:

A great Gift!
Next Best Thing To Being There
Gem of a DVD
Great Concert Captured on DVD
An Amazing Array of Talent!!

Crossroads Guitar Festival
Starring: Eric Clapton , J.J. Cale , B.B. King , James Taylor (XVII) , and Rocky Frisco
Director: B.B. King , and Ron de Moraes
Manufacturer: Warner Strat. Mkt.
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ASIN: B0002Y4T92
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Amazon.com

Although it could have been twice as long, this double-DVD set effectively captures over three hours of highlights from one of the most comprehensive and diverse collection of guitarists ever assembled for a single event. Recorded over three days in June of 2004 to benefit Eric Clapton's Crossroads Center in Antigua (as do the sales of this set), the show is not surprisingly heavy on the rootsy blues and country that comprise Clapton's primary inspirations. But it also includes folk (James Taylor), gospel (Robert Randolph & the Family Band), fret-shredding rockers (Steve Vai who delivers a dazzling performance), jazz (John McLaughlin), and, most interestingly, Indian classical music (a stunning piece from Vishwa Mohan Bhatt).

Most compelling are the rare and sometimes unusual collaborations. Joe Walsh and Taylor clown around on "Steamroller Blues," and Booker T. & the M.G.'s back both Joe Walsh on a rollicking "Rocky Mountain Way" and Los Lobos' David Hidalgo tearing into a sizzling "The Neighborhood." Clapton and J.J. Cale share the stage as do Clapton and Carlos Santana, and a show-stopping blues summit with Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Clapton is a treat for all involved.

There are some shortcomings. The event isn't presented in chronological order--different stages, days, and backing bands are shuffled with Clapton's own set scattered throughout--ZZ Top's closing is a bit anticlimactic, and there are many omissions due to time constraints. But every act rises to the occasion, and this expertly recorded and shot DVD gives the viewer a front-row seat to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. --Hal Horowitz

Description

In June 2004, some of the greatest living guitar players and their bands gathered at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, for a three-day festival to benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. It was the ultimate concert for any music lover, featuring one legend after the other: Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, James Taylor, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Santana, ZZ Top, and many more. This 2-DVD set beautifully documents the event and contains over 4 hours of content. Planned extras include in-depth artist interviews, a mini-documentary, photo gallery, alternate angle, and more. Royalties from the DVD sales will benefit the Crossroads Center.

Customer Reviews:

A great Gift!.......2007-07-06

This was a gift for my father on father's day, and he is very pleased because it's a very good and complete compilation of the Crossroads Guitar Festival.
Good video, good sound and great artists!
highly recommended!

Next Best Thing To Being There.......2007-05-13

Guitar enthusiasts and all music lovers should make a point of taking time out to enjoy this talent-packed, inspirational two-DVD set. Awe- inspiring performances from the very best musicians each showcasing their unique sounds and styles. It's exhilirating to experience moving and passionate guitar at it's finest. Buy it today!

Gem of a DVD.......2007-04-20

This is one of those special cases where you can watch this over and over again. Every performance is great! ZZ top, Steve Via, and Joe Walsh are in top form.

Great Concert Captured on DVD .......2007-04-11

Great concert captured on DVD. Price on Amazon.Com cannot be beaten.

An Amazing Array of Talent!!.......2007-04-02

Eric Clapton did a fabulous job in organizing a rare collection of guitar talent to perform at this three-day festival in Texas. It is as much a treat to see the legendary bluesmen Buddy Guy and B.B. King onstage with Eric, as it is to see fret-shreddin' Steve Vai, Jimmy Vaughn and Johnny Lang.

The music is blues-based, but many different styles and flavors are present: old-style blues, cultural (Indian), jazz, blues-rock and rock. Although there were time considerations in editing the footage of this CD, the "best of the best" is represented here.

One of the key highlights of this show is Robert Randolph, a new Jersey native, who played the pedal steel guitar in a cross between the styles of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I have never seen anything like it and he clearly made his mark in this performance, appearing onstage several times.

Some of the tunes were inspirational enough to pick up the guitar, turn on the amp and play along, as some of my favorite musicians played onstage. I would recommend watching in this in 5.1 on a home-theater system, as the presence of the music is much more realized.

I disagree with Amazon's assessment that ZZ Top as a closing act was anti-climactic. The group is monumental in the history of rock and they are at the top of the Texas blues-rock genre. I saw it as befitting to have them close this show, especially in the state of Texas.

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

Average customer rating:

Great program - read his excellent book too
Fond Memories of the Past...
For once, something to watch on TV
If you've loved music over the last 30-50 years, this is a must

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built
Starring: Ahmet Ertegun , Bette Midler , Jerry Wexler , Aretha Franklin , and Nesuhi Ertegün
Director: Susan Steinberg (II)
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Santana: Hymns For Peace - Live at Montreux 2004
The Language of Music
Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition)
Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur

ASIN: B000PSJDQ4
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Description

Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built follows Ertegun's remarkable career and its impact on the evolution of the world's most popular musical genre while offering an insider's look at the recording industry. Featuring rare and private clips, performances, and studio sessions from Atlantic recording artists, this DVD is a music fan's paradise.

Customer Reviews:

Great program - read his excellent book too.......2007-05-14

This program is enormously entertaining, with tons of great footage of the artists, interviews, and hilarious anecdotes. I worked at Atlantic for several years and can attest that this documentary delivers an informative survey of the man and the label (though i could argue about certain artist omissions), which produced so much great music covering every genre. If you're a serious pop/rock/R&B/jazz fan, you really owe it to yourself to see this, and if you want to learn more about Mr. Ertegun and Atlantic, i HIGHLY recommend the book he wrote several years ago, "What'd I Say", which has hundreds of stunning photos and commentary from him and the others (artists and executives) who made it all happen at Atlantic (the book is pricey, but totally worth the money - product link is below)

What'd I Say: The Atlantic Story

Fond Memories of the Past..........2007-05-04

Most informative and enjoyable. Sadly, we look back at a world that's gone forever, replaced by the current trash with pretensions to music.

If you enjoyed the music in the film, consider ordering "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues, 1947-1974". The sound should be and could have been better, but the set is well worth having.

Now if only Columbia would reissue the Ethel Waters gatefold 2-LP set that came out back around 1980, and include "On Stage and Screen"....

For once, something to watch on TV.......2007-05-03

I saw this entire 2-hour show on New York's PBS station last night and it was great. You can feel Ahmet's passion for music as he relates his childhood experiences in Turkey, his passion for America ("the land of cowboys, dancing girls and jazz") and explains the formation of Atlantic Records.

Rather than become a diplomat or a "civil servant like my father" (Ahmet's father was the Turkish ambassador to the U.S.), Ahmet and his brother created America's most important record company. The story of Atlantic Records is as much about racial integration and artistic integrity as it as about music.

It's also great to hear the musicians' side of the story. The very recent footage of conversations between Ahmet and Robert Plant, Ray Charles, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Bette Midler really shows the respect and admiration all these great artists had for him.

Finally, this is an entertaining show, featuring some great laugh-out-loud moments. My favorite is when Ahmet tells of how, as a 12-year old, he hailed a cab in mid-town Manhattan and said to the driver "Take me to Harlem." All he wanted to do was hear some jazz and within a few minutes, he found himself at the Plantation Club and later, at a rent party rubbing elbows with musicians and dancing girls.

Having grown up listening to Atlantic artists like Led Zeppelin, the Stones, Crosby, Stills & Nash, etc., I found this show absolutely fascinating.

If you've loved music over the last 30-50 years, this is a must.......2007-05-03

I just got done being transfixed by this program on American Masters on PBS. Ahmet Ertegun's life was incredibly full, full of joy and music for many years. From the "race" records of the 40's to the British Invasion to Woodstock to Kid Rock, the fingers of Ahmet Ertegun and his brother were on the pulse of popular music on both sides of the Atlantic. I enjoyed this show so much I've pre-ordered two copies.

Average customer rating:

trippy
not meant to be watched sober
Heroic attempt at visualizing Pete Townsend's story
Pure genius
WOW!!!

Tommy
Starring: Dick Allan , Ann-Margret , Ben Aris , Arthur Brown , and Eric Clapton
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00000K3TV
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Amazon.com

If you've ever wanted to hear Jack Nicholson sing (or try to) or marvel at the sight of Ann-Margret drunkenly cavorting in a cascade of baked beans, Tommy is the movie you've been waiting for. As it turns out, the Who's brilliant rock opera is sublimely matched to director Ken Russell's penchant for cinematic excess, and this 1975 production finds Russell at the peak of his filmmaking audacity. It's a fever-dream of musical bombast, custom-fit to the thematic ambition of Pete Townshend's epic rock drama, revolving around the titular "deaf, dumb, and blind kid" (played by Who vocalist Roger Daltrey) who survives the childhood trauma that stole his senses to become a Pinball Wizard messiah in Townshend's grandiose attack on the hypocrisy of organized religion.

The story is remarkably coherent considering the hypnotic dream-state induced by Russell's visuals. Tommy's odyssey is rendered through wall-to-wall music, each song representing a pivotal chapter in Tommy's chronology, from the bloodstream shock of "The Acid Queen" (performed to the hilt by Tina Turner) to Nicholson's turn as a well-intentioned physician, Elton John's towering rendition of "Pinball Wizard," and Daltrey's epiphanous rendition of "I'm Free." Other performers include Eric Clapton and (most outrageously) the Who's drummer Keith Moon, and through it all Russell is almost religiously faithful to Townshend's artistic vision. Although it divided critics when first released, Tommy now looks likes a minor classic of gonzo cinema, worthy of the musical genius that fueled its creation. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

trippy.......2007-06-10

if you want to see the epitome of a trippy, psychedelic rock musical, this is for you

not meant to be watched sober.......2007-06-05

this movie was, im sure, (althought i havnt tried myself... and wont) was made to be watched while under the infulence of... anything really..but watching it sober just makes the songs drive you flippin crazy (its quite repetative) and the story make no sense...in fact the subject matter is as bad as a clockwork orange so i definately do not reccomend this film for anyone under 18. But the cast is impressive.

Heroic attempt at visualizing Pete Townsend's story.......2007-06-04

`Tommy', directed by famous auteur, Ken Russell, may be less notable as an important movie in its own right than as evidence of the importance of Pete Townsend and The Who's achievement in realizing this most notable of stories in a virtually pure Rock dialect, in the very alien genre of Opera, or even of musical theatre in general.

(Note that while I will not argue against `Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' as the most important Rock album of all time, `Tommy' has always been closer to my heart, reinforced by the fact that I saw TheWho perform the music of `Tommy' live, just four days after the original release of the album. Just so you know where my preferences lay.)

While there have been several essays in fusing Rock with other genres, especially in using Rock as the music for dramatic works (see `Hair', `Godspell', `Jesus Christ Superstar'), Townsend succeeded not only by coming up with a really original story, but also by limiting himself almost exclusively to classic Rock instrumentation. (The most notable exception to this fact is John Entwistle's French Horn riffs.)

If you want to get the story of `Tommy', see my review of the album. I applaud Russell, the director and co-writer, with sticking remarkably close to the original plot and music, in spite of the fact that the original album contains a scant 70 minutes, with at least one famously boring long track, the `Underture', at the end of the original first vinyl disk. The main problem with the movie may be that Russell rarely succeeds on improving on his source material. An example of what I mean is the song `Singing in the Rain', which appeared in at least three movies before its being made the famous centerpiece of the movie of the same name, with the great choreography and performance from Gene Kelly, accompanyied by umbrella, lamppost, and downpour. This was a great use of pre-existing material.

In Russell's case, only the three scenes in which the movie's most famous guest performers appear come close to elevating the material to new highs. These are the scenes with Eric Clapton as the preacher, Tina Turner as the acid queen, and Elton John as the Pinball Wizard. All three give superior performances as both singer and instrumentalist, but Russell's business and his special effects ohh-la-la may not work as well as he would have hoped. Other scenes, especially ones featuring the famously madcap The Who drummer, Keith Moon as Uncle Ernie and some of Russell collaborator Oliver Reed's scenes really don't seem to work as well as they might. Ann-Margaret does better than Reed, but this will probably not be at the top of her resume.

The finest thing about the movie is that Townsend's most brilliant premise behind the plot does not get lost in Russell's realization. In fact, I'm even tempted to say that Russell teases out of Townsend's lyrics some meanings which may have escaped me during my zillion or so listens to the album. With Daltry's journeyman acting, Russell is able to depict the `autistic' Tommy, made deaf, dumb, and blind by suggestion rather than by physical deformity. The next best thing about the movie is that Russell and his musical staff which stretched Townsend's score to fill some empty corners here and there do not make any major changes to Townsend's arrangements. The score is still basicly played by the gloriously energetic The Who ensemble of vocalist Roger Daltry and friends, guitar(s) (Townsend, Clapton, and rhythm), base (John Entwistle), and totally insane drums of Keith Moon, plus piano, French horn, and minor grace notes here and there.

Since Russell preserves the integrity of Townsend's music, this is an excellent view for fanatic `Tommy' fans, and even for those who have a special interest in either Ken Russell or the more exotic corners of Rock, especially `The Who' lore. Unfortunately, as a cinematic achievement, it is no match for some of Russell's other works such as `Women in Love'.

As one who saw The Who (with Keith Moon) do 'Tommy' live, I can say that the movie offers more than just watching The Who perform on stage, and that's saying a lot

Pure genius.......2007-05-23

One of the key titles of the seventies and of the counterculture spirit, and a truly "tour de force" of surreal and sarcastic visual invention. Iconoclast and subversive british director Ken Rusell filmed in 1975 this satyrical rock opera with synthetic and rabidly mesmerezing visual imagination using many of the icons ( from psychodelic designs and underground imaginary to the musical pop stars of the moment: Tina Turner; Elton John and Eric Clapton make self-parodic cameos in the movie ) of the age so as some of the topicals of Hollywood melodrama to build a sardonically kitsch revision of the british Establisment; the cynicism and obscure interests of organized religion and the star system deliriums through the story of Tommy: a blind, deaf and dumb middle-class child who becomes a sort of messiahnic pinball star. Music and lyrics by the mythical band The Who.

Widescreen edition.

WOW!!!.......2007-04-29

It is actually an extraordinary movie - sometimes we initially don't perceive the quality of a particular work of art, then later on we finally grasp how great it is. The stupendous amount of work on the director's part, to invent and make happen the scenes of this movie, floors me. Everything in this story is actually symbolic not "over the top" any more than our sleep-time dreams are "over the top". The singing is perfectly good, and there's nothing wrong with Jack Nicholson's or Oliver Reed's singing, just like in most musicals it is desired and enjoyed, and it fits in perfectly well, that actors sing in their ordinary untrained voices. And the musings and discoursings on the subject of spiritual enlightment (which is what this movie and this story are really all about - bravo Pete Townshend for such a brilliant tour de force - how can such a young man have understood so much?), rendered entirely symbolically, are quite deep, extraordinary and... enlightening.

Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005

Average customer rating:

Rock Stars are like pro athletes, they should retire by 45
Cream's Triumphant Return
THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF THE CREAM IN 2005.
Grade "A"
Boggling

Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005
Starring: Eric Clapton , Jack Bruce (II) , and Ginger Baker
Director: Martyn Atkins
Manufacturer: Warner Strat. Mkt.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009WFFS6
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Amazon.com

They step onto the stage of London's Royal Albert Hall: Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. The capacity crowd, which includes Sean Penn and Jude Law, stands to greet them. Thirty-seven years after their farewell concert, the famously fiery Cream did the unthinkable--they reunited. This double-disc collection (and accompanying CD set) captures highlights from the historic four-day engagement, beginning with a buoyant "I'm So Glad" and ending with a triumphant "Sunshine of Your Love." It would be churlish to suggest that Cream appears exactly as they did in the 1960s (Bruce looks a little frail), but the legendary power trio still has the goods. Bruce is still the essence of soul (a particularly rich vocal on "Politician"), while Baker is as irrepressible as ever (a rare vocal on "Pressed Rat and Warthog," percussive tour-de-force "Toad"). Then there's Clapton, who remains as much a master of the guitar as of understatement. "Thanks for waiting all these years," he quips after a slow-burning "Outside Woman Blues," then adds, "We're going to do every song we know." The track listing is, indeed, generous, despite the absence of such Cream classics as "I Feel Free," "Strange Brew," and "Tales of Brave Ulysses." All told, there are 22 songs plus three alternate takes--and not a bad one in the bunch. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

In May of 2005 Cream returned to London's Royal Albert Hall-to the same stage where they had completed what was thought to be their final performance in 1968. It was one of the most eagerly anticipated, hard-to-get tickets in rock history. With the exception of a brief reunion set at their 1993 induction into the Rock and roll Hall of Fame, Cream had not played together in nearly four decades. This DVD documents Cream's momentous London shows. Performances from each of the four nights are featured and much more. Also included are alternate performances and interviews with Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton. Cream formed in 1966 and disbanded in 1968. The band were a prolific and thrilling live act and toured incessantly in their short but remarkable history.Track Listings: I'm So Glad, Spoonful, Outside Woman Blues, Pressed Rat & Warthog, Sleepy Time Time, N.S.U., Badge, Politician, Sweet Wine, Rollin' & Tumblin', Stormy Monday, Deserted Cities of the Heart, Born Under a Bad Sign, We're Going Wrong, Crossroads, Sitting on Top of the World, White Room, Toad, Sunshine of Your Love, Spoonful (Alternate Takes), Sleepy Time Time (Alternate Takes), Badge (Alternate Takes), Sweet Wine (Alternate Takes), Rollin' & Tumblin', We're Going Wrong, White Room, Sunshine of Your Love

Customer Reviews:

Rock Stars are like pro athletes, they should retire by 45.......2007-06-25

I've read some of the delusional, worshipping comments of other's reviews here, and I just think they are all looking at Cream through Rose-tinted glasses. This put-back together band sounds slow,tentative, tired. Jack Bruce looks like they pulled him out of a nursing home to do this. Individually, they can still play, but their cohesion is slow- they are devoid of energy. Just go look at the other DVD, the one from the same place at the end of the 60s, and see the forcefull energy that band fired out there at the end of a comet-like three year run. The before-and-after contrast of 46 years is startling.

Cream's Triumphant Return.......2007-04-01

Crream's triumphant return is brilliantly filmed during their week in Albert Hall. The sound quality and photography is first rate, and the images are well-timed and skillfully directed.

The band itself is in top form and shows its musical age and experience brilliantly. Eric Clapton's guitar playing is as good as you will see or hear anywhere. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker still are an exciting and stimulating rhythm section, and, in fact, Bruce does his famous duelling with Clapton on some of the numbers here. We see it especially in Sunshine of Your Love. Bruce and Clapton, despite their ages, still manage to sing their numbers with the same kind of verve as they did almost 40 years prior.

Of special interest here is the lack of gimmickry. There are no wah-wah pedals, for example, and no real distortion feedback effects. Stilll, the DVD has much to keep up the interest of the Cream fan who watches it.

No DVD of a live performance is perfect, and there are few but notable letdowns here. For instance, they include the witty but musically weak "Pressed Rat and Warthog" from the Wheels of Fire collection. The version of "Toad" here is rather long, and I'm not a fan of drawn-out drum solos, although Baker is amazingly energetic in this one.

Still, for any Cream fans out there, this is a fine DVD to have. You probably won't watch this just once!

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF THE CREAM IN 2005........2007-03-06

As I stated on the last DVD review of "CREAM FAREWELL CONCERT," I will be doing a follow-up and add to my friend Metamorpho's excellent reviews of all of CREAM'S legendary albums. I already wrote the review on the legendary historic DVD concert "CREAM FAREWELL CONCERT" from 26 November 1968. I will now write a review on the recent 2-3-5-6, May 2005 historic reunion concert of CREAM live at The Royal Albert Hall in London, England. With these two reviews and Metamorpho's excellent CREAM reviews, this will finally complete the CREAM series on a good positive note and not the way CREAM tragically ended in November 1968. Again, this one's for you Metamorpho and for the MIGHTY CREAM.

I will be writing a review on the now legendary historic return DVD concert performance entitled "CREAM, ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON, MAY 2-3-5-6, 2005" by one of Rock's greatest legendary bands and the greatest three-man band ever assembled. I give you one of England's pride and joy's, the one and only, THE MIGHTY C-R-E-A-M. This legendary historic DVD concert performance was originally released in 2005 on Compact Disc and DVD on the Reprise Records label in association with Rhino Records Entertainment which is a Time Warner Music Company. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary historic DVD concert performance or the artist, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible. And now, without further delay, it is now time for me to take you back in time to the accounts and events that would lead to the "CREAM REUNION CONCERT" from 2005.

CREAM will forever be remembered as being Rock's first true supergroup and for being the greatest three-man band in Rock n' Roll history. CREAM would forever change the sound of how the blending and mixture of Blues and Rock n' Roll would flow through the speakers and amplifiers. When CREAM performed their final farewell concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London on 26 November 1968, Rock n' Roll would suffer a major loss and be dealt with a devastating blow. Thirty-seven long years would go by with no reunions or performances due to the inactivity of CREAM. How about this, actually from 1968 to 1993, twenty-five long years would go by with no reunions or performances due to the inactivity of CREAM until their induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in January 1993. CREAM would perform live on stage for the first time in twenty-five years. CREAM performed like they never broke up or left Rock n' Roll. In my opinion, this single 1993 performance would set the stage for the DVD concert I'm about to review for you now, twelve years later in the making. May I also add that I never thought in my wildest dreams, that I would ever be doing a review on the recent historic reunion concert by THE MIGHTY CREAM. From disbelief, I even had to see the concert on DVD for myself to make sure that it was CREAM. And sure enough, IT WAS. Seeing the concert, It was great seeing all three together on stage again. Eric looked great and Ginger looked very vibrantly healthy. Jack on the other hand, did not look very healthy at all. Please forgive me for saying this and I do not mean to offend anyone especially Jack, Ginger and Eric. I do not know if CREAM did this reunion for the money or not. In my opinion, I do not think money played a part in this reunion at all. I think that ONLY LOVE could have brought these three giants back together again. Which leads me to Jack. I think that Jack is terribly ill and sick. I think that it was Jack's dying wish and request to perform with the MIGHTY CREAM for one last time. When you see Jack performing on stage, he seems so terribly weak. He even has a stool on stage to sit on while still performing since he can barely stand up. I really truly hope that I'm wrong but if it is true, I praise Eric and Ginger for putting aside their differences especially between Jack and Ginger and perform as CREAM and bring back the magic one more time. It would also seem to me that with this historic reunion that an old Rock n' Roll warrior like Jack Bruce may have finally found some inner peace within himself and made peace with the other two members and a great legendary band called CREAM. The funny thing about this reunion concert is that CREAM would mark their triumphant return and perform at the very same place where they ended some thirty-seven years ago. In my opinion, this legendary historic concert is another true testament of the brilliance, greatness and genius of three extremely talented masterminds and a fine fitting tribute to a great legendary band that adds more fuel into the legend and legacy of the greatest three-man band that ever lived that was truly ahead of their time. And yes, THIS CONCERT DOES TRULY KICK A*S. A LATE NOTE: I would deeply like to thank my fellow reader and reviewer ...'s or "Saucerhead" for the new info on Jack Bruce. He is quoted as saying: "Jack Bruce was diagnosed with Liver Cancer in 2003 and in fact, had a liver transplant in that same year with near fatal post-operation rejection complications. This would definitely account for his unhealthy appearance in the 2005 CREAM reunion. According to WIKIPEDIA ORG, so far and hopefully, he has since recovered." I wish Jack Bruce well and pray and hope that he has made a full recovery.

Now it is time for their music to speak for itself and do all of the talking. CREAM would take the stage before a thunderous ovation. On DISC ONE, the concert begins with the same legendary Rocker that the band ended with in November 1968, "I'm So Glad," the slow blistering shorter version Blues classic "Spoonful," the breathtaking Blues Rocker "Outside Woman Blues," the first time ever performed live and sung by Ginger, "Pressed Rat And Warthog," the slow beautiful soothing Blues classic "Sleepy Time Time," the energetic Blues Rocker "N.S.U.," the late great George Harrison composition Blues Rocker "Badge," the slow haunting killer Blues classic "Politician," the slow turned fast paced Rocker "Sweet Wine," the train sounding harmonica filled speedy drums number "Rollin' And Tumblin'," the flooring slow Blues classic "Stormy Monday," the amazing and incredible Blues Rocker "Deserted Cities Of The Heart," the mindblowing slow Blues classic "Born Under A Bad Sign" and the sizzling Blues Rocker "We're Going Wrong." The alternate takes of the blistering Blues Rockers "Sleepy Time Time" and "We're Going Wrong" are excellent and could have replaced the chosen versions easily. END OF DISC ONE.

DISC TWO begins with the new blistering Robert Johnson Blues classic Rocker "Crossroads," the forever CREAM trademark Rocker "White Room," the return of Ginger Baker, the incredible "Toad" and concludes the concert with the forever CREAM trademark breakthrough heavy metal Rocker "Sunshine Of Your Love." The alternate take of "Sunshine Of Your Love" sounds about as good as the chosen version if not better. This disc also includes interviews with all three CREAM members and they talk about the events that led to the breakup in 1968 and the events that let up to their reunion concert in 2005. END OF DISC TWO. May I add that Eric Clapton played guitar with such raw energy and power that I have not heard from him in years. This concert is the best that I have ever seen Eric Clapton ever play. Eric Clapton must have found the fountain of youth because he KICKED A*S. Clapton was playing guitar incredibly well and was on fire. Ginger Baker played his drums like he also found the fountain of youth because he kicked a*s. Despite looking terribly ill and sitting on his stool for much of the time during the concert, Jack Bruce really dug deep down within his heart and delivered a blistering performance. Jack's bass playing and patterns were the breakthrough for all bass players and he proves it and shows why in this concert.

Overall, this is one hell of a concert worth seeking and checking out especially for the new beginners and curious ones that are new to the sound and music of the MIGHTY CREAM.

I would like to highly recommend purchasing this legendary historic DVD concert to own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal DVD music concert collection. This legendary historic DVD concert has already proven to stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed, appreciated and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER. THIS CONCERT IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY IN THE MAKING, THIS IS ONE CONCERT THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE WITHOUT.

In closing, CREAM has done the impossible. CREAM defied all the odds and came out of no where to bless us with their magic and presence in order to play and perform their own special blend of music one more time. With the extreme success of CREAM'S reunion concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London, England on 2-3-5-6 May 2005, concert promoters would get together and book CREAM here in the United States at New York's Madison Square Garden. Tickets would sell out immediately upon sale availability. I guess this shows that CREAM still lives and is still extremely popular to this very day. What now holds in store for CREAM? Only the future knows whats in store for CREAM and all of us and it will unfold before us all when it is appropriate. One thing that is certain is that CREAM'S contributions and accomplishments in Rock n' Roll and Blues are well secured and will never be forgotten. So here's to you Eric, Jack and Ginger. Keep Persevering. Keep The Faith. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," need I say more? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. LONG LIVE THE CREAM. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever In Rock, John L.

Grade "A".......2007-02-21

Great concert/cinematography. That's enough said! Buy this DVD, you'll be grateful you did.

Boggling.......2007-02-13

Being a classic rock diehard fan for years this piece bought back great memories.Jack Bruce voice is still mystical,Eric Clapton in his usual cool palying and offcourse Ginger Baker who at this age can still pound.Great act, pity i was not there but seeing and hearing on this dvd was great enuf.

Average customer rating:

Essential viewing for all of my guitar pupils
A Time Machine
It was a Christmas gift
Entertaining and a good light introduction to Hendrix, but not more....
Look no further...

Jimi Hendrix (Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Arthur Allen , Albert Allen , Stella Benabon , Eric Barrett , and Paul Caruso
Director: Gary Weis , Joe Boyd , and John Head (III)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Jimi Plays Berkeley

ASIN: B0009E3234
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Amazon.com

If any artist deserved a hagiography it was Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Boyd's 1973 "authorized" tribute adequately sanctifies the legend. Perversely for a documentary, it achieves this simply through well-chosen concert footage rather than through the insights of the various talking heads. Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Lou Reed, and Germaine Greer are all wheeled out to wax lyrical about their days with Jimi, but nothing is more eloquent than watching and listening to him play. From "Hey Joe" in grainy black and white on the Ready Steady Go TV show, classic footage of Monterey, Woodstock (yes, "The Star-Spangled Banner"), and the Isle of Wight festivals to an acoustic 12- string rendition of "Hear My Train a' Comin'," Hendrix the musician speaks for himself.

But if Hendrix the musician shines through, this is not the most insightful profile of Hendrix the man. The circumstances surrounding his death, for example, are hardly touched upon (girlfriend at the time Monika Dannemann gets only a few seconds of screen time). Interview footage with Hendrix himself plus some occasionally rambling and incoherent comments from such intimates as his father, army buddies, ex-girlfriends (including Linda Keith, who "discovered" him in New York and brought him to England), and fellow musicians all take second place to the music itself. The most sensible quote comes from Little Richard, who proves once and for all that he's utterly bonkers when he says of Jimi's music: "At times he made my big toes shoot up into my boot." --Mark Walker, Amazon.co.uk

Description

The long-awaited Deluxe Edition of the 1973 theatrical documentary Jimi Hendrix is loaded with extras and completely remastered and remixed to provide exceptional sound and picture quality This is the biography of Jimi Hendrix, the world famous guitarist who died much too young. Featuring the guitar wizard on stage and behind the scenes, classic concert footage is interspersed with interviews with friends and prominent musicians giving first-hand recollections, including Pete Townshend, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Little Richard, Lou Reed, Buddy Miles and more. Includes songs "Hey Joe," "Rock me baby," "Like a rolling stone," "A Star Spangled Banner" from Woodstock `69 and many more, from his beginnings to his Monterey, Woodstock and Isle of Wight performances

DVD Features:
Featurette:From the Ukulele to the Strat RT 63:00 min (Over 60 minutes of additional interviews) Remembering Hendrix through interviews with family and friends Including Father Al Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Drummer Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Girlfriend Fayne Pridgeon, Buddy Miles, Linda Keith (she discovered Jimi in NY), Pete Townshend, Jimi's Producer/Engineer Eddie Kramer, "H" Parker, Jimi's Road Manager Eric Barrett and Gerry Stickels Touring Manager
Interviews:Candid interviews from well-known Rock & Roll icons like Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and Buddy Miles.

Customer Reviews:

Essential viewing for all of my guitar pupils.......2007-04-18

You must see this at some point in your studies with me . . . and you must write a REPORT! About the whole thing! EVEN THE EXTRAS like "From The Ukulele To The Strat" and "The Making Of Dolly Dagger" and yes "Stone Free Uncut!"

A Time Machine.......2007-04-05

This video was like a time machine. It took me back to the early 70's. A glimpse of a bygone era of Rock and Roll. The musical performances were wonderful with good quality video and audio. Jimi's acoustic performance of Waitin' for a train was worth the purchase price.

It was a Christmas gift.......2007-01-24

My coworker mentioned her Jimi Hendrix DVD had been ruined by her kid, so I thought it would make for a great Christmas gift to get her one. She was very pleased and even went out and bought a new dvd player.

Entertaining and a good light introduction to Hendrix, but not more...........2006-12-11

I believe that this documentary is likely to appeal to two kinds of people. First, those that don't know a thing about Jimi Hendrix, and that will be able to watch an engaging introduction to his life and music that doesn't go to far but entertains. Secondly, those fans that want to have absolutely everything that has to do with Hendrix, and that will treasure this dvd.

On the other hand, I don't think that those spectators that simply want to watch an excellent documentary about a musical icon will be happy with this one, because even though it is good, it is far from outstanding or even very good. It doesn't have enough information about Jimi Hendrix, and it lacks depth. It is entertaining and a good light introduction to Hendrix, but not more.

All in all, I can say that this documentary is good, and deserves at least 3 starts out of 5, but not more. If you expect a documentary about a musician that will make you watch it again and again, give "No direction home" (by Scorcese, about Dylan) a try.

Belen Alcat

Look no further..........2006-11-13

I'll confess up front that I have an emotional attachment to this movie which will color this review - I saw it several times at the cinema during my teenage years, and owned the soundtrack (which i played to death).

Having said that, this is the best Hendrix biography I've seen, & I've seen all of them (I think). The live footage is a cherry-picked selection of Hendrix's best onstage moments (and let's face it, if he only gave the world the ~2.5 mins of Monterey opener "Rock Me Baby", it would be enough), and as others have already said, the 12-string Hear My Train a'Comin' is the jewel in the crown.

The interviews are secondary, but they represent a fascinating snapshot of life in 1973. They are of Jimi's time (or close enough) and by those who knew him. They are incisive, contradictory, insightful, and quite often hilarious. Talking about Hendrix seems to bring out a sincerity and honesty in most of these people which is compelling. The "Ghetto Fighters" are great, and Little Richard is - well, Little Richard.

Buy it.

Steve

Average customer rating:

Creating the Music
music maker's magic
An artist with a different talent.
What It's All About
May not be for everyone

The Language of Music
Starring: Tom Dowd , Eric Clapton , Ornette Coleman , Thelonious Monk , and John Coltrane
Director: Mark Moormann
Manufacturer: Palm Pictures / Umvd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00011ZBOS
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Description

TOM DOWD & THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC profiles the extraordinary life and legendary work of music producer / recording engineer Tom Dowd. Historical footage, vintage photographs and interviews with a who's who list of musical giants from the worlds of jazz, soul and classic rock shine a spotlight on the brilliance of Tom Dowd, whose creative spirit and passion for innovative technology helped shape the course of modern music. Tom Dowd's credits include recording sessions with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Otis Redding, John Coltrane, The Allman Brothers Band, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Cream, Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Booker T. & the MG's and countless other musical luminaries.

Includes Music & Interviews with Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, The Allman Brothers Band, Les Paul, Otis Redding, Thelonious Monk, Booker T. & the MG's & many more!

Customer Reviews:

Creating the Music.......2007-03-09

Mark Moorman has crafted a surprisingly good documentary dedicated to the life and work of legendary music producer Tom Dowd. Relatively unknown outside the recording industry Dowd crafted some of the greatest music of the 20th Century. Combining interviews, film clips, and photographs Moorman tells Dowd's story from his years as a physicist on the Manhattan Project to his becoming the star producer at Atlantic Records and finally his production work with Clapton, Skynard, and others. The Who's Who that Dowd worked with is amazing.

In addition to the Dowd story one gets a good view of how the music gets recorded and a fair amount of the history of Atlantic Records. If there is a problem with this film it's that it doesn't present enough of the music. The highlight is watching Dowd remaster the tracks of Layla some 30 years down the road with a childlike glee that is charming.

The bonus material is equally interesting as almost another 90 minutes of interview footage with artists, fellow producers and family members. This is a worthwhile viewing experience for anyone interested in Dowd, early recordins or music in general. Do yourself a favor and see it.

music maker's magic.......2007-01-25

Pick up most any hit record beginning in the late 1940s, especially any recording done with Atlantic Records, and you will likely see that one Tom Dowd was the producer or recording engineer. In this loving tribute to Dowd, who died October 27, 2002 before the film was finished, those inside the guild honor the memory of one whom they universally acknowledge was a legendary genius and wonderful human being. In his younger years Dowd was a physics student at Columbia, and even worked on the atom bomb project (he was present at the Bikini Atoll tests), but his mother was an opera singer and perhaps he was destined for music. Dowd was a master technical innovator, musical aesthete, coach, father figure, and psychologist. He himself narrates most of the film, but we are also treated to original concert footage (Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, etc.) and retrospective interviews with a number of the stars whose sounds he perfected, including Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, and Greg Allman. The five minutes or so when Dowd sits at a console and walks us through the thirty-year-old master copy of "Layla," starting with only the guitars and then adding the various parts until they pulse with that incredibly evocative sound that defined an era, interspersed with poignant reflections by Clapton, are worth the entire film. One disappoint in this otherwise fascinating glimpse of the history of music recording since the late 1940s is that we learn nothing at all personal about Dowd, and nothing at all about any weaknesses, failures, misjudgments, and the like, that would have made this entirely likable person even more richly human.

An artist with a different talent........2007-01-10

I wasn't familiar with Tom Dowd except as a credit or a footnote. It finally hit me that I was seeing his name on a lot of projects (particularly for Atlantic Records) and out of curiousity started searching for information about Dowd. I was pleased to come across this DVD. It really shows a man who had a gift; maybe not a musical gift, per se, but one that enabled him to make singers/musicians sound their best. I was sorry to learn that he passed away not long after the release of this project. Very good documentary.

What It's All About.......2006-08-30

Tom Dowd was the master in the recording studio. We have him to thank for not only his technical achievements (pioneering multi-track recording, the linear fader, the atom bomb), but his artistic contribution to music in the latter half of the 20th century. Arguably the single most influential individual in music in the 20th century, as he had his hands on the faders of so many GREAT recordings of truly inspired artists. This documentary boils down the essence of his career to a fine syrup of love, respect, and admiration that all the artists, engineers, and producers felt for this largely unknown giant of the recording industry. And more than anything else, this DVDD shows that the man just plain had fun doing it. And isn't that what art should be all about?

May not be for everyone.......2006-07-06

I've watched this DVD several times already and I really enjoy it. The fact that I'm a recording studio professional and a guitar player certainly has a lot to do with my appreciation of the legendary status that Tom Dowd has in the studio world. I remember when he came to work in a studio where I was employed and people were speaking in reverential tones about his presence. Well, he certainly deserved the praise he received and this documentary will help to explain why to those who are interested. I didn't know a lot about him except having seen his name on many of my favorite recordings and it seems that he exemplified the things that I have aspired to. Wish I got to know him, we would have had a lot to talk about.

Before the Music Dies (Featuring Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, and Branford Marsalis)

Average customer rating:

EVERYONE MUST SEE THIS!!!
Excellent documentary about the music industry...
A new guide to understanding our industry
Great Edutaining Film...
not as good as I expected

Before the Music Dies (Featuring Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, and Branford Marsalis)
Starring: Dave Matthews , Erykah Badu , Eric Clapton , Elvis Costello , and Bonnie Raitt
Manufacturer: BSide Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KGGP8U
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Amazon.com

Before the Music Dies is an extraordinary documentary and cautionary overview about the state of the music business in America. Written by Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen (and directed by Shapter), each of whom lost loved ones who happened to be musicians, Before the Music Dies is a journey through a vital music scene in the U.S.—-artistically speaking—-that is no longer nurtured and supported commercially. Shapter and Rasmussen take a chapter-like approach to demonstrating how every phase of getting music from artists to consumers is under the control of conglomerates and bottom-line analysts primarily concerned with keeping investors happy. Thus, we see musicians with enormous potential eschewed by the handful of major record labels that are still around. Meanwhile—-as Eric Clapton, interviewed for the film, puts it—-entire teams of makeover people and technicians exist to turn tone-deaf but attractive women into pop stars. Also highlighted is the record industry's love-hate relationship with file-sharing and downloadable music stored on sundry listening devices, which threatens control over commercially-packaged content as well as the enormous profits reaped from highly-priced CDs. Several case studies—-especially the story of singer-songwriter-bluesman Doyle Bramhall II and how he survived ill treatment by a major only to find success on the same independent label as Dave Matthews-—is fascinating. Interviewees include Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt, Matthews, Elvis Costello, and Erykah Badu. --Tom Keogh

Product description

BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES tells the story of American music at this precarious moment. Filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen traveled the country, hoping to understand why mainstream music seems so packaged and repetitive, and whether corporations really had the power to silence musical innovation. The answers they found on this journey-ultimately, the promise that the future holds-are what makes BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES both riveting and exhilarating.

At the heart of BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES are interviews with musicians, industry insiders, music critics, and fans that reveal how music has reached this moment of truth. Featured performances from a truly diverse group of artists, ranging from The Dave Matthews Band and Erykah Badu to Seattle street performers and Mississippi gospel singers show us that great music is always out there… as long as you know where to look. BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES will renew your passion for great music, and inspire you to play an active part in its future.

Customer Reviews:

EVERYONE MUST SEE THIS!!!.......2007-03-29

Point blank. EVERYONE has to see this. I mean EVERYONE. Show it at schools. Show it in mass release. Every theatre all over the world. The power is in the people and the people aren't doing much these days to make change. This documentary makes you want to rally at your local radio station!

Excellent documentary about the music industry..........2007-03-28

I first saw this film at the Independent Film Festival of Boston a year ago and I have loved it ever since. It is a fantastic inside look at the radio and music industries and the way they control the way the average consumer takes in music. It opens you up to a whole new way of thinking (unless you didn't already think this way) and offers solutions for how to make better choices about what you lend your ears to. If you are a music lover or musician, you MUST see this film.

A new guide to understanding our industry.......2007-03-14

I've been in the music industry for over 30 years and all I've seen and done has changed so much that I needed this information to remember and pass on to the younger generation.
This is a testiment to all I've been teaching and I will use it as a tool in my future growth as a professional in an ever changing industry.
I'm giving a copy of this DVD to many of my coworkers as well as passing it on to teachers in the production educatioin as well.

Great Edutaining Film..........2007-03-11

This film was great! It had a lot of information from very reputable artists in the music industry. As an artist myself, I knew alot of this information before, although a novice would find this information very useful. I think everyone should watch this film, so they truly know the inner workings of the industry, especially in terms of radio and the major label industry. It is wise to know the system, and then it will be more clear why we constantly hear the same music over and over... it is merely a reflection of this country's culture, the money & power is concentrated, therefore the music is concentrated (with a handful of artists getting all of the airplay). Let's use this as a tool, to educate and rally people around the importance of balance in music, where all is appreciated, not just profit...

not as good as I expected.......2007-03-09

I saw the great reveies, but I wasn't too impressed. I'm a die hard music fan. I found this to be boring at times, however, it did have some good information and was interesting.

However, certain segments, such as the one on Doyle Bramhall, and when they explain how easy it is to make a music star were drawn out and boring. They could've cut it down/edited some things out and we still would've gotten the point.

Average customer rating:

Simply amazing.
ERIC
Eric Clapton Unplugged
Clapton is always doing the right thing
clapton = really really good

Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Starring: Eric Clapton , Nathan East , Steve Ferrone , Chuck Leavell , and Andy Fairweather-Low
Director: Milton Lage
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video