Reviews (2)

Elvis at his ultimate best!!
This collection is a must for the true fan. It is also a wonderful experience for anyone not familar with the greatest of Elvis.

all three are excelent
it is elvis at his best.Live in conert !!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Elvis: The Concert Collection includes three shows: '68Comeback Special, One Night with You, and Aloha fromHawaii.

Five years before he achieved broadcast history with his legendary 1973 globalsatellite telecast, Aloha from Hawaii, Elvis Presley brought a lessgrandiose but far more urgent mission to '68 Comeback Special. Isolatedfrom his original audience after a long sojourn on Hollywood soundstages, andthreatened by the vibrancy and social gravity of rock, the King sought nothingless than to reclaim his throne. Now this Christmas season network special loomsas the Memphis icon's most substantial achievement as a stage performer. If thecandy-colored sets and hyperactive choreography of its larger production numberssmack of its network packagers' desperation to be hip, Elvis himself rises to ariveting, assured performance at the peak of his powers. Looking fit andrelaxed, and sheathed in black leather, he covers a shrewd song listencompassing early rockabilly hits, gospel (albeit rendered unintentionallyhilarious by its florid dance routines), and comparatively restrainedballads.

Originally taped for '68 Comeback Special and never seen during hislifetime, the astonishing live performance One Night with You couldaccurately be described as Elvis unplugged. Taped in a small studio, the sessionis a no-frills, intimate presentation of the Memphis rocker jamming with four ofhis earliest band mates, revisiting early favorites in a relaxed and unrehearsedsetting. With the musicians seated in a circle, facing one another whilesurrounded by a small but rapt audience, One Night with You is farremoved from the more conventional staging seen elsewhere in his videography.Elvis's warm interaction with his old allies meanwhile refers directly back tohis earliest stage and TV work in trio and quartet configurations. For fans, thecomeback special itself still looms as an unsurpassed feast of Presley music atthe artist's peak. But this 53-minute companion, first aired by HBO, stands onits own as the tenderloin.

Fans still remember the ambitious 1973 network TV special Aloha fromHawaii as a zenith in Elvis Presley's performing career, punctuated by itsextra-musical achievement as the first global satellite broadcast devoted to asingle entertainer. Both the broadcast and its companion album captured the Kingin his most grandiose persona, fueled by Hollywood scale and Vegas glitz, as acaped pop superhero. He may have looked trim, but posthumous accounts confirmwhat a second look suggests--on this evening, Elvis was alternately overwhelmedand distracted, bravura renditions of signature songs (most triumphantly, the"American Trilogy" medley originated by Mickey Newbury) offset by less-focusedreadings. Fans may still savor a generous and diverse song list, but viewedbeside Presley's earlier, more consistent performances, this legendary concertanticipates Presley's imminent decline. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Three Best Elvis Videos!
After years of making bad movies in Hollywood, Elvis returned to live performing, starting with the '68 Comeback. One of the sessions taped at NBC was released as "One Night With You." Here you will find both exciting performances on seperate tapes. They're great, even though the Comeback tape is missing one song, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Still, it is a piece of history showing Elvis in black leather singing all his old songs with his original band. One Night With You is tremendous as well, with a variety of hits.

Five years after the mighty Comeback, he did another TV special, "Aloha From Hawaii." This one is missing songs too, but is a highlight of Elvis' '70s career. These three Elvis videos are among the best concert films you can get. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Harry is cheesy but overall good info
Harry Belafonte acts like a cheeseball sometimes, but this video has some great information for fans of latin music. It tells the story of the music, beginning in Africa and Spain, and going to Cuba and the US. Awesome music throughout, very informative movie. My only complaint is that Harry Belafonte is a dork. I have no problem with him, I just think he's a dork.

Best English language history of Latin Music.
This 3 video collection is a must have for all interested in Latin music history from Africa to Cuba to New York. Has some amazing music clips of Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, etc. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Vague Sneak Peak About the King
As a relatively new Elvis fan, I generally speaking liked this selection. There are a lot of performances from Elvis's younger year that I very much enjoyed. The thing that bothered me though, was that the narration was very chopped up.
I liked first two discs well enough. The narrator was much more informative and interesting to listen to. However, I was very surprised, and disappointed when they totally switched to someone else on the third disc.
I felt that wa highly unorganized and strange. White the first two discs have fun performances and even some home movies.
The third I believe was just thrown together and made to make extra money. I personally would get something else for Elvis' performances. However, I'm not so disappointed because like I said I am a new Elvis fan. So I believe it's good for people who want a good introduction to him, but not for long time Presely fans though.

A Wide Variety of Good Recordings
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the same old complaints. "Some songs repeat" or "they showed two songs from the same concert" -- big deal! This is an excellent compilation of footage. From his first TV appearance in 1956, to his last in 1977, these tapes have everything you could ever want to see.

Highlights: "Shake Rattle and Roll" from the Dorsey Shows, "Ready Teddy" from Ed Sullivan, "All Shook Up" from the '68 Comeback, and "Unchained Melody" from Elvis in Concert. Some of the lip-synch performances are good too, as well as songs from his movies. Yes, some songs do repeat, but don't let that drag you down. If you don't like it, fast forward through it the second time.

I should have listened!
I should have listened to the Amazon.com reviews. Many of them said it looked like the same footage on each disc just from a different angle or a different song from the same concert. I didn't want to believe it but its true. However, I would recommend that you buy disc 1 and not the set. It is the best and captures every side of Elvis you will see in the other two. The version of "Unchained Melody" was fascinating. Not only was it very emotional and definitely touched me, but also shocking how heavy he was and was filmed just two months before his death. It may sound crazy but for me it was like a farewell song.

The Nightmarishly Unforgettable Performances
All Elvis fans have had the following nightmare: They buy an attractively packaged Elvis video product with no less a name than "Elvis: The Great Performances," unwrap the product in a blind fury arising from the anticipation of witnessing what Heaven must surely look like, and find . . . gasp . . . heart attack . . . a made-for-late-night-T.V.-edited montage of movie clips featuring Elvis lip synching his songs while his hair does that weird swaying thing that it does whenever he lip synchs his songs in his movies.
We have all had the nightmare, but I had to live it when I bought this set. All Elvis fans with even the most basic senses of music and film appreciation, be advised that this video is nightmarishly bad.

Great but there are some problems
I have to agree with Howard B. Thomas. There are at least three songs that repeated during the three volumes. The songs are Blue Suede Shoes, Don't Be Cruel and Hound Dog. But if you catch any other songs that are repeated during the 3 volumes e-mail me. Another problem I have is, there is a song performed on an Ed Sullivan show that is not perfromed by Elvis Presley. And that song is Bo Diddley. Elvis Presley made 3 appearances on the Ed Sullivan show. The first time he was introuded by a guest host because Ed Sullivan was hurt in a car crash. But was back in time for the two final appearances by Elvis Presley. The final song Elvis Presley sung on the three shows is "Peace in the Valley". Elvis made a qutoe about his christmas on the 3rd show. Which you can read the quote by Elvis in Christmas with Elvis under Christmas Quotes by Elvis. The three volumes are Center Stage, The Man and the Music, and From the Waist Up. There are songs from his movies on here to. And they are Love Me Tender, Teddy Bear, King Creole, Jailhouse Rock, Suspicious Minds, Got a Lot O' Lovin to Do, Trouble, Mean Women Blues, Treat Me Nice, GI Blues, Return to Sender, and Aways On My Mind. After the final song on Elvis Presley's 3red appearance Ed Sullivan said Elvis was a "fine boy". And this is coming from a man who once said "I don't want him on my show. I don't care what anyone says about him - how great a talent he is - he just won't be on my show and that's that. Ed Sullivan said he didn't want Elvis Presley on his show and yet he did. I learned that Ed Sullivan wanted Elvis Presley back on his show. If you love all three volumes you can buy this on video and dvd. The first 2 are narrated by Geroge Klein and the 3rd voume is narrated by Bono of U2. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Prodigy Of Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark
What More Can I Say Other Than "The Clark Sisters" Is Anointed By God,Just Like There Home Girl Vanessa Bell Armstrong,They Keep Putting Out Good Music Over & Over Again!!!
All The Hard Work "Mama Mattie" Instilled In Them Is Paying Off!!!

Traditional, Spirit-filled, Annoited, Church at it's Best!
Though this video is only 25 minutes, it seems like an hour! It is emotionally charged, and the annointing will fall upon every born again believer in Jesus Christ during its presentation. The Clark Sisters are truly gospel pioneers on this side of heaven.

Legends, Indeed!!
If you have never had the pleasure of listening to these annointed singers before, be prepared to be blessed! From their classic "Name it, Claim it" to the old gospel standby, "Hallelujah" you will be hard pressed not to jump up and shout! Listen to their signature harmonies and delivery and you too will understand why they are the most dynamic singing group of any genre today! I highly recommend it for whenever you need a good spiritual uplifting.

GIFTED AND BLESSED BEYOND!!!!!
There is no group that can compare to the unique, anointed style of the Clark Sisters. These ladies are truly blessed and they have held on to God's unchanging hands. They have not changed, they have always stood for God's music and praises have always come from their mouthes. This tape is truly a church service. If you want to be touched, buy this tape.

Amazon
All I can say is they have done it again,and again and again the clark sisters in my opinion are one of the greatest groups since the beginning of time. They are saved ,spirit -filled and led by God. and thats what makes the difference.And they sing with the anointing of God ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It's Garbage!
Saw this tape at a friend's home a few years back. Felt sick to my stomach. Went into the Bathroom and threw up.

There's something basically wrong with three grown men singing in falsetto. One wonders what could have happened to the Bee Gees if they somehow hadn't gotten a recording contract.

Hopefully, these tapes will someday end up in some landfill somewhere where they'll decompose.

WOW!!!!!!!
This video includes my two favorite all time BeeGees songs, Nights On Broadway and Ordinary Lives. They also have entertaining classics and 80s songs like You Win Again, Stayin' Alive, and How Deep Is Your Love. They include the funny sort of skit for Woman In Love and the funny controversy throughout Spicks And Specks. They do dedicate a song to Andy (How Deep Is Your Love) but is not as clever as Don't Throw It All Away Our Love in 1997. But for a 2 video collection of One songs, Saturday Night Live songs, and oldies songs of the BeeGees, this is worth buying at any cost!

A Great Show
This is a wonderful set, featuring almost 30 great songs (some shortened versions in a medley) -- Ordinary Lives, Giving Up the Ghost, To Love Somebody, Gotta Get a Message to You, One, Tokyo Nights, Words, Juliet, New York Mining Disaster, Holiday, Too Much Heaven, Heart Breaker, Islands in the Stream, Run to Me, My World, Spicks and Specks, Lonely Days, How Deep is Your Love, It's My Neighborhood, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, House of Shame, I Started a Joke, Massachusetts, Staying Alive, Nights on Broadway, Jive Talking, You Win Again, You Should Be Dancing.

What a TREAT! A great performance.

Back On The Road Again!
After many years of not touring, the Bee Gees are presented in this 1989 VHS concert with a solid and confident masterpiece of a presentation. All the songs are showcased and the presentation is first class! Clad in jeans and comfortable wear, the three brothers are at a highpoint as they work the audience like a homecoming reunion. The back up band is fine as well and one feels as if you are part of the experience. From R&B to ballad, the Bee Gees deliver with first class style while holding the audience captive with their professional informality. You can't help but love these guys. This was their third so-called comeback and it shows they love to perform. Turn the stereo up high!

10 stars without question
This is undoubtly one of the best concert video's I have ever seen. I have every video there is on the Bee Gees but this has got to be my favorite. Anyone who's still stuck in the idea of associating the Bee Gees with Disco only, has got to buy this. The music is fantastic. A must for any Bee Gees fan?.....This is a must for any music fan period. Buy it, you'll never be sorry. ... Read more

Description

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. ... Read more

Reviews (118)

The Best Series on Jazz, Despite Its Flaws
I am a jazz musician, son of a jazz musician, am conservatory trained, and this series stands toe to toe with the best lectures by the best music historians and music theory experts I have studied with. If Ken Burns chose to follow a the pillars of jazz in depth rather than give ten minutes to every musician to come along in the past hundred years, we are better for it. If you want ten minutes on each musician, read liner notes. Mr. Burns series will be remembered precisely because it does go into such depth. Bird, Duke, Pops and Dizzie do not come clear to you without much study. We should be grateful for the fact that this series is anything but shallow. It is true to the art. If this series, because of such depth, asks more of viewers than they want to give, then let such viewers only seeking entertainment seek that. Americans, everything is not entertainment.

Jazz itself, from its outset and to this very day, asks more of you than any other music. A series about it should do no less.

This series is not perfect. Jazz is also imperfect. As Thelonius Monk said, there are no wrong notes. So are there no bad jazz documentaries, as long as they are unflinching, whole, and about the forces that shaped the music. This one is. It's only real flaw is that it is too in love with its own story and the music. That is entirely forgiveable.

If you have any interest in jazz, buy or rent this series and watch each one like a student, and learn in wonder at the extraordinary music brought to us by African Americans. It is one of the glories of American culture, and of the world, and we should join Ken Burns, his historians, critics and musicians in joyously celebrating the collective creation of the geniuses that graced our land in the past 100 years.

"History," "Documentary," "Theory of" are not in the title.
The negative reviews of this series assume that Burns is compiling a documentary, writing a historical survey, or undertaking some theoretical analysis of jazz. Burns is above all a biographer. His primary interest is in the life of a particular artist, solider, athlete, explorer, etc.: the overall trajectory of their lives--the choices they make, the risks they are or aren't willing to take, their sufferings in the face of prejudice, misunderstanding, and failure--and how the individual life fits within the larger social context. Hence his emphasis on annecdote, personal letter and photograph, character analysis, and why he has baseball players and actors and club owners as well as scholars and musicians commenting on these people. And why he traces the entire career of someone like Louis Armstrong or Billy Holiday, rather than devoting more time to contemporary muscians whose story it is still too young to be told. Everything else is secondary to this main concern, and to miss this focus is to miss the point of all Ken Burns' documentaries. To grasp it is to experience life within a wider, wiser, almost epic, context. The so-called jazz expert who is miffed over some apparent omission, or overemphasis, or seeming bias, is like the librarian who has all the books catalogued and all the facts at their fingertips but can't see that they might refer to something outside the four walls of their narrow expertise.

Provides a very useful orientation
Jazz is a relatively recent interest for me--maybe half a dozen years. I'd learned about scattered fragments of jazz, but never developed a systematic understanding, a clear orientation--though a couple of times I'd tried: I bought Gary Giddons' "Visions of Jazz," for instance, which is very good but just didn't capture my imagination.

Ken Burns' "Jazz" gave me what I've been wanting for years--a clear, evocative, comprehensive way into the genre as a whole.

Okay, it may not be the last word on the history of jazz. Yeah, some things really irritated me--like the slighting, mentioned by many, of Bill Evans, and the excessive excision of many white musicians to make the generally accurate point that jazz springs more from the experience of Black Americans. (Hint to Burns: You make your argument stronger by showing how apparently contrary data fit, not by leaving them out.) But over all, I found this a very helpful overview. And I enjoyed getting to know the biographies of, and the personal relations among, the players.

You won't likely get such an orientation from buying a few of the original CDs *instead* of the "Jazz" series. Few of us have the ears or training to discern what's taught in this series. You'd be highly unlikely to realize that, for instance, what was new with Be-Bop is improvising on the underlying chord changes rather than the melody. You'd really have to be perceptive and paying attention to notice what distinguishes Kansas City jazz from New Orleans jazz from New York jazz from West Coast jazz. And *no* album can place *itself* in history. For instance, you cannot learn from listening to an album featuring Coleman Hawkins-or Charlie Christian or Kenny Clarke--that *before* that album people played very differently. In short, you'd have to be far better trained musically and far more observant than most of us are, and listen to dozens (if not hundreds) of albums, to learn what this series teaches.

As I watched over a period of a couple of weeks, I bought several of the CDs that Burns produced to survey the music, and I found them very instructive. No, as listening experiences, they're not as good as some of the various albums on which the cuts originated. But that's not the point: They are very good ways to get an overview, to get oriented, to know where to go next.

After seeing this series and studying the accompanying CDs, when I go into the music store and start perusing the jazz disks, I find that I recognize a whole lot more and can surmise a whole lot better what's what and what would interest me. For instance, tonight I saw "From Spirituals to Swing," a three CD set of Carnegie Hall jazz concerts in 1938 and 1939. A month ago, the list of personnel would have meant near-nothing to me--I probably wouldn't have even known what I was looking at, and I doubt I would have looked at the thing for more than thirty seconds. Now, though, I studied and comprehended the personnel and got all excited--"This I gotta hear." So I bought it, and it's great.

Now, isn't that reason enough to recommend this series?

That the overall interpretive framework of the series may need correction is not a trenchant criticism, in my opinion. To get a comprehensive understanding of anything, you have to start with *some* systematic framework, which you can then modify, maybe even refute, as you encounter further data. Logically, the first such framework you acquire has to come from someone else, unless you are a genius of extremely wide learning.

No, Ken Burns' "Jazz" isn't the only guide to jazz you'll ever need--as others have noted, some of the omissions are glaring. But it's fine place to start.

If you really want to get a sense of jazz, this is an excellent investment, in my opinion. Yeah, it's pricey--but cheaper than, say, an adult education course on jazz appreciation at your local community college (if you include texts and other supporting material). And if you don't want to spend the money--well, you can hint real hard to your significant other that you'd like it for your birthday or Valentine or some such thing.

Postscript: I almost didn't buy this because of the characterization of Wynton Marsalis's role by several other reviewers here. I'd never much liked his music--it always seemed too cerebral, almost architectural, for my tastes--chilly, not very visceral. (That's just my personal taste--I also find most of Ella Fitzgerald--except her duo wok with Armstrong--a bit emotionally distant, unlike Sarah Vaughan or Billie Holiday or Carmen McRae or many others.)

I was skeptical about any documentary that made Marsalis the central story teller.

Well, two things: (1) He just isn't the central story teller here. He does not have anything approaching the majority of commentator air time. It is certainly true that he plays a role analogous to Shelby Foote's in "The Civil War"--he is a unifying presence, especially in the early going and toward the end. This is just good film making--to establish "characters" whose presence throughout helps give unity to the piece. (2) I really liked Wynton in this documentary. He came off as much earthier, more laid back, mischievous, funnier and more fun, than I ever would have imagined. And he is really quite illuminating, especially when he explains various musical concepts--like the "Big 4." (I went back and listened to "Thick in the South," thinking maybe I'd like his music more now. Nope. Still feels too thought-out, too chilly, to me. Oh, well.)

Could have been so much better
I guess it says something that I have gone back and watched Burns' "Civil War" documentary more than a dozen times since I first saw it, and have only watch "Jazz" once since the first time. The Civil War documentary certainly is rife with factual inaccuracies but by & large gets the essential story of the conflict right. "Jazz," on the other hand, treats its subject as though the last 40-50 years never happened. It is as though the Civil War documentary would have lingered over the years 1861-1863 incessantly, then sped through the last two years ("Oh yeah, there were a couple of battles, Atlanta burned, Lee surrendered, the war was over. The end." Something like that) as though they didn't matter.

As I found the documentary going into its umpteenth hour and we STILL weren't out of the 1930's yet, I had a bad feeling about where this was going. You would have thought that Louis Armstrong had been annointed as the Jazz Pope and he ruled over the world of jazz for 40 years. In his proper context, Armstrong is very important, but Burns seems positively fixated on him. He dwells on every facet of Armstrong's upbringing & early career. Unless he planned on making a 60-hour documentary, there was no way Burns could hope to do justice to the more recent history of the genre, and sure enough he basically hits the fast forward button once the be-bop era is coming to a close.

Personally, I cannot stand fushion jazz, but nonetheless some mention needs to made of a style that was dominant in jazz for almost as long as the swing style, for crying out loud. Also, relying almost exculsively on Wynton Marsalis (doing his best impression of a crochety old man on his front porch, railing at a world that has passed him by) really was not a good idea & imbues the entire documentary with a hopelessly retrograde flavor.

I watched it once, and came away disappointed. I watched it a second time, hoping that I could find more to appreciate, but only found that it continued to disappoint. I don't know if it merits any future viewings, and that is indeed a shame, because it is a subject that deserves better treatment than this.

Excellent for what it is
It's surprizing how vociferously some "snobs" condemn "Jazz" simply because it's not as comprehensive as they seem to think it should be. From reading these reviews you would think Ken Burns is a half-step above a holocaust-denier for not including Roland Kirk or Eric Dolphy. "Jazz" is a wonderful, inspiring and, yes, traditional look at the art form. Newcomers shouldn't be dissuaded because it's not as complete as it should be. ... Read more

Description

In an office building a few blocks from Times Square, a group oftalented teens rewrote the soundtrack to the American experience. The string of chart- topping melodies they penned earned the Brill Building the nickname "The Hit Factory."Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick and Bobby Darin are among the legends who passedthrough its doors. "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling," "Up on a Roof," and "Hound Dog"are just a few of the hits that came pouring out. This unprecedented look at "Teen PanAlley" includes in-depth portraits of some of the biggest names in the business, alongwith a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the heady days when the Brill Building wasthe center of the pop universe.A treasure trove of unforgettable songs, rare photos and interviews with everyone fromCarole King to Phil Ramone makes this the definitive story of a musical revolution. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very good stuff!
I bought this at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland this weekend. (It's the source, per this DVD, of Don Kirschner's greatest regret, that being that he hasn't been enshrined there. He should be, and would be if he was more popular amongst his peers, but I digress...)

The longest piece on this two-disc set has incisive comments by the greats of the Brill Building songwriters (Goffin and King, Greenwich and Barry, Weill and Mann, etc.), as well as rare comments from Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las and many others. It's in must-see territory.

The rest of the pieces on the discs are Biography-style (this being from A&E's Biography unit, after all) shows on Dionne Warwick, Bobby Darin, Burt Bacharach and Lieber & Stoller. All of them are well done, though not as incisive as the centerpiece.

A&E skimps on extras, and they do so here again. A shame, as with decent extras I'd give this one 5 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Awesome Wonder
If not the BEST album of all times, surely the top three, bar none. This video explains the wonder of Wonder and the album concepts and precepts. A MUST for all of Steve's followers.

just get it
if you are a fan of the album, then you owe it to yourself to have this video. if for no other reason...to watch stevie play the drums AND PLAY THEM WELL!

a must have
a must have.hearing about the making of this landmark recording was incredible.seeing&hearing the different artists that took part in the creation was special as well.getting to see Stevie play drums was a real treat.the engineering was ahead of it's time.Stevie using different equipment was also ahead of it's time.

A must for all Stevie Fans
Songs in the key of life is Stevie Wonder at his best. The producers of this video, couldnt get footage of the actual making of this classic album, so they did the next best thing....get all the original musicians together and play through some of the tracks. Stevie talked about the writing, arranging and playing (also the mistake that was left on "Isnt she lovely") The other guys talked about how they felt either writing lyrics to songs that are now considered classics, or playing on one of the most influential soul albums ever. There are moments though, where the video seems to loose the plot. I didnt really want to know too much about the finance behind Stevie's recording signing before SITKOL, but they stuck some Motown guy infront of a camera for 15 minutes to waffle on and on. Stevie Wonder himself likes to talk..and talk and talk and you'll find yourself pressing the FF button on the remote... All in all, a very good video about a classic album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even casual jazz and blues fans know those seminal American styles journeyed north from New Orleans and the Deep South, along the Mississippi River. But that tributary's penetration into the nation's heartlands, and its passage through a much broader, more diverse array of cultures, affords a richer portrait of how root musical styles have merged, diverged, recombined, or survived against the potential regimentation imposed by mass media and a more mobile, modern society. It's this latter process that provides the thread for director-producer John Junkerman's four-hour documentary, Mississippi: River of Song, originally broadcast by PBS.

Junkerman starts not in the Crescent City, from which African American musical hybrids emerged, but near one of the river's sources in northern Minnesota, winding his way through the varied populations and past a sometimes surprising melange of transplanted European, Asian, and South American musics.From Ojibwa powwows, traditional Hmong reed players, and Scandinavian fiddle groups to forceful gospel choirs, German polka bands, Mexican conjuntos, and alternative rock, Junkerman and his team capture American music beyond the glare of New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville. The pilgrimage does strike special sparks when it reaches the blues, R&B, jazz, zydeco, and Cajun strongholds further down river, yet much of the program's freshness stems from the stopovers that reveal unexpected cultural collisions.

Thrash folk singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco serves as narrator, bringing a warm enthusiasm to her connective commentary, but much of the underlying historical, cultural, and personal insight comes directly from the musicians. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A matter of selecting good examples
Acorn Media has been issuing some really nice videos and one of their latest is of special value to anyone interested in American music. With the supertitle "The Mississippi, River of Song: The Grassroots of American Music," this program is divided into four tapes of about 60 minutes each. The basic idea is that we start with "Americans Old and New" at the northern source of the great river and follow the stream through the "Midwestern Crossroads," the "Southern Fusion," and wind up in "Louisiana, Where Music is King." Basically the idea is a good one. The first section starts with the Chippewa Nation and a Scandinavian fiddle group, both of whose representatives have much to say about tradition. But when we get to Minneapolis, we have to listen to the claims of alternative rock groups (the first one brags about not caring about success and annoying their neighbors when they rehearse) who have not quite as much relation to the Mississippi as do most of the other groups. For example, the German polka group in Wisconsin seem to belong right where they are, while rock and jazz groups could have been interviewed just about anywhere in these states. Yet in the four hours, there simply has to be music you will like. The interviews are always interesting; but after a while they begin to sound a bit the same-so I do not recommend watching all four hours at one sitting! The narration is always interesting, spoken as it is by folk-rock singer Ani DiFranco. Still you are struck with the incredible diversity of music we have not only in this country as a whole but even in the limited confines the producers of this series have chosen as their focal point. However you might quibble with the choice of groups used here, those selected are at least representative of the kind of music under consideration. For example, the third set, which takes us from LA Center, Kentucky to Jackson, Mississippi, includes Boundless Love Quartet, Sonny Burgess, Memphis Horns and Ann Peebles, Little Milton, and the Mississippi Mass Choir among others. I cannot begin to comment on whether other groups would have been better or worse choices. I would have preferred more ethnic groups, but that's me. Co-produced by the mighty Smithsonian Institute, these tapes have a companion set of two CDs (without the interviews, I imagine) and a "companion" book, "River of Song: a Musical Journey Down the Mississippi." I think you will find the videos music very worthwhile.

I loved the variety of musicians covered in this title.
What a great set. This series explores the diversity of talented musicians along the Mississippi River. I had the opportunity to learn several new styles of music.

Real players, real music
After watching this series on PBS and buying the soundtrack, I'm hooked. Here's the premise: start at the top of the Mississippi and follow the musical heritage and current music on down the river until you end up in Louisiana. What makes this series so cool is that it is REAL music, played by folks who love music itself and aren't just out to make money and become famous (though some of them have). They talk about how music reflects the place where it was made. If you like blues, jazz or zydeco, you will love this, and if you want to learn more about music BEYOND what's on MTV, VH1 or the radio, you will come away enriched. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rock music from the archives
"Dick Clark's Golden Greats" was broadcast on American television in 1988/89. In the show, Clark links taped pop & rock performances with short audience chats and an occasional celebrity interview. There were 26 half-hour episodes in total, and this four-tape boxed set gives you the edited "highlights" from 12 of the shows.

The music on this "Rock & Roll Collection" ranges from the 50's (with Buddy Holly) to the 80's (with The Beastie Boys). That makes for a highly eclectic collection, and the chances are you will love some items - and perhaps be indifferent to the rest. Here is a list of contents - hope it helps you decide whether the collection is right for you.

VOLUME ONE - ABC/Jackson 5 (70, col.) - Surfin' safari/Beach Boys (62, b/w, rare) - Maggie May/Rod Stewart (74, col.) - Last dance/Donna Summer (78, col.) - Peggy Sue/Buddy Holly (57, b/w, Arthur Murray Dance Party) - Bad bad Leroy Brown/Jim Croce (73, col.) - Lonely boy/Paul Anka (59, b/w) - Bette Davis eyes/Kim Carnes (81, col.) - Jackie DeShannon interview - Rhinestone cowboy/Glen Campbell (76, col.) - Light my fire/Doors (67, b/w) - Lonely teardrops/Jackie Wilson (58, b/w) - Chantilly lace/Big Bopper (58, b/w) - Try a little tenderness/Otis Redding (67, b/w) - David Nelson interview - Mystery train/Rickie Nelson (late 70's, col.)

VOLUME TWO - Baby talk/Jan & Dean (59, b/w) - For what it's worth/Buffalo Springfield (67, col.) - Magic carpet ride/Steppenwolf (73, col.) - Ventura Highway/America (74, col.) - Lou Adler interview - California dreamin'/Mamas & Papas (66, b/w) - Baby I need your lovin'/Four Tops (65, b/w) - Get ready/Rare Earth (73, col.) - Ain't that peculiar/Marvin Gaye (66, b/w) - Just to see her/Smokey Robinson (87, col.) - Ain't too proud to beg/Temptations (66, col.) - Peppermint twist /Joey Dee (62, b/w) - Control/Janet Jackson (87, col.) - Rock & roll is here to stay/Danny & The Juniors (58, b/w) - Toni Basil interview - The twist/Chubby Checker (60, b/w)

VOLUME THREE - Down by the lazy river/Osmond Brothers (73, col.) - Little woman/Bobby Sherman (70, col.) - Run to him/Bobby Vee (65, b/w) - Jessie's girl/Rick Springfield (81, col.) - Rick Springfield interview - Venus/Frankie Avalon (59, b/w) - Maneater/Hall & Oates (83, col.) - My old school/Steely Dan (73, col.) - C'mon everybody/Eddie Cochran (58, b/w) - I was made to love her/Stevie Wonder (70, col.) - Cathy's clown/Everly Brothers (64, b/w) - Love will keep us together/Captain & Tennille (75, col.) - Soul & inspiration/Righteous Brothers (66, b/w) - Reunited/Peaches & Herb (79, col.) - I got you babe/Sonny & Cher (65, b/w)

VOLUME FOUR - Dancing in the street/Martha & The Vandellas (66, b/w) - We are family/Sister Sledge (79, col.) - Will you still love me tomorrow/Shirelles (84(!), col.) - Lamont Dozier interview - Where did our love go/Supremes (64, b/w, widescreen) - Please please please/James Brown (64, b/w) - Ooo poo pah do/Paul Revere & The Raiders (66, b/w) - Fight for your right to party/Beastie Boys (87, col.) - Great balls of fire/Jerry Lee Lewis (58, b/w) - Rock & roll all night/Kiss (78, col.) - Celebration/Kool & The Gang (80, col.) - Mama told me not to come/Three Dog Night (73, col.) - Louie Louie/Kingsmen (66, b/w) - Everybody have fun tonight/Wang Chung (87, col.) - Shout/Isley Brothers (59, b/w) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Something is wrong
For any iron butterlfy fan i won't recommended this video the quality is very poor the sound is good but they are not playing live in the studio like the live album i was very dissapointed about this the only album i gave 5 stars is the in a gadda da vida album. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Outstanding !!
Being a classical guitar lover since my childhood, all I can say is that this musical video is a work of art. The tour thru the guitar history, combined with Julian Bream's magnificent and sensitive playing, makes this DVD one of the best Performing Arts DVDs I have, and without any doubt it's already one of my favorites. If You are a Classical Guitar Lover, You have to have it !!.

Very artisticly done
First of all over 3 hours of carefully made video where a top artist shares his experince of his art with you is certainly good value if even if it is not your cup of tea. However if you have an interest in guitar you can't miss this dvd. If you are just generally interested then it is a blend of history and art focusing strongly on the developement of the guitar. Beautiful scenery and a look at peoples daily lives in Spain and the character of the towns and villages provide a uniquely enjoyable experience. Of course Julian Breams playing is amazing and very enjoyable as he plays in various atmospheric locations throughtout Spain. Says region 1 but my computer played it ok.

A Great Tour of Spanish Guitar Music
Yeah, the performance is not live, it's studio dubbed. It's especially disconcerting for certain passages when the music seems totally out of synch with the performance. I bought it in spite of the warning. I'm delighted with the overall presentation. The flamingo footage is a pleasant surprise. More than satisfied.

The DVD is in full screen 4:3 format and DD 2.0 sound, BTW, as it's not mentioned in the product details.

Recommended for anyone who's interested in Spanish guitar music.

Wow!
Definitely the best classical guitar video produced so far. Julian Bream is the best guitarist. No one produces tones and sound-colors like he does. The film makers of this video did an awesome job as well (the only annoying thing they did during this video was venture through the streets of Spain while the master played Sor's Grand Solo. What the [explitive deleted]were they thinking?) Bream blows the viewers mind as he performs Aguados Rondo in A minor (one of the hardest guitar pieces to perform.) He plays only Spanish compositions in this tape with lots of Albaniz and Granados. The combination of Breams superior technical ability and the film maker's tasteful footage continue to give me chill bumps everytime I watch it. Bream stopped touring. But for anyone wanting to get glimpse of the best performer of our time, this tape is it!!!

A GUITAR ADVENTURE
Julian Bream is probably one of the best guitarists to come out of the 20th century. He proves it in this DVD which should be in every aspiring concert guitarist's music collection as a model on technique, color and style. Maestro Bream is a true genius on interpretation and sensitivity to the instrument. He also treats us to playing the vihuela, and gives us a brief history of the instrument with breathtaking scenes from the Spanish countryside in the background. If you've never had the privilege of hearing Bream perform in public, then please purchase this DVD as it is a pure treasure, and one that you will view over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

"Nobody gonna come up here and love me, huh?"
Don't worry, Jim. This DVD is the ultimate treat for long-time Doors fans like myself, as well as recent converts. Three full hours of videos and concert footage, showing us The Doors at their best. There's also an interesting commentary track by the original surviving members of the Doors, plus some extra goodies like Doors memorabilia and one of Manzarek's short films. In a day and age when the biggest up-and-coming artists are the likes of Sugar Ray and Jennifer Lopez, it's not difficult to get a bit nostalgic for the days when - without warning - a Jim Morrison would burst onto the scene. "Best New Artist: Christina Aguillera"? Puh-leez! Give me the Lizard King anyday. The man was a true artist, a poet, and he had ideas. They may have been his own personal tripped-out ideas that the rest of us mere mortals can only hope to understand, but at least he certainly wasn't "created" by a record company. What record exec could have possibly ever thought up Jim Morrison and The Doors, anyway? This is a fantastic DVD, and no DVD-buying Doors fan should even think twice about purchasing it.

buy this now-- it is well worth it.
If you like the doors.. buy this DVD. I've watched it several times already. The sound is very well done and this one DVD has videos, the full hollywood bowl concert (sounds as good as the CD), the soft parade 'film', and runs nearly 3 hours. A second audio track is included as well (like most DVDs have), where the remaining doors talk about the footage being shown. "Kirk"'s comment above about the audio commentary is incorrect-- maybe you're on the funny stuff-- There is nearly 3 hours of the guys talking on that second track, man. (Some of those comments had me laughing out loud.) This DVD is well worth the money.

Also, the DVD has other cool bonus stuff, like a memorabilia section, and Ray's student films (Good historical snapshot I suppose-- I dunno-- they make me wonder about my friends' USC student films if these are two examples from UCLA! Video producing wasn't as easy thirty-odd years ago as it is today).

To the doors: thank you for this DVD! The video quality is excellent, and the sound is CD-quality-- it doesn't get much better. I want to see more of the Densmore 1-man play!

By the way doors fans.. Jim teaches an excellent lesson: keep it in moderation!

get your mind together / by blowing it apart

Great DVD for Door's lovers
The other review from Exton, Pa. sums it up best - a great DVD for true Door's fans.

DISSAPOINTED
I FOUND TO MUCH SENSELESS VIDEO MIXED IN WITH GOOD MUSIC.
LA WOMEN HAS 12 SECONDS OF THE DOORS AND NOTHING BUT VIDEO OF STRANGERS AND LA FOR THE WHOLE SONG. WHERE IS JIM IN THE STUDEO?
THE SOUND NEEDS UPDATED. I WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM RAY AND THE GUYS THEN THIS. IT'S NOT THAT GOOD.

The Doors trip!
This video is a fascinatinging trip into the 60's psychodelic era. Over 3 hours of classic music and insight by the Doors with their videos "Dance on Fire", "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" and "The Soft Parade", plus bonus features including Ray Manzarek's UCLA student films. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A great record of music in the mid '60s
I absolutely HAD to buy this DVD -- I was only 8 or 9 when Hullabaloo first aired and I only managed to see it once or twice (this was in the days when a family only had one TV set and my parents controlled the shows we watched in prime time -- for some reason, they didn't care about watching Herman's Hermits and Paul Revere and the Raiders). I remember worshiping the Hullaballo dancers -- I still do watching the DVD. They were just the definition of cool wearing the original go-go boots. What most surprised me when watching the shows was that pop and rock music had not quite separated in 1965-1966. Who could imagine Sammy Davis Jr. and the Moody Blues on the same disk? Especially noteworthy are the introductions by Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who used the show to promote more of his acts (none of which ever came close to reaching the Beatles' popularity).... I had no problem with the mix of color and back and white show -- hey, most of us had black and white in those days, anyway... A great blast from the past!

What a trip!
This is a must-see for nostalgia fans of the 60's. I mainly bought it because it has Gary Lewis in it--he is a friend of mine and his goofy sense of humor shines in this dvd. And his personality hasn't changed much since then.
The only problem I have with this dvd is that the dubbing is so obvious--especially watching musicians play an electric guitar that isn't plugged in--but it's still fun watching the lip-synching. Heck, people pay big bucks to see Britney Spears lip-sync live.

Nostalgia: overrated?
The answer, of course, is no. A lot of time has been spent whining about the stuff on Hullabaloo that wasn't really rock and roll. Sure, safe acts, crooners and Vegas swingers ruled on the show - particularly as hosts - but it all works as a beautiful period piece. Rock and roll was only a decade old when these shows were filmed, and TV execs were fighting a losing battle to co-opt it. The purity of performances by the Animals, the Yardbitds and the Byrds show how uncontrollable the energy was. Anyone who grew up in the era will love this. And if you remember the actual show, you'll spend days wiping that grin off your face.

Aaah...the 60's
I initially bought Vol 3 on VHS, because I'd never seen the Supremes perform "Nothing But Heartaches," being that during Motown's greatest era, I was living in Germany, and didn't have much opportunity to catch any of their appearances shown stateside. Watching the entire clips brings back great memories.
I miss the days of singers who occasionally danced...

A Great Slice of the old Cheese Pie ...
I was born right around the time Hullabaloo was being broadcast, never heard of it, and purchased the DVD after seeing the infomercial highlighting videos from the DVD. It was a purchase gamble in some ways, but I figured the musicians highlighted couldn't go wrong, and each week's host seemed to be a sizeable talent still recognizable to me 35 years later. The gamble paid off. The short lived 'Hullabaloo' television show is incredible retro-pop art designy concept program allowing America a glimpse at favored pop music artists in a polished production environment long before MTV or music videos came into existance. It combined personalities, dancers, music and musicians using a very amusing and light hearted manner. The hosts were usually people pushing their own popular TV programs or film or records (Sammy Davis Jr., the star of 'Man from U.n.c.l.e.', Michael Landon, Jerry Lewis, etc.). The dancers are a hilarious assortment of what the producers deemed were 'Amercican' demographic people would want to see with the token asian and black thrown in to help represent, the women were stunning and used as 'props' in many of the sets, and of course the amazing noodle-boy dancer who seems to steal the camera eye with his disgustingly emaciated body writhing about in mid-sixties garb. Finally, and taking center stage, were the musicians who came from the various facets of 60's pop music culture, swathed in expensive 60's Hollywood style, lip synching to the music, doing small skits, being overall 'cool cats'. 'Hullabaloo' is a fantastic time capsule, wether the viewer lived through this era, or for people who want to discover it, and even people that just like some kooky old stuff to have around as mindless eye candy. The old Vaudeville format TV shows highly contrast and shame the modern MTV channels who take themselves so seriously, allowing musicians with empty heads and mouths to drone on unrehearsed for hours instead of packaging them in such fun and inventive ways cooked up in the 60s. Kooky, cheesy and fun- this is a great DVD purchase for those interested in this genre of music and TV. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointing
I don't know who would like this. A reunion concert with repetative commentary by Timothy Leary. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Revelation of Rock Music in a More Innocent Era
Any lack of polish in this production is pretty much due to the available video and film equipment of the day. That said, much of the old camerawork is quite creative and nicely done. In fact, I was riveted to this film from start to finish.

The onstage performances have a beautiful, timeless quality to them. The musicianship of the band comes across very nicely, this being a time before bands had stylists, directors, choreographers, and wardrobe masters.

Just amazing to see how, more than Morrison's charisma, more than any stoned-out vibe, the music itself was the true source of the Doors' power and energy. So seldom do we get to see excellent rock music performed without a lot of record company b***s***. Nobody told the band how to behave onstage, nobody but Jim dictated what he was going to wear, and so on. This footage was a revelation in that way.

To observe, on this DVD, Ray Manzarek hunched over his keyboards, fingering some amazing riffs, is to see a rather amazing illustration of rock performances that were all about THE MUSIC.

An absolute "must" for all Doors fans, and a real treat for fans of west coast rock. Recommended to anyone who has an interest in classic rock or sixties culture.

Would be 5 stars if not for some faults (mostly forgivable)
Contrary to some other reviews, the sound is okay. All the tracks came across clearly on my speakers without any audio adjustments. However, I've noticed on this DVD that the bass is pumped up and tends to overpower the vocals in certain spots.

As for the video quality, the B&W soundstage segments are bright and crisp and the Roundhouse show (also in B&W) isn't that bad. The extreme contrast between lights and darks makes the Roundhouse segments seem murky at times but you can still see all figures clearly. Plus, the camera work is definitely livelier than the famous Hollywood bowl show.

The audio and video flaws are easily overlooked, but the most annoying faults come at the end of the DVD. Because a Jefferson Airplane segment leads straight into "Five to One", the start of that track is cut. This last track "Alabama Song" is NOT shown in performance but rather laid over a Pere-Lachaise montage which, after Grace Slick's comments on Morrison, makes it seem like he expired at the end of the European tour! If not for this silliness, the DVD would rate 5/5.

Entertaining And Interesting.
The Doors were a great band and here we have some great film documentation of their performances during the 1968 European tour that captures the visceral energy Jim Morrison and the rest of the band captured on stage. The songs are great and on this DVD, they sound magnificent. Well, I was a bit disappointed that the performances of "Light My Fire," "Backdoor Man" and "Spanish Caravan" are a bit crudely recorded. They still work though. The best piece of film here is when the band performs "When The Music's Over." The performance captures the viewer with the intricate playing, provocative lyrics (as in "The End") and Morrison really comes off as an impressive rock artist. I especially loved it when he says, "We want the world and we want it now." "Unknown Soldier" and "Love Me Two Times" are also magnificently done. The fault of this DVD (and video for you VHS watchers) is that we really don't get THAT much information on the tour itself. Jefferson Airplane give a few interesting insights, but nothing very fascinating that keeps your attention. All we really get are the good performances, and that's it. Yes, The Doors are the greatest rock band of all time, but this film deserved a wee-bit more work.

TIMELESS MASTERPIECE
Even in the year 2500 the doors will be known and listened in all over the universe.

The most amazing band of all times.
There are not many words i can say about the greatest band of all times and this dvd.It's simply great and Jimbo& Doors are incredible.I am a huge Doors fan and if you send me a mail i'll definetly send you back... ... Read more

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The Best of Judy Garland
Judy Garland's legendary (and short-lived) 1963-64 TV show has beenrevived on DVD, but several less-expensive videotape compilations arealso available, including this one. A collection of Garlandperformances from her television variety show, the tape does away withGarland's skits and shtick from that show and focuses on her singingher hits: "The Man That Got Away," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "StormyWeather." The tape also includes a couple of her "Born in a Trunk"sequences, in which Garland would reminisce about her career-- inevitably looking skittish and uncomfortable working without a script.But it's her voice that stands out: strong and resourceful, a markedcontrast to the skinny, scared-looking woman who only seems to comealive when the music starts to play. --Marshall Fine

Judy Garland and Friends
A genuine historical document, Judy Garland and Friends capturesmoments from Garland's 1963-64 television show featuring not onlydaughter Liza Minnelli, but a 21-year-old Barbra Streisand. Garlandplayfully claims to "hate" Streisand because of her talent, but thenthe two enjoy an easy affection on stage, sharing casual chatter andtwo duets, one of which runs "Get Happy" and "Happy Days Are HereAgain" in counterpoint, a performance memorialized in Streisand's Timeless concert 36years later. Garland also gives the young Streisand (who mentions herupcoming project, a Broadway musical called Funny Girl) two solos,including an intimate "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" filmed inclose-up with the lights down. To further stir up the pot, Ethel Mermanpops out of the audience to share a little banter and to perform arendition of her trademark "There's No Business Like Show Business"that leaves the other two belters in the dust (Streisand never standsmuch of a chance, clearly not knowing the words, and the irony is thatit would have been Garland's song as well had she not been removed fromthe film version of Annie Get Your Gun in 1950). Garland herselftakes some solo turns in front of the orchestra, surviving a rockystart to post memorable takes of "The Man That Got Away" and "ByMyself," and her scenes with Minnelli are joyful. Sure, it's in blackand white and the video quality is nothing special, but that's a smallsacrifice when you can watch history being made. --DavidHoriuchi

Judy, Frank & Dean: The Legendary Concert
The title might be a trifle grand for what is essentially a one-hour1962 TV special--that's been colorized, yet. But Judy Garland is infine voice, belting out signature tunes like "When You're Smiling" and"The Man That Got Away." Rat Packers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin areat their unctuous best, with Sinatra at one point casually flicking ashfrom his cigarette right onto the stage while singing an emotional "ISee Your Face Before Me." The patter among the three stars is a bitstiff, but the numbers are all showstoppers, and Garland, especially,is belting in her mostover-the-top Carnegie Hall tradition.Her finale, a medley of "Swanee," "Rock-a-bye Your Baby" and "SanFrancisco" still brings down the house 40 years later. (Trivia alert:the special was directed by a pre-Moonstruck Norman Jewison.)--Anne Hurley ... Read more

Reviews (1)

3 of the Best ...At Their Best
Great show from beginning to end. Judy ,Frank ,and Dean all in peak form.Garland magic! From the 1st notes of the overture to the finale with Judy rocking the house on a lit runway,you'll hear and see why Judy is revered and idolized.Songs include Just in TIme ,Man That Got Away,Swanee,San Francisco,A Movie Medley.and teamings with Frank and Dean. They don't make them like this anymore. Treat yourself. Buy it! ... Read more