We talk quite a bit about essential rock albums every self-respecting Baby Boomer should own, but in this age of giant flat screen TVs and surround sound systems, let’s take a look at 10 Rock & Roll DVDs that should be in your collection!
A Hard Day’s Night (The Beatles) – It all starts here. With this low budget, black & white movie, the Fab Four (and director Richard Lester) completely rewrote the rules of what a rock film should be. Generally credited with creating the art form that came to be known as the music video.
- Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads) – Director Jonathan Demme captures the Talking Heads at their very peak and has the good sense not to overwhelm the movie audience with a lot of flashy camera work. Instead, he keeps his shots and editing tight and lets the band overwhelm you. The film also pioneered digital audio, so the music sounds amazing.
- The TAMI Show (James Brown, Rolling Stones & others) – Shot on a shoestring budget with TV cameras, the low-def film is still a “must-have.” Not only does it capture what many feel is James Brown’s best film/video performance, it also includes an amazing array of Hall of Fame talent like Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, and so many more. As icing on the cake, they all join together at the concert’s close.
- Black & White Night (Roy Orbison) – While we’re talking all-star line-ups, in 1999, a truly impressive back-up band was assembled to accompany Roy Orbison in the very intimate setting of L.A.’s Coconut Grove nightclub. Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett, J.D. Souther, Jennifer Warnes, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits join Roy as he roars through 17 classic songs (including one written by Elvis Costello that still uncannily sounds like it was something Roy must have recorded in the early 60s). The sound on this show is so good, you’ll swear you are in the room with them.
- Monterey Pop (Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Who & more) – D.A. Pennebaker had already established his reputation as a documentary filmmaker without peer when he captured the very first rock festival. This show was a breakthrough moment for 3 of the acts: Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and The Who, but it also featured a solid line-up of musical talent, immortalized in Eric Burdon and the Animals' song, “Monterey.”
- The Reunion Concert (Everly Brothers) – In September of 1983, Don and Phil Everly, two of rock’s real founding fathers, played their first live gig together in ten years. They chose London’s Royal Albert Hall because their popularity had never waned in the UK. The resulting show was magic and captured on video for an HBO special. As the boys’ harmony influenced so many other rockers from the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel to others, this is a show you won’t want to miss.
- Farewell Tour 1 (The Eagles) – If record sales are any indication, the Eagles may be the most popular band America has ever produced. While the band has often been accused of not presenting the most dynamic stage show, this 2-DVD set presents every song you could ever want to hear them play, all performed exceedingly well. They also include a generous helping of solo hits by band members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Joe Walsh.
- London Calling: Live at Hyde Park (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) – Bruce is justly famous as one of the greatest live performers of his generation. His marathon shows also reshaped rock concerts, forcing other acts to play longer and harder just to try and keep up. The Boss has several concerts available on home video, but this one comes closest to giving you the actual experience of being at one of his shows. The E Street Band (definitely the world’s greatest bar band) begins playing in the afternoon sun in England, but concludes long after dark has fallen.
- The Last Waltz (The Band) – When Bob Dylan’s former backup band decided to call it quits, director Martin Scorsese was tapped to film the group’s farewell show in New York. Joining the group for their swan song was a most impressive guest list that included Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, and Ronnie Wood.
- The Kids Are Alright (The Who) – Rounding out our Top 10 is this documentary about England’s classic hard rockers. Capturing 13 years of the band’s performances and assembled just before Keith Moon’s passing, the video captures the unique balancing act between self-destruction and majesty that was the Who in their prime.
