BYH Concert Video Reviews A - O
A:
AEROSMITH:
As far as most fans are concerned, Aerosmith has taken over the coveted position of the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc. as the most popular blues rock act in America. Surprisingly, the band has put out very little in the way of pro shot concert movies. These are the only offerings:
$$ Aerosmith Video Scrapbook – Recorded in 1976 and 1978, Released in 1987. 54 Minutes. Directed by Hart Perry. In Print on VHS. This video is a compilation of Aerosmith’s stadium performances in the 1970’s. These particular shows are rather bloated and really show the band out of context. It probably would have worked out better to concentrate on one show. This is a curio only a die hard fan could love.
$$ Aerosmith Live Texxas Jam 1978 – Recorded in 1978, Released in 1988. 50 Minutes. Directed by Hart Perry. In Print on VHS. This is the second video released in the late ‘80’s to capitalize on Aerosmith’s second wave of fame. It would have been better to release some of their ‘sober’ shows, because this video proves that while Aerosmith made great records, their live shows were usually a disaster. That is not to say that they never had good nights, but this video really taints their image as dynamic live performers. Steven Tyler appears to be using the mike stand as a crutch, as opposed to his trademark strutting that we have become accustom to today.
AEROSMITH: YOU GOTTA MOVE (DVD): Video + Audio CD:
ALSO AVAILABLE: Aerosmith have released various concept video collections including ‘Permanent Vacation 3 by 5’, ‘Things That Go Pump in the Night’, and ‘Big Ones You Can Look At’. These are all good videos, but ‘Big Ones….’ is probably your best value. Again, Aerosmith have yet to release a modern live concert video. I am assuming they feel you need to be at the show to experience their power. This may be true, but they should do something to satisfy the fans.
C:
JOE COCKER:
Joe Cocker has been documented on video very well. For fans, all of his eras have been captured live. For those who are not acquainted with all of his music are advised to check out at least one of these fantastic videos!
$$$$$ Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs and Englishmen – Recorded in 1971. 118 Minutes. Directed by Pierre Adidge. Available in some markets on VHS. This video is a superb document of Joe’s decadent tour with Leon Russell. Perhaps one of the best successors to Bob Dylan’s Don’t Look Back, this video is interspersed with great performances and interesting banter between Joe, Leon and the infamous spotted dog. For fans of the Rock genre, this video is a cornerstone. In other words, if you are here, you should see this movie.
$$$$ The Best of Joe Cocker Live – Recorded in 1992 in Dortmund, Germany. 94 Minutes. Directed by Roland Willaert. Out of Print, originally available on VHS. This video is definitely worth a look for Cocker fans. It features some of his ‘70’s hits, but focuses mainly on his ‘80’s resurgence. Although a tad slick in production, the video doesn’t get bogged down in synthesizer muck. Most of the musicians are top rate and carry the show. You will be slightly shocked at the size of the venue. A good tape for fans.
ALSO AVAILABLE: Joe put out a concert video a few years back that I didn’t get a chance to watch. I am assuming it is similar to ‘The Best…’ video. Again, the aforementioned videos should suffice.
D:
DIRE STRAITS:
Mark Knopfler has been successful with live videos because each shows a different side to the band, Dire Straits. Of course, Knopfler’s guitar playing is superb throughout. Although never regarded as a dynamic performer, Knopfler has a certain panache on stage that comes through on these videos. They are:
$$$$$ Alchemy: Live – Recorded July, 1983. 90 Minutes. Available on remastered VHS (In Print). Directed by Peter Sinclair. The first Dire Straits video is a no frills affair, without overdubs or fancy camera techniques. What stands is a bare bones document of Mark Knopfler’s magnificent ‘Love Over Gold’ tour. While the ten songs featured are not all hits, they are played to perfection by the fantastic DS lineup. This video is a definite must for Knopfler fans, and stands as a model for most concert movies that followed. Also available as a double CD set.
$$$$ On the Night – Recorded at Multiple Shows in 1992. 90 Minutes. Available on VHS (In Print). This video showcases the enormity of the One Every Street tour of the early nineties. The playing is great, but not as raw as the arrangements on Alchemy. By this time, the band consists of numerous musicians that are there to fill out the sound, something that helps Knopfler get his music across in huge stadiums. The song selection is varied, but well matched to this setting. Arena rockers like ‘Money for Nothing’ are tempered by slow, bluesy numbers like ‘You and Your Friend’. Certainly a great video, this should be in every Dire Straits fan’s collection. Also available as a live album.
ALSO AVAILABLE: Dire Straits has two near identical video collections, Dire Straits Video Collection (Out of Print) and The Very Best of Dire Straits (In Print). Both are recommended, but not essential. See also ‘Mark Knopfler’.
BOB DYLAN:
Bob Dylan's early days have been sufficiently covered by camera crews, as shown in the films Dont Look Back and Eat the Document. He has been instrumental, though, in keeping the amount of new material to a minimum. That is unfortunate, because the artist gets increasingly interesting as the years go on.
$$$$$+ Dont Look Back - Recorded on the 'Bringing it All Back Home' European tour in the early '60's. Available on both VHS and DVD. This video is a fabulous look at Dylan in his early days. Possibly the single most influential concert movie, next to 'A Hard Days Night'. Focusing on both live concert sequences and backstage footage, the film is simple in execution, but seductively so. Dylan is so charismatic that the plain black and white visuals make you look and listen closer than you would if it were in color. A must see for any fan of music or film.
$$$$ Eat the Document - Filmed during the European 'Blonde on Blonde' tour with The Band. Unavailable and Out of Print. While this movie is done in the same fashion as 'Dont Look Back', the stark black and white has been replaced by vivid color. This does make the film less effective, but it presents Dylan as he was at time. It doesn't help that the film is usually found in a grainy and chopped up form that bootleg dealers have been recycling since the dawn of the VCR. It would be good to see a director's cut on DVD, but a film so revealing would never be green lighted by Dylan today. I believe he owns the rights and, no pun intended, he doesn't look back.
$$$ Renaldo and Clara - Recorded on the 'Rolling Thunder Review' tour in 1975. Unavailable and Out of Print. This video is part concert film and part avant garde sketch work. Dylan's travelling circus was well documented here, but the finished product was chopped to bits in the editing room. Like Eat the Document, this film as been bootleged to death, and most copies are grainy and chopped up. Joan Baez, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Sara Dylan and Allen Ginsberg all show up to take part in Dylan's semi improvised sketches. The concert footage is excellent, another example of Dylan at his performing best. This is another movie criminally out of print, and will probably never see the light of day again.
BOB DYLAN: NO DIRECTION HOME: PBS:
F:
FLEETWOOD MAC:
The ‘Rumours’ era lineup of Fleetwood Mac has not toured extensively since the late 1970’s. They have, however, put out quite a few live videos. They are quite good live, but their videos are sometimes mired in bad production or lineup changes. Here they are:
$$$$$ The Dance – Recorded in Burbank, CA. Spring 1997. 106 Minutes. Available on VHS and DVD. Directed by Bruce Gower. The latest offering from Fleetwood Mac features the original ‘Rumours’ lineup. Recorded in front of a studio audience, the stage is quite striking with what appears to be a giant stained glass background. While this concert was certainly planned as a ‘live’ comeback album, the performances are great. There are 22 songs, making this a very long show. Fleetwood Mac has put out some sketchy live videos, but this one is certainly the best of the lot. All performers are in top form, and the controlled setting makes a difference. The playing is refined, although not as sweet as the studio albums. Highly recommended. Live album also available.
$$ Tango In the Night – Recorded at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, December 12 and 13, 1987. 60 minutes. Directed by Wayne Isham/Marty Callner. Originally available on VHS (Out of Print). This document of the Tango in the Night tour would be fine, if not for the outlandish production. The video has been filmed like an Mtv video, and close ups of Stevie Nicks have been added to ‘enhance’ the video. This is fine, if you are not looking for a bare bones live album. Lets put it this way, I would prefer this to a ‘concept’ video. The absence of Lindsey Buckingham nails the coffin shut on this show. He was the driving force behind this particular album, from which the set list draws heavily. If looked at on it’s own merits, Tango in the Night is a ‘good’ video. Taken in the context of Fleetwood Mac’s history, I would rather leave than take this offering.
$$$$ Mirage – Recorded in 1983, Los Angeles Forum. Originally available on VHS (Out of Print). This video has been long out of print, and is highly prized by collectors. This is because of the superior quality of the show. The hits are featured in this video, but selections from the ‘Mirage’ album are played as well. The performers are at peak form, and the video is remarkably well produced. There seems to be minimal work done to the sound, somewhat amazing considering what some other videos from this time period look and sound like. Essential for fans of Fleetwood Mac, but newbies should stick with ‘The Dance’ (1997).
$$$$ Tusk – Recorded in various places on the ‘Tusk’ tour(probably 79/80). Originally available on VHS (Out of Print). Mixing live performances with behind the scenes shots, this video gives a glimpse into the band before they splintered. A very good documentary style movie, but getting very hard to find. Essential viewing for anyone interested, this video is worth the search. Definitely a candidate for re issue, but not very likely. Loses a point for it’s scarcity and somewhat muddy sound and production.
FLEETWOOD MAC: LIVE IN BOSTON: 2 DVD + Audio CD:
ALSO AVAILABLE: See Stevie Nicks. No collection of concept videos has ever been issued.
H:
DON HENLEY
$$$ Live: Inside Job – Recorded in 2000. 105 Minutes. Available on VHS and DVD (In Print). The newest Don Henley album yielded a successful summer tour, and this video captures the spirit of those performances. Although Henley could never be described as charismatic, he does play his hits very well, and the new album is represented. If you are looking for Don Henley solo hits live, this is all you would need. You definitely do not need to be a huge fan to enjoy this tape. Recommended.
ALSO AVAILABLE: I do know the Eagles have a video for their reunion, Hell Freezes Over.
K:
MARK KNOPFLER:
$$$$$ A Night In London – Recorded in London, 1996. 112 Minutes. Available on VHS (In Print). In support of his first solo album, ‘Goldenheart’, Mark Knopfler has released his best live video. Featuring musicians from Dire Straits (Paul Franklin and Guy Fletcher) as well as a string section and traditional Irish musicians, this video is a must for all music fans. 18 songs represent a phases of Knopflers career, including Dire Straits tunes, Soundtrack music and recent solo works. The guitar playing is magnificent and the production and sound are amazing. Recorded on what appears to be a small soundstage, Knopfler turns down the bombast, but replaces it with heart and soul. One of the best live videos I have seen. A tour de force.
ALSO AVAILABLE: See Dire Straits.
M:
STEVE MILLER BAND
$$$$ Blues in the 20th Century: Live – Recorded in February 1987. Originally available on VHS and Laserdisc (Out of Print). 29 Minutes. Directed by David Hogan. This video is a fitting companion to Steve Miller’s 1986 album ‘Living in the 20th Century’, an all blues affair. The first side of the album is played in it’s entirety here, in a private live performance captured in ‘retro’ black and white. Featured guest James Cotton seems at ease with Miller and his band as they run through blues classics like ‘My Babe’ and ‘Caress Me Baby’. Currently out of print, this video shows a side of Steve Miller that many people dismiss: that of a blues guitarist waiting to leap out at any moment. This video is essential for anyone wishing to sample blues in an accessible setting.
$$$ SMB Live – Recorded in the early 1980’s. Originally available on VHS and Laserdisc (Out of Print). Recorded during the ‘Abracadabra’ tour, this video has been out of print for many years. A good introduction to Steve Miller live, but barely scratches the surface of his band’s versatility. Miller plays his greatest hits perfectly, and for the fan looking for the hits has found the perfect live show. For those seeking a more innovative concert setting, see Blues in the 20th Century. That video is definitely the superior effort. Also available as a live album.
ALSO AVAILABLE: Unfortunately, nothing else is available at this time, unless his videos are re released.
N:
STEVIE NICKS:
$$$ Live at Red Rocks – Recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheater, 1986. 60 Minutes. Directed by Marty Callner. Recently Reissued on VHS and DVD. This concert video is very produced, but beautiful nonetheless. Footage was added later, and the sound was probably touched up, but the video is great for fans of Stevie Nicks. Peter Frampton (!?) makes a guest appearance, along with Mick Fleetwood. Fleetwood provides some comic relief as he peers from his bongo drums during the show. While I wouldn’t classify this as a fantastic live video, the results are better than some of the concept videos of the 1980’s. This is, however, only advised for fans. The song selection is mostly from Nicks’ solo albums and, again, the production is a bit much. Stick with the Fleetwood Mac videos.
$$$$ In Concert – Recorded on the Bella Donna tour for HBO, early 80’s. 60 minutes, directed by Marty Callner. Originally available on VHS (Just went out of print). This show is perhaps the best for Stevie Nicks fans. This is not because it is old, but because the band is fantastic. E Street veteran Roy Bittan, Heartbreaker Benmont Tench and Bobbye Hall are just some of the more familiar faces in this all star band. Heavy rockers like Gold Dust Woman and Need to Know dominate the evening, all to great effect. This video is a definite must for those wishing to find out more about Stevie Nicks’ solo work. While Red Rocks is nice, this video is clearly the superior effort. Unfortunately, this video just went out of production, according to ‘CBS FOX’ home video. It should be easy enough to find, though.
STEVIE NICKS: CRYSTAL VISIONS (BEST OF): Audio CD + DVD in Premium Package:
STEVIE NICKS: LIVE IN CHICAGO (SOUNDSTAGE): DVD
ALSO AVAILABLE: See Fleetwood Mac. The only video of concept videos is ‘I Can’t Wait’. Released in 1986 and currently out of print, it contains some interesting images to go along with her albums.
UPDATED 7/2009
Some Links
BYH Home Page
Rock Video Purchase Page: A great video resource!
Amazon. Retail stuff, but you knew that.
Ebay. Bloated prices for out of print videos.
Email: broadenyourhorizons@angelfire.com
