Although the DVD market has been flooded by artfully-packaged boxed sets and deluxe collectors’ editions in 2009, music fans can still get a number of affordable, highly-recommended releases this holiday season.
Although I’m always behind in my critic-related duties listening to new music, the chance to catch full-length concerts on my home theater system really offers me a break, especially since many of the DVDs feature some of the world’s greatest artists at their best.
Here are some notable music DVD releases now available and definitely worth buying.
ERIC JOHNSON – ANAHEIM features the incredible Austin, Texas-based instrumental guitarist in action at a show staged at The Grove of Anaheim on May 3, 2006. In addition to his full-length concert set, which includes performances of favorites such as his Grammy Award-winning “Cliffs of Dover,” there are several bonus acoustic performances highlighted by a take on the Jimi Hendrix classic “Wind Cries Mary.”
Buy Eric Johnson Anaheim here
EARTH, WIND & FIRE – LIVE IN JAPAN showcases the legendary group during their so-called “Heritage” tour in 1990. This is an especially prized concert since the performance was filmed during Maurice White’s final tour with the seminal funk group. Viewers of the DVD get to see Maurice White, along with his brother/bassist Verdine White and singer Philip Bailey perform their best-known hits, including “September,” “Shining Star,” “After the Love is Gone” and “Reasons.” Audiophiles have their choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 and DTS Surround Sound to choose from on the DVD; the 2-disc collection also features a 13-track CD of the concert.
Buy Earth Wind And Fire Live in Japan here
DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES: LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR is the perfect keepsake for anyone who didn’t get to catch the two already-legendary shows by the most successful pop duo in history staged at the intimate Troubadour in Los Angeles in May 2008. Performing at the Troubadour for the first time since the early 1970s, the Philadelphia soul masters have released one of their strongest concert sets to date. The performances look and sound wonderful, with hits such as “Maneater,” “Rich Girl,” “Kiss On My List” and “Sara Smile” leaving this writer wondering why these talented singer-songwriter-musicians weren’t inducted in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame years ago. As if the talents of Hall and Oates aren’t enough, the group’s long-time backing band is firing on all cylinders too, with guitarist T-Bone Wolk tearing up his acoustic guitar’s fret board on “Family Man” and Charles DeChant’s sax playing a joy throughout. Shout! Factory has released the concert on Blu-Ray, DVD and as a deluxe 1-DVD, 2-CD combo.
Buy Daryl Hall and John Oats Live at the Troubadour here
COME TOGETHER: A NIGHT FOR JOHN LENNON’S WORDS & MUSIC documents that understandably tragic period after September 11, 2001, when America temporarily came together to deal with its grief related to terrorist attacks that hit New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. On October 2, 2001, Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey hosted a special television event broadcast live on the WB Television Network and Turner Network Television from Radio City Music Hall that featured a mix of musical performances and special readings by stars such as Kevin Bacon and Dustin Hoffman. It is the once-in-a-lifetime musical selections of most interest here, with a number of eclectic performances of John Lennon-penned songs delivered across the 90-minute disc. Dave Matthews’ “In My Life,” Lou Reed’s “Jealous Guy,” and Kevin Spacey’s “Mind Games” (no kidding, the actor can sing!) are among my favorites. Depending on your system, you can utilize either Dolby Digital 2.0 or Dolby Digital 5.1 when watching the concert DVD.
Buy Come Together here
CHEAP TRICK BUDOKAN! 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION is truly a blast from the past, with the 30th anniversary of Cheap Trick’s landmark two-night stand at Tokyo’s best-known sports stadium in 1978 celebrated on this winning 3 CD/1 DVD set. With a mix of newly-mixed and remastered audio and unreleased footage, this release sheds new light on what made the Rockford, Illinois quartet such an exciting addition on the world stage in the late 1970s and why the Japanese were so instrumental in the band’s rise. The DVD not only features a one-hour, 15-song program that was broadcast only once on Japanese television 30 years ago (a video recording of the second concert), but the video itself is enhanced by a new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround Sound that will thrill fans of the band. To hear Cheap Trick charge through “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Clock Strikes Ten” is to hear – and feel – the timeless power of rock ‘n’ roll.
Buy Cheap Trick Budokan 30th Anniversary here
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