Artist: Talking Heads
Title: Chronology
Worth buying: Yes
You might enjoy this DVD if you like: Television, Velvet Underground, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, David Byrne’s solo work
Tell Me More: Chronology (Eagle Vision) contains 14 live clips and other related footage with a running time of 67 minutes. Spanning various performances from 1975-83 and 2002, the seminal post punk band is seen at NYC clubs (CBGB, The Kitchen), outdoor events (the US Festival, Rockpop Festival, UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza), television (“Saturday Night Live,” “American Bandstand”), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and more. While watching them, you really get a sense of how unique the Talking Heads’ sound was at the time.
Bonus material: There’s an intriguing 35-minute 1979 documentary that originally aired on the UK’s South Bank Show where Byrne and the other band members talk about songwriting, their influences, etc. A 10-minute Byrne interview, done in conjunction with the UCB show, is somewhat awkward. All four contribute to the audio commentary on the clips and provide fascinating tidbits. Bassist Tina Weymouth said she was seeing them for the first time!
What about the packaging? The 8-page booklet contains black and white archival photos and a concert ad, while the DVD has quotes from Byrne and esteemed music critic Lester Bangs. – George A. Paul
Information: www.eaglerockent.com
Get Talking Heads: Chronology Deluxe Here
Artist: Public Image Limited
Title: Live at Rockpalast 1983
Worth buying: Yes, for diehard enthusiasts
You might enjoy this DVD if you like: Wire, Magazine, Gang of Four, Sex Pistols
Tell Me More: Following a memorable appearance at Coachella ’10, singer John Lydon went into the studio to record his first new material in 20 years under the PiL banner. It’s due out later this spring. So the timing is perfect to revisit the past with Live at Rockpalast 1983 (MIG) , a satisfactory glimpse of the band’s middle period, while performing on the long-running German TV show. The hour-long, 13-song set mostly draws from 1978’s self-titled debut LP, but also previews three selections off a then-unreleased “This is What You Want…This is What You Get” - notably the soon-to-be college rock hit “(This is Not) A Love Song).”
Filmed on Halloween, the dim lighting here is typical of live television in the ‘80s. Unfortunately, the cameras barely focus on Martin Adkins’ amazing drum work. Lydon skulks across the stage, goes into the audience (“Annalisa”), plays up to the cameras (a keyboard-fueled take on the Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK”), tells the mosh-crazy crowd to shut up (the synth-heavy “Low Life”), empties nasal mucus onto the stage and generally caterwauls aplenty. Standouts include “Chant” and the funky “Bad Life.”
Bonus material: sound check rehearsals of “Annalisa” and “Chant” (it’s interesting to see Lydon without his hair all spiked up) and a short backstage interview with the Rockpalast host. Lydon discusses living in NYC, his first film role in “Cop Killer” alongside Harvey Keitel and how he’s an egomaniac.
What about the packaging? The 7-page black and white booklet has multiple live shots (as does the cardboard digipak casing), plus a short bio. – George A. Paul
Information: www.mvdb2b.com, www.pilofficial.com
Artist: Quiet Riot
Title: Live at the US Festival 1983
Worth buying: Yes, for diehard enthusiasts
You might enjoy this DVD+CD if you like: Whitesnake, Ratt, Skid Row, early Ozzy Osbourne
Tell Me More: When Quiet Riot performed in San Bernardino, Calif. on Memorial Day Weekend during “heavy metal day,” it was having a banner year. The Metal Health LP had just been released that May, was on its way to multi-platinum status and reaching No. 1 on the charts. Meanwhile, the hit Slade cover “Cum on Feel the Noize” was in regular rotation at MTV and months later would become a top 10 single.
Live at the US Festival 1983 (Shout! Factory) includes the band’s entire 41-minute, nine-song afternoon set – heavy on Metal Health material - before thousands of sweaty fans. Singer Kevin DuBrow, clad in bright leather (or is that spandex?), hops all over the stage and delivers the sexual innuendo-filled songs with his trademark cartoonish mannerisms. Guitarist Carlos Cavazo does some lightning speed licks on “Battle Axe” and is hoisted up by DeBrow at one point. Bassist Rudy Sarzo even dazzles with an upside down solo. A CD of the set is also part of the package.
What about the packaging? Housed in a standard double jewel box, the liner notes have the basic and a few live shots. – George A. Paul
Information: www.shoutfactory.com
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