By Devon Wendell There have been countless films made about the blues and about B.B. King. A large percentage of these films merely focus on how King (Born Riley B. King on September 16th, 1925, between Itta Bena and Indianola Mississippi) inspired a plethora of overdriven, unoriginal rock guitarists from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Very… Read More Film Review: B.B. King “The Life Of Riley”
By Mike Finkelstein As a coming-of-age 14 year old, I finally procured a small stereo system (with separate speakers!) in the Spring. This was a major development for me. I was ready to receive all the records I could handle! What could be better? One of the very first purchases I made was of a… Read More DVD Review: “Sensation: The Story of The Who’s Tommy”
By Devon Wendell The Experience Hendrix estate and the good people of PBS present a brand new Jimi Hendrix documentary, Hear My Train A Comin’ as a part of their American Masters series. There was an advanced screening of the film at The Sony Entertainment Room in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, October 2nd. It will… Read More Film Review: American Masters: Jimi Hendrix- “Hear My Train A Comin’”
Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina On the Road 1971-72 (MVD Visual) By Brian Arsenault The story of what was bad with Ike and Tina Turner has been much told and neither this DVD nor I have anything to add to it here. What this DVD is about is what was good, even astonishing,… Read More DVD Review: “Ike & Tina On The Road 1971-72”
Patti Smith Live at Montreaux 2005 (Eagle Rock) By Brian Arsenault “She is a benediction.” I was gonna do a combo review, you know, with one or two other DVDs. But Patti Smith deserves rather more than that, don’t you think? I mean, the first half dozen plus songs from this live concert DVD, ‘cept… Read More DVD Review: “Patti Smith Live at Montreaux 2005”
By Mike Finkelstein As the Rolling Stones cruise into their 50th Anniversary annum, one can’t help but marvel at their longevity. Rock ‘n roll has always been a business that chewed its members up just to spit them out. From the very beginning, people have routinely died young in this line of work. The Rolling… Read More DVD Review: The Rolling Stones “Charlie is my Darling – Ireland 1965”
The Blues Broads (Delta Groove) By Devon Wendell In a world where the blues is dominated by male, six stringing show offs, four reigning queens of blues (Dorothy Morrison, Tracy Nelson, Angela Stehli, and Annie Sampson) have joined forces to celebrate the soulful joy and rich harmonies of not only the blues but also gospel,… Read More CD/DVD Review: The Blues Broads; Dorothy Morrison, Tracy Nelson, Angela Strehli, and Annie Sampson
Jimi Hendrix Blue Wild Angel (Sony Legacy) By Mike Finkelstein Last Thursday the Grammy Museum and the Jimi Hendrix Estate screened a preview of the new DVD, Blue Wild Angel. BWA is an expanded edition release of Jimi Hendrix’ last ever gig at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival, just a few short weeks before his… Read More DVD Review: Jimi Hendrix “Blue Wild Angel,” screened at the Grammy Museum
By Devon Wendell 1961 was a pivotal year for Ray Charles. “Brother Ray” had switched from Atlantic records to ABC, was about to venture into the realms of country music, and was making some band changes. Live in France 1961 consists of film footage from that prime period, newly discovered by director David Peck. Included… Read More DVD Review: Ray Charles “Live in France 1961”
by Devon Wendell During a time in which pop musicians on the Billboard charts, radio, and television seem to know very little about harmony, class, or originality, it’s certainly refreshing that Motown has released three classic collections of some of their greatest artists appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. On the DVD The Best Of… Read More DVD REVIEWS: “The Best of the Temptations on the Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Best of the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show,” “Motown Gold From the Ed Sullivan Show”
The International Review of Music 