Springsteen & I Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Most musicians hope to have a fan base as rabid and devoted as that of Bruce Springsteen's. While there have been many features on Springsteen over the years, Mr. Wolf and Ridley Scott Associates have decided to pay tribute to his fans. Made with support from Springsteen, Springsteen & I combines homemade testimonials from fans, along with rare footage of The Boss in concert in a fitting tribute for fans and an attempt to convert the nonbelievers.

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Move Me Brightly Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Jerry Garcia would have been 70 years old last August. In honor of that milestone event, fellow Grateful Dead band mate, Bob Weir, threw a star-studded birthday bash at his TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA. The concert was filmed, and makes up the Blu-ray, Move Me Brightly. Directed by Justin Kreutzmann (son of Grateful Dead drummer, Bill), the film mixes live performances with memories from friends, family and band mates about what Garcia meant to them.

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Lady Antebellum - Live: On This Winter's Night Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

On the heels of their holiday album of the same name comes Lady Antebellum's Blu-ray special, Live: On A Winter's Night. This concert by the country superstars was filmed at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center and showcases the band delivering several holiday classics, as well as their own original material, all while accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra.

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CeeLo Green is Loberace -- Live in Vegas Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

From the mind of CeeLo Green comes Loberace -- Live in Vegas. Part 70s soul singer, part Elton John, part Liberace, Loberace is a unique stage persona that is all Las Vegas. If it sounds tripped out, it is, but Green makes it work in this entertaining show that features dancing girls, numerous costume changes and many hits, both from Green's career and from artists he admires.

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The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert - SD Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

In the world of rock and roll, there have been few, if any, greater front men than Freddie Mercury. This was a man who while intensely private off stage, could command an audience of 100,000 and make it feel like an intimate performance. In addition to his showmanship, he had the voice and songs to match. When Mercury died in November 1991 at the age of 45 due to complications from AIDS, the band decided to, in the words of guitarist Brian May, "give him the biggest sendoff in history." They quite possibly may have achieved that on April 20, 1992, at Wembley Stadium in London. Available on Blu-ray for the first time, The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert featured the surviving members of Queen with a who's who of rock royalty paying tribute to the late singer.

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Morrissey - 25 Live Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Throughout his career, both as the singer of the legendary British alt-pop band, The Smiths, as well as the 25 years he has spent as a solo artist, Morrissey has carved out a niche as one of the most enigmatic and enduring performers to come out of the 1980s. His live shows are musical events, filled with some of the most devoted fans in all of music and performances that are nearly therapeutic in their intensity both for the performer and the fans alike. Just one day after selling out the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Morrissey offered fans a rare chance at an intimate gig by performing at Hollywood High School. The 1,800 seats sold out in 12 seconds and Morrissey filmed the show, which is now available as Morrissey - 25 Live.

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Paul McCartney - New CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

For Paul McCartney's new album, appropriately titled New, he worked with four producers with the intent on finding one he liked and finishing the record with that person. What McCartney didn't envision was liking them all equally -- but he did -- and so Paul Epworth, Mark Ronson, Ethan Johns and Giles Martin all have credits on the album. As all four producers have very diverse styles and credits from artists ranging from Adele to Kula Shaker to Ryan Adams to Duran Duran, it's not surprising that McCartney's album is very diverse as well, but then again, so were The Beatles' best albums.

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Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Live DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

While every band seems to reunite these days, the 1984 reunion of Deep Purple's famed Mk II lineup was a major event in the music world. Rock and roll still dominated the charts and, after 11 years apart, fans welcomed the "Smoke On The Water" lineup of the band with open arms. During their time apart, Deep Purple briefly continued on with David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes handling vocals, singer Ian Gillan had a solo career along with a stint in Black Sabbath and Ritchie Blackmore had great success with Rainbow. Still, Mk II's chemistry was undeniable and, after 11 years and some soul searching, the band managed to heal old wounds to release a new album and tour behind it.

The album, Perfect Strangers, was a blockbuster for the band, going platinum and spawning two legitimate Purple classics in "Perfect Strangers" and "Knocking At Your Back Door." Still, live concerts are where the band built its reputation and the Perfect Strangers tour was no exception. Sadly, very little footage of the band's reunion has ever been made available, until now. The tour began in Australia and the band had the cameras rolling, resulting in the DVD Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Live.

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New Model Army - Between Dog And Wolf CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In the four years since their last album release, New Model Army went through a tumultuous period, having had their manager pass away, their studio burning down (with the rest of their gear being stolen, no less) and their bassist, Nelson, leaving the band. The group was, in many ways, forced to start over. New bassist, Ceri Monger, who at age 26 wasn't even born when the band first formed, has breathed new life into the group with his groove-oriented playing and the band decided to take a new approach musically as well. Drenched in lush keyboards and tribal drums, the band's latest album, Between Dog And Wolf, delivers on the promise of being very different from their previous releases.

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James Booker - Classified: Remixed And Expanded CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

As New Orleans musicians go, James Booker would certainly be at or near the top. A contemporary of Dr. John, among others, the self-proclaimed "Bronze Liberace" played on albums by a diverse group of artists ranging from Ringo Starr to Fats Domino to Maria Muldaur. He also served as a mentor for a young Harry Connick Jr. Booker was not without his demons, however. Long-term struggles with drugs and alcohol indirectly contributed to his death from renal failure at age 43 and he struggled with mental illness as well. His music remains timeless though and Booker has amassed a growing legion of followers in recent years. His final album, Classified, has been remixed and expanded, offering a fascinating glimpse at this troubled genius' last sessions.

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Bryan Ferry - Live in Lyon Deluxe Edition Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

As both a member of Roxy Music and as a solo artist, Bryan Ferry has carved out a four decade (and counting) musical career that blends elements of everything from the pre rock 'n roll era to blues to soul to rock and the avant-garde. With not only his original material, but also with well-chosen covers (ready mades as he calls them), he has managed to create a sound that is uniquely his. It's a testament to his talents that his covers often sound as if he had written them himself. While on tour in 2011 for his album, Olympia, Ferry and his crack band were filmed in Lyon, France. That show makes up the deluxe edition of the Blu-ray Bryan Ferry -- Live in Lyon.

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Peter Gabriel - Live in Athens 1987 Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

In 1987, Peter Gabriel was at the height of his powers both artistically and commercially. His most recent studio album, So, had turned him into a mega star with its critically acclaimed songs and groundbreaking music videos. The last night of the tour, a 1987 stop in Athens, Greece, was filmed and released in edited form on VHS as POV. Fast forward 25 years to the present to find that So was yet another classic album to get the super deluxe treatment, this time including a DVD of the entire Athens show as a bonus. Now the entire show -- including the opening set from Youssou N'Dour -- is available on Blu-ray as Peter Gabriel -- Live in Athens 1987.

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Elvis Presley – Elvis At Stax Deluxe Edition CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

The year 1973 was a good one for Elvis Presley. He was riding high from the success of the Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite TV broadcast and live album; he had signed a new record deal with his label, RCA; and he was the beneficiary of a $5 million buyout of his back catalog from the label. While that buyout ultimately may have been a bad deal for Presley, at the time it gave him the financial freedom to live the way he was accustomed to. In addition, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had formed a new publishing company, which freed Presley to choose what he felt was stronger material to record. In short, life was good. This being the world of Elvis Presley, it wasn’t without its complications, however.

Presley’s relentless touring schedule had left him exhausted. He was separated from Priscilla during this time, and his daughter was scheduled to visit him that July. The problem was, RCA decided they needed new material from Presley during that time and he was forced to accommodate him. American Studios, where Presley had so much success with songs such as “Suspicious Minds” just a few years earlier, had closed down, but another hometown label, Stax, was thriving during this period. Presley knew of Stax and its success, and its proximity to Graceland couldn’t be beat, so he scheduled sessions for July and December of that year. A plethora of material was recorded — enough for nearly three complete albums — and RCA, as they were apt to do, spread the material out over multiple releases. Elvis At Stax, a new 3-CD collection of Stax masters and alternate takes, attempts to rectify this, putting all the masters and many notable outtakes in one place and offering a fresh look at these sessions.

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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

The 1960s Cold War era proved a fertile time for the spy movie genre. James Bond offered a glamorous, high-tech version of events, with exciting locales and beautiful women. The spy game is not always glamorous, however, and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold represents the seedy underbelly of this dangerous practice. Based on the John le Carré novel of the same name, Martin Ritt’s gritty movie adaptation is getting the Blu-ray treatment, courtesy of The Criterion Collection.

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Songs From Scandal - Music For Gladiators CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

On the television series, Scandal, Kerry Washington plays Olivia Pope, a character loosely based on former George Bush press aide, Judy Smith. Like Smith, who represented the likes of Monica Lewinsky and Chandra Levy, among others, Pope is a crisis management person for the elite, making sure their dirty laundry never gets aired. The very nature of her business leads to much drama in Pope's life and, as such, a powerful soundtrack is in order to really bring the show to life. The Stax label has released Songs From Scandal -- Music For Gladiators, a strong collection of soul classics from the 1960s and 1970s that does just that.

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Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow -- Black Masquerade CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In 1995, having left Deep Purple for good, Ritchie Blackmore took a band of unknowns out on the road in support of Stranger In Us All -- the final album by his other legendary group, Rainbow. The album and tour featured Doogie White on lead vocals, a man who had the unenviable task of filling the vocal shoes of Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner. The band also included a young Candice Night, now the lead singer in Blackmore's Night and Ritchie Blackmore's wife and songwriting partner. Rainbow was recorded live on a stop on the German television program, Rockpalast. That show makes up the new CD, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow -- Black Masquerade.

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Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow -- Black Masquerade DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

The mid-1990s were a period of major change for Ritchie Blackmore. In 1993, he left the reformed Deep Purple -- a band with which he had a love-hate relationship for some time -- for good and set out to record a solo album. The album featured largely unknown musicians and record company pressure forced Blackmore's hand by insisting he call this lineup Rainbow to sell more records. The lineup turned out to be the group's final to date and the album, Stranger In Us All, featured Doogie White on lead vocals and Blackmore's future wife and musical partner, Candice Night, on background vocals. The band hit the road, and a 1995 visit to Germany was broadcast on Rockpalast. Long available as a bootleg, the show is finally getting an official release as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow -- Black Masquerade.

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Santana & McLaughlin - Live At Montreux 2011: Invitation To Illumination Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin have spent their respective careers on a spiritual and musical journey. The pair has blended world music and spirituality with jazz, Latin, rock, blues and even funk influences. The pair first collaborated on 1973's Love Devotion Surrender. The subsequent tour was the last time they had played a full-length concert together until 2011. That year, their old friend, the late Claude Nobs, invited the pair to play his famed Montreux Jazz Festival. Dubbed Invitation to Illumination, the concert was a magical event, pairing two virtuosos and musical soul mates and is the basis for the Blu-ray Santana & McLaughlin -- Live At Montreux 2011: Invitation To Illumination.

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