Though I was born in 1983, I was given the advantage of an uncle who’d recorded hours of musical performances from the original “The Midnight Special” series, and kept them archived well. Through those recordings I was introduced to myriad of pop and rock acts from the 1970’s as well as the charismatic hosting and MCing from the one and only Wolfman Jack. “The Midnight Special” was very much like “American Bandstand” in that it celebrated music, and was more prone to offering harder edged musical acts and performances for a wider audience. It’s still a very valuable artifact of rock and pop, and thankfully has been given a new transfer for collectors.
Tag Archives: Performance
Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (1970) [Digibook Blu-Ray/DVD]
For Elvis fans still celebrating the “Viva Las Vegas” release, Warner re-releases the 2007 DVD except in Blu-Ray Digibook form and in its 2001 edition, which is considerably shorter in length. That’s because the film’s director chopped some fan segments. You can still watch the original version on the DVD supplied in the Digibook edition, while the supplements are rather extensive for hardcore fans. This includes the very detailed aforementioned book within the Blu-Ray case that should act as a fine memento for Elvis buffs.
The Carol Burnett Show: Ultimate Collection (DVD)
For fans of the Carol Burnett Show that can’t possibly afford the complete series, the “Ultimate Collection” is about as close as you can get to the greatness of a complete boxed set. It’s many of the highlights of the Carol Burnett show and it spotlights the comedy and slapstick as well as the whimsy and variety. There are a ton of celebrity guest spots, some sweet moments involving Ms. Burnett interacting with her audience, and plenty of musical numbers that fans of the series’ entire package will quite enjoy. And just to top off the Collection, there’s even a Christmas DVD filled with many holiday themed sketches from various seasons.
CBGB (2013)
How do you make a movie about CBGB in the structure of a routine narrative? Where do you start? Why do we have to see the origins of CBGB through a comedy lens? “CBGB” is what Hollywood envisions the origins of CBGB were. It’s clean, it’s sanitary, it’s inoffensive, and it paints some of the most iconic bands in rock music as mere footnotes in the world of the iconic New York club. To make things worse, its star looks really bored with the material, almost as if he’s slogging through a character and a script that he doesn’t quite understand.
The Temptations (1998)
One of the highlights of growing up with parents that loved classic soul and R&B, was listening to some of the greatest bands of all time. My favorite of them all was The Temptations, a wonderful group of singers with one of the more compelling back stories of all time. Though I’m usually not a fan of biography films about bands or musicians in general, “The Temptations” garners an immense cast of strong actors, all of whom help fuel what is a tale about fame, greed, and clashing egos. It’s just a shame that the movie breezes through some crucial details.
Go Go Mania (1965)
It all started with the Beatles. From there it was a slew of really interesting British Invasion groups, and singers, many of whom ranged from absolutely abysmal, to quite unique. It’s a shame many of these bands never quite garnered the legacy that the Beatles did, but “Go Go Mania!” has value, if anything, in showing how many bands climbed out of the woodwork to claim their own fame once the Beatles stormed America.
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays
I’d be lying if I said I was a Billy Crystal fan. I always found him tolerable at best, in the realm of cinema, as an Oscar host, and comedian. I’d also be lying if I told you I had any intention to watch “700 Sundays.” My viewing of it was accidental and suffice it to say, I was shocked that “700 Sundays” ended up being so entertaining. Normally I detest the one man shows and find them the epitome of self indulgence, but Crystal has surely earned his chance to stage a one man show about his life. And while he does have a chance to perform a show about his Hollywood experiences, he instead discusses much of his life, and how his comedy career were merely a footnote in an unusual life.