 | |
List Price: $39.98 | | Label: Time-Life Video
Salesrank: 4580
Released: June 29, 2004 |
| Our Price: $29.94 |
| Used Price: $28.00 |
|
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
|
| Features:
Box set Closed-captioned Color DVD Subtitled NTSC | |
Editorial Review:
Ten titanic hours of the greatest rock extravaganza ever! This definitive 10-part documentary covers rock 'n' roll history from its humble beginnings in the '50s to Lollapalooza in the '90s. Fans can experience their favorite rock 'n' roll moments all over again through hundreds of exclusive interviews, classic footage, and unforgettable in-concert performances from rock 'n' roll's biggest stars. A must-own for any rock 'n' roll fan!
Description of The History of Rock and Roll:
Serving as an introduction for neophytes and a refresher course for experts, The History of Rock and Roll is a mammoth and, when considered on its own terms, frequently successful undertaking. The series, which was first presented in 1995, consumes some 578 minutes, with 10 episodes (there are no bonus features) spread out over five discs. Its pedigree (executive producers include Quincy Jones, while respected writers Peter Guralnick and Greil Marcus are listed as consultants) is impressive, as is its scope, beginning in the pre-rock days of bluesman Muddy Waters and boogie woogie master Louis Jordan and continuing through the death of Kurt Cobain and the birth of the Lollapalooza festival in the mid-1990s. Along the way, dozens of big-name performers (with the notable exception of the Beatles) are on hand to lead us through the story.
On the minus side, the format--clips of musical performances cut short by a parade of talking heads--while typical of the genre, will frustrate those who come for the music alone. Nor is it likely that anyone who studies such things will find much here that hasn't already been seen. To be sure, there are some terrific moments, like the profile of Bob Dylan (in part 5, "Plugging In"), some cool clips of relatively obscure legends like James Burton and T-Bone Walker (in part 7, "Guitar Heroes"), and rarely seen live bits with Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, Iggy Pop (goofing on the Dinah Shore Show in '77), and many others scattered throughout the set. Part 8, which chronicles the '70s, is surprisingly compelling (one forgets how many major artists--Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder--came into their own in a decade remembered largely for disco and faceless arena rock), while part 9, "Punk," is arguably the most entertaining of the lot.
In the end, it's the lack of complete musical performances that is the set's Achilles' heel. Then again, with their appetites whetted here, perhaps viewers will move on to other, more detailed looks at their heroes--beginning with, say, The Beatles Anthology. --Sam Graham
The History of Rock and Roll Reviews:
Exelente 
2009-10-22 - Un documental realmente exelente, recorriendo por todas las influencias del rock and roll, son como 10 horas de documento exelente, recomiento para todos los que aman este estilo musical y se quieran informar de como nacio y cualques son sus estilos e influencias... Es bastante emotivo volver a escuchar muchas musicas que hicieron mucho y nunca se borran de la memoria. Los subtitulos en español estan correctos en los 5 discos...
AN absolute steal at $15.99, a good basic history
2009-08-03 - This box set is a very good overview of the history of rock and roll from it's beginning up until about 15 years ago when this series was made. While they may be much left out due to covering such a wide expansive subject over a many year period, to get the basic history, this is a very good set. For $15.99, it's even better. For anyone who has lived it and has an appreciation of rock and roll over the years, this is a good one to enjoy and review what you've experienced. For younger fans of rock wanting to get up to speed on where it came from and how it developed, this DVD documentary set should serve as an excellent starting point.
Too much in some parts, not enough in others 
2009-07-25 - I found this DVD highly entertaining and I think anyone who watches it will feel the same. I'm sure there will be somebody's favorite band or song missing because you can only show so much in 10 hours.
WHAT IS MISSING(That I found curious): NOTHING on the Eagles..! They have the 2nd highest selling album next to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and they are only mentioned once in passing by an interview of a musician(forgot who). No John Lennon or Paul McCartney interviews or mention of their solo work(like...um... a little song called 'Imagine'). Nothing mentioned on John Cougar Mellencamp/John Mellencamp whatever his name is this week. Very little or no mention of Prince and the whole 'Purple Rain' thing. No 'We Are The World' or 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', nothing on Duran Duran, Human League, Flock of Seagulls or the pretty boy/new wave music of the 80s except a brief segment and interview on Devo and Culture Club. That's about as close as you'll get in the 80s new wave department. No Stephenwolf or 'Magic Carpet Ride' or 'Born to be Wild', no Iron Butterfly and that song that I can't spell, no Bad Company, Queen barely mentioned except for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and Brian May's brief interview, I don't remember much being said about Deep Purple or Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, no Yngwie Malmsteen the guy who plays 100 mph on a fretboard, nothing on Live Aid(although they do show a lot of music festivals from the 60's - not just Woodstock), nothing on Altamont when the Rolling Stones hired Hells Angels bikers as concert security and how it all went south really fast, Buddy Holly mentioned but not Richie Valens, nothing on guitar instrumentalist like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai, barely anything mentioned on Frank Zappa, no 'Free Bird'(but they do interview members of the Allman Brothers - the only 'southern rock' band that existed apparantly), no mention of all the 90's grunge music except a brief story on Nirvana, no Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or any of those bands that were big after Nirvana hit. No 'NWOBHM'(new wave of british heavy metal), Ya know those bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden who I believe were INSANELY POPULAR throughout the 80s. Def Leppard is barely mentioned also and hair bands and heavy metal in general? What about Thrash and speed metal and how big Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax & Slayer were in the 80s?. No such thing anywhere on this DVD. Also, how can you NOT mention the affect Weird Al Yankovic had on music in the 80s? He was pretty popular then don't ya think? At least mention him ONCE I would think.
WHAT IS ON THE DVD THAT I FOUND ODD: A whole hour devoted to soul and r&b, especially Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. That's fine, I like all music but the dvd is called THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL. And do we really need 25+ minutes on Bob Dylan going 'electric' and how traumatic it was for his fans? - that was torture for me to listen to because the guy can't sing. Fact. Not then, not now. Way way way too much time devoted to Woodstock and all the peace, love and flowers movement of the 60's. There's only so many times I want to watch Janis Joplin scream like she's being strangled. However, I did like all the Jimi Hendrix stuff and his live solos. A lot of time devoted to rap(Public Enemy, Run DMC) but no mention of LL Cool J who I consider a rap legend and how rap boomed in the 80's. No mention of Anthrax and Public Enemy doing 'Bring Tha Noise' because I guess the Run DMC and Aerosmith song was enough but, again, the DVD is called THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL so why do I want to see all that?(just kidding).
FINAL THOUGHTS: Worth watching. Despite what I wrote I'm glad I bought it(at a bargain basement price at a closeout store). If you can find it supercheap, then it's a great find. BUT anyone willing to spend what is listed on this site, I would think twice about it. Anyone who is really into music will definitely like this DVD set despite its flaws and MAJOR omissions of various bands, singers, etc. For me I was lucky it might as well have been free for what I paid for it.
Important Distinguishing Fact 
2009-02-09 - M. Gilkey, in the 2004 review, made a great observation. There are two PBS rock and roll histories. The initial one, "Rock and Roll" was aired circa 1995. I haven't seen "The History of Rock and Roll", which is for sale here. "Rock and Roll" was amazingly well done. It was more or less an academic documentary, not the ratings-grabber of VH-1 years later. The Experience Project of "Rock and Roll" is the way to go. If anyone on here knows how to obtain the original PBS "Rock and Roll", please post. You would be doing a great many people an awesome service.
One more?
2009-01-08 - My kids are totally into the history of American music since "Rock Band" and "Rock Band 2" came out!!! They have been mesmerized by these discs. My only criticism would be that there should be ONE more disc. This set was released in 1995, and I would like to see a disc added to cover from 1995 to present. Overall, a great purchase for us.
