Live Folk Rock Music

I didn't know exactly what to expect here, Dylan live in the late 70s. However it is quite good. The alternate versions of some of my favorite Dylan songs are fresh and interesting. My personal favorite on the album: Shelter from the Storm. It is an electric version that is absolutely fantastic. The other songs are pretty good too, but they don't have the same wow factor as Shelter from the storm.

At such a low price, I would recommend picking this up for long drives in the car!

bob dylan's hard rain
great tape. no problems.
enoying it very much, thank you,jayne

Say what you may, He's the best. Composer, musician, performer. Hard Rain is just the icing on the cake. All different takes from the originals. But that's Dylan for you. Magnificent! "You're a Big Girl Now", is my favorite here. Love the raising of his voice and how he changes pitch. Beautiful! And the strings, awesome! Scarlet Rivera plays a haunting violin. If you love music. you have to add Hard Rain to your collection! I'm thankful to have seen him and his Rolling Thunder Review at Memorial Colliseum in Corpus Christi Tx. Kinky Friedman opened for him.

This is a live album from 1976 and it's fascinating to see how Dylan reworks material that was previously recorded in the studio. The raucous, high volume nature of the performances greatly enhances songs such as "Idiot Wind", "Maggie's Farm", and "Lay, Lady, Lay" but is less effective with more reflective songs such as "You're a Big Girl Now" and "Shelter from the Storm" where the light and shade of the original versions is sorely missed.

Dylan has always been underrated (and sometimes unjustly trashed) as a live performer. There couldn't be anything further from the truth. I've seen the man 4 times live, and each time he's gotten better. This is a great document of his live performances, intense, brilliant, and quinessentially Dylan. I like the version of Lay Lady Lay better here. It rocks a lot harder than the studio version, and Dylan adds an extra verse which I really like. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again really rocks tremendously. It only has 6 verses or so (Dylan rarely does the full version in concert), but its intensity more than makes up for the missing verses. I like the take on Maggie's Farm here (even though it appears too often on Dylan live albums), and the version of Idiot Wind is legendary. The only live Dylan album I hate (and I do hate it) is Dylan and the Grateful Dead. This was recorded in the 80's, a bad time for Bob, so his performances are very subpar.

This is one of the best examples of Dylan live. I would love to hear more music from this tour, which by all accounts, was one of Dylan's most amazing.

First, I am a major fan. However, I hate when people mess with something that ain't broke. AND WHEN I DIE, SWEET BLINDNESS are updated and not in a good way. Yes, I understand artists want to do their songs differently after many years, but sometimes it just doesn't work. The music on this CD is too spacey and her voice is incredibly annoying. I found myself skipping over track after track. ELI is still her best work as both a songwriter and recording artist.

I would have given 5 stars. Iconoclassic did a beautiful job remastering and reissuing "Nested". The sounds quality on "Seasons of Light" is equally superb. Cleary much care and consideration were given to this effort. I do have a complaint, however. Although Iconoclassic included the LP version of "Timer" as a bonus track, they failed to do the same with "Emmie". I happen to think the LP version of "Emmie" is superior to the CD version that is included in this set. It is unfortunate that Iconoclassic decided to skip this and miss out on creating a truly complete collection.

"Season of Lights" was not my favorite Nyro LP. However, until I read Michele Kort's book "Soul Picnic: The Music & Passion of Laura Nyro" I wasn't aware that there was another longer version of this concert album. Columbia Records comes off as a chop shop with what they did to the American release of this record. The Japanese CD is nothing short of revelatory. For Laura's tribe, it is REQUIRED! :)

The full concert has 16 tracks instead of 10. It includes the only recording of "Morning News." Laura made many trips to Japan, loved their country and music, and was particularly influenced by them on "Smile." However charmingly, the Japanese booklet often gets the words wrong. In "Morning News" Nyro sings "Freedom sang how you shine to the critical end of the corporate design." The booklet reads, "Freedom sang how you shall end to the critical life of the corporate design." Nyro's lyric is chilling, particularly given her struggle to maintain artistic control over her music.

Perhaps worst of what Columbia did on the American release was cutting the instrumentals on tracks it did release. "Timer" lets the band's percussion section loose and comes off with a hot jam that could rival the best of Santana. On "Captain Saint Lucifer" there is a whole section of horns and hot guitar from John Tropea that makes this version shine. Michael Mainieri does a great solo on the baliphone on "The Cat Song" that brings the magic of the live performance to us.

"Sweet Lovin' Baby" is included on the Japanese release. On "New York Tendaberry" Laura sang the song "I belong to the man," on "Season of Lights" she sings, "I belong to myself." The instrumental interlude on the "Smile" track has been split and given the name "Mars." Both of these were deleted in the American release as was "Midnite Blue," another great Nyro gem.

For those of us who wonder at the music of Laura Nyro, this release brings the magic of Laura's live shows back to life. Don't miss out! God bless the Japanese!

When "Season of Lights", Laura Nyro's first live album, came out, the "punk revolution" and the resulting tightening of commercial radio playlists made it a tough time for expressive, feminine sucians like her. Her 1976 album Smile had reached number 60 on the Billboard chart, but "Season of Lights" only reached number 137 despite showing clearly that Laura was back as a musical force when she wanted to be.

Indeed, the performances on "Season of Lights" are in general better than those on Smile. Most especially clear is that Laura shows much greater focus than on most parts of that album and consequently her songs - though in a much different style from albums like Eli and Tendaberry. Most noteworthy are the versions of "Sweet Blindness" and "Captain Saint Lucifer" that amount to complete reworks from the original songs but the way in which Laura allows her backing band to jam out for several minutes on the latter song is really surprising as well as quite truly beautiful. On "The Confession", she sings as nearly like an angel as one has ever known her too and her wonderful vocal yet again transforms the song completely from its original album version to something, indeed, that we never expected from her. Not only that, but the beauty of the music more than matches the superb vocal.

Both "I Am The Blues" and "Money" are treated to superb performances that are distinctly more passionate than their studio versions. In the case of "Money", that is really fitting given the song's message, and it was only justice that Nyro included the song on her self-chosen "Stoned Soul Picnic" compilation just before she died - despite never in her post-1980 concert repetoire having played anything from "Smile". The only unique track, "The Morning News", is a very short but beautifully written story of social decay and business corruption that manages almost to show Laura was not completely out of touch with the message of the "punk revolution" even if her music was exactly its opposite in many ways. On the realtively well-known renditions of "Sweet Loving Baby" and "The Cat Song", Nyro shows a funny side quite at odds with her image as a private, serious figure, and "And When I Die" is also very impressive.

All in all, "Season of Lights" stands as the best album of Laura's comeback era with numerous exquisite performances that should not be missed.

I consider 'Season of Lights', labeled here as the "complete version" (I doubt that 70 minutes of songs gleaned from at least four seperate performances constitute the complete setlist Laura Nyro typically performed on this 1976 tour, but at least it's expanded beyond the original ten tracks first offered on vinyl in 1977), to represent the artist just before her virtuosity peaked in 1978 with the release of 'Nested'. 'Season of Lights' embodies Laura's smashing, early career compositions, as well as tracks from her first comeback album, 'Smile', but is too early to capture her tour of duty through motherhood explored in 'Nested' and 'Mother's Spiritual', as well as the evolution of her philosophical and political views. Sadly, live performances from those mid-career masterpieces are sorely lacking from Laura's current catalog.

There are an abundance of albums featuring Laura Nyro live in a solo context, but only 'Season of Lights' provides full instrumental backing for her compositions. Nevertheless, three solo piano tracks are scattered among the sixteen offerings here, 'When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag' (proclaiming "I'm a woman, and this is my due time" long before Helen Reddy got around to being "woman"), the captivating 'Emmie' (a tribute to Laura's lyrical prowess, comparing her subject to "a natural snow... a cameo... and an unstudied sea"), and 'Midnite Blue', understated in its role as the encore. The more intriguing offerings, however, find Laura and her band cranked up in high gear, such as on the vibrant opener, 'Money', riding high on John Tropea's lead guitar runs, yet still bursting with lyrical jewels such as "my struggle hurt but it turned me on, when my revolution came, the chain was gone" ...oh, Yeah! The engaging melody of 'Captain St. Lucifer' combines with perplexing lyics, such as "a tiger from a conga-line chase" (hmmmm....), while a superb guitar and percussion coda graces 'Timer', and alludes to Laura's struggle with a higher diety ("The Master of Time"), at one point abruptly announcing, "God is a jigsaw". Other philosophical and political musings adorn the classic 'And When I Die', 'The Morning News' (subtly stating, "His wife helped him for free"), and even 'The Cat-Song', where Laura comes as close as she ever will to a novelty song, yet still taking swings and shots at war and "whitewashing your day away".

Other tracks find Nyro creating ethereal mood pieces ('Upstairs By a Chinese Lamp', featuring Jeanie Fineberg's fine flute, and 'Sweet Lovin' Baby', with its shades of 'Sweet Blindness', featuring Ellen Seeling's tuneful trumpet), sultry and suggestive numbers like 'The Confession' (asking her baby to take "a super ride on my love thing"), faithful renditions of classics such as 'Sweet Blindness', and an excursion into the curious and mysterious with the mid-set instrumental 'Mars'. More diversity is delivered with 'I Am the Blues', a bluesy ballad that gives way to a jazzy milieu, taking flight with high soaring vocals on lyrics such as "fly through the sky like superfly". Rounding out the set is the light and lilting 'Smile', also embedded with Laura's philosphizing ("I'm a non-believer, but I believe in your smile").

Laura Nyro is one of those few performers graced with mesmerizing vocal talent, and a gift for combining matchless melodies with thoughtful lyrics. While I don't share all of Laura's liberal notions, it's difficult not to appreciate her perspectives when they are cloaked in confines that are at times complex, at times simplistic, at all times wonderous and beautiful. Her lack of commercial success (aside from her abundant songwriting credits), ironically, seems to add to her aura as a true, unsullied artist. While Laura's solo piano endeavors on albums such as 'The Loom's Desire' and 'Live In Japan' certainly claim a valued place in her catalog of recordings, only 'Season of Lights' allows us to hear Laura live, in a full-throttle, fully bloomed state. I believe it is an essential component of any well-rounded musical collection.

Not intentionally, a least I do not think that is the case, I watched this Bob Dylan MTV Concert from 1995 directly after watching his Bob Dylan: The Other Side of The Mirror: Live at The Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965, Bob Dylan and various other artists, 2007. I have reviewed that documentary separately in this space. However, comments, and of necessity, comparisons between the two are in order here. I will not go on and on about hair styles and clothing as I did in the earlier film, in order to draw contrasts, because except wearing some sunglasses his persona has not changed dramatically from the 1965 Concert where he set himself on his own personal rock and roll (or better, I think) folk rock path.

Obviously, there cannot be a complete comparison between play lists for the two films because in 1965 some of the material covered in the 1995 film had not been created like Knockin' On Heaven's Door or things like that. Others are older works, like a well- done John Brown, which had not been released earlier. Or the 1990's-created Dignity. One can, however, compare certain material covered in both films like The Times They Are A- Changin' , the classic Like a Rolling Stone and Love Minus Zero, No Limit (hereafter, No Limits).

Two things are clear by 1995. One is that Dylan, either by design or happenstance, had changed the mood and the manner in which he sang those songs, some for the better, some not. I believe that his newer version of Like a Rolling Stone geared to the musical tastes of a new generation works, No Limits does somewhat and Times not at all. First, I had to get over the sentimentally of knowing how these songs were played in my youth and wanting to cling to that notion, especially on a favored love anthem like No Limits. Still the changed-up in rhythm only partially works to demonstrate the original pathos of that song.

Second, and this is something I had also observed in a live concert that I attended in the early 1990's, old Bob had lost his voice and had adjusted some of his material to that new fact. Here comparison with the strong vibrant voice of 1965 is truly amazing. His adjustments worked best on a then new song like Dignity that has lyrics like in the old days but reflected his new vocal range. Nice. So is this thing worth seeing and hearing. Sure. But I would get that old The Other Side of the Mirror documentary - on purpose- to check out why, for a minute anyhow Dylan was the voice of my generation, the generation of '68.

This is the famous "Unplugged" concert recorded for MTV in 1994. Of course all Dylan fans should have this DVD, for others a few comments:
(1) Dylan often rethinks his songs in concert so the version of a song such as "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" is quite different to what was recorded in the studio - this is neither a good or bad thing - just something to be aware of.
(2) Also when people say Dylan was in "good voice" here, the initiated may not be so convinced. Again Dylan live - especially in his later years - is a somewhat acquired taste.
(3) The song select could have been better. There are so many other songs I would rather have here, but obviously this is a matter of personal taste.

This is a great lesson in how one generation sees another. Bob on Mtv is one more proof that he wasn't just a voice of us Baby Boomers, see how easily The Times They Are A'Changin fits NOW. Dig the way new phrasing of old material just plain rocks, like Desolation Row. Timelessness and the power of the music smacks you upside the head even when you're looking for it.

This DVD is made by MTV, and it's got weird lighting, that's of course, really cool. The songs are good, & Bob was young-ish, so buy it for sure, or you'll never own a Bob Dylan DVD. (He signed each disc himself (not really.)). It's all acoustic, even the upright bass player. He uses no elctric guitars, but it's still really good.

... and probably never will be to say about Mr Dylan.

You likes him, or you don't. If you don't, you can't be converted. If you does, you can't explain why. Not completely. Not comprehensively. Not specifically. Not even if you number all the things you know about his changes and phases and artful phrases.

For years this concert was only available on VHS 9and still very hard to find.) Cat Stevns just after the release of his 4th studio album (1.) Matthew & Son, 2.)New Masters, 3.)Mona Bone Jakon, 4.)Tea For The Tillerman. It features some great songs like "wild World" and "Miles From Nowhere" with Cat playing guitar and piano respectively.
A great find at a great price.

This is an intimate three piece concert with Cat Stevens. He is accompanied by Alun Davies on guitar and vocals and Larry Steele on Bass Guitar and congas. The performance was recorded at KCET Studios in Los Angeles, CA on June 8th 1971. There isn't a lot of footage available to the public of Cat Stevens in his prime. Cat and friends are in excellent form. The video and the sound production are fair to good for 1971. That said, it is recorded in Mono and the run time is 35 min. A special treat for me was getting to hear the third verse for Longer Boats, which is not on the original album version. If you are a fan of Cat Stevens, I think you will be pleased with this DVD. The track listing is as follows; 1. Moonshadow, 2. On The Road To Find Out, 3.Where Do The Children Play?, 4. Wild World, 5. Miles From Nowhere, 6. Longer Boats, 7. Father And Son, 8. Hard Headed Woman, 9. Teaser And The Fire Cat (The animated shot film by Cat Stevens)

This DVD is announced as if Yusuf Islam was singing the old songs of Tea for the Tillermans album, in a new video ,since its dated (1997) but its only an old recopilation of the videos you find in You Tube of Cats Stevens first years. The video quality is poor. If you are a Cats Stevens fan you will buy it just to have and "old document" in your library of interesting DVD's.

This product arrived timely and appears as advertised. I have not seen the contents as it is a Christmas present but am assuming that it is in brand new shape which is how I bought it. It is still in plastic packaging which leads me to believe it is brand new.

Well the Peace and Love generation has finally left us the FULL legistration of that Magical late 60's era.Mud and all! What a wonderful album with every artist giving their most.I love "Joe Hill" By Joan Baez-Still in her set today -the magnificent Creedence Clearwater Revival Rockin' thru a reportoire that makes water to wine to water-CSNY nervously singing-helplessly hoping to be loved -the Band on top form-Long Black Veil just FAB! Jimi Hendrix His Star spangled Banner right up the flagpost of American Hippie Culture.Dear Old Joe Cocker up there stoned but singing his Big Heart out! A MUST for every serious Collector-Well done Atlantic

If you are trying to get the original first audio cd on woodstock.just buy the DVD instead.turn off the TV,you will have a instant memory of your life.I got the Dvd.think of it as a audio cd.IMAGINE//////////////

Upon the 25th anniversary of the legendary music and art festival, this box set was released, fooling all who purchased it by the use of some rare nuggets.

What this box set must be viewed as is not a sprawling, enthusiastic representation of the greatest cultural event ever, but instead must be seen as a strictly nugget-filled trinket that just happens to include tracks that were featured in the festival.

Here, you get never-before released recordings of Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, and many others. However, with these gems you must also suffer the misfortune of not hearing the stage announcements or the famous "rain" chant. Even some of the original, authentic crowd noises have been forced to reside with crowd noises that were clearly recorded somewhere else.

The Box Set succeeds in giving you a few handfulls of nuggets while simultaneously failing by taking away the spirit of the original recordings. Proceed with caution.

From all the festivals organized during the late sixties this is the best covered from them all, both on audio and image. I personally love it and I am currently looking for more information about it. My main concern is the MUSIC performed at the event either on audio and / or video.

This 1994 version is a good effort because it gives us more music performed at the event and it is chronologically more accurate than previous releases, but it is still incomplete and some artists are still lost in the archives (Blood Sweat & Tears, Bert Sommer, and The Incredible String Band).

MESSAGE FOR THE RECORD COMPANY: ¡¡ Please release a definitive edition and help us to save some money !!

The booklet included in this box gives a lot of information and a string of photographs. Nevertheless I do not like it. That sort of archival look is definitely not for me I wish it had included more photos with better definition and graphics that actually can be read. (Is there any other shot of Johnny Winter performing at Woodstock rather than the one of Elliot Landy?)

Song by song analysis:

Disc: 1
1. Handsome Johnny - 2. Freedom - Richie Havens
OK: first day (the acoustic day) and first artist. Havens performed at least 8 songs and he even created "Freedom" at Woodstock from the traditional "Motherless Child". There are at least two more songs filmed but not officially released (i.e. the beautiful High Flyin' Bird). Richie portion on the film is edited.

(OMITTED: Swami Satchidananda appearance on the stage. He is only seen on the film - brief passage)

3. The 'Fish' Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag - Country Joe McDonald
OK: day one and second artist. He performed at least 5 songs. There is an offcial but unreleased video of his performance.

4. Rainbows All Over Your Blues - 5. I Had a Dream - John B. Sebastian
OK: day one and the third artist to appear. His full set is on "Faithful Virtue" CD on RHINO Recs. That acoustic guitar is actually Tim Hardin's.

(OMITTED: Sweetwater, the first band ever to appear at Woodstock. They performed at least 8 songs. Only one of them was released on a RHINO label compilation of the band; the only known video of the band at Woodstock was available in a long deleted VHS )
(OMITTED: Bert Sommer. His manager was co - organizer of the Festival Artie Kornfeld and he performed 10 songs one of them (Jennifer) is shown on Woodstock Diary DVD. Another song (America) can be listened in Bert's site on Internet).

6. If I Were a Carpenter - Tim Hardin
We are still on day one and the only song officially available from his one hour set.

(OMITTED: Ravi Shankar. He briefly appears on Woodstock Diary DVD. His full set was available on vinyl records and CD. He actually performed in the pouring rain)

7. Beautiful People - Melanie
She jumped on stage instead of Incredible String Band because their manager Joe Boyd didn't allow them to perform while raining. Her entire set is officially available.

8. Coming into Los Angeles - 9. Walking Down the Line - Arlo Guthrie
Apparently he performed 4 songs. The complete live version of "Coming..." has not been released. There is an official unreleased video of part of his performance (including the almost "a capella" rendition to "Amazing Grace").

10. Joe Hill - 11. Sweet Sir Galahad - 12. Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man - Joan Baez

Joan headlined day one and she performed 8 songs most of them have been released.

(OMITTED: Quill. This is day two (progressive - psychedelic rock day) / first artist to appear. They are briefly shown on Woodstock Diary DVD. Their full set is unavailable)

(OMITTED: Incredible String Band. Here they are after refusing playing in the pouring rain on day one. They are briefly shown on Woodstock Diary DVD performing the beautiful "When you find out who you are". Their full set is unavailable)

13. Soul Sacrifice - Santana
This is day two 2 PM. Santana full performance is available on the CD re issue of their first album.

(OMITTED: Keef Hartley Band. They performed at least 6 songs all of them unavailable).

14. Blood of the Sun - 15. Theme For An Imaginary Western - Mountain
They are in the wrong order. They performed 13 songs after Canned Heat. L. West has released the band performance at Woodstock. It is said that "Theme..." was not performed at Woodstock.

Disc: 2
1. Leaving this Town - 2. Going up The Country - Canned Heat
Four songs set. "Woodstock Boogie" is a long (14+ minutes) and strong track lost in the archives; once available and heavily edited on Woodstock II vinyl.

3. Commotion - 4. Green River - 5. 99 And A Half (Won't Do) - 6. I Put A Spell On You - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Part of their 11 songs set. It's said that John Fogerty didn't allow any CCR stuff were released. There are a couple of numbers more filmed but not officially released.

(OMITTED: Grateful Dead. They performed at least 4 songs all of them officially unavailable. There are at least two more songs filmed but not officially released. One of them a classic lenghty improvisation of the band)

7. Try - 8. Work Me Lord - 9. Ball & Chain - Janis Joplin
Part of her 10 songs set including two encores. Also there are a couple of tracks officially filmed but unreleased.

10. Medley: Dance To the Music/Music Lover/I Want To Take You Higher - Sly & the Family Stone
This set isn't complete and it's heavily edited. They performed over 50 minutes.

11. We're Not Gonna Take It - The Who
4 AM: a strong performance of 25 songs (not been officially released) REDUCED TO A COUPLE OF TUNES. They performed "Heaven and Hell"!!! and it's hidden somewhere. Even the Abbie Hofmann incident seems to be filmed or at least the moment just after the affair. By the way this is not "We're not gonna take it" this is "Summertime Blues". There is an unreleased video of his performance with time counter indicating an official recording (it's taken from the stage right camera; the same source used for the additional Hendrix material added to the definitive edition of his performance).

Disc: 3
1. Volunteers - 2. Somebody to Love - 3. Saturday Afternoon/Won't You Try - 4. Uncle Sam Blues - 5. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
6 AM on day three. Almost complete set. One track "Plastic Fantastic Lover" is also available on J. A. Loves you Box Set.

6. Let's Go Get Stoned - 7. With A Little Help from My Friends - Joe Cocker
2 PM on day three. Part of his 9 songs set with the Grease Band. It is said the Grease Band performed a couple of numbers without Joe. On the film he announces "Just Like a Woman" to a stage announcer.

(OMITTED: The BIG storm. The complete performance won't be released)

8. Rock & Soul Music - Country Joe & the Fish
They were the first band that jumped on the dangerously wet stage after the storm.

9. I'm going Home - Ten Years After
Not even Alvin Lee knows exactly what they actually performed. They did 5 long numbers. Drums for this track were recorded later under the approval of Alvin Lee.
10. Long Black Veil - 11. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever - 12. The Weight - Band
They performed at least 11 songs.

(OMITTED: Blood Sweat and Tears. They performed at least 5 songs all of them unavailable except for the one shown on VHS - Laserdisc "Woodstock: the Lost Performances". There are at least three songs filmed but not officially released including the great Al Kooper BST era number "I'll love you more than you'll ever know")

13. Mean Town Blues - Johnny Winter
This is the only known track from his 9 songs performance. Nevertheless this is just a portion of the complete songs which lasts for 8+ minutes (drum beat and slide guitar solo intro. are missing).

Disc: 4
1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - 2. Guinevere - 3. Marrakesh Express - 4. 4 + 20 - 5. Sea Of Madness - 6. Find the Cost of Freedom - Crosby Stills Nash
Their set was 10 songs for the acoustic set and 8 for the electric set. Some people say that N Young didn't allow to be filmed ... WRONG there is at least one acoustic song by him with S. Stills officially filmed.

7. Love March - Paul Butterfeild Blues Band
This is day four at 5 - 6 AM. Only two tracks from 5 songs set are available. "Drifting Blues" is also available.

8. At The Hop - Sha Na Na
A long and endless 8 - 9 songs set.

9. Voodoo Chile / Stepping Stone - 10. Star Spangled Banner - 11. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
This man really hooked me on a new audio dimension. Only 2 tracks have not been officially released "(Call me) Mastermind" and "Gipsy Woman" both with Larry Lee on vocals. Newer versions have lots of cuts erasing some odd moments like when a guy from the audience offers Jimi "Wanna get high?" and Jimi says "I got mine I got mine".

The Monterey International Pop Festival was held June 16-18, 1967. The event was put together to raise money for various charities and quite possible inspired Woodstock years later. It was the first rock festival of its kind. This two disc collection highlights the cream of the crop during the three day event. The live recording is exceptionally clear (which I would question), and showcases the marquee names at the time, as well as future marquee players. Monterey marks the American debut of Jimi Hendrix, who is featured with fiery performances of "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Like a Rolling Stone." Janis Joplin (with Big Brother & The Holding Company) makes her major performance debut with her contributions "Down on Me" and "Ball in Chain."

Other heavy hitters include Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding, The Who, The Mama's and the Papas, The Byrds, and Simon & Garfunkle. The event attracted over 200,000 people & the admission was $1. What a difference from the corporate events of today, huh? The artists all worked for free, with the exception of sitar player Ravi Shankar. He walked away with $3000. This collection is truly a piece of musical history and compassion when it was all about the music and not the all mighty dollar.

The music from this album is incredible. We get to hear and feel the passion that the artists put into these tracks. However, I'm a big-time fan of the banter in between songs, and I didn't get a whole lot of that here. Like another reviewer, the Box Set might be a better buy because of the increased volume of music and you might get some extras as well.

If you're looking strictly for music from the Festival that started it all, get this album. If you're like me and want the extra stuff, then I would look elsewhere.

As with the Woodstock album, I would guess that this 2-CD volume covering some of the performances at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival is of greater interest to those who attended that June. From my point of view I prefer to seek out the original hit single performances (where applicable). I also agree with those other reviewers who feel the sound quality is not the greatest.

However, the insert contains numerous vintage photos, four pages of interesting background notes written by Andrew Loog Oldham, British-born producer, impresario and author and one-time manager of The Rolling Stones back in the 60s. and one page dealing with the Monterey International Pop Foundation which contains this closing statement: "The proceeds from this release will be distributed to causes the Foundation finds are in keeping with the spirit of what happened during those three days in Monterey, California." Reason enough to buy the CD.

CD from the famous music event of the 60's. WAY better than Woodstock. Music at it's peak, and the people/groups assembled is amazing. I only wish I could hear the entire contert(s)

Excellent line up and I really like the diversity of artists featured on these 2 CDs.

Been an R.T. fan for almost 30 years now. Resisted buying his 1,000 year gig for awhile because I thought myself a "purist". I wanted to hear HIS music, not other's music performed by his majesty, the king of guitar and songwriting. Fellow members of the flock urged me to partake of this recording. I resisted. Then finally, having heard a cut or two online, I bought the whole deal. Sat back, listened to the first few cuts and said: "Oh, my god." Who else but Richard could appreciate, carefully select, and then gloriously reproduce music from the past ages? My teen daughter even smiled over the Brittany Spears cover. RT is all about integrity and respect for music -- even music we might not appreciate until he touches it!

I really enjoyed this DVD. I had seen Richard perform this show at Joe's Pub a couple of years ago and am going again to Nokia to catch it again. It's nice to see the show memorialized. Some of the bootleg DVDs are so poorly shot, I get dizzy and nauseated. I just don't understand why he's not a HUGE star. He's enormously talented. Amazing Guitarist. Phenomenal songwriter. Great on stage banterer. With or without band, he's an enormously entertaining man.

Along with his first LP, "Henry The Human Fly", which is an all-time favorite record of mine, this delicious collection is everything Thompson has come to represent.

He covers the last 1000 years with tasty examples of the some of the best music of all time. "Night And Day", "Blackleg Miner", "John Henry" (the last two were collected songs recorded by Steeleye Span), "Java Jive", "there Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Beast", and oh God! The Kinks' "See My Friends" and The Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind" are just plain wonderful.

On top of it all, Thompson takes the tacky Brittany Spears' "Oops!...I Did It Again" and stipped it down to what is really a clever little pop song. Lyrically, it's not unlike the kind of song that Thompson has written time and time again....cynical and with a sardonic wit.

Absolutely essential set to own.

I couldn't believe when my local public radio station played one of the Richard Thompson covers from cd2. I had to call to ask which of his CD's featured the song and thus learned about this set of 1000 years of popular music. Some of the songs on the first CD are renaissance-type songs, but CD2 includes recognizable covers. Any fans of Richard Thompson's strong guitar skills and his rich voice will love it. You'll surprise your friends when you throw some of these tunes into your party music mix.

When Richard Thompson was asked to list the most significant songs of the last 1000 years no one expected this delightful romp through music history. The songs on this set and the imaginative DVD are an entertaining trip through the past and done with Richard's dry sense of humor. If your looking for your typical Richard Thompson music you will not find it here, but you will be entertained ( and slightly educated if you are not careful).

This is about the best DvD of the dead you can own, only 2nd to the third disc of the remastered and re-released Grateful Dead Movie. If you enjoy the Dead, or just incredible improvisational rock n' roll, get this while you still can. I'm sorry to see it out of print and beginning to get more costly to pick up

I have nothing original to add to the glowing reviews of this DVD. It is excellent.

But isn't Donna absolutely Gorgeous?

I'm no expert on the Dead, but this is one of the best concert DVDs that I've seen. It has a great atmosphere, the band all look as if they are enjoying playing, and they play really well. The version of Fire On The Mountain is wonderful, as is Terrapin & Playing in the Band.

By the way, I'd like to thank all the reviewers for their reviews of this and other Dead DVDs. The vast majority who gave this DVD five stars were absolutely right!

The last year or two, i've discovered this and the led zep concert dvd from knebworth. both of which seem like they are new videos although shot close to thirty years ago. both have modern sounding sound, both sound like they were released yesterday to my eyes and ears, it was a magical time, people were healthy, they were happy, they were hedonistic and hearty, they were still alive. a great time for all who are still here remembering and loving those moments captured in time. this is a must have dvd.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

Two people of equal intelligence look at a painting and one sees a masterpiece and the other a waste of wall space. Over the years many did not exactly have the greatest admiration for Winterland as a venue. Marty Balin told me during the interview for "Take Me To A Circus Tent" that Winterland was his all-time favorite place to perform!

There was a certain charm in some of the concert halls of the 60's and 70's that no longer exist except for the endless memories.

This is a wonderful document with the Grateful Dead giving the time capsule terrific footage for the eyes of the world.

The quality is much better than numerous people had suspected and a farewell should have some classic moments. "Dark Star" and "St. Stephen" were performed to the delight of the sell out audience.

"It's All Over Now" (How appropriate) and "Stagger Lee" are only two more examples of the classics that left the audience salivating for more.

Today we take the tools that make up our world for granted DVD Players/Recorders/Personal Computers/Cellular Phones to name a few but it wasn't all that long ago that getting quality video footage of a great band wasn't as easy as finding the "Big River."

I have to ask Marty Balin if he were there for the final notes of the last show. If not I can tell him where to see his favorite venue one last time.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

country/rock/folk, whatever. this is such a fantastic recording. not a dud song in the lot. great singing, great songs. i call this an american classic.

No doubt this is the coming together of two brilliant musicians at a moment in time which has produced the most brilliant album which has clearly started a movement. Every song is brilliant. Sensational buy this before any other alt country album its the best

This is a fine roots album if ever there was one. Before Wilco, before Son Volt, there was Uncle Tupelo. And of all the Uncle Tupelo discs, this, in my mind, stands supreme. The songs alternate vocals between Jeff Tweedy and Jar Farrar. Farrar, in his preacher's baritone, tends to sing more politically oriented songs, songs of the early twentieth century, socialist songs focusing on coal miners unionizing or the ills of capitalism on the small man. Farrar's version of Moonshiner is like a priceless relic suspended in amber. Tweedy (his voice sounds younger and more contemporary than Farrar) also tackles some good old Americana in "I wish my Baby was Born" and "Satan, Your Kingdom must Come Down." Overall Tweedy leans more toward the personal and emotional while Farrar seems more comfortable with traditional ballads. Most of the songs are traditional tunes - folk songs, blues songs, spirituals. The guitar work is strong, with both men playing acoustic to fill out the sound. On some songs there are mandolin and violin - but it's really an acoustic guitar driven record. The band does a superb job of capturing the timelessness of the older music, and does well to blend their tunes with such a venerable canon. This is folk music as it was meant to be - raw, intense, masculine, topical. There is nothing cheesy on this record - and "Atomic Power" is probably the standout cut on the disc. Buy this music - you won't be disappointed - I guarantee!

If you are looking for one of the best Alt Country / Americana (whatever those are) CDs ever created this is it. Look no further. These guys were the masters of it. With so much crap on the radio, its nice to look back in time and find some real gems if you are willing to branch out and spend some $$. This album will lead you to buy CDs from Son Volt, Wilco, and Jay solo. A must for the critical music lover.

The other three Uncle Tupelo albums each have some good songs, but don't really hold together that well as records. "March" does, beautifully. Recording at a crossroads in music history when underground bands were getting mainstream radio airplay, Uncle Tupelo's popularity might have exploded if they had stayed where they were for "Still Feel Gone." This is one case, however, where you'd rather not think about the might-have-beens, as this album, all acoustic and roughly half traditional folk covers, is one of the rare albums that nearly defines "rocking." Tweedy is at his finest with the simple, sadly meditative "Black Eye," and Farrar contributes "Criminals," a song with a social conscience that manages to not seem dated. The folk songs are all beautiful, and the instrumental "Sandusky" is flawlessly executed. Though recorded in the short span of time noted in the album title with only acoustic instruments, this album manages at once to be timeless and to be eminently of its own time.

Live at Massey Hall 1971 being a concert at the Massey Hall from 1971 and is the second release in Youngs Archives Performance Series and was released 2007. The album was met with great reviews and Allmusic, Rolling Stone and Okayplayer gave the album 4 out of 5 or more. The sound quality is crisp and one gets the feeling that one is there listening to it in person. 4/5.

This is one of my favorite albums ever. Neil performs solo on an acoustic guitar and piano, and for me, I enjoy seeing his amazing musical talent sparkle without any extra instruments to interrupt him. It's a simply stunning album that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys good music.

if you've ever had any interest in Neil and his music, you must have this historically important recording. Listening to the album for the first time, my wife said "can you believe he wrote all these great songs before he was 25?". The recording quality is excellent, especially for 1971, Neil's performance is stellar and the songs stand the test of time. What more can you ask?

If you like acoustic young, this is the disc to get. Sound quality is impressive especially considering it was recorded in 71. To have been there as he introduced some of these songs would have been an amazing experience.

For those of us who never saw Buffalo Springfield or early Neil Young, this cd is welcome.
I have been a long time fan and love to hear Neil Young in what I call his acoustic mode.
This is also the period of Neil Youngs' career I enjoy the most.
This is a record of Neil that has long been lost in a vault or on some shelf somewhere. Among my favorites on this album are Dont let it bring you down, Helpless, Ohio and an excellent acoustic version of Down by the River. I am glad Neil is releasing old concerts from the 70's for us.
I hope this is just the start of a whole series...............