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LIVE AT WOODSTOCK
JIMI HENDRIX
Universal Music
All you need to hear are three words: Hendrix at Woodstock. Yeah, we all remember the amped, feedback-laden reinterpretation of the "Star Spangled Banner" that was featured in the Woodstock film. And there have been other truncated versions of the man's appearance at that iconic event. This is the 2-CD set of Hendrix's complete performance at the festival. The first disc is the high-quality footage from the official documentarians. The second disc, "A Second Look," is the same concert from a different angle, and in black-and-white, filmed by a guy who snuck onto the stage and set up his camera. The best thing about the second disc is that it contains the only known filmed version of Hendrix's fiery rendition of "Hear My Train A Comin'." He was backed by Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, old army buddy Billy Cox on bass, plus rhythm guitarist Larry Lee and two percussionists, Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez.
Specials: Interviews with Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell, Juma Sultan and others. Second disc includes a Harlem press conference and engineer Eddie Kramer reminiscing about manning the soundboards through the chaos of Woodstock. (www.jimihendrix.com) Rating: ****
Soul Seduction Supreme
BOBBY WOMACK
Cherry Red Films
Singer/songwriter Bobby Womack has been dubbed a "Soul Forrest Gump" due to his legendary career: teen member of doo-wop group the Valentinos, mentee of the late Sam Cooke, rebound husband of Cooke's widow, prime collaborator on Sly Stone's seminal LP There's A Riot Goin' On, composer of cult favorite soundtrack Across 110th Street (1972), and the (misogynistic) Quiet Storm perennial "If You Think You're Lonely Now." Outside of the rock-snob dictionary, many might not be aware that Womack authored the Rolling Stones' first UK No. 1 single, "It's All Over Now" (mercifully included here), and that he's also a great guitarist and fine interpreter of a diverse range of pop material, from Sinatra to Neil Diamond and the Mamas & the Papas. Before London's Town & Country club crowd, this late-80s footage shows the self-claimed "Poet" entertaining with some covers and a slew of his earlier tunes, including 1962's "Looking For a Love" and a showstopper version of the country-soul paean to Womack's murdered brother, "Harry Hippie." But the quality of the film is bad, so don't expect MTV-style movement.
Specials: None, but the between-song offstage insight into the hardships of a touring musician would be priceless for today's wannabe rock stars. (www.cherryred.co.uk) Rating: ** 1/2
THE ANGER MANAGEMENT TOUR
Eminem
Aftermath Records
Let's get one thing straight: With the right marketing blitz, a cat making armpit noises can be turned into a rock or rap hero. File Eminem under "marketing success." The shady character from Detroit has never stirred much originality, but has managed plenty of controversy to fuel da hype. But raggin' on your mama or ex-wife is an easy way out of the real deal. To his credit, Em stirs up a couple of funky booty shakers in this concert recorded in his hometown. After that, he might as well call it "The Moola Management Tour."
Specials: Backstage banter, long walks under the arena to the stage and freestyle, courtesy of his back up rhymin' posse. (www.aftermathmusic.com) Rating: **
LIVE AT THE FILlMORE
Ozomatli
Concord Records
LA's Ozomatli are completely unpretentious, able to leap into the audience for an impromptu jam session and mix Latino genres with hip-hop, world music and jazz. Ozomatli ooze music out of every pore with soulful abandon, whether making party songs or singing introspective tunes like "(Who Discovered) America." The activist group knows how to become one with the audience. Live at the Fillmore is a CD/DVD combo featuring tracks from their Grammy-winning Street Signs album as well as other Ozo classics. The DVD looks great and features extra songs not on the CD.
Specials: Hangin' on the bus, mingling with the audience, an acoustic performance for a morning radio show and a photo gallery. (www.concordrecords.com) Rating: ****
THE GREATER WRONG OF THE RIGHT
Skinny Puppy
SPV
Canada's Skinny Puppy helped birth the industrial music revolution that later influenced Nine Inch Nails and others. Their abrasive mix of loops, programming, buzzsaw guitars and percussion is danceable, but can also sub as soundtracks for horror or sci-fi flicks. This DVD features tech-savvy footage of concerts recorded in Toronto and Montreal in 2004, with politically-charged images shown on a screen and bloody theatrics courtesy of frontman Ogre.
Specials: A blistering antiwar segment called "Information Warfare" plus archival footage of "Too Dark Park," "Last Rights" and a 1986 European tour. (www.skinnypuppy.com) Rating: ****
BORN TO BOOGIE
Marc Bolan and T. Rex
Sanctuary
Born to Boogie is a CD/DVD combo that highlights the Ringo Starr-directed film from 1972 and a full-length T. Rex concert from the same year. In the live setting, Bolan peels off the ambient textures of his studio recordings and cuts loose with a primal rock & roll show. Both Starr and Elton John offer their musical touches to the film. Bolan was a multi-faceted musician and yet another bona fide rock star that died too young. The film itself is sometimes surreal to the point of silliness, but the music still stands up.