I figure that you all have pretty much had it with my opinion on music so now you will be subjected to the next best thing, my opinion on concert movies.
Sure, I did something like this a while ago but I just got done watching “Fortunate Son” on Netflix and it triggered the urge to write on concert movies. Again, it’s my column and I will write about what I want to.
Back to the movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, find it and watch it. Creedence Clearwater Revival at the time were the second biggest band in the World behind the Beatles and this is a film of their concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I can’t really describe how good this concert film is. It is unusual in the fact that the first third of the film is a generic history of the band with some snippets of performances prior to this show and then for the last 70 minutes or so, it is their concert. Nothing else. No triple screen nonsense (woodstock) or breaks to talk about songs or relationships (The Last Waltz). It is the band’s show from beginning to the end. No encore. No cuts, no breaks. Simple. Every concert film should look like this.
I am pretty sure I brought this concert film up the last time but it is worthy of repeating. “The Summer of Soul” was not just one concert, it was a series of concert held in 1969 in Harlem and Manhattan. The film was reprised by Questlove of The Roots and it is one of those rare concert films you would wish lasted much, much longer. The performances are raw and the energy of the crowds is amazing. It was labelled “The Black Woodstock” and I can see why to some extent but the reality is that this film is better simply because, again there are no tricks, just great interviews and the performances. Honestly, I can’t ever remember seeing Nina Simone on any TV show or any film and she knocked everyone out.
“Wattstax”, Similar artists but a totally different vibe. The film was a sort of memorial to commemorate the riots in the Watts section of Los Angeles. The performances are great but the filmmaking is a little weak. Still though there are some incredible performances by Isaac Hayes and Carla Thomas. Not for everyone but it definitely is worth a viewing just to get a sense of Stax records artist list in the 60’s and 70’s.
The TAMI show is a sort of concert film but it isn’t. Released in 1964, it might be considered the grandfather of concert films. The list of performers on this concert film/TVshow is impressive. Hey this is where the Rolling Stones were afraid to go on after James Brown blew the house away. They were afraid they couldn’t follow the Godfather of Soul. It’s also, the place where Mick Jagger learned to dance like Soul Brother number 1. It is slapdash and some of it is unwatchable but I think it’s worth watching because of the historical significance of what the producers were trying to do.
Speaking of the Rolling Stones, “Ladies and Gentlemen. The Rolling Stones” is in my opinion, the best concert film of the band. Filmed in 1972 in Texas, it is as real and it is raw as you will get with the band. The production and the performances are excellent and if ever there was a film to give you a perfect example of the Stones live, this is it. Forget the 10 million dollar stage productions, this is the Stones at their best.
Once again, I will recommend “Stop Making Sense” by The Talking Heads. Please forget that David Byrne is an oddball and that every member of the band either hates him or each other. This band could definitely do their own version of Rumors. Yet, they play as tight as you will ever see. From the beginning, when Byrne walks out with a small box and does the sweetest version of “Pyscho Killer” you will ever hear. The first time I watched the movie I was mesmerized because it was a concert and it was also theater as well. The Talking Heads are sophisticated in lyrics and musical structure for sure. They have influences from all over the World and yet, they bring that music to an approachable level and this film is exactly that, very approachable. To see a band perform “Genius of Love” in the middle of their greatest hits set list was risky but it works. This is a concert film unlike any other for sure.
I am going to include “Sign of The Times” by Prince on this list only because its a really good concert film and I did see Prince at MSG several years ago and he was every bit as good live as this film shows. I realize he is not everyone’s cup of tea but as a musician, there are few as talented. As a performer, he was incredible. What triggered me to watch this movie was something Prince did at The Grammy’s years ago. He opened the show with “Sign o The Times” and the audience was speechless. You can not find that performance anywhere for some reason so when this movie came out, it opened with “Sign o The Times”, hence, I had to buy the DVD. The movie bombed and it was a critical mess but who cares, Prince whaling on that purple looking guitar is worth the $39.99 I plunked down.
The TAMI show is awesome, and yes, James Brown blew the roof off.
Check out "Dance Craze" to see concert footage of the ska revival in the UK in the late 70s/early 80s.