Product Details

• Actors: Gary Busey, Chuck Berry, Pat Boone, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles
• Directors: Andrew Solt, Bud Friedgen, Obie Benz, Ted Haimes
• Writers: Andrew Solt, Bud Friedgen, Obie Benz, Ted Haimes
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Time-Life Video
• DVD Release Date: June 29, 2004
• Run Time: 578 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002234XQ
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,539 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Artists > Hendrix, Jimi

• For more information about "The History of Rock and Roll" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

Product Description

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!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS REVIEW!!!, August 23, 2004

By	dR nAgUaL (Taipei, TAIWAN) - See all my reviews

Incredibly entertaining; especially for anyone who has lived through the times talked about. Many, many of the songs ARE full-length versions, albeit with commentary provided over the top. But, after all, it is a documentary and not a CD set. I watched it about three times already and have included here what I would have liked to have known, mainly what songs and artists are covered, in essentially the order they're presented in. I may have missed a few, but what follows is 99% correct:

Episode One: Rock `n' Roll Explodes
* With or Without You - U2
* Wild Think - Jimi Hendrix
* Money Honey - Elvis Presley
* Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
* Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
* Shut `Em Down - Public Enemy
* I Just Want to Make Love to You - the Rolling Stones
* Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters
* Hey, Good Looking - Hank Williams Sr.
* That'll be the Day - Buddy Holly
* Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown
* Caldonia - Louis Jordon & the Tympani 5
* Shake, Rattle & Roll - Big Joe Turner
* I Got a Woman - Ray Charles
* Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
* Blue Monday - Fats Domino
* Maybellene - Chuck Berry
* Reddy Teddy - Little Richard
* Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
* Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & the Comets

Episode Two: Good Rockin' Tonight
* Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
* Lucille - Little Richard
* How Much is that Doggy in the Window - Patti Page
* Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
* Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
* Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
* Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On - Jerry Lee Lewis
* Oh, Boy! - Buddy Holly & the Crickets
* Bye Bye Love - the Everly Brothers
* Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) - Roy Orbison
* At the Hop - Danny and the Juniors
* Words of Love - Buddy Holly
* Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka
* You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling - the Righteous Brothers
* Be My Baby - The Ronettes
* Searchin' - the Coasters
* Stand By Me - Ben E. King
* The Twist - Chubby Checker

Episode Three: Britain Invades, America Fights Back
* Twist and Shout - the Beatles
* I Get Around - the Beach Boys
* The Way You Do the Things You Do - the Temptations
* Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying - Gerry & the Pacemakers
* House of the Rising Sun - the Animals
* Needles and Pins - the Searchers
* Around and Around - the Rolling Stones
* Satisfaction - the Rolling Stones
* I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits
* A World Without Love - Peter and Gordon
* You Really Got Me - the Kinks
* As Tears Go By - Marianne Faithful
* You Can't Hurry Love - the Supremes
* Do You Believe In Magic? - The Lovin' Spoonful
* Good Lovin' - the Young Rascals
* Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
* Creeque Alley - Mama and Papas
* Can't Explain - the Who
* Carrie-Anne - the Hollies
* Keep on Running - the Spencer Davis Group (featuring Steve Winwood)
* Paint It Black - the Rolling Stones

Episode Four: The Sounds of Soul
* Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
* Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles/Michael Bolton
* Papas Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown
* You Send Me - Sam Cooke
* Baby Workout - Jackie Wilson
* What'd I Say - Ray Charles
* In the Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
* I've Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now) - Otis Redding
* Dr. Feelgood - Aretha Franklin
* I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & the Pips
* Love is Like a Heatwave - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
* I Can't Help Myself - the Four Tops
* Ooo Baby Baby - the Miracles
* Come See About Me - the Supremes
* My Girl - the Temptations
* Choice of Colors - Curtis Mayfield
* Say It Loud, I'm Black & I'm Proud - James Brown
* A House is not a Home - Luther Vandross
* Ain't that Peculiar - Marvin Gaye
* I Want You Back - the Jackson 5
* For the Love of Money - O'Jays

Episode Five: Plugging In
* On the Road Again - Bob Dylan
* It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bob Dylan
* Talkin' New York - Bob Dylan
* Mojo Hand - Sam "Lightenin'" Hopkins
* I Ain't Marchin' Anymore - Phil Ochs
* Handsome Johnny - Richie Havens
* Blowin' In the Wind - Peter, Paul & Mary
* All My Trials - Joan Baez
* The Times They Are a-Changin' - Bob Dylan
* I'll Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms - the Monroe Brothers (?)
* Maggie's Farm - Bob Dylan
* Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
* My Back Pages - Bob Dylan
* Mr. Tambourine Man - the Byrds
* California Dreamin' - the Mamas & Papas
* Surfer Girl - the Beach Boys
* God Only Knows - the Beach Boys
* Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
* Paint It Black - the Animals
* Ball & Chain - Janis Joplin

Episode Six: My Generation
* Somebody to Love - Jefferson Airplane
* Tell Mama - Janis Joplin
* China Cat Sunflowers - the Grateful Dead
* Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
* When the Music's Over - the Doors
* Up on Cripple Creek - the Band
* Street Fighting Man - the Rolling Stones
* I Feel Free - Cream
* Baba O'Riley - the Who
* Handsome Johnny - Richie Havens
* Fixin' to Die Rag - Country Joe and the Fish
* Soul Sacrifice - Santana
* Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
* Down By the River - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
* Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
* Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
* Touch of Grey - the Grateful Dead

Episode Seven: Guitar Heroes
* Black Magic Woman - Santana
* Eruption - Van Halen
* Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
* Won't Get Fooled Again - the Who
* Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis
* Hello, Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson
* Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
* Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
* Sweet Sixteen - B.B. King
* The Last Time - the Rolling Stones
* Train Keep A Rollin' - the Yardbirds
* Layla - Derek and the Dominos
* Dazed and Confused - Led Zepplin
* Sunshine of Your Love - Cream
* Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
* Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns & Roses
* Bullet the Blue Sky - U2

Episode Eight: The 70's: Have a Nice Decade
* Bennie & the Jets - Elton John
* Reeling in the Years - Steely Dan
* How Many More Times - Led Zepplin
* Paranoid - Black Sabbath
* Whipping Post - Allman Brothers
* Do That Stuff - Parliament/Funkadelic
* Get Up Stand - Bob Marley
* I Want to Take You Higher - Sly and the Family Stone
* Superstition - Stevie Wonder
* Brain Damage - Pink Floyd
* Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
* Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
* Rock and Roll All Night - Kiss
* School's Out - Alice Cooper
* Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
* Fame - David Bowie
* Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
* Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
* Do You Feel Like We Do - Peter Frampton
* Y.M.C.A. - the Village People
* Refugee - Tom Petty
* Quarter to Three - Bruce Springsteen

* Episode Nine: Punk
* Anarchy in the U.K. - the Sex Pistols
* The Passenger - Iggy Pop
* Sweet Jane - the Velvet Underground
* Back in the U.S.A. - the New York Dolls
* Blank Generation - the Heartbreakers
* Rockaway Beach - the Ramones
* Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
* Gloria - Patti Smith Group
* Garageland - the Clash
* Go There Natty - U-Roy
* Alison - Elvis Costello
* God Save the Queen - the Sex Pistols
* No Fun - the Sex Pistols
* Johnny Hit and Run Pauline - X
* Radio Radio - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
* Jackson, Monk and Rowe - Elvis Costello
* London Calling - the Clash
* Message of Love - the Pretenders
* I Will Follow - U2
* Every Breath You Take - the Police
* Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
* Basket Case - Green Day

Episode Ten: Up From Underground
* Whip It - Devo
* Our Lips are Sealed - the GoGos
* Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? - Culture Club
* The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
* The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
* Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
* Rock Box - Run-D.M.C.
* Walk this Way - Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith
* Fight the Power - Public Enemy
* Sabotage - Beastie Boys
* Justify My Love - Madonna
* Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
* Money for Nothing - Dire Straits with Sting
* Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers
* Express Yourself - N.W.A.
* Escape from the Killing Fields - Ice-T
* My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen
* Let's Talk About Sex - Salt 'n' Pepa
* Even Better Than the Real Thing - U2
* Long View - Green Day
* Radio Song - R.E.M. with Krs-One
* Rumblefish - the Goats

135 of 147 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This may not be what you think, June 15, 2004

By	M. Gilkey - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you want this because you think you enjoyed it on PBS, it's important to know that PBS has broadcast at least two similarly-named 10-hour series on the topic of rock music history. One, titled "Rock and Roll" by "The Experience Project", as I recall, is a little "deeper" and I gained some appreciation of even topics in which I had little interest (e.g. punk rock). The other series, "The History Of Rock And Roll", by Time-Life (now Time-Warner), which is what you see here, is enjoyable but mostly shallow, and I was annoyed that the live performance clips are short (don't expect to see a complete song).

Both series were produced several years ago, and this series has no coverage of recent music.

If you could only afford one series, I would normally recommend "Rock And Roll", not this one. However, PBS seems to have a monopoly on "Rock And Roll", and last time I checked they would sell it only to educators, not the general public.

At $100 for 10 hours, this is not a great value. The price per hour is nearly 3 times the price of, for example, a year's worth of M*A*S*H episodes (24 episodes, each with 22 non-commercial minutes, for about $35).

Despite my criticisms, I did enjoy the series, and if you are
fortunate enough to be able to fit this into your budget, as I was, then I do recommend it.

94 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some material may not be suitable for younger viewers., February 1, 2001

By	David S. Merrill (Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The History of Rock 'n' Roll Gift Set [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I purchased this video series for my high school History of Rock and Roll class. I was thoroughly impressed by a majority of the material in this series.

Good points: Excellent footage of rock and roll heroes (Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Led Zepplin, etc.) as well as lesser known groups (The Hollies, Gerry and the Pacemakers, etc.). Outstanding interviews from artists and figures such as Hank Ballard, Carl Perkins, Ozzie Osborn, Dick Clark, Bono, Eddie Van Halen, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Little Richard, Mick Jaggar, Tom Petty, Lindsey Buckingham, and countless others. Footage of various historical events help put the music in perspective (civil rights, Vietnam, sexual revolution, etc.).

Bad Points: Some material may not be for younger audiences. Nearly all volumes (2 & 3 excluded) have some PG-13 language (including Pete Townsend's liberal use of the F-word). A couple of tapes (I'm thinking of volume 6 & 8 in particular) have some female nudity. Anyone thinking about letting a class view this should keep that in mind. Some movements in Rock and Roll are touched on too lightly: Soul, Motown and funk are kind of grouped together, Jazz Rock is barely mentioned, etc.

Final Verdict: Probably the best Rock and Roll series out there now. We need Ken Burns's take on this subject.