Paul McCartney - Live at the Cavern Club (2001)

The concert includes 13 songs. Notable musicians accompanying him are Pink Floyd's David Gilmour on guitar, and Deep Purple's Ian Paice on drums. These guys put their all into these performances, you won't find McCartney rocking out with more abandon in any of his other concert releases. Unlike the "Get Back"(1990) and "Paul is Live"(1993) documents of his world tours, this is not a slick polished presentation-- it's raw, old-fashioned rock'n'roll.

While the concert itself runs only 46 minutes, a couple worthwhile extra features have been included. Most notable, a 22 minute featurette that documents the making of the "Run Devil Run" album, with Paul explaining how the songs were chosen for the album (this includes some in-the-studio footage from the recording sessions). There is also an entertaining 17 minute interview with Paul giving song-by-song commentary on the songs chosen to be performed in the concert. Also included are music videos for two songs from "Run Devil Run". These videos are actually pretty interesting and worth seeing, definitely different from other McCartney music videos. All together, there is a little over 90 minutes on this DVD if you watch everything-- worth the money in my opinion.

Even if you've seen this concert when it was recently broadcast on PBS, you really should pick this up. The picture is crystal clear and the sound is awesome.

"Live at the Cavern Club" was the live "end of the millenium" concert that Sir Paul and friends (including Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Ian Paice (Deep Purple)put on at the "new" Cavern Club at the end of 1999. This has long been rumored for DVD release for at least a year now, and with the new "Wingspan" documentary Paul must think the time is right for the release now.

The concert consists almost entirely of songs from the then new "Run Devil Run" rock oldies album. If you like this album and/or want to see a legendary figure perform in the place that started it all, than this DVD will be for you. However, besides a nod to the Beatles with "I Saw Her Standing There" at the end of the concert, there are no other Beatles/Wings or Solo songs in the show. If you want that check out the other new DVD Release of Paul's "Flowers in the Dirt" "Get Back Tour Live" DVD which is being released at around the same time.

All in all, a very spirited performance by a rock legend who seems to be really enjoying himself and a chance for us to enjoy it now on DVD as well.

First, a 22 minute interview where you learn more than you ever could via the usual celebrity interviews, with their same old questions (Yes, we know that "Yesterday" came in a dream...)

Next, a 22 minute "making of" documentary much in the same style as his previous "compilation" documentaries, "The World Tonight", "Movin' On" and others. This one's chock full of great studio footage and personal anecdotes, and isn't even listed on the DVD package as one of the extras.

Then, there's the two complete videos made to promote "No Other Baby" and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" - an especially welcome addition for the American fans (and I imagine others) who never get to see these things uncut, and in quality, if at all. (One hopes Paul will see fit to include the relevant videos on any future re-issues of his older documentaries, to DVD.)

And then there's the concert itself - a wonderful, intimate concert (300 in attendance, in person) - wonderfully recorded, and wonderfully transferred to the DVD.

All in all, there's absolutely nothing which would make this better - a complete, interesting coverage of the "Run Devil Run" album and the Cavern Club concert, with great classic rock'n'roll to spare.