Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Runnin' Down A Dream (4-Disc Set) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)"I feel pretty blessed really right now, when I see it, that most of us made it through that maze that is growing up in rock 'n' roll," he says. "And I think we've matured in a way that we're maybe better now, you know, maybe better musicians, and enjoying our craft more than we ever have. So I'm very lucky." Tom Petty
I found this four hour anthology of Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers on Sundance Channel. I immediately notified my best friend, and we watched unbelievably spellbound. This story of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was directed by Peter Bogdanovich. He begins with the start of Tom Petty's life in Gainesville, Florida and ends with a 2006 commemoration concert of his thirtieth anniversary in music.
The entire story is told through home movies, television shows and rememberances in narrative form. Tom Petty does much of the narrative and this is his profession and musical life, after all. The list of friends, colleagues and those in the know who knew or played with Tom Petty is remarkable. It is a time line of the history of rock and music. Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynn along with Tom Petty join to form 'The Traveling Wilburys'. This remarkable group, to a one, votes this time in their lives as one of the most rewarding musical experiences. Stevie Nicks wants to join Tom Petty and his heartbreakers, but she is a woman and "this is a men's club" says Tom Petty. The sheer sense of Tom's persuasive personality in pursing his career in music is pure genius. Once he set down this path he never looked back. This was his life and what a life it has been.
This movie is about the music. There is some mention of marriage and Tom Petty's daughter is interviewed. Little personal information is shared. What we do have is the music and it is glorious. From "Breakdown", "American Girl" "Even the Losers", "I Won't Back Down", "Learning to Fly", "Into the Great Wide Open", "Refugee", "Straight Into Darkness, "Don't Do Me Like That", and on and on. A homage to Tom Petty and his career.
"Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down A Dream remarkably chronicles a prolific career that's yielded dozens of instantly recognizable songs and countless good times for all who've cared to listen. It's an indispensable documentary on one of America's most successful rock and roll bands, whose leader never backed down in aspiring to his ambition." Donald Gibson
This may be one of the best made rock documentaries. A must see for all of Tom Petty fans and for those who love great rock n' roll.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-17-07
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits
Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition)

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SynopsisRunnin' Down A Dream: Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersA Film by Peter Bogdanovich A 4 disc set, 3 DVDs with over 5 hours of video, 1 CD of rare and unreleased tracks2 DVD, four hour Director's cut of famed Peter Bogdanovich's Runnin' Down a DreamThis movie contains hours of never before seen footage and interviews with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers plus music from the storied rock band's entire career. The movie features interviews with George Harrison, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne, Rick Rubin, Johnny Depp, Jackson Browne and more. Also 1 DVD of the celebrated 30th Anniversary Concert in Heartbreaker hometown, Gainesville Florida Disc 1:Gainesville 2006ElvisWhat's In A NameMikeBenmontB.Y.O.F (Build Your Own Festival)Fast ForwardDealsA Broken BondRon & StanTom Petty and the HeartbreakersThirdFuelHowiePoetDisc 2:Bob DylanStrange CoincidencesScottThe Bottom LineSteveJohnRound TripRock & Roll HeavenRunnin' Down a Dream (End credits)One 30th Anniversary ConcertDisc 3:Listen To Her HeartMary Jane's Last DanceI Won't Back DownFree Fallin'Saving GraceI'm A ManOh WellHandle With CareStop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Stevie Nicks)I Need To Know (with Stevie Nicks)It's Good To Be KingDown SouthSouthern AccentsInsider (with Stevie Nicks)Learning To FlyDon't Come Around Here No MoreRunnin' Down A DreamYou Wreck MeMystic EyesAmerican GirlBonus Soundtrack CDDisc 4:BreakdownAnything That's Rock and RollFooled Again (I Don't Like It)American GirlShadow of A Doubt (A Complex Kid)Stories We Could TellKeeping Me AliveHoney BeeLost Highway

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Soundstage Presents: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Soundstage" DVD tracklisting:
- Part 1 -
Baby Please Don't Go
Crawlin Back To You
Handle With Care
I Won't Back Down
I'm Cryin'
Angel Dream
Melinda
Born In Chicago
Red Rooster
Carol
Refugee
- Part 2 -
Love Is A Long Road
You Don't Know How It Feels
Black Leather Woman
I Done Somebody Wrong
I Got A Woman
Thirteen Days
Wake Up Time
Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Lost Children
Two Men Talking
You Wreck Me
A good mix of hits and rarely heard music. "Two Men Talking" is a real gem of impromtu Jazz.

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The work of Tom Petty is a uniquely-American blend of popand rock that has paid handsome dividends for the star over the years.With his faithful band The Heartbreakers behind him, Petty lit up stagesacross the country, and became an unlikely early star of MTV with some innovative video work. Subsequent releases saw him justifiably included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside a stint in supergroup The Travelling Wilburys. SOUNDSTAGE presents a live concert from Petty and his band, with a number of their biggest hits getting a welcome airing.

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Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band: Live In Dublin (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Mix in hot jazz, a bit of gospel, blues, zydeco, bluegrass and country. Season with Bruce Springsteen and bake at high temperature in an Irish oven for what is perhaps the tastiest concert video of 2007.
This is not your anthemic, rock-til-you-drop, Born-in-the-USA Bruce. That energy is still there, but directed here into the American folk songbook, music written between mid 19th to mid 20th century and reflecting the concerns of the agrarian and working class, from the Oklahoma farmer of My Oklahoma Home, to the slave Old Dan Tucker, to African American dock workers of Pay Me My Money Down. This music was appropriated in the 1950's and 60's by politically active singer/songwriters such as Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan, and through them the music comes down to us in the 21st century through Springsteen.
Ten of the songs from the original 2006 Seeger Sessions disc are here, as are a handful of new numbers and songs from the extended Seeger Sessions release (How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live, When the Saints Go Marching In, This Little Light of Mine, American Land, Long Time Comin'), as well as new arrangements of some of Springsteen's less well-known songs (If I Should Fall Behind, Growing Up, Blinded By the Light, Atlantic City, and Highway Patrolman).
For long time fans the old songs in new-old clothes will be unrecognizable by the opening melody alone. It's not until Bruce starts singing that your mind begins racing to place that particular set of lyrics with a title. All of these newly outfitted tunes show some inventiveness, but the ones that worked best for me were If I Should Fall Behind and Highway Patrolman, quiet performances showcasing the lyrics, and Blinded By the Light, which like it's original rock incarnation is a wild, foot-stomping show closer.
In fact most of this show will have you tapping your feet and signing along. This is a joyous performance, and you can see that the musicians are enjoying themselves as much as the audience. If you have some room in front of your television, clear out that space and get ready to dance.
About the only downside to this release is that it's not a document of one evening, but a compilation of three. In itself that decision was not as critical as the one to delete all on stage banter, including song and band introductions, often one of the more enjoyable parts of any Springsteen show. The editing work is also noticeably poor at times with the action not in sync with the sound, presumably where the director chose to insert shots from nights other than those from which the sound was recorded.
Otherwise, this is a great DVD and watching it was the most fun I've had in front of the television in months.
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Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band Live in Dublin'features 23 songs drawn from the band's performances in Dublin, Ireland atThe Point on November 17, 18 and 19, 2006. Songs include fan favorites from'The Seeger Sessions,' radical interpretations from the Springsteensongbook and rare songs appearing for the first time on any Springsteenrelease.The DVD captures the band during the finale of its multi-leg 2006tour. The Word Magazine (UK) said of a concert on this tour, "I have never, makethat NEVER, seen a show better than the one mounted by Bruce Springsteenand his (Sessions) band."The Washington Post declared, "It was the bestlive show I've seen in at least five years.(And I've seen a few.)" Documented with nine cameras, the concert was filmed in High Definition(HD). Atlantic City Eyes On The Prize Jesse James Further On (Up The Road) O Mary Don't You Weep Erie Canal If I Should Fall Behind My Oklahoma Home Highway Patrolman Mrs. McGrath How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live (Bruce SpringsteenVersion) Jacob's Ladder Long Time Comin' Open All Night Pay Me My Money Down Growin' Up When The Saints Go Marching In This Little Light Of Mine American Land Blinded By The Light Special Feature: TWO BONUS TRACKS Love Of The Common People We Shall Overcome

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Concert for George (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)The concert event had the chance to be sappy and morose. Thank God, it isn't. Instead, it's a lot of George's friends covering his songs, having fun doing it, and otherwise doing what they've always been doing.
Summary: Great guests, superior musicianship. Buy This DVD. Now.
The show opens with a few words from Clapton, who introduces Ravi Shankar and his daughter. They play a fair amount of Indian music. It's pretty good, I have to admit, though not my cup of tea. One word - Ravi Shankar's daughter is quite the sitar player... She plays a piece and violates at least 2 rules of physics. Amazing.
Then the Western band forms up. They play a number of songs, with luminaries being introduces and added to the band over the course of the evening.
Highlights, in no particular order:
1) Ringo :-) During "Honey Don't" Look for Albert Lee. His solo is blistering though short.
2a) Clapton on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
2b) Clapton having the class to not play all the solos thereby making it the "Eric Clapton Show." Instead most of the real guitar work is being done by someone I don't know. I think it's Clapton's long-time guitarist. My son and I call him "THE Guy".
2c) Clapton in general
3) Watch Tom Petty's guitar player get OWNED by George on "Taxman". Tom does this song kinda weird, it's probably the weakest track.
4) Sam Brown. What a voice!
5) Waa Waa. Amazing.
6) Something by Paul, via uke.
7) Ravi's daughter and her sitar. Your eyebrows will fly up!
8) Dhani has George's spooky eyebrow thing going on.
9) Jeff Lynne is there, and takes an active part doing what he does best. Bob Dylan is notably absent.
Every track is worthwhile and many are superb. And while a lot of similar productions are muddy and horrid, this isn't. Eric is running the show, and keeps it moving and clean.
The only dings I give this production are
1) The "behind the scenes" footage is too sparse. I know there had to me more...
2) The band isn't introduced well enough. I expected a close up of every performer, with a hello, and a name. See 2b) above.

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Filmed on November 29, 2002 before a sold-out audience at Royal Albert Hall in London, "The Concert For George" is a beautifully filmed, joyous celebration of some of the most significant music of the 20th Century.Friends including Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Ravi & Anoushka Shankar, the cast of Monty Python and other artists who worked with George Harrison throughout his lifetime, present his music in a special concert to commemorate the first anniversary of his passing.This 2 DVD set includes the full 2 hour & 40 minute concert and the 1 hour 40 minute documentary filmed in high definition by David Leland ("Band Of Brothers") featuring concert footage and interviews with the artists about George's life and music.Documentary produced by Ray Cooper, Olivia Harrison and Jon Kamen.

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