The Rock 'n Roll Revue & The Rhythm and Blues Revue: Filmmakers Joseph Kohn and Leonard Reed present legendary greats from the golden era of Rock 'n Roll and Rhythm & Blues in these two feature revues. Willie Bryant hosts these timeless historic variety shows of Rock 'n Roll and Rhythm & Blues music and vocal performances along with comedy and dance routines, recorded live at the Apollo Theater in 1955. The shows feature such acclaimed popular artists as Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, the Clovers, Big Joe Turner, The Delta Rhythm Boys, Martha Davis, and Ruth Brown. This double DVD compilation offers a rare insight into the changing musicals styles from big band and jazz to the emerging era of Rock 'n Roll, Doo-Wop, and R&B. The many standout performances include Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll," Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher," Amos Milburn's "Bad, Bad Whiskey," The Clovers' "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash," Larry Darnell's "Better Be On My Way," Delta Rhythm Boys' "Dry Bones," and Lionel Hampton's "Jam Session." Rock, Rock, Rock! A teenage Tuesday Weld, using Connie Francis' vocals, sets the tone for this 1956 musical feature film. This movie is a must-see for any fan of the early days of Rock 'n Roll, showcasing incredible musical performances by greats such as The Moonglows, Chuck Berry, The Flamingos, Lavern Baker, The Johnny Burnett Trio, and Frankie Lymon. Featuring rock promoter Alan Freed, Rock, Rock, Rock! Is a step back in time for all to enjoy the timeless magic of where it all began... before the new rock styles of the 1960's would explode and change music forever.
J**L
The great artist of early Blues and Jazz.
Great dvd of a time long ago when the roots of the Blues were written in Rock-n-Roll history and the artist that made it.
A**R
The First DVD is Great from Start to End
The First DVD is Great from Start to End, but the 2dn-One is not what I expected at All and the Picture Quality is Very Poor!
A**R
Super DVD
It was great to watch the famous bands & people perform on stage. Great quality.
W**T
worth buying if you are in to R&R nostalgia
A good purchase for the price/nice historical value
S**E
Thank you
Ok
A**K
For Rock 'n' Roll fans a must !
2 very good shows + 1 R'n'R film - it's a good product für a rock 'n' roll fan. There should be done more in this way.
A**S
Way out, Daddy O!
A MUST HAVE time capsule for every music aficionado. In a way, it's a historic re-revelation of a fundamental turning point of music transition and pop culture of America, and the world. Watching this now and looking back, it's sheer brilliance. It encapsulates so many of the shifting social norms, cultural changes, race relations, and the impact music had on it all.Disc 1 - ROCK N ROLL REVUE & RHYTHM AND BLUES REVIEWThis is pure gold. Magnificent! It's like sitting in a theater watching a vaudevillian live production from the Apollo with classic comedy bits, tap dancing, and a whole lot of Rockin' Rhythm. There's swing, jazz, dixieland, rock n roll, rhythm & blues. Seeing Cab Calloway perform Minnie The Moocher (Hi De Ho) with only a 4 piece band is pure magic. Let me repeat that. It's Cab, and only 4 other cats. No big band. It's live. And he brings it d-o-w-n! You just gotta see it. Lionel Hampton on percussion (no, not vibes) is on fire during a performance of a wildly complex and intricate swinging number with his big band. Just, awesome. Nat “King” Cole drops a calypso vibe with nothing but his voice and a hipster dude playing bongos. Far-out man. You'll even see Count Basie's drummer, Louie Bellson, do a drum solo that's pure technical expertise of rudiments, paradiddles, triplets, all with a flipping wrist style. BUT THEN...his drum solo shifts and turns with a pounding beat into what may very well be the first “arena rock” style drum solo ever performed. It's a complete drumming mash-up of eras. Insane!Disc 2 - ROCK, ROCK, ROCKI'm not going to go into to much about the story line other than to say that, yes... This pre-MTV expose' to a time way-back-when actually does have a story line. If you have children with a curiosity for retro pop-culture and mid-century musical influences, this is an investment that will be heirloom material. It's a cavalcade of corn and camp. And it's coooool, man!Seriously; This DVD collection, it's all about the music. And there's a lot. Check the sellers “Editorial Reviews” description for a list of all the greats performing on this set. Just to see Alan Freed (the ol' Moondog) actually conducting a Rock N Roll orchestra....And SINGING, is worth the price of the set. Yep, he sings. Absolutely classic.The FILMCHEST DVD rip:Here you actually get a lot of bang for the buck. Both discs total 228 minutes. Don't be discouraged when you pop in either of the DVDs and the initial footage looks rough. All vintage "newly discovered" source film (no matter the condition) is going to have more initial wear at the very beginning because these are films. Sourced, discovered, or acquired. The key here is to find and select the very best source (or, master) that you can, and then go through a resto process to see if it's worthy of a reboot and mass production. FILMCHEST found such a sourced "master" worthy of duplication. In this particular case, just give the DVD a few moments. Get past the most volatile part of the film (the initial few moments of footage where the reels were loaded and spun over and over) and then you will be pleasantly surprised. To be clear, this is not remastered in HD...per-say. But this FILMCHEST DVD printing is impressive. It has gone through a restoration process because you just don't see vintage footage like this that looks this good. If you buy an old flick recently dropped on the DVD / Blu-Ray market, some can pass the eye test on a small screen. But the question is; Will this look good on a big TV? Blemishes are more magnified on larger screens. This DVD looks excellent on a 55" LCD. But remember, this is in it's original 4x5 aspect ratio, not 16x9. Make sure your TV setting is for "native", and not stretched. Haven't tried it on the projector 12' system yet. But the contrast is excellent and the clarity is sharp. Scratches, smudges, squigglies, etc., are almost none existent.In my opinion, this DVD should be protocol for each and every middle & high school musical department. Teachers...Get this video and show your class. Turn it into a 3 day event and a learning experience that will have staying power with the kids. I guarantee it. Any family that appreciates and values music while still looking for an entertaining and humorous way of delivering a message that impassions learning and appreciation for stage, theatrics, and of course music, it's a must. Fans of, or up and coming comedians? The comedy here is priceless from a learning perspective. Oh yeah. Last but not least; You music buffs, it's a given. Rock, blues, classical, jazz, swing, pop, standards, world beat....Each and every one of us will dig this vid. It's here on this FILMCHEST DVD...In pristine and glorious Black & White.
A**R
Four Stars
WAS A GIFT FOR A MUSIC TEACHER. RECIPIENT WAS VERY ENTHUSED!
