Search - Various Artists :: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

I was there

Eric H. Leland | 09/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Made the 9 hour drive to be at this show. The whole thing was on HBO as well. Too much is missing from this CD set. The show was over 6 hours long and many of the best artists are not featured here at all."

Short shrift given to many

Jersey Kid | Katy, Texas, America! | 12/01/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This review is not about the selection process (which I do not favor); it is not about who has been inducted and who has not (good grief, we all have disagreements there), nor is it about why the RnRHoF+M is in Cleveland (two leading answers...Allan Freed and offering more money than NY or LA).



It is about the music contained on the two CDs.



First, the quality of the recordings is excellent as are the great majority of the performances. Jerry lee Lewis' turn is absolutely timeless; it could have been recorded at anytime in his career. The same can be said for the - to my mind - utterly marvelous sequence of Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Soul Asylum showing just how each generation is chronologically linked.



At the other end of the spectrum, Johnny Cash's performance was flat and off-key, while John Fogerty seemed to be going through the motions.



Second, the choice of performances to be included was odd to say the least. Where, for example, was the British Invasion??? Eric Burdon was there as was the original Kinks. Did we hear either? We did not even get to hear the really well-done acoustic tribute to The Beatles and John Lennon from Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. And where were Chuck Berry and Little Richard? I could go on, but let's just say that I had to wonder if a) there were financial problems in gaining publisher or performer permissions; b) if some folks hated their performances or c) Mr. Wenner et al were already embarked on their biased revisionist approach to the history of rock `n' roll. Put simply a lot of good music that arguably was more pertinent to the story of rock - like Motown - seems to have been omitted or passed over.



Anyway...a two rating.

"

Nice compilation!

Funky Judge | Philly area, USA | 03/01/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In general, I like this live 2-CD set celebrating the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I also agree with other reviewers that disc #1 is the better of the two discs, highlighted by the Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and P-Funk/Larry Graham selections. The CD could hve used more Aretha Franklin, in my opinion, if more tracks were available."