TOP PICK
I’m Rick James: The Definitive DVD
(Hip-O/Motown/UMe)
The super freak himself stars in more than 25 videos and TV
appearances dating back to 1978. Best are pre-MTV appearances on
late-night programs like Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert and Dinah
Shore’s daytime chat show. The old-school music videos — for
“Give It to Me Baby,” “Super Freak” and other funk classics — are
pretty cool too.
CD
Ray Charles:
Genius — The Ultimate Collection
(Concord)
There are tons of Ray Charles anthologies out there. The latest
collects 21 songs from his long, storied career, spanning his ’50s
through ’70s output. That means there’s plenty of classics here,
including “I Got a Woman,” “What’d I Say” and “Georgia on My Mind.” A
box set (like the excellent Genius & Soul) offers more
history, but this hits-filled disc is a solid primer.
CD
Pearl Jam: Ten: Deluxe Edition
(Epic/Legacy)
Before they took on Ticketmaster and started making records nobody
listened to, these Seattle rock giants ruled the world. Four reissued
versions of their still-powerful debut are available; go for this
three-disc set, which includes the original 1991 album, a new remix and
a DVD featuring the band’s explosive 1992 MTV Unplugged performance. “Alive,” indeed.
VIDEO
The Princess Bride
(MGM)
Rob Reiner’s fractured fairy tale from 1987 tweaks the genre the
same way his Spinal Tap
messed with rock ‘n’ roll movie conventions. This new Blu-ray
release celebrates the film’s splendid set pieces, highlighting the
colorful tale of a prince, a princess and a boozy swashbuckler. Bonuses
include commentary and a behind-the-scenes feature.
BOOK
Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan,
1957-1973
(Chicago Review)
Clinton Heylin dissects 300 of Dylan’s best-known tunes, starting
with “Song to Brigit,” which Dylan supposedly penned when he was 15.
It’s an exhaustive look at one of the 20th century’s best and prolific
songwriters. Heylin pinpoints the literary and biblical references in
Dylan’s songs and uncovers tons of info about these timeless
tracks.
This article appears in Apr 15-21, 2009.