Good Rockin' Tonight - The Legacy of Sun Records
|
 |
Description
Historians may never agree about where and when rock 'n' roll was born, but they do agree that an entrepreneur in the world of music named Sam Phillips began a revolution and spawned a legacy when he created Sun Records. This Memphis-based success story defined some of the most appealing roots of American popular culture with such seminal artists as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and so many others, all reprised in this two-hour American Masters film with such performers as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Live, many accompanied by Elvis' original sidemen, Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana. Highlights include a moving rendition of "Lonely Weekends" with Jerry Lee Lewis and Matchbox Twenty, and an emotional reunion of old Mississippi Delta musicians. Songs: That's All Right (Paul McCartney), Honey Don't (Ben Folds Five), Rock n' Roll Ruby (Mark Knopfler), I Walk the Line (Live), My Bucket's Got a Hole in It (Robert Plant & Jimmy Page), Blue Suede Shoes (Johnny Hallyday), Who Will the Next Fool Be (Zucchero), Cry, Cry, Cry (Third Eye Blind), Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (Malcolm Yelvington and Kid Rock), Lonely Weekend (Matchbox Twenty).
|
The Sun King. Sunday, April 03, 2005
I have the Sun hits CDs so the music in this documentary was always recognizable to me, but if one isn't familiar with these songs then the movie is even better. There's also a substantial amount of information in the film that may not be known to fans. I've loved Sun music for many years but I did not know, until I saw it, that the label began as one that featured the blues. Later, when country was the speciality, the background of the artists matched its stereotype as one of the guys said "There wasn't a one of us who didn't pick cotton before playing music."
There's some great lines in this one like when Perkins says about Elvis, "That's the prettiest man I've ever seen." The documentary, with guest appearances from Mark Knopfler, Led Zeppelin, and Paul McCartney, lets you know just how important Sun Records was to the world's musicians. We see here as well that many modern "artists" can't hold up to the legends of Sun as when the band, Live, performs a cover of "I Walk the Line." You will have great difficulty refraining from laughing out loud. Some songs don't need to be redone and Cash had more gravitas at age 10 then most performers today.
Sam Phillips is interviewed extensively which is great because he's an important historical artifact...but he's also a little cracked. How old is Phillips anyway? He's got more dark hairs than a college freshman but had to be at least 70 when they filmed him. Regardless of his idiocyncries, it was worthwhile having him on the screen. In the end, Perkins was right, Sun was "feel good music" and you'll feel good after watching this one.
Memphis: Birth of Blues&Rock&Roll Thursday, March 10, 2005
Love this show.A must have for anyone who loves music&History.
Watch this dvd and then go to Sun Studio to feel the energy in person.
I love Good Rockin' Tonight DVD and you will tooSunday, March 06, 2005
As you may know, Sam Phillips died at the age of 80 in July 30,2005. This DVD shows how much significant Sam Phillips was for Rock and Roll and R&B music. Your going learn that so many famous people got their start in music because of Sam Phillips. This Documentary will make you feel like your in Memphis at the same time you're enjoying the sound of music of Sun Records. You'll see today's artist doing their version's of their favorite past time sun recording artist. You'll even get to see the living original artist along with Sam Phillips as they reunite in Sun studios. This DVD has a real good feeling and you you'll want to play it over and over again.
1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A New Sun RisingTuesday, December 14, 2004
Through my mailbox today arrived this wonderful DVD. I have seen it this evening and felt i had to write this review. Being a rock n roller now myself for just over 40 years it was wonderful to see my old heroes from the 50`s. Malcolm Yelvington was there, Carl Mann, Narvel Felts,Sonny Burgess, Scotty Moore, Rufus Thomas,D.J.Fontana to name just a few. A big feature on Billy Lee Riley who correctly pointed out Sam Phillips dropped in favour of Jerry Lee. Billy Lee to me recorded some of the best tracks for Sun. My Gal is Red Hot & Flying Saucer Rock n Roll. If anyone out there has his e mail i would love to tell him so. Going back to Jerry Lee i felt more time could have been spent on him considering as the documentary pointed out his influence towards piano players. W. S Holland who i will regret the rest of my life i never spoke to. In the 80`s my wife and i attended a Johnny Cash concert in Doncaster.U.K. Johnny was late and W.S was pacing the floor worried where he was. He walked past me on several occasions and i regret i never spoke to him. Elvis was the one who opened the door and Carl , Johnny Cash and company passed through..Its wrong to believe rock n roll started their but it sure as hell was a big influence. The Sun never set over Memphis it just faded into history and what a history as this DVD proves..
2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent item with a few flaws.Friday, December 12, 2003
THIS IS A GREAT DVD OVERALL. THE INTERVIEWS AND
CONVERSATIONS OF PAST "SUN RECORDS" STARS AND SAM PHILLIPS ARE VERY INTERESTING BUT WHERE WAS JERRY LEE LEWIS FOR THESE
SESSIONS? I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH "REVIEWER" BILL TAYLOR THAT "MATCHBOX TWENTY'S" TREATMENT OF CHARLIE RICH'S "LONELY WEEKENDS" WAS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST - SHOULD HAVE JUST
LET JERRY LEE LEWIS DO IT! HOWEVER, ZUCCHERO DID DO A PRETTY
GOOD VERSION OF RICH'S "WHO WILL THE NEXT FOOL BE?" AND THEN THEY LEFT IT OFF THE "CD" EDITION OF THE MUSIC AND USED ANOTHER
SINGER! I WOULD RECOMMEND THE "A & E" BIOGRAPHY OF SAM PHILLIPS FOR THOSE WHO LIKED THIS - AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION WRITTEN BY
PREMIER ROCK CRITIC "PETER GURALNICK."