Subtitled “The Story of Popular Music,” this massive boxed set, compiling all 17 episodes of musicologist and award-winning director Tony Palmer's series (made at the prompting of John Lennon, and aired worldwide between 1975-1980) on popular music is ambitious, educational, entertaining, and a bit idiosyncratic. Although the first disc consists of a retrospective introduction featuring archival footage of musical artists ranging from Billie Holiday to Jerry Lee Lewis, the true story begins at a Nigerian university, where a discussion of the use of primitive drums, horns, and stringed instruments launches viewers on a long journey through the history of popular music, incorporating ragtime, jazz, blues, Tin Pan Alley, protest songs, country, and rock—with interesting subcategories throughout, such as “Rude Songs” (Vaudeville) and “Sour Rock” (Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, etc.). The series offers privileged glimpses of luminaries performing in their primes (such as Stevie Wonder) or past it (such as Phil Spector), and features inspired choices for most episodes (ranging from jazzman Leonard Feather to vaudevillian star Jack Benny). As for the idiosyncrasy: you won't find Hank Williams or Johnny Cash in the country episode, or Count Basie or Glenn Miller in the one on swing. And Palmer wears his strengths on his sleeve—the aforementioned country and swing, for instance, tend to get short shrift compared to, say, folk music. Still, All You Need is Love is filled with such dazzling insights, amazing music, and rare footage that one can easily overlook minor faults and peculiar omissions. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (A. Jacobson)
All You Need is Love
(2008) 5 discs. 885 min. DVD: $99.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 4
All You Need is Love
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