Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Live

Released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Time Life's massive nine-disc boxed set serves up some 125 performances culled from ceremonies (beginning in 1986), coupled with induction speeches ranging from the inspired (Paul McCartney honoring John Lennon) to the semi-incoherent (David Byrne paying homage to David Bowie). Highlights include Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry on “Roll Over Beethoven” (1986), The Beatles' “I Saw Her Standing There” with George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty, Mick Jagger, and Billy Joel (1988), Jagger and Springsteen dueting on the Rolling Stones “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction” (1988), Springsteen joining U2 for “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” (2005), Little Richard belting out “Tutti Fruiti” (1995), Bonnie Raitt teaming up with John Lee Hooker for “I'm in the Mood” (1991), a guitar heroes free-for-all on “The Train Kept A-Rollin'” with Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Ron Wood, Flea, and Metallica (2009), Aretha Franklin's powerful “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (2007), a very young Jonny Lang with Jeff Beck nailing Gene Vincent's “Be-Bop-a-Lula” (1999), and Melissa Etheridge's gutsy solo rendition of Janis Joplin's “Piece of My Heart” (1995). The best moment, in my opinion, belongs to Prince, whose blistering two-minute guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (2004) brings a priceless look of delight to the face of George Harrison's son Dhani. Of course, there are some definite lowlights, both general (too often the vocal mikes are turned low; the how-many-stars-can-we-fit-on-stage jams of the'80s are more notable for the odd combos—Johnny Cash and Page?—than the quality of the music) and specific (Axl Rose destroying the Beatles' “Come Together,” the Bee Gees performing both “Massachusetts” and “You Should Be Dancing” in less than two minutes, Blondie's anemic “Call Me,” Cream's easy listening version of “Crossroads”). And the Doors reunion with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder at the helm will divide viewers into love it/hate it camps. The ninth disc features a solid hour-shy excerpt from a 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert with standout turns by Eric Burdon and Jon Bon Jovi on “It's My Life” (and the unlisted “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”), Heart's Wilson sisters covering Led Zeppelin's “The Battle of Evermore,” Lou Reed and Soul Asylum teaming up for the stoner classic “Sweet Jane,” and Godfather of Soul's James Brown's characteristically cranked-up “I Got You (I Feel Good).” Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, DVD extras include bonus induction speeches and backstage rehearsal footage. A significant chunk of rock history in a boxed set with something to please almost everyone, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)