The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun—Hyde Park Live

Most rock bands from the 1960s that are still playing can be found on the oldies circuit, serving up bland hit medleys in hour-long sets before toddling offstage to get an early night's rest. Not the Rolling Stones. Forty-four years after they first wowed the crowd at the Glastonbury Festival in London's Hyde Park, the original bad boys of rock ‘n' roll made their second appearance—in summer 2013—for this 16-song hit-laden set in front of 100,000-plus fans. Backed by towering video projection screens on a massive stage with a long runway, the Stones start it up with “Start Me Up,” kicked off with Keith Richards' signature guitar riff, while svelte-and-strutting 70(!)-year-old frontman Mick Jagger embarks on his trademark hyperkinetic concert-long walk/run/funky chicken dance (I suspect Jagger put in miles before the end of the show). The third founding member, Charlie Watts, sets the rhythmic pace, while Ronnie-come-lately-Wood (only a Stone since 1975) lays down a wall of guitar sound. And the backup band shines—including decades-long Stones musicians Darryl Jones on bass, Chuck Leavell on keyboards, Bobby Keys on sax, and Lisa Fischer on vocals; even former guitarist Mick Taylor makes a welcome reunion appearance on a wonderfully long and rambling “Midnight Rambler,” as well as on the classic closer, “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.” The nonstop hit parade includes “Street Fighting Man,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Miss You,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Jumpin' Jack Flash,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” and a beautiful, chorus-backed rendition of “You Can't Always Get What You Want.” Never serving up workmanlike note-for-note versions of their songs, the Stones manage to keep things loose throughout while also sounding amazingly tight for a band playing in a huge outdoor venue. Extras include three bonus numbers (including a fine “Paint It Black”). Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, this amazing concert proves that the Stones can still bring it a half-century on. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)