Out of print and unreleased music documentaries / concert films (1 Viewer)

[Eric Larsen]

All editions Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll have been out of print. In March before Chuck Berry's passing at the age of 90, the four disc DVD edition was selling on Ebay for $40. Sometimes lower and sometimes higher. Since his passing it has been listed for $200.

Yesterday sadly Chris Cornell passed at 52. The DVD of the film about the Seattle music scene, Hype, is now going for about $40. Some DVDs are now listed much higher. The blu-ray of Cameron Crow's second film, Singles, is at least $32.99.

Those are two recent examples. While some progress seems to be happening with a release for Prince now and then, I'm asking for help in reminding the movie/music studios that people are clearly interested in the art and product that has been released. Music has shown to have healing capabilities. While clearly it doesn't solve or fix everything, it can help de-stress and can be comforting to those with Alzheimer's. As a pastor, I have sat in a hospice workshop and heard that dementia/Alzheimer patients are drawn to the music of their teenage years.

So while I can give thanks that the Roy Orbison Black & White Night blu-ray is back in print with new features, the Concert for George blu-ray, David Bowie and Prince DVDs are out of print, have become expensive, and are increasingly hard to find.

Does anyone know the status of blu-ray or dvd releases for Jazz on a Summer's Day, Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll, U2's Rattle & Hum or other missing blues, jazz, rock & roll films and documentaries? I didn't seem to find a similar thread here or at Blu-ray.com. Feel free to move this to whichever forum you may feel most appropriate.

 

[dpippel]

I think you're posting this in the wrong forum.

 

[Vic Pardo]

Well, if the titles he lists were released theatrically (and I believe most of them were), then they qualify as "Movies." I'm interested in the responses and since I never visit the Music forum, I'm glad Eric posted this here.

 

[Sam Favate]

The movie No Nukes has never been released on DVD or blu-ray. It had a home video release in the 80s on VHS and CED. The soundtrack was out of print for years, until it was finally issued on CD in 1998. I'd love to see a release of No Nukes on blu-ray, complete with other footage that was filmed but not included in the theatrical cut.

Also, the movie The Making of Sun City, about Little Steven's anti-apartheid song from the mid-80s, was a great film (and award-winning). Also never released on DVD. It featured many of the top artists of the time.

And, of course, we're still waiting for The Beatles' Let It Be, which hasn't had a home video release in over 30 years. (It too was released on VHS, CED and Laser Disc in the 80s.) Hours of additional footage was discovered circa 2003, leading many to believe a video release would follow, but it hasn't.

Two Tom Petty films - Pack Up the Plantation (1985) and Take the Highway (1992) - have also never seen a release on DVD. (VHS only.) Similarly, the film Hard To Handle (1986) was a concert film of Bob Dylan and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in Australia. It may have had a DVD release in Australia, but not a US release, and certainly not a blu-ray release.

It's not a music documentary, but I have long been waiting for Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads 1965-1985 on DVD. (The first Eyes on the Prize series was released.)

 

[Josh Steinberg]

U2's Rattle & Hum

This is on Blu-ray; I just re-watched it last week. The US edition is currently out of print, but the UK version contains the exact same disc and is region-free; that's the one I ended up with. Video is 16x9 HD, audio available in your choice of lossy Dolby Digital EX 5.1 or lossy DTS 6.1. (No lossless option is provided.)

 

[Angelo Colombus]

I have one bootleg dvd and that is Let It Be since it's the only way to see it. I do have a laserdisc player and seen Let It Be on Ebay but won't pay $100 for it.

 

[Keith Cobby]

The big one missing for me is Genesis' 'farewell' concert from 2007. For the tenth anniversary this year it would be nice to have a blu-ray.

 

[Mikael Soderholm]

I still miss my Madonna Blonde Ambition tour laser disc, and Kate Bush's The Line, The Cross and the Curve ...