The Rolling Stones: Under Review 1962 – 1966 (Documentary)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Documentary: B
So, are
The Rolling Stones the greatest Rock band in the world? If so, how did they get that way? Well, to answer the first question, they
certainly have earned that title if you are considering endurance. The Beatles folded, Led Zeppelin had to fold
a decade later and The Who have never been the same after Keith Moon passed on. There have been other great bands, but the
combination of commercial and critical success, surviving the Punk movement and
pushing the arena scene even as KISS and other big bands arrived never stopped
eventful resurgences of The Stones.
To answer
the later question, the new Under Review
installment The Rolling Stones: Under
Review 1962 – 1966 shows the rise of the band, their early association with
The Beatles, how they began as many other British Invasion bands imitating
American Rock ‘N Roll, then breaking away from The Beatles Mod mode by getting
just a little crazier and more ambitious until they developed into the
powerhouse they still are 40 years after this program ends.
Much of
the program focuses on the band trying to find their voice and identity,
including early help with a Lennon/McCartney tune. As many know, Brian Jones left before his
untimely death a few years later and the year they had the defining hit Time Is On My Side in 1964. That led to a defining hot streak that made
them one of the key bands of the 1960s, then of all time, but this special is
very specific about their roots, taking time about their early days, their
blues influences and that it was not overnight success for the band. Also, that part of the trick was converting
how great they were on stage into studio cuts.
The 90 minutes here maps it out exceptionally well, as expected.
The image
varies from 1.33 X 1 to 1.78 X 1, with various picture quality from old film,
video and stills throughout. However,
some of the older footage is great and the new interviews are taped well enough. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound is
adequate, including many of their original hits and again some obscure cuts
this series is so good at coming up with.
Extras include the hardest Stones Quiz Ever, text contributor bios and a
Stones Stories extended interviews
section.
- Nicholas Sheffo
