Shutdown:The Rise and fall of Direct Action to Stop the War

AK Press

In the winter of 2002-'03, as the US was building its case to attack Iraq, people around the world responded with a series of the largest peace protests in history.
On March 20, 2003 - the day after the war started - San Francisco was brought to a grinding halt by thousands of activists who occupied the streets to oppose the war. It was a mass uprising that forced the police to declare the financial district "shut down." The planning and outreach coordinated by Direct Action to Stop the War (DASW), filled downtown San Francisco with approximately 15,000 people clogging traffic, stopping business as usual, communicating with passersby, and creating a pandemonium that lasted for several days.
But neither DASW nor the mass resistance outlasted Iraq's occupation.
Shutdown: The Rise and Fall of Direct Action to Stop the War, is an action-packed documentary chronicling how DASW successfully organized to shut down a major US city and how they failed to effectively maintain the organization to fight the war machine and end the occupation of Iraq.
Created by organizers involved with DASW, Shutdown combines detailed information on organizing for a mass action, critical interviews on organizing pitfalls, and the wisdom of hindsight. It is a must-see film for those engaged in the continuous struggle towards social justice.

Dispatches 04

PM/Big Noise

Wars crush our humanity. Defeats splinter our movements. Corporate media turns a blind eye to our mounting crises and a cynical one to the people who stand up against them.
Against a tide of ignorance, isolation and cynicism, 'Big Noise Dispatches' take you around the world to look war and crisis in the face, but also to witness a shared struggle for survival and dignity in this time of violence.

Beyond The Wall
After a US and Iraqi military campaign, the armed Shiite resistance melted away from the street. We go behind the wall in Sadr City to discover the fate of Mehdi Army, and the state of the fight for Iraq's future.

Re-Awakening Saddam's Tribal Strategy
The US is reconstituting the tribal elite Saddam used to run the country. But will it be able to maintain the delicate balance between the Sunni 'Awakening' militias and the Shiite government.

The Detention Imperative
Few American institutions impact the lives of ordinary Iraqis more directly and profoundly than the US detention system. But once Iraqis are swept inside, there is no clear way out.

Breaking With Convention
Quick ragged clips produced for Democracy Now!'s coverage of the 2008 Democratic and Republican Conventions.

Election Suppression 2008
Big Noise teams up with journalist Greg Palast on a BBC investigation of the suppression of the vote in the 2008 elections.

Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd

By Mark Blake
Da Capo/Perseus

Comfortably Numb, the first full-length history of Pink Floyd in over fifteen years, tells the complete story of how a group of former school chums from Cambridge, UK went on to conquer the music world with their classic albums and spectacular stage shows.
Author Mark Blake personally interviewed all of the band members as well as nearly a hundred friends, roadies, producers, and colleagues - some of whom have never been interviewed before - to create an account of the band like no other. He also talked t the band's musical contemporaries, including Pete Townsend and Alice Cooper, uncovering many fascinating anecdotes. Not just the story of the phenomenon of Pink Floyd, this book captures, for the first time, each band member as integral parts of the whole. Their complex interpersonal relationships alternatively drove them to unthinkable success and unexpected sadness. Ironically, it may be that very sadness that informs and intensifies their music - ultimately giving it much of its wistful appeal.
Comfortably Numb is a re-evaluation that follows the band from the clubs of the 60s to the stadiums of the 70s, through the relationship issues of the 80s and 90s, and finally the unexpected 2005 reunion at the Live 8 Concert. It is not only a definitive biography of Pink Floyd, it's a compelling tale of triumph, excess, intimacy and collapse that celebrates the band's 40 years together and will inspire any music fan to queue up the iPod to listen to some of the great Floyd classics.

Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's

Eagle Rock

Filmed over the course of several gigs at the famed Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in 2007, Performing This Week... features a compilation of material spanning Beck's fenre-jumping career. From Rock to Jazz to Blues, with some Boogie and Beatles to bot, this was a week that positively rocked the intimate London club. Eric Clapton also made a special appearance, complementing Beck's wild guitar work with their diverse vocal approaches.
These DVDs are the first to be approved by the man himself. They are stocked with not just a conglomerate of great performance picks, but stellar bonus material. A rare in-depth interview features Beck talking about his experience at Ronnie Scott's, as well as giving the floor to his band members for some interview time.

Rory Gallagher:Live in Cork

Eagle Rock

Live in Cork is a documentation of Gallagher's homecoming, when he returned to Ireland in 1987 to play the Cork Opera House after several years' absence. Originally aired on Irish Television, Gallagher shook the house to its foundations with tracks like "Tattoo'd Lady," "Follow Me," "When My Baby She Left Me," and "Out On The Western Plain."
The DVD is more than a mere concert. The live portion (originally released as "Messin' With The Kid - Live At The Cork Opera House" on VHS) is only the tip of the iceberg. Live in Cork also allows an in-depth look at Rory and the city that bred him. "Rough Guide To Rory's Cork" is a compilation of photos anecdotes, memorabilia, and other footage from his hometown. Clearly, this excavation of the great guitarist's life and culture is an absolute treasure for a Rory Gallagher fan.

How To Hustle and Win: A Survival Guide for the Ghetto

Supreme Design

This is the book everyone's been talking about. No other book has explained the game - every part of it - quite like this. If you're looking for the keys you need to succeed in this dirty game, they're all here. Nine principles - covering over 120 lessons - emerge from the true stories of Black gangsters, hustlers, pimps, slaves, snitches, rebels, rappers, and revolutionaries.
If you can check "Yes" to any of these statements, this books is for you:
x You've always been intelligent, but hated school because they only taught bullshit
x You see the injustices and wrongs going on all around you, and it's driving you nuts.
x You want to change something in the world, or in yourself, but just haven't figured out how.
x You're not waiting on Jesus to come back and save you.
x You wonder why other people are such followers and hypocrites.
x You know there's more to life than this.
x You're always questioning things.
x You're not scared to challenge the ideas most people believe.
x You want better for yourself, your family, and/or your people.

Keane:A Night For War Child

Eagle Rock

War Child was developed to aid children in war-ridden countries. Currently, they are lending their assistance to children in Iraq. Through various projects, such as rehabilitation programs and emergency relief, War Child saves children caught in the crossfire of war, and seeks to give them hope for the future. Keane are longtime supporters of this organization.
Held at the Brixton Academy in London on November 1, 2007, A Night For War Child brought various artists together to aid the cause. Performances include rousing sets by Keane, synth-pop icons Pet Shop Boys, Lily Allen, Teddy Thompson (son of Richard Thompson), Findlay Brown, Brendan Benson, and The Magic Numbers.
After teasing the audience with several cameos behind Brendan Benson and Lily Allen (who makes sure to include her chart-topping hit "Smile"), Keane closes out the evening, featuring their hits "Somewhere Only We Know," "Everybody's Changing," and an uplifting rendition of Queen's "Under Pressure." In the end, the night is a huge success, having both raised a substantial amount of money and bringing together a collective of diverse musicians for a night of quality entertainment.

Jonny Lang:Live at Montreux 1999

Eagle Rock

The young blues prodigy, Jonny Lang, released his first-ever DVD which runs 54 minutes. Its nine-song setlist traverses musical borders from the opener, the Sonny boy Williamson classic "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (popularized by Ten Years After in the '60s) to the Dr. John funky strut, "A Quitter Never Wins (And A Winner Never Quits)."
Live at Montreux was filmed when Lang was a mere 18 years old, the jagged soulful edge of a born soloist plainly evident. Influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, George Thorogood, Eric Clapton and T-Bone Walker, Lang combines them all here with a positively electric live performance, one of, if not the best, of his career. The material showcased is culled from his first two A&M albums, reflecting his consummate professionalism. Lang's most recent CD is Turnaround. He has sold over three million albums to date.

The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide
By: Scott Yanow

Backbeat/Hal Leonard

This remarkable, encyclopedic guide profiles more than 500 vocalists, spanning the history of jazz from the dawn of commercial recordings to the present day. All the major jazz singers are here, from Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday to Cassandra Wilson and Diana Krall, from Jelly Roll Morton to Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and more. But author Scott Yanow, drawing on his considerable experience as a critic and historian, goes beyond the household names to include many other important singers of yesterday and today. Featuring a host of new interviews conducted exclusively for this book, The Jazz Singers includes biographical sketches on each of the singers; descriptions of their style, era, and particular significance; and recommended recordings. It also features special sections on jazz vocal groups, jazz singing in film, and promising up-and-comers.
Unique and wide-ranging in its scope, The Jazz Singers is an indispensable resource for jazz lovers.

New York Noir: The History of Black New York

Little Dizzy

With African-American culture, history and pride being celebrated as never before, it is important to remember the remarkable story of struggle and triumph that led to this global victory. Examining the history of New York's African-American citizens and culture from the early 1600s through today and its impact on the world is the critically acclaimed film New York Noir: The History of Black New York.
African-Americans lived in New York City long before the arrival of the British, Irish and Italians or anyone Jewish or Catholic. Their contributions as both slaves and free men and women were integral to the rise of one of the world's greatest cities. The areas now known as China Town, Little Italy and Greenwich Village were once called the "Negro Frontier." Yet blacks were the last to become full citizens.
New York Noir: The History of Black New York features rare historical footage and segments on civil rights, politics, business, military heroes and entertainment. The Harlem renaissance (1919 until early/mid 1930s) impacted the nation's cultural spectrum (literature, drama, music, visual art, dance) as well as social thought (sociology, historiography, philosophy). The movement had a profound impace on not onl African-American culture but the African diaspora as a whole.
This film honors and pays tribute to the many stellar contributions African-Americans have made to New York, the nation and, indeed, the world - Including Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway, among many others.

The Making of Electric Ladyland

Experience Hendrix/Universal Music Enterprises

Electric Ladyland is the source of such legendary Hendrix tracks as "All Along the Watchtower," "Crosstown Traffic," "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" and is commonly acknowledged by Hendrix album to have hit #1 on the Billboard charts. It is, indisputably, the crowning achievement of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and underscored Hendrix's abilities as singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer.
At Last...The Beginning: The Making of Electric Ladyland documents the creation of the album that was released in the fall of 1968 as a 2 LP set. Some of Jimi's closest associates are seen on screen discussing their recollections of Hendrix and the project.

Clark Gable: Tormented Star
By: David Bret

Da Capo/Perseus

A biography that draws on ta wealth of unpublished material to tell the behind-the-scenes story of an American legend - Clark Gable.
Quickly climbing the ladder to stardom, Clark Gable became a larger-than-life screen presence, representing the ideal man in the golden age of early Hollywood films. Handsome and dashing with a twist of raw sex appeal, Gable captured hearts across America in his Academy Award-winning performance in It Happened On Night and his most famous role as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind. Despite being the most sought-after leading man in Hollywood, Gable struggled to maintain the public persona of a masculine hero. David Bret's new book, Clark Gable, reveals the truth behind his facade - and the heavy toll it took on the star.
In this uncensored biography, Bret sheds light on a man, an actor, and an era of American history. He raises new questions about the movie icon, suggesting that several defining events in Gable's career were attempts to "airbrush" his image into what the public wanted it to be.
Bret examines every aspect of Gable's personal and professional life, including never-before told details of his life as a bisexual - how he leveraged his sexuality for his career and how his affairs with men led to two failed marriages. Clark Gable also provides an exclusive glimpse of Gable's wartime "heroics," which was actually an embarrassing publicity stunt.

The American Folk-Blues Festival: British Tours 1963-1966

Hip-O/Reelin' In The Years/Universal

In the fourth installment of the Grammy nominated series, "The American Folk Blues Festival," Reelin' in the Years Productions and Experience Hendrix bring you 18 previously unreleased performances from the greatest blues musicians of all time, filmed in England during these famed tours from 1963-1966. Includes legends like: Sonny Boy Will, Muddy Waters, big Joe Williams, Lightnin' Hopkins, Howlin' Wolf, Big Joe Turner, and many others. Falling in love with a singer is like being a teenager every time it happens.

Byther Smith - Blues on the Moon: Live at Natural Rhythm Social Club

Delmark

Are you ready to experience the first live recording form one of the most intense and original Chicago bluesmen of all time? Byther Smith (b. 1933, Monticello, MS) absolutely tears up a Chicago South Side "social club" with his menacing vocals and slashing, biting guitar attack. Look no further if you want real deal gritty Chicago blues from an unsung living legend.
The autobiographical, introspective "Monticello" is stunningly beautiful and heart wreching - serious blues with a feeling!! I'm gonna make the bold statement that Byther can play the intense BB King style better than anyone out there, including BB! "Hard Times" for this hard workin' bluesman. Who started that false rumor of Smitty's retirement?

An Anarchist FAQ: Volume One
By: Iain McKay

AK Press

This exhaustive volume, the first of two, seeks to provide answers for the curious and critical about anarchist theory, history, and practice. More a reference voume than a primer, the FAQ eschews curt answers and engages with questions in a thorough, matter-of-fact style. With sections on the history of the concept, on anarcho-capitalism, the myths of capitalist economics, and anarchism and the ecological question, An Anarchist FAQ is sure to be referenced again and again.

Herb Alpert - Live At Montreux 1996

Eagle Eye

Herb Alpert is the most successful instrumental artist in American music history, with a career that now spans five decades. To date, he has made just one appearance at the Montreux Festival in 1996, where he was accompanied by the highly-accomplished Jeff Lorber Band. A classic Herb Alpert concert, it showcases his distinctive style across a string of hits, including ÒRiseÓ, ÒThe Lonely BullÓ, ÒSpanish FleaÓ, ÒA Taste Of HoneyÓ and ÒThis GuyÕs In Love With YouÓ. By the way, one of Herb Alpert's achievements in music consists of being the 'A' of A&M Records, the label he founded with Jerry Moss in 1962.

George Benson - Absolutely Live

Eagle Eye

The show filmed at Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, features the nimble-fingered jazz guitarist in a variety of musical settings. BensonÕs multi-genre versatility was never more evident than on this night in 200-. The 105-minute show features guest appearances by Houston bebop/fusion keyboard great Joe Sample, The BBC Big Band, and members of The Ulster Orchestra.
Benson plays it cool and fast, skipping elegantly between his major hits, some straight-ahead jazz improvisation, and reconfiguring of timeless standards. His sultry rhythmÕnÕblues touch is plainly evident, as is his penchant for reinvention and surprise (dig his wonderfully creative ÒDanny BoyÓ and ÒI Only Have Eyes For You,Ó two of the most beloved and timeless of standards, which would be mush in the hands of a lesser artists, and, of course, "On Broadway").
Special features include a mini-documentary ÒThe Making of Absolutely Live,Ó a biography and photo gallery.

Lou Reed
Pass Thru Fire: The Collected Lyrics
By: Lou Reed

Da Capo/Perseus

Throughout his more than four decades in the music industry, Lou Reed has transformed time and time again, Òmutating from theatrical glam rocker to scary-looking junkie to avant-garde noiseman to straight rock & roller to your average guy.Ó What hasnÕt changed is his innate need to capture and chronicle the contemporary world through whatever means necessary. His lyrics read like poetry, capturing the darkest thoughts of a man Òcaught between the twisted stars,Ó struggling with addiction, grief, desire, love, and depression.
In Pass Thru Fire: The Collected Lyrics, readers get a closer look at the lyrics that made the legend. This comprehensive collection traces ReedÕs career from his time with the revolutionary Velvet Underground in the 60s to the solo act that achingly reflects his own triumphs and failings. We revisit classic tracks like ÒHeroin,Ó ÒSister Ray,Ó and ÒSweet JaneÓ from his Velvet Underground days, then watch as the individual Reed emerges in solo albums like Berlin, Sally CanÕt Dance, and Magic Loss. Finally, we are privy to his play The Raven, printed in its entirety.
ReedÕs transformation is far from over. HeÕs still writing and challenging himself: ÒI love the New York accents. The psychology of the streets. And now as I am older the terrain of meditation, the lesson to be learned. And most of all: what to write about now.Ó Ever the evolving artist, Reed has sought means of expression beyond the musical realm, delving into photography and playwriting as well as poetry. He has also acted in and composed music for films, cementing his role as a true performer and musician. A must-have for any fan, Pass Thru Fire is crucial to understanding and appreciating Lou Reed.

Paul Simon - Live From Philadelphia

Eagle Rock

Recorded in Philadelphia's longtime cherished landmark venue, The Tower Theater, in 1980, this 11-song, 53-minute set features Simon on vocals and guitar backed by a superb back-up band: drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Tony Levin, pianist Richard Tee and guitarist Eric Gale.
The setlist includes both solo material and Simon & Garfunkel classics. Simon was in a transitional phase in 1980, continually searching for just the right sounds. Touring in support of the soundtrack to One-Trick Pony, he was still three years removed Graceland putting his sensitive singer/songwriter persona alongside his newly playful solo side - and choosing musicians from the esteemed band Stuff as his back-up - showed a willingness on his part for exploration. This ever-changing quest would later manifest itself with forays into African music (Graceland), Brazilian music (Rhythm Of The Saints) and Latin music (Capeman). But, fascinatingly, it all started right here.

Tracey Ullman - State Of The Union

Eagle Rock

This 155-minute first season of the Showtime Cable network program contains all five episodes plus hilarious bonus material. Produced in Hollywood by Emmy award winning producer Allan McKeown.
Those familiar with the comedian's oeuvre know her bitingly acerbic aesthetic, her penchant for characterization, her blatant disregard for societal norms and her over-all anything-goes mentality. Her State here is in high-octane form and her fans will not be disappointed as this day in the life of America includes send-ups of Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellwegger, Helen Mirren, David Beckham and many others unlucky enough to encounter her pinpricks of satire.
Bonuses include blooper and out-take reels, screen tests with Tracey's unique commentaries, a "Making Of" featurette, and extra material not seen in the show, including deleted scenes.

Nowtopia:
How Pirate Programmers, Outlaw Bicyclists, and Vacant Lot Gardeners are Inventing the Future Today
By: Chris Carlsson

AK Press

Outlaw bicycling, urban permaculture, biofuels, free software, and even the Burning Man festival are windows into a scarcely visible social transformation that is redefining politics as we know it. As capitalism continues to corral every square inch of the blobe into its logic of money and markets, new practices are emerging through which people are taking back their time and technological know-how. In small, under-the-radar was, they are making life better right now, simultaneously building the foundation - technically and socially - for a genuine movement of liberation and from market life.
Nowtopia uncovers the resistance of a slowly recomposing working class in America. Rarely defining themselves by what they do for a living, people from all walks of life are doing incredible amounts of labor in their "non-work" time, creating immediate practical improvements in daily life.

iDrum Version 1.7 Virtual Drum Machine

eMedia/iZotope Inc.

iDrum Version 1.7 adds the missing ingredient to your music creation: a powerful and easy to use drum machine for practicing, performing or recording. It's just as simple to use as the hardware drum machines of yesterday wit hall the flexibility and cost savings of a software-based virtual instrument.
iDrum comes with hundreds of pre-programmed patterns, rhythms and drum sounds for you to mix and match. The new Song Editor mode makes it a snap to assemble your composition, even if you have never sequenced before. Create drum patterns in iDrum right alongside your existing tracks, perfectly in time, or use iDrum to provide the backbeat when you're laying down new tracks.
iDrum comes with hundreds of pre-programmed patterns, rhythms and drum sounds for you to mix and match. The new Song Editor mode makes it a snap to assemble your composition, even if you have never sequenced before. Create drum patterns in iDrum right alongside your existing tracks, perfectly in time, or use iDrum to provide the backbeat when you're laying down new tracks.

Guitar Master CD-ROM

eMedia

eMedia Guitar Master teaches how to play for real, with over 100 step-by-step audio- and video-enhanced guitar lessons. It teaches everything needed to rock out on your guitar - from classic rock to modern techniques.
eMedia Guitar Master will start you rockin' right away with some of your favorite Guitar Hero and Rock Band hit songs, including "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath, and "You Really Got Me" by The Kings, plus more songs by Nirvana, Black Sabbath, Green Day and Van Halen. eMedia Guitar Master also features songs in the style of awesome bands like Blink 182, Sum 41, Rage Against the Machine, Hoobastank, AC/DC and many more. Instructor Charles McCrone, a graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology guides you through a variety of essential rockin' techniques including power chords, barred chords, hammer-ons, pull-offs, palm muting, distorted riffs, the blues scale, movable major and minor scales and more. The high quality videos feature your host, radio personality Steve Rock of KISW's Metal Shop, presenting eMedia's innovative teaching style with rock songs, chords, riffs and gear tips in an exciting, fast-paced learning format that doesn't require any previous music experience.

Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq
By: Steve Fainaru

Da Capo/Perseus

Countless hired guns operate with impunity across the broad landscape of the Iraq war, doing the jobs that the overstretched military can't or won't do. These modern mercenaries may be called "private security contractors" in the press and in polite conversation, but, as one "merc's" tattoo reads, they are the unwanted, doing the unforgiveable, for the ungrateful.
It started small. Lacking a sufficient fighting force, the U.S. government rented itself a private army, piece by piece. They gave them weapons and turned them loose on an arid battlefield the size of California, without rules, without laws, with little to guide them except their conscience. Soon no one and no thing could move around Iraq without them. They protect the diplomats, the shipments of Starbucks, and even the military.
Writing for the Washington Post in a series of pieces that won him the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, Steve Fainaru chronicled the rise of the private security industry in Iraq, and followed a few Americans who joined a small private security company. Now, in Big Boy Rules - named after the mercs' unwritten code - he tells the riveting, shocking and yet sympathetic story of everyday life as a mercenary on the ground in Iraq.
"I felt like I had seen 'a hidden part of the war'...one with its own rules, its own language and subculture, its own secret battles. To me, in many ways, it summed up what Iraq was about: War without pretext. War without ideology. War without planning. War as a paycheck," writes Fainaru.

Punk Rock Karaoke

MVD

Step up to the stage, grab the mic and hang on tight to experience life in a beloved punk rock band with Punk Rock Karaoke.
Featuring an all-star line-up of punk veterans, Punk Rock Karaoke - guitarist and emcee Eric Melvin (NOFX), guitarist Greg Hetson (Bad Religion/Circle Jerks/Red Kross) drummer Derek O'Brien (Social Distortion/Adolescents/DI) and bassist Steve Soto (Adolescents/Agent Orange/22 Jacks) - will release their first-ever double-disc CD/DVD.
"Punk Rock Karaoke is really an ultimate experience for the fans - they get to come up and perform some of the best songs ever written with our band," explains Hetson. "It's cool for us too since we get to be in the Sex Pistols, Black Flag and The Descendents: bands we didn't get to be in every night."
Featuring 10 classic punk songs, the Punk rock Karaoke DVD caputures the magic of the live show. With fan-friendly vocal on/off options, fans can easily follow along to the lyrics as they appear on the screen and learn the songs by using the added vocal option to hear the songs with the guest singers. Taking it up a notch in hilarity, the Punk Rock Karaoke DVD videos spoof the traditional cheesy backgrounds often seen on most karaoke machines. Instead of couples holding hands on the beach or puppies jumping through flowerbed, Punk Rock Karaoke has images of couple romping in the back of a junkyard-parked pickup truck while guzzling 40s!

Following is the full track listing for Punk Rock Karaoke:
1) Manny, Moe and Jack (guest singer Mike Herrera of MxPx; originally by The Dickies)
2) Back Against The Wall (with guest singer Jim Lindberg of Pennywise; originally by The Circle Jerks)
3) Gimme Gimme Gimme (with guest singer Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio; originally by Black Flag)
4) What Do I Get? (with guest singer Warren Fitzgerald of The Vandals; originally by The Buzzcocks)
5) Fuck Armageddon...This Is Hell (guest singer Dave King of Flogging Molly; originally by Bad Religion)
6) Suspect Device (with guest singer Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty bosstones; originally by Stiff Little Fingers)
7) Minor Threat (with guest singer Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory; originally by Minor Threat)
8) Bikeage (guest singer Joey Cape of Lagwagon; originally by The Descendents)
9) Amobea (with guest singer Spike Slawson of Swingin' Utters & Me First & The Gimme Gimmes; originally by The Adolescents)
10) California Uber Alles (guest singer Sean Wheeler of Throw Rag; originally by Dead Kennedys)

A/K/A Tommy Chong
Directed By: Josh Gilbert

Infinity

Chronicling the entrapment and incarceration of the legendary comedy icon, the alternately terrifying and hilarious documentary a/k/a Tommy Chong wafts onto DVD.
At the height of the Bush administration, fully armed SWAT teams raided Tommy Chong's home and business, Chong Glass. Chong was subsequently sentenced to nine months in federal prison for "conspiracy to manufacture and distribute drug paraphernalia through his family business (Translation: Selling "bongs" over the Internet).
Filmmaker Josh Gilbert captures the post-prison, avuncular Chong as he turns his SWAT team arrest into hilarious stand-up material. A charming portrait set against the backdrop of a War on Drugs gone horribly awry, a/k/a Tommy Chong's laughs are seasoned by the recognition of the government's questionable priorities and shameless use of the judicial system to scapegoat a counter-culture icon.

Waiting For Lightning To Strike: The Fundamentals of Black Politics
By: Kevin Alexander Gray

CounterPunch/AK Press

The year that saw an African-American run for the presidency as the nominee of the Democratic Party for the first time in U.S. history also witnessed a truly remarkable silence - one that was scarcely coincidental. In all the millions of words written about a political ascent of one black man, there was virtually nothing about the descent of black leadership into well nigh total ineffectiveness. Barack Obama's personal itinerary was mapped in minutest detail. The larger itinerary of African Americans was mostly ignored.
Gray's take is radical and so his focus is always ample and humane. In these passionate pages he takes his readers into areas of darkness - South Carolina's heritage of slavery, for example - and into the vibrancy and head ot James Brown and Richard Pryor. Gray's intellectual footwork is as sure as Muhammad Ali's in his prime, and the k.o. is as deadly.
No one should venture a mile into a rough terrain of black politics and culture in America today without reading Gray's Waiting for Lightning to Strike. There's no keener mind, no sharper eye focused on the conditions of black politics.

Down The Tracks: The Music That Influenced Led Zeppelin

Eagle Rock

Most 1960s British bands were heavily influenced by the blues. Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, The Animals, Savory Brown, Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin were no exception. Led Zepplin’s vocalist Robert Plan and guitarist Jimmy Page, particularly, loved the urban Chicago blues of Muddy Watters and Howling Wolf. Now, performing along with other blues greats.
Legends showcased are those who the real music aficionado hardly ever gets to see: Davey Graham, Charley Patton, Son House, John Renbourne, Bukka White and many others (including Waters and Wolf). This very special DVD creates a tapestry, a mosaic, where the viewer can understand the whys and wherefores of just how this one-in-a-million band put its love together to create a sound that will live on forever.
Plant, Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham were a curious lot to team up. Page was already famous. Plan and Bonham were toiling in obscurity. Jones was a studio mastermind. When they originally got together as The New Yardbirds, the notion of success was so slim that one of them, as the legend goes, said they’ll probably go over like a lead balloon. Manager Peter Grant picked up on it and famously tweaked it. Known, along with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, as Godfathers of Heavy Metal, the Page/Plant/Bonham/Jones chemistry proved eclectic and groundbreaking enough to incorporate folk, rockabilly, reggae, funk, Celtic, classical and country to its heady mix of soul vocals, guitar histrionics and bludgeoning drums. Their journey traversed all of these genres and this DVD makes one truly understand their genesis.

Come Together: A Night For John Lennon's Words & Music

Eagle Rock

The far-ranging and eclectic artistry that makes these songs come alives again proves to be a poignant reminder of what the world lost on December 8 1980. Dave Matthews ("In My Life"), Stone Temple Pilots ("Revolution"), Cyndi Lauper ("Strawberry Fields Forever"), Alanis Morissette ("Dear Prudence") and Sean Lennon ("Julia"), among many others were given total artistic license to recreate these songs any way they so felt. The results proved touching, profound and made for a truly magical night that comes across on this very special viewing experience.

The Bomb That Followed Me Home
By: Cevin Soling

Rumpleville Books

The Bomb That Followed Me Home is the story of a boy, who is trailed by a stray bomb, which is spoken and thought of as a dog. The boy begs his mother to keep it, but she knows the way kids are, and doesn't want to get stuck guarding it all the time.
The Rumpleville series are contemporary fables that are replete with social commentary. Conflicts arise from human foibles responding to an indifferent universe. Matters are always made worse by self-interested parties who possess an aggressive disregard for others, or for common sense, or both. Absurdity does not come form living in a world without meaning, but rather from people who insist there is meaning and knowingly or unknowingly act in opposition of their convictions.
The fairy tale format highlights the perverse morality of contemporary culture and foiled promises of "happily ever after" endings. Like Animal Farm, the simplicity of plot also draws attention to the political intentions of the work.

Talk Talk: Live At Montreux 1986

British pop stylists Talk Talk is one of the most innovative and original English bands of the 1980s. The band is best known for its early synth-pop singles, but was critically hailed for its later experimental forays into ambient "post-rock" and a sophisticated quasi-jazz pop sound. In this 1986 performance, singer/songwriter Mark Hollis, guitarist John Turnbull, keyboardist Ian Curnow, percussionist Leroy Williams, keyboardist Rupert Black, percussionist Phil Reis, drummer Lee Harris and bassist Paul Webb show why they were "top of the pops." Hollis proves to be a particularly fetching front man, charismatic and charming.
Interest in Talk Talk was revived in 2003 when No Doubt recorded a cover version of "It's My Life" which reached #5 in the U.S.
Talk Talk Live At Montreux 1986 documents the band's only Montreux appearance. It runs approximately 90 minutes and contains 14 performances that draw a great response from the packed Swiss crowd.

Duran Duran
Rio

Eagle Rock

Rio, arguably the greatest of all Duran Duran albums, was originally released in 1982, a time of British riots, record unemployment and the highly unpopular Falklands war. It catapulted Simon LeBon, nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor into international celebrity. (None of the Taylors are related.)
In this installment of "Classic Albums," a fascinating story emerges, one of the writing, the recording and reaction to the unbelievable success of this sound. With new interviews, vintage clips of the original era, new and archival performance footage and musical demonstrations that explain the genesis of certain songs, this 90-minute insider peek is a must for all culture vultures. Excerpts from songs such as "Rio," "My Own Way," "Hungry Like The Wolf," "New Religion," "Save A Prayer," "The Chauffeur" and others are beautifully interwoven into the fabric of the story. Brand new session performances filmed in Boston exclusively for this program, plus interviews and demonstrations not seen in the original broadcast version, are included.

I Want to Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly & the Family Stone
By: Jeff Kaliss

Backbeat/Hal Leonard

Author Jeff Kaliss scored the first face-to-face interview with the reclusive superstar in over 20 years, making this book a must-read for any rock 'n' roll fan. From his anthemic early hits ("I Want to Take You Higher," "Family Affair," "Dance to the Music,") that powered Woodstock, through the moody meditations of "There's a Riot Going On" and beyond, Sly and the Family Stone have left an indelible stamp on rock, funk, pop, an hip hop. The story follows the evolution and dissolution of Sly and the Family Stone, from local favorites to global rock stars whose success was undermined by drugs and self-delusion.
Celebrated at the 2006 Grammys and in a new CD box set, Sly and the Family Stone is more popular than ever, but has nevertheless eluded full and sympathetic understanding by its several generations of fans. Finally, this year, Sly is beginning to perform again, and Kaliss is on the scene with accounts of this musical innovator and his former Family in the new millennium. With cooperation from Sly himself, as well as numerous band members and associates, including Jerry Martini, Greg Errico, Freddie Stone, and David Kapralik, I Want to Take You Higher is as close to an authorized biography of Sly as we're ever likely to see. Also features a preface by George Clinton.

Willie Nelson And Wynton Marsalis: Live From Jazz At Lincoln Center

On this night, on The Allen Room stage at Jazz at Lincoln Center, over two nights in January '07, blues, jazz and country meld together to create an awesome whole. From New Orleans to Georgia, from the pens of such titans as Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmy Reed, Hank Williams, duke Ellington, Willie himself and others, these two men give the concert of a lifetime.
This is the superb set of music that makes up the current Willie & Wynton Two Men With The Blues CD, for it is deep within the folds of the blues where these two seemingly diametrically-opposed giants find common ground. One now gets to see the rare chemistry, the knowing onstage looks, and the inherent joy of making this blissful music.

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama: The Rockpalast Collection

Eagle Rock

The complete 14-song concert from June 23, 1996 features the band in top form led by Johnny Van Zant at Rockpalast's Loreley Festival, one of Europe's premiere events. As a very special bonus, three songs from 1974 featuring original Skynyrd singer/songwriter/guitarist, the late Ronnie Van Zant, as well as Bob Burns on drums, from The Hamburg Musikhalle in Germany are included ("Working For MCA," "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama.") The 1996 concert and the three bonus songs from 1974 have never before been released on DVD.
It was October 20, 1977, after four years of national success where the band gained a repuation for being one of the best live bands in America, that their chartered airplane developed mechanical difficulties near the end of a flight from South Carolina to Louisiana, ultimately crash-landing in Mississippi. The crash killed band founder/leader Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, back-up singer Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and both pilots. Survivors included drummer Artimus Pyle, guitarist Allen Collins (1952-1990), basisst Leon Wilkeson (1952-2001) and guitarist Gary Rossington.
Today, the band consists of Johnny Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Ean Evans, Rickey Medlocke, Michael Cartellone and Mark Matejka. Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into The Rock'n'ROll Hall Of Fame in 2006.

Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott
By: David Sheward

Applause/Hal Leonard

George C. Scott created some of the 20th century's most memorable performances on stage and screen - the cunning prosecutor in Anatomy of a Murder, the manipulative gambler in The Hustler, the buffoonishly warmongering chief of staff in Dr. Strangelove, and, of course, the brilliant and rebellious Patton. He also played Willy Loman, Richard III, Mussolini, Scrooge, Fagin, and countless others. But his offstage life was as filled with drama and controversy as any of the lives he portrayed with such intensity.
He refused the Oscar for Patton, battled wit hTV networks to include realistic elements in his series East Side/West Side, invented (and lost) his own money on Broadway and in the scandalous film The Savage Is Loose, married five times (twice to Colleen Dewhurst) and had a tempestuous affair with Ava Gardner, traveled to Vietnam at the height of the war to write an article for Esquire, and weathered a damaging sexual harassment suit.
In the first complete biography of this great star, David Sheward documents Scott's artistry as well as his roller-coaster career. Featuring interviews with numerous colleagues including Nathan Lane, Karl Malden, Piper Laurie, and Eva Marie Saint, as well as friends and family members, Rage and Glory pays tribute to one of our finest and fieriest actors.