Short Cuts

The Rolling Stones recently cancelled what would have been their first ever visit to China. But Morcheeba made the trip earlier this year and their visit is commemorated on From Brixton to Beijing WARNER MUSIC VISION . Live footage, film of the band tobogganing down the Great Wall and a cameo appearance by Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner contribute to an intelligently produced DVD that is several cuts above your average point-and-shoot tour diary. If there’s anything worse than the gratuitous reunion, it’s the even-more-gratuitous DVD of the event. The Adventures Of Sham 69 SECRET FILMS was filmed on tour last year. Songs such as “Borstal Breakout” were dubious enough at the time. Today they commit the even worse sin of sounding tame. Marvin Gaye Live In Montreux 1980 EAGLE VISION is a standard concert film without extras. But it’s a blisteringly soulful performance with “Let’s Get It On” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” predictably among the triumphs. Elton John’s Greatest Hits?One Night Only MERCURY was recorded over two nights at Madison Square Garden in October 2000. The versions of songs such as “Tiny Dancer” and “Philadelphia Freedom” are decent enough. But a list of guests that includes Ronan Keating, Bryan Adams and Billy Joel turns it into more of a celebrity love-in than a concert. Guitar Gods WARNER MUSIC VISION is a superior exercise in nostalgia and compiles performances by a dozen different axe heroes, including Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Duane Eddy. Blues Masters?The Essential History Of The Blues WARNER MUSIC VISION lacks the personal touch of Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey, reviewed here recently. But you can only marvel at the b/w footage of Son House, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. Gary Crowley hosts We Could Be Kings UNCUT , a brisk run-through of 16 classic indie guitar anthems, including The Las’ timeless “There She Goes” and The Jam’s “That’s Entertainment”.

(PH)