Though there aren't a ton of great music concerts on Blu-ray yet, there are still several to choose from. Here's a look at our current top picks represented by a variety of genres and artists.
Sting's former trumpet player is now a star in his own right. Backed by the Boston Pops and special guests Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, John Mayer, Katharine McPhee, Lucia Micarelli, Sting, and Steven Tyler, Botti puts on an excellent show.
See pricing for Chris Botti Live in Boston [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Music Hall'
Though this doesn't offer fantastic video quality for a Blu-ray, the sound quality is quite good and Gilmour puts on a great show. Hard to pass up if you're a Pink Floyd fan. Guest appearances by David Bowie, Gram Nash, and David Crosby.
See pricing for David Gilmour--Remember That Night [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
If you're a sucker for mainstream artists, this tribute to "hit man" David Foster is filled with them. Filmed at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas, "Foster and Friends" is generally considered a very good-looking and -sounding Blu-ray concert disc. Don't worry, it's OK to like Kenny G and Josh Groban. Really.
See pricing for Hitman: David Foster and Friends [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'It Might Get Loud'
Technically not a true concert Blu-ray, "It Might Get Loud," is Davis Guggenheim's ("An Inconvenient Truth") 2009 documentary about three of rock's greatest guitarists, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2), and Jack White (Whitestripes). A must-own for guitar freaks.
See pricing for It Might Get Loud [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'John Mayer: Where the Light Is--Live in Los Angeles'
While we await the arrival of the Led Zeppelin 2 DVD concert collection to arrive on Blu-ray, this the next best thing. Based on the band's 1973 New York concerts, the sound has been remastered in 5.1 surround. That said, it gets higher marks for its picture quality than its audio quality.
See pricing for Led Zeppelin--The Song Remains the Same [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'Madonna Sticky and Sweet Tour'
This disc takes you to Madonna's late 2008 concert in Buenos Aires, a place she says holds special meaning for her (you can guess why). Though the camera seems to avoid closeups, the original Lady Gaga still delivers what her fans want at 51. Whether it's what you really want will depend, of course, on how much you like Madonna.
See pricing for Madonna Stick and Sweet Tour [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'Michael Jackson--This Is It'
Though the video isn't as sharp as we'd have liked to have seen for HD, "This Is It," which chronicles Jackson's rehearsals leading up to what was scheduled to be a daunting 50-date tour, is surprisingly engaging and well done.
See pricing for Michael Jackson--This Is It [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
This disc continues to be a little hard to find (it looks like it has been discontinued) but it's considered a great concert disc, with excellent sound and video, especially if you're a Police fan. Shot in Buenos Aires.
See pricing for The Police: Certifiable [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
Here's another one that's not a true concert video, but Scorsese's Rolling Stones documentary mixes concert footage from the band's Bigger Bang Tour with commentary. Warning: Some people didn't love it--but perhaps that's because the aging Stones just look a little scary in high-definition. For those looking for something that's more of a pure concert, other Stones options include the "Live at the Max" disc, which started out in IMAX theaters 20 years ago.
See pricing for Rolling Stones--Shine a Light [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'Roy Orbison: Black & White Night'
As its title implies, this concert was shot in black and white, but it still benefits from a move to Blu-ray, with a sharper picture and better sound. Features guest performances by Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett, J.D. Souther, Jennifer Warnes, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits.
See pricing for Roy Orbison: Black & White Night [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
Gotta have some Who in the round up, though it was a tough call on which disc to include. This is early Who, when Keith Moon was still around. Filmed in 35mm and restored in high-definition for the Blu-ray release.
See pricing for The Who: Live at Kilburn [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
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'Woodstock: '3 Days of Peace & Music Director's Cut (40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition)'
This film won an Oscar for best documentary back in 1970. The newly released version includes additional footage. The original soundtrack--based on 8-track recordings--has been converted to Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel lossless, as well as Dolby Digital 5.1. It's a miracle it sounds as good as it does. The only drawback is the price of the package, which Amazon sells for around $50.
See pricing for Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music Director's Cut (40th Anniversary Two-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com To go back to the original story and post a comment, click here.
