Music DVD Review: Top Ten Concert DVD's of 2007

With the proliferation of good concert DVDs coming out over the last few years, it has become increasingly difficult to narrow these lists down to just ten choices. I started by excluding historical compilations like AC/DC's Plug Me In, and special edition DVD's of older videos like Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains The Same or The Beatles' Help. I focused on recent performances that were released on DVD for the first time in 2007.

Budget and time constraints have also keep me from purchasing and reviewing all of the concert DVD's I would have liked to, so I do realize that many great ones have slipped through the cracks. I will let the readers point these out. Here are some of my personal favorites that still get heavy rotation at my house:

1. David Gilmour - Remember That Night: Instead of doing another mediocre Pink Floyd album and mammoth world tour, David Gilmour recorded an intimate little album called On An Island and embarked on his own short tour that featured the new album performed in its entirety. Remember That Night was filmed over three nights in May 2006 at London's Royal Albert Hall, and showcases why Gilmour is still considered one of the greatest guitarists on the planet. Even if you weren't crazy about the new album, Gilmour also gives some of the best Pink Floyd performances I have ever seen, including an astounding 23-minute performance of "Echoes" which was worth the price of the DVD alone.

2. Eric Clapton - Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007: After watching the first Crossroads Guitar Festival DVD back in 2004, I had been counting the days until the next one came out. Who would Clapton invite this time, and would it be as good as the first? Well, inviting the camera shy Jeff Beck to perform again, and then tearing through half of the first Blind Faith album with his old bandmate Steve Winwood for the first time in almost 30 years certainly didn't hurt the cause. Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 is an extraordinary two-disc set that features over four hours of performances from some of the most legendary guitarist in the business. I am already counting the days until the next one.

3. Yes - Live At Montreux 2003: In the summer of 2003, Yes finally graced the stage of the famous Montreux Jazz festival and gave one of their best performances of the decade. Live at Montreux 2003 was recorded during the band's Full Circle tour, which was billed as "Together Again...Classic Yes." With the quintessential lineup of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White firmly back in place, classic Yes was exactly what you got too, with a set highlighted by an almost entire performance of their legendary 1971 album Fragile.

Article Author: Paul Roy

Paul Roy is a system administrator by day and amateur music DVD critic by night. When not attending as many live concerts as he possibly can, Paul likes nothing more than to kick back with a good concert DVD and rattle some walls. …

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