The Dick Cavett Show Rock Icons - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Distributor: Kaleidoscope-Shock Entertainment
Certificate: M | region 4 | Available to buy

Extras: No

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

Dick Cavett, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, David Bowie

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?

For much of the late sixties and early 1970's Dick Cavett was the most intelligent chat show host on US TV, always happy to have interesting guests as opposed to someone plugging their latest opus. Cavett always found room for rock acts and this new three

disc set from Kaleidoscope brings together some of the biggest names in late sixties west coast rock, disc one is the pick of the bunch and features both Stephen Stills and David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash as well as the fantastic Joni Mitchell and Jefferson Airplane, all perform some great music, including an awesome solo 4 + 20 by Stills, this show was actually filmed the day after the legendary Woodstock. Also on the first disc is a spaced out David Bowie from 1974 when he was at the height of his powers and in full Thin White Duke mode, could a man ever be skinnier, there's also a a typically off the wall appearance by Sly Stone. Disc two is devoted to Janis Joplin and as good as the performances are it's very fascinating to

actually watch the interviews with her, such a powerful voice yet a surprisingly delicate woman, because the 3 disc box set includes the full episodes and not just the music performances the June 1970 edition also features a fantastic interview with Raquel Welch, very funny to watch as Cavett is practically salivating over Welch.

The third disc features three giants of the music scene in Stevie Wonder, George Harrison and Paul Simon, it's fantastic to see the Harrison interview in pristine quality, it's long been a sought after Beatles bootleg, Harrison had been very busy organising The Concert For Bangladesh and here proves to be a great interviewee with his candour and honesty, he also performs a brilliant song with Gary Wright and his band Wonderwheel. The Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon shows are also excellent especially Simon's casual sitting in his chair and running through a work in progress.

If it was just the songs this would still be a fantastic release but by including the full shows it turns it into an essential purchase.

Any Special Features?

There's a great special on disc one, from August 1972 and has Cavett going on tour with The Rolling Stones, with Mick Jagger looking suspiciously like Ron Weasley.