"Rock & Roll" (1995) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

David Espar

Writer:

David Espar (writer)

Release Date:

24 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | History | Music

Plot:

A history of rock and roll music.

Plot Keywords:

Rhythm And Blues | Beatles | Rock Music | Rock Band | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Liev Schreiber	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hoss Allen	...	Himself
Al Aronowitz	...	Himself
Joan Baez	...	Herself
Jeff Barry	...	Himself
David Bartholomew	...	Himself (as Dave Bartholomew)
The Beatles	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Chuck Berry	...	Himself
Sonny Bono	...	Himself
David Bowie	...	Himself
James Brown	...	Himself
Paul Burlison	...	Himself
The Byrds	...	Themselves (archive footage)
John Cale	...	Himself
Ray Charles	...	Himself
Marshall Chess	...	Himself
Phil Chess	...	Himself
Eric Clapton	...	Himself
Jack Clement	...	Himself
George Clinton	...	Himself
The Coasters	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Sam Cooke	...	Himself (archive footage)
Alice Cooper	...	Himself
Steve Cropper	...	Himself
David Crosby	...	Himself
Dick Dale	...	Himself
Chuck D.	...	Himself
John Densmore	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bo Diddley	...	Himself
The Dixie Cups	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Lonnie Donegan	...	Himself
The Doors	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Tom Dowd	...	Himself
Donald Dunn	...	Himself (as Duck Dunn)
Bob Dylan	...	Himself
Grandmaster Flash	...	Himself
Aretha Franklin	...	Herself (archive footage)
Jerry Garcia	...	Himself
Art Garfunkel	...	Herself (archive footage)
Marvin Gaye	...	Himself (archive footage)
Allen Ginsberg	...	Himself
Berry Gordy	...	Himself
Rick Hall	...	Himself
George Harrison	...	Himself (archive footage)
Deborah Harry	...	Herself
Brian Holland	...	Himself
Eddie Holland	...	Himself
John Lee Hooker	...	Himself
Mick Jagger	...	Himself
Johnnie Johnson	...	Himself
Booker T. Jones	...	Himself (as Booker T.)
Ken Kesey	...	Himself
Ben E. King	...	Himself
Carole King	...	Herself
Frankie Knuckles	...	Himself
Al Kooper	...	Himself
Robbie Krieger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jerry Leiber	...	Himself
John Lennon	...	Himself (archive footage)
Larry Levine	...	Himself
Jerry Lee Lewis	...	Himself
Little Richard	...	Himself
Ray Manzarek	...	Himself (archive footage)
George Martin	...	Himself
The Marvelettes	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Paul McCartney	...	Himself (archive footage)
Darryl McDaniels	...	Himself (as DMC)
Roger McGuinn	...	Himself
Barry McGuire	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bill Medley	...	Himself
The Miracles	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Scotty Moore	...	Himself
Jim Morrison	...	Himself (archive footage)
Van Morrison	...	Himself
Jimmy Page	...	Himself
Sam Phillips	...	Himself
Wilson Pickett	...	Himself
Robert Plant	...	Himself
Iggy Pop	...	Himself
Elvis Presley	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lloyd Price	...	Himself
Otis Redding	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lou Reed	...	Himself
Martha Reeves	...	Herself
Keith Richards	...	Himself
The Righteous Brothers	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Robbie Robertson	...	Himself
The Rolling Stones	...	Themselves (archive footage)
The Ronettes	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Rick Rubin	...	Himself
Ravi Shankar	...	Himself
The Shirelles	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Russell Simmons	...	Himself
Paul Simon	...	Himself (archive footage)
Phil Spector	...	Himself
Ringo Starr	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mike Stoller	...	Himself
The Supremes	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Derek Taylor	...	Himself
The Temptations	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Rufus Thomas	...	Himself
Ike Turner	...	Himself
Sid Vicious	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bunny Wailer	...	Himself
Muddy Waters	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jerry Wexler	...	Himself
Brian Wilson	...	Himself
Jackie Wilson	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mary Wilson	...	Herself
Bill Wyman	...	Himself
Peter Yarrow	...	Himself

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Self-Important But Absorbing & Focused

Originally broadcast on PBS, this deadly serious, Ken Burns-ish, take on the evolution of rock and roll manages to deliver some incredibly absorbing archival footage and interviews presented in a very concise, logical manner. Far superior than the other rock n' roll documentary that aired around the same time, this series places such icons as the Beatles, Chuck Berry & Elvis Presley more firmly within the fabric of the other music of the time. The history is mostly told through racially-themed observations, often at the expense of some white artists, such as the always-overlooked Bill Haley, who doesn't garner a single mention, let alone any credit. While one would be careless to avoid the racial importance that rock and roll deserves, the accusation that the Beatles were deliberately poised as "safe" replacements for black music (specifically Motown) is simply lacking merit.

Most any rock fan will find issue not so much with what's included, but what's omitted. Heavy metal is given as much slight mention as Haley.

Other problems arise as the series approaches the modern day, devoting much too much time by lavishing over-significance on such schlock as the Beastie Boys, as well as the overstated influence of reggae (as briefly seen in such bands the Police, the Talking Heads and The Clash). Racism (as well as gay-bashing) is credited yet again, this time for the ultimate rejection of disco. Alternative/grunge music - being all the craze at the time - is hoisted into the spotlight by the final episode, presented as some kind of ultimate culmination of the rebel ethic began by all those who proceeded them. Just my opinion, but this type of "history" gets so complicated and uncertain at this point that the film would've been much better served halting it's anthropology around the pre-disco/punk period of 1975 or '76. Rock has been less easier to define since then.

Still, the series is at its best covering the post-Buddy Holly/pre-Monterey Pop era, when rock not only demonstrated some of its greatest artistry, but - it could be argued - its highest diversity. Here, ample time & affect is given to the pop, folk, soul, surf & psychedelic movements. Ultimately, for all its faults, "Rock and Roll" is a terrific primer for the uninitiated, and a wonderful conversation piece for die-hards.