The emphasis here is on Sixties-era rock, with stellar performances by Jefferson Airplane, Cream, the Doors and Santana. Mick Jagger gives a warm and funny induction speech honoring the Beatles. Dhani Harrison, the son of the late George Harrison, joins Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood and Prince for a terrific version of "While My Guitar Gentle Weeps." A shambling take of the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" encompasses the likes of Jagger, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Ringo Starr.
Not much musical consistency in this smorgasbord of hard rock, alternative and heavy metal. R.E.M. and Eddie Vedder sound great doing R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon." Metallica is searing in "Master of Puppets," while Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band bring down the house for a shimmering version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."
Kind of a sonic grab bag. Billy Joel shows his witty side in paying tribute to John Mellencamp. U2 and the Boss prove a perfect fit in covering U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." It helps make up for some disappointing turns by the Who and the Byrds.
Rock 'n' roll pioneers are showcased in this volume featuring the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chubby Checker and Bo Diddley. Tina Turner is in fine voice doing "River Deep--Mountain High" alongside an impromptu band that includes Paul Simon, Little Richard and Stevie Wonder. Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson serve up a slice of blues manna in "Farther on Up the Road."
With an emphasis on rock 'n' roll from the Fifties and Sixties, this volume is among the most solid in the collection. John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt share the stage for a raw, sexy version of Hooker's blues classic, "I'm in the Mood." If that wasn't enough, B.B. King and Eric Clapton join Buddy Guy for a rousing take on "Let Me Love You Baby." Still, nothing can top the dazzling lineup of Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Ron Wood, Flea and Metallica conjuring up rock heaven in "The Train Kept a-Rollin'."
Emphasizing soul and R&B, this anthology captures performances by such greats as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Isaac Hayes and Parliament-Funkadelic. Percy Sledge does a commanding "When a Man Loves a Woman" (a song you just know he's sick to death of singing), while Franklin and Green are spellbinding. Mary J. Blige stumbles over her induction of Solomon Burke. He deserved better.
A more contemporary vibe marks this collection of performances and speeches. Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono hug on the occasion of John Lennon's induction into the Hall. Bruce Springsteen inducts Jackson Browne and admits his envy at Browne's success with women. The surviving members of Creedence Clearwater Revival don't do much to hide their dislike of one another during their 1993 induction. Elvis Costello and the Attractions give a blistering rendition of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." The misguided pairing of Axl Rose and Bruce Springsteen doesn't do the Fab Four any favors in "Come Together."
Melissa Etheridge delivers a soulful acoustic cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." James Taylor proves he can still hit the emotional buttons with "Fire and Rain." Lynyrd Skynyrd proves it doesn't get the joke and launches into "Free Bird." The Pretenders get time for three songs, but Chrissie Hynde's f-bomb in "Precious" is censored and she substitutes a Stevie Nicks reference for Brigitte Bardot in "Message of Love."
Highlights from the 1995 Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that commemorated the facility's opening in Cleveland, Ohio.