Montreux

In 1993, Paul Rodgers released the acclaimed blues based album Muddy Water Blues (now available on Eagle Records) with contributions from many special guest artists with a shared love for the blues. In July 1994 the tour in support of this album rolled into Montreux. The regular tour band was joined through the evening by a number of special guests to create a typically unique Montreux festival performance including an amazing finale of Hoochie Coochie Man where all the guests join in. As well as tracks from the Muddy Water Blues album there are all the classic tracks that you would expect from across Paul Rodgers highly successful career. With guest appearances from: Brian May (Queen), Steve Lukather (Toto), Eddie Kirkland, Sherman Robertson, Luther Allison, Robert Lucas and Kenny Neal.

In many Yes fans' eyes, the group will never issue a live album better than their 1973 classic, Yessongs. But the group has issued quite a few subsequent live sets, and as evidenced by 2007's Live at Montreux 2003, Yes remain one of prog rock's top live bands. Live at Montreux features arguably their definitive lineup (Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White) and a few newer tracks are included, but Yes are no fools - they know that longtime fans expect to hear the classics. Nearly all of Yes' classics from the early '70s are here in solid/spirited renditions, including "Long Distance Runaround," "I've Seen All Good People," and "Roundabout." And it's always a gas to hear such album cuts/fan favorites as "Siberian Khatru," "Heart of the Sunrise," "And You and I," and "South Side of the Sky," while even "Don't Kill the Whale" gets a rare airing…

These two concerts from Montreux in 1991 and 1992 catch Tori Amos right at the start of her solo career. The first, from July 1991, was filmed a few months before the release of her "Little Earthquakes" album and the second from July 1992 followed a few months after. There is a fascinating progression from one year to the next as she grows in confidence and skill as a live performer, buoyed by the critical and commercial success of the album. Naturally most of the songs are taken from "Little Earthquakes" but there are also rare songs from her various EPs released across the two years which didn't make it onto the album including her distinctive takes on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and "Thank You" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

It's a fortunate thing that this DVD exists. Up until now, we've been limited to audio examples of Talk Talk's excellence as an innovative group unnecessarily burdened with the limiting "80s" tag. Now we have some definitive video proof of their greatness. Recorded during their final tour, Live At Montreux 1986 is what fans of the band have been hoping for ever since… well, ever since 1986. Recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival before an enthusiastic audience, this video captures the band at not only the height, but the end of their pop prowess.