Rating: 
Summary: Riveting footage
Review: A true Who fan already owns the Jeff Stein classic "The Kids Are Alright," but there's ample reason to add "Maximum R&B" to one's shrine. The difference here is that the band interviews (minus the late Keith Moon) between concert footage show the group in later years, with plenty of reflection and musing over their place in rock and roll pantheon. The songs, culled from sets spanning over two decades, are a good mix of The Who's Mod, Pop Art, and hard rock catalogue, and each performance is riveting. A sample of my favorite moments show how much the band evolved from their debut in 1964: the anarchic jamming of "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (with screaming teenaged audience), to the overdriven pop of "So Sad About Us" where I could swear John Entwistle's bass sounds like a demonic piano. The best (in my opinion) era is the post-"Tommy"/Woodstock appearances at Tanglewood and Isle of Wight, where the band burns through "Heaven and Hell," "I Can't Explain," "Water" and "I Don't Even Know Myself." The abandon and power in The Who's playing was never equalled and seldom surpassed even by the group's later efforts. The later years, of course, show the band getting bigger (chalking up a Guiness world record for attendance at Charleton concert in 1974) yet still game, mixing songs from "Quadrophenia" with 60's hits like "Substitute." I was surprised at how powerfully they pulled off the "Quadrophenia" set, loaded as it was with synthesizer tapes and technical booby traps. When The Who rocket through "Drowned " and "Bell Boy" it's clear that their chemistry was partly fired by Moon's mania; when he died, something of the old Who died with him. But "Maximum R&B" is as good as any tribute to this excellent band.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting footage
Review: A true Who fan already owns the Jeff Stein classic "The Kids Are Alright," but there's ample reason to add "Maximum R&B" to one's shrine. The difference here is that the band interviews (minus the late Keith Moon) between concert footage show the group in later years, with plenty of reflection and musing over their place in rock and roll pantheon. The songs, culled from sets spanning over two decades, are a good mix of The Who's Mod, Pop Art, and hard rock catalogue, and each performance is riveting. A sample of my favorite moments show how much the band evolved from their debut in 1964: the anarchic jamming of "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (with screaming teenaged audience), to the overdriven pop of "So Sad About Us" where I could swear John Entwistle's bass sounds like a demonic piano. The best (in my opinion) era is the post-"Tommy"/Woodstock appearances at Tanglewood and Isle of Wight, where the band burns through "Heaven and Hell," "I Can't Explain," "Water" and "I Don't Even Know Myself." The abandon and power in The Who's playing was never equalled and seldom surpassed even by the group's later efforts. The later years, of course, show the band getting bigger (chalking up a Guiness world record for attendance at Charleton concert in 1974) yet still game, mixing songs from "Quadrophenia" with 60's hits like "Substitute." I was surprised at how powerfully they pulled off the "Quadrophenia" set, loaded as it was with synthesizer tapes and technical booby traps. When The Who rocket through "Drowned " and "Bell Boy" it's clear that their chemistry was partly fired by Moon's mania; when he died, something of the old Who died with him. But "Maximum R&B" is as good as any tribute to this excellent band.
Rating:
Summary: If you're a Who fan, you gotta get this one
Review: Although the sound could be a little better, this DVD is still worth getting if you're as big a Who fan as I am. The picture quality is awesome, and so is the various concert footage. Listening to the band (especially Pete) talk about their various performances is enlightening. The sound could use a little more juice, but that just means you have to turn up your stereo a little higher. Oh darn! Anyway, I wish they'd hurry up and release The Kids Are Alright on DVD, my videotape is about wore-out.
Rating:
Summary: Gazing At You, I Get The Heat
Review: Another fine video of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, with little repetition from "The Kids Are Alright". Excellent liner notes and generous portions (over 2+1/2 hrs). Complements the CD boxed set and the other videos quite well. Very well done and highly enjoyable look back at Pete, Roger, Keith, and John in their heyday.
Rating:
Summary: The Fury,The Music,The Who
Review: Being a fervent Who fan I had to get this video, and I must say that I was extremely impressed. To me The Who were the best on stage, were their individual showmanship could really shine. This video displays this in top form. The highlight of the video was "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" when Keith Moon just went bananas. Keith Moon in my humble opinion is The greatest drummer ever. And this video shows his genius on every song, except the Kenney Jones footage and other post Moon footage. This was the weak point for me. I feel that Keith was The Who, in the sense that he gave it that backbone and the excitment and when he died the band died with him. Other than that, it's a great video. I would recommened it to every Who fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Great companion to the box set of the same name. All of the performances are absolutely live. There is no lip synch footage here. There are also interviews with the band members. My favorite song is Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere, when during the guitar feedback solo, Pete chucks his guitar and picks up another one, tunes up, and starts playing.
Rating:
Summary: a must see for every music-documnted lover
Review: I am a fan of The Who and I'd like to recommend it not only to Who fans but to everyone WHO cares about the roots of music back in the 60's. My favorite moment is when Keith collapses on stage, and Pete manages to find someone WHO can play the drums, not as good as, but still... I wish rock and roll will have more classics such as this one - a must see for anyone WHO bothered to check this review!
Rating: 
Summary: A Quick One While the Producer Was Away (apparently)
Review: I own the laserdisc version and eagerly anticipated the DVD release. I am sad to say that it falls far below the standards we've come to expect from "fully loaded" DVDs. The video quality and sound, even given the quality of the original source masters, is far below what can be achieved with a proper remastering job. For a comparison with what COULD be achieved from an old Rock 'N' Roll movie, rent or buy the Criterion Collection's DVD release of "Gimme Shelter"; it'll blow you away. Furthermore, although the packaging promises an "eight-page booklet", it is nowhere to be found. I'm glad I have the "Thirty Years" CD box set which came with very thorough and beautifully written reference material. That said, this collection of Moon-era (and dispensible Kenny Jones-era) live performances are sure to make wish you were: a) alive in the mid-seventies, and 2) at a Who concert. They were THAT good!
Rating:
Summary: A Quick One While the Producer Was Away (apparently)
Review: I own the laserdisc version and eagerly anticipated the DVD release. I am sad to say that it falls far below the standards we've come to expect from "fully loaded" DVDs. The video quality and sound, even given the quality of the original source masters, is far below what can be achieved with a proper remastering job. For a comparison with what COULD be achieved from an old Rock 'N' Roll movie, rent or buy the Criterion Collection's DVD release of "Gimme Shelter"; it'll blow you away. Furthermore, although the packaging promises an "eight-page booklet", it is nowhere to be found. I'm glad I have the "Thirty Years" CD box set which came with very thorough and beautifully written reference material. That said, this collection of Moon-era (and dispensible Kenny Jones-era) live performances are sure to make wish you were: a) alive in the mid-seventies, and 2) at a Who concert. They were THAT good!
Rating:
Summary: A Quick One While the Producer Was Away (apparently)
Review: I own the laserdisc version and eagerly anticipated the DVD release. I am sad to say that it falls far below the standards we've come to expect from "fully loaded" DVDs. The video quality and sound, even given the quality of the original source masters, is far below what can be achieved with a proper remastering job. For a comparison with what COULD be achieved from an old Rock 'N' Roll movie, rent or buy the Criterion Collection's DVD release of "Gimme Shelter"; it'll blow you away. Furthermore, although the packaging promises an "eight-page booklet", it is nowhere to be found. I'm glad I have the "Thirty Years" CD box set which came with very thorough and beautifully written reference material. That said, this collection of Moon-era (and dispensible Kenny Jones-era) live performances are sure to make wish you were: a) alive in the mid-seventies, and 2) at a Who concert. They were THAT good!
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