JEFFREY MORGAN’S MEDIA BLACKOUT #552.184!

Toto – Falling In Between Live (Eagle Vision) :: Why does the singer look like Burton Cummings?

America – Live In Central Park 1979 (Eagle Vision) :: Need proof that they’re better than Neil Young?

Flipper – Live (MVD Visual) :: Beyond primitive or beyond belief?

Various Artists – A Tribute To Edith Piaf (Eagle Vision) :: Doesn’t anyone speak English anymore?

Mink DeVille – Live At Montreux 1982 (Eagle Vision) :: Since when does playing thirty seconds of “Harlem Nocturne” qualify you to play a jazz festival?

Earth, Wind & Fire – In Concert 1981 (Eagle Vision) :: And you thought Labelle had a cornball costumed act?

Gillan – The Glory Years (Eagle Vision) :: If this compilation stands tall with lotsa live fun from 1981 and a buncha bonus Euro TV vids, then why is it so short?

Dead Boys – Return Of The Living Dead Boys: Halloween Night 1986 (MVD Visual) :: Do two versions of “Sonic Reducer” and an intro by Joseph Ramone atone for Stiv’s Nazi uniform?

Pat Metheny Group – Imaginary Day Live (Eagle Vision) :: Should I say “So What” if this 10-year-old film contains a surfeit of slo-mo, blurry special effects and mini box split screens that does the music a decidedly dated disservice?

Metric – Live At Metropolis (Last Gang) :: Does Euro disco syntho electro pop done 20 years too late rate?

Quincy Jones – Live At Montreux 1996 (Eagle Vision) :: Not exactly Duke Ellington Live At Carnegie Hall, is it?

SIZZLING PLATTERS OF THE WEEK: Stray Cats – Rock Therapy & Blast Off (Hep Cat) :: If you only know the name Brian Setzer from his big band Yuletide excursions, then there’s no questioning the fact that these two must-have reissues—which originally hail from ’86 and ’89—are what you been a-missin’, oh boy. The buoyant bouffant energy and oily enthusiasm that oozes outta these rockabilly records like a tube of Brylcreem slowly squished under the rumblin’ wheels of a Ed “Big Daddy” Roth customized classic is nothing short of refreshingly authentic.

Be seeing you!