Scorsese`s
“…films that tenderly and evocatively breathe new life, fire, magic and wonder into all aspects of the blues, past and present” - Time Out
SNAPPER MUSIC is delighted to announce that, in the wake of a hugely successful and critically acclaimed theatrical run, Martin Scorsese’s eagerly anticipated film series, The Blues, will be released on DVD on 29 March 2004.
Under the guiding hand of legendary director Martin Scorsese, The Blues is a series of seven uplifting films by seven-world famous directors who share a passion for the music. The films, by Scorsese, Mike Figgis, Wim Wenders Clint Eastwood, Charles Burnett, Marc Levin and Richard Pearce, capture the essence of blues music and delve into its global influence - from roots in Africa to its inspirational role in today`s music.
Packed with exclusive bonus material, the titles will be widely available individually at HMV, Virgin, MVC, Borders, WHSmiths, Blockbuster and all good music and DVD retailers, RRP £14.99.
FEEL LIKE GOING HOME (Cat No: SMADVD030, ‘U’, 110 mins)
Martin Scorsese (‘The Last Waltz’, ‘Raging Bull’, ‘Gangs Of New York’) winds his way from the banks of the Niger River in Mali to the cotton fields and juke joints of the Mississippi Delta to trace the origins of the blues in a lyrical combination of original performances (including Willie King, Taj Mahal, Otha Turner, and Ali Farka Toure) and rare archival footage (featuring Son House, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker).
Bonus Features: Nearly 30 Minutes Of Special Features: Six new and extended performances not seen in the film (Taj Mahal & Corey Harris: "Sitting On Top Of the World"; Willie King & the Liberators: "Spoonful"; Keb` Mo` & Corey Harris: "Sweet Home Chicago"; Otha Turner & Corey Harris: "Sitting On Top Of the World"; Salif Keita: "Folon" and Corey Harris: "Honeysuckle"); On-Camera Interview With Scorsese; Director Biography and Filmography; Special Menu Option To Scan For All Music Performances; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer
THE SOUL OF A MAN (Cat No: SMADVD031, ‘12’, 127 mins)
Wim Wenders (‘Buena Vista Social Club’; ‘Wings Of Desire’; ‘Paris, Texas’) explores the lives of his favourite blues artists, Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and J. B. Lenoir, in a film that is part history and part personal pilgrimage. The film tells the story of these artists` lives in music through a fictional film-within-a-film, rare archival footage and covers of their songs by contemporary musicians, including Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Lou Reed, Eagle Eye Cherry, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Cassandra Wilson, Los Lobos and many others.
Bonus Features: Nearly 60 Minutes Of Special Features: Five full-length performances not seen in the film from Lou Reed; Cassandra Wilson; Alvin Youngblood Hart; Marc Ribot and Chris Thomas King); Outtake From the Film “The Visit To the Plantation”; On-Camera Interview With Wenders; Director Commentary: Director Biography and Filmography; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer
THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS (Cat No: SMADVD032, ‘PG’, 119 mins)
Richard Pearce (‘The Long Walk Home’, ‘Leap Of Faith’, ‘A Family Thing’) traces the musical odyssey of blues legend B.B. King in a film that pays tribute to the city that gave birth to a new style of blues. Pearce`s homage to Memphis features original performances by B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Rosco Gordon and Ike Turner, as well as historical footage of Howlin` Wolf and Rufus Thomas.
Bonus Features: Over 30 Minutes Of Special Features: Three full-length performances not seen in the film (B.B. King: "Blues Boys Tune" and “Key To the Highway” and Hubert Sumlin and David Johansen: "Smokestack Lightning”); On-Camera Interview With Richard Pearce and Robert Kenner; Director Commentary; Director Biography and Filmography; Special Menu Option To Scan For All Music Performances; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer
WARMING BY THE DEVIL`S FIRE (Cat No: SMADVD033, ‘12’,
106 mins)
Charles Burnett (‘Killer Of Sheep’, ‘My Brother`s Wedding’, ‘To Sleep With Anger’) presents a tale about a young boy`s encounter with his family in Mississippi in the 1950s, and intergenerational tensions between the heavenly strains of gospel and the devilish moans of the blues. Including performances by Big Bill Broonzy, Willie Dixon, Lightnin` Hopkins, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson.
Bonus Features: Bonus Performance: Willie Dixon’s classic 1966 rendition of “Nervous”; On-Camera Interview With Figgis; Director Commentary; Director Biography and Filmography; Special Menu Option To Scan For All Music Performances; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer
GODFATHERS AND SONS (Cat No: SMADVD034, ‘15’, 133 mins)
Marc Levin (‘Slam’, ‘Whiteboys’, ‘Brooklyn Babylon’) travels to Chicago with hip-hop legend Chuck D (of Public Enemy) and Marshall Chess (son of Leonard Chess and heir to the Chess Records legacy) to explore the heyday of Chicago blues, as they unite to produce an album that brings veteran blues players together with contemporary hip hop musicians. Along with never-before-seen archival footage of Howlin` Wolf, Muddy Waters and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, are original performances by Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Magic Slim, Ike Turner and Sam Lay.
Bonus Features: Over 30 Minutes Of Special Features: Five full-length performances not seen in the film (The ElectriK Mud Kats (aka Electric Mud Band) with vocals by Chuck D, Common & Kyle Jason: "Mannish Boy"; Lonnie Brooks: "All My Money Back"; Koko Taylor: "Ernestine"; Ottis Rush: “So Many Roads, So Many Trains” and Howlin’ Wolf: “Evil (Is Going On)”; On-Camera Interview With Levin; Director Commentary; Director Biography and Filmography; Special Menu Option To Scan For All Music Performances; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer
RED, WHITE & BLUES (Cat No: SMADVD035, ‘15’, 126 mins)
Mike Figgis (‘Stormy Monday’, ‘Leaving Las Vegas’) joins musicians including Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, Lonnie Donegan and Tom Jones as they perform and talk about the British blues boom from the late 1950`s onwards. A thoughtful and musically uplifting analysis of the influence of the blues on British musicians and the re-export of the music to America.
Bonus Features: Over 30 Minutes Of Special Features including seven full-length performances not seen in the film (Lulu with Jeff Beck: "Cry Me A River"; Pete King: "Lush Life"; Jeff Beck: "Nadia"; Jon Cleary – piano improvisation; Band Rehearsal – blues jam; Band Rehearsal – “Who’s Sorry Now?” and Mike Figgis – piano jam); On-Camera Interview With Figgis; Director Commentary; Director Biography and Filmography; Special Menu Option To Scan For All Music Performances; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer
PIANO BLUES (Cat No: SMADVD036, ‘15’, 85 mins)
Director, actor - and piano player - Clint Eastwood (‘Play Misty For Me’, ‘Bird’, ‘Unforgiven’) explores his life-long passion for piano blues, using a treasure trove of rare historical footage in addition to interviews and performances by such living legends as Ray Charles, Pinetop Perkins and Jay McShann, as well as Dave Brubeck and Marcia Ball.
Bonus Features: Director Biography and Filmography; 5.1 and Stereo Mixes and The Blues Trailer.
What the critics say;
UNCUT DVD OF THE MONTH
`this is a gift from the God of Blues himself` - Hollywood Reporter
`Essential Stuff` - HOTDOG
`All are wonderful` - Time Out
Individual film quotes:
UNCUT DVD OF THE MONTH
SMADVD030 Martin Scorsese - Feel Like Going Home
"This is essential stuff" - HOTDOG
SMADVD031 Wim Wenders - The Soul Of A Man
"this is a gift from the God of Blues himself" - Hollywood Reporter
SMADVD032 Richard Pearce - Road To Memphis
"Lovely, subtle, low key film" - Time Out
SMADVD033 Charles Burnett - Warming By The The Devils Fire
"The Ultimate Trip for anyone who has been moved by The Blues" - Blues Matters
SMADVD034 Marc Levin - Godfathers & Sons
"a gripping, fascinating history... into one of black music`s all time greatest record labels" - Hip Hop Connection "
SMADVD035 Mike Figgis - Red, White & Blues
"powerful & fascinating stuff" - Time Out
SMADVD036 Clint Eastwood - Piano Blues
"Beautifully unpretentious, and made with true love and understanding" - Time Out
For all further information, please contact:
Sara Thom or Nicola Barlow @ Media Communications
Tel: 020 8998 1517 Fax: 020 8566 8290
e-mail: sara.thom@mediacomms.co.uk/nicola.barlow@mediacomms.co.uk
www.snappermusic.com/theblues
Sony Jazz will release a selection of soundtracks and single artist
compilations taken from The Blues on 29th March 2004. For more details
please contact Peggy Sutton @ PPR Tel: 020 8960 1127 Email:
peggy@pprpublicity.com