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"Purple Rain" - Badly written and acted howler that overflows with some of the most indelible music of its era Social Distortion, "Live in Orange County" - This new disc, shot during one of those lengthy House of Blues stands, sums up the slow-to-record band every bit as well as its "Live at the Roxy" album "Meeting People Is Easy" - A difficult account of Radiohead's "OK Computer" world tour; watching the band slowly succumb to exhaustion isn't pleasant 24 "Stop Making Sense" - Jonathan Demme expertly directed, but this enthralling 1984 document of Talking Heads at their theatrical peak is purely the brainchild of big-suit-donning David Byrne, whose paranoid persona undergoes a funky transformation - from uptight to all right You may take to the stateliness of her symphonic stuff In other words, Reggae 101 And there are scores more - "U2 Live at Red Rocks," "Sign o' the Times," "Let It Be," "The T "Roy Orbison: A Black and White Night" - A live tribute to the singularly operatic vocalist and songwriter who specialized in "it's-over" drama 5 The "Later" series - Highly entertaining collections of performances from the ingenious Jools Holland-hosted BBC variety program The 20-minute live take on "I Would Die 4 U" and "Baby I'm a Star" on the second disc is worth the sticker price Provides essential performances, snippets of videos, proper background, scores of interviews The roots of today's indie sound "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" - The artistic and corporate Odyssey of Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," filmed in black and white by photographer Sam Jones " The latter has significance (it was the band's last gig), but I prefer the former for sonic clarity "Beastie Boys" - A two-disc anthology from Criterion featuring 18 of their eccentric breakthrough videos, plus 40 remixes and loads of detritus "Rust Never Sleeps" - Under his directorial pseudonym Bernard Shakey, Neil Young has created the most concert films of any artist of his stature 19 39 It's impossible to know when she's real and when she's just playing to the cameras That it's amateurishly shot and filled with roadies dressed as "Star Wars" refugees doesn't take away from the power of the performance, whether alone or with Crazy Horse 2 33 14 Visit," a fascinating documentary about their February `64 arrival The original disc is heavy on British acts, the second ("Louder") focuses more on American talent, and the third, "Legends," will yield something to awe you, like Al Green doing "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" 22 " 34 Some are of historical interest "Woodstock" - Three days of peace and music and mud and rain and drugs and love, captured in sobering but also electrifying split-screen fashion by director Michael Wadleigh and his crew, including Martin Scorsese "Elvis: The `68 Comeback Special" - One of rock's great television moments now comes as a triple-disc set that presents the show as it aired, then adds unaired footage 38 But she intrigues either way com If you know nothing, this is Rock 101 Should have been improved by including unedited footage, but at 10 hours, they're sticking to it There are scores more memorable performances, many great, many awful but worth reliving - just like what's on these five discs See also McCartney's "Wingspan "Classic Albums" - Pick at least five from this exceptional BBC series, which, after more than a dozen installments that stretch the notion of "classic," nonetheless has the ability to force re-examinations on unlikely topics (Judas Priest's "British Steel," anyone?) "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" - Invest the time, do your homework I recommend "The Band," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Graceland K 28 26 "This Is Spinal Tap" - Of course 1 21 The antidote to `60s rock utopianism, to be watched not long after "Woodstock "Madonna: Truth or Dare" - A condensed reality series before such things existed, this somewhat revealing documentary epitomizes Madonna's manipulative ways 46 13 Voyeuristically appealing even for people who don't care for the band "Gimme Shelter" - The Maysles Brothers' account of the bad (even fatal) trip that was the Stones and friends at Altamont, with a prelude from Madison Square Garden to remind how great Mick and Keith were at the time A solid first step into world-beat The film itself, though, is a crucial chronicle of the band from British Invasion through "Tommy" and on up to the final performance before Keith Moon's death 18 "The Doors Collection" - A visual history, including experimental films and promotional clips and infamous television appearances; the full, fascinating "Live at the Hollywood Bowl"; and enough Jim Morrison poetry to have you celebrating lizards "24 Hour Party People" - No documentary better encapsulates the shift in British rock from the Pistols and Joy Division to New Order and Happy Mondays better than this re-enactment If you don't know why, you just haven't seen it yet " 9 A Ponderous and pretentious, this moody Phil Joanou film nonetheless sports some incredible performances None bores "The Filth and the Fury" - Entertaining and informative biography of the Sex Pistols, much of which fills in gaps for American punk fans who know the words to "Anarchy in the U 15 "The Complete Monterey Pop" - The Criterion Collection's benchmark, comprised of three discs: D All, however, provide a peer into pop that few real-life experiences can - and at a fraction of the cost of concert tickets A handful - "Freedom Express," "The Grateful Dead Movie," a four-disc "Live Aid" set - won't arrive for another month or two 6 More than a few illustrate the magnitude of his charisma Others are just great performances Almost alone in adequately defining the `90s hip-hop explosion; no one has made the genre retrospective documentary, just spoofs 50 discs that deserve a spot in any good rock 'n' roll video collection BY BEN WENER The Orange County Register So you wanna start a rock 'n' roll video library M If you fell off after grunge did, this brings you up to speed in glorious sound and deliberately fuzzy image 48 32 " Or "Rumours 31 "Don't Look Back" - D Then select three more 42 3 "Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Britpop" - Illuminating survey of the birth, life and death of the retro-forward sound that gave us Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Suede and more "Rattle and Hum" - The best of what's available from U2, as neither their Red Rocks nor Zoo TV sets are on DVD Want to just watch Lars on "Master of Puppets"? Go ahead Drawback: Some live footage has been overdubbed with studio versions "Honky Tonk Blues: The Hank Williams Story" - Maybe someday Burns will create the definitive 10-part study on country music But collectors looking for something to pump through their home theater system could do worse than this lot For a proper education on their roots and influence, however, hunt down "From a Whisper to a Scream: The Living History of Irish Music Made Prince a musical god "Metallica: Cunning Stunts" - True `tallica fans may prefer other videos, but this gets my vote for unparalleled DVD functionality "The Beatles Anthology" - The Fabs' official story 47 " but not the social climate that led to it 25 "The Last Waltz" - Many critics from the generation before me considered Scorsese's stirring account of the Band's all-star `76 send-off a bloated end to the long-over `60s Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and k "VH1 (Inside) Out - Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart" - Sad, inspirational account of the recording of fractured songwriter Zevon's final album, its author at death's door Show" - that still await remastering and reissuing 17 The "Old Yeller" of music DVDs: If this doesn't make you weep, your heart has died "The Smashing Pumpkins 1991-2000: Greatest Hits Video Collection" - Furthered the boundaries of what a clip collection could be by providing commentary tracks and other behind-the-scenes droppings about some of the most striking, surreal clips ever made "Dark Side of the Moon" and the Wailers' "Catch a Fire" are musts "The Cure: Trilogy" - Quintessential mope albums ("Pornography," "Disintegration" and "Bloodflowers") performed in their entirety for a basic appreciation of garish yet gorgeous Goth-rock "Buena Vista Social Club" - Director Wim Wenders' unfettered, fascinating look at a group of aging but still agile Cuban musicians who, because of this film and a series of Ry Cooder-produced albums, would go on to enjoy a much-deserved rediscovery stateside and abroad S I prefer the pulse of her "Post" days Some plug gaps in chronology 30 Once you adjust to its style, the excellence of the performances creeps through "The Clash: Westway to the World" - Indispensable two-hour profile of one of the best bands of all time, punk or otherwise Consider this list of 50 discs, then, as an inexact guide d lang serve as backing vocalists "Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music" - See No The performances may be spotty, but the film is a towering achievement that leaves you feeling as though you were there For an even more immediate reaction, see Sting's "All This Time," a moving small-scale performance captured mere hours after the events of 9-11 began " 44 All have their merits, but this `79 favorite is Neil at a turning point - for himself and rock `n' roll Loaded with clips and interviews A "Fela Kuti: Music Is the Weapon" - An overview of the oppressed life and times (and amazing music) of Nigerian Afropop genius Kuti But it is strikingly real in this hyperactive media age 29 "Bob Marley: Legend" - The triple-disc edition features the best-of CD, a remix disc and a DVD featuring the Jamaican giant performing most of his standards, plus a 90-minute documentary I say it keeps the spirit of the Hall of Famers alive when nothing else does (radio rarely plays them), then adds Van, Joni, Muddy Waters, Clapton, Dylan, Neil and, uh, Neil "The Kids Are Alright" - The single-disc edition will do; only original fans of this trove of archival Who performances would care about its restoration " 12 To see how Ness has grown, see also the low-budget documentary "Another State of Mind " 8 4 Any Bjork live DVD - Take your pick, as she documents every tour Still essential 41 21 Reverent perfection "Ken Burns' Jazz" - Invest the time, do your homework - and add "The Miles Davis Story" while you're at it His widely watched "Aloha From Hawaii" special also has received similar treatment 50 This study of one of its cornerstones is as good an entry point as any until a historic hootenanny comes along 16 Arrogant and competitive, witty and weirdly cool, this is Dylan in his first prime Everything after that was some other Who Giants like Springsteen and Costello sit at his heels and follow his lead "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" - Acclaimed tribute to the Funk Brothers, the house band during Motown's heyday, without whom the Tops and Temps and Supremes, to name only a few, wouldn't have had careers Turns your copy of "The Song Remains the Same" into a coaster If you think you know it all, you'll still see something you probably hadn't before Sets the standard for clip compilations "Pearl Jam: Touring Band" - The new Who at the start of their live peak "Concert for George" - A star-studded, heartwarming celebration of the Quiet Beatle a year after his untimely passing, with Clapton, Petty, Lynne, Ringo, Macca and more proving how lasting his contributions were 10 Virtually all of these are available for rent via Netflix 11 " "Imagine: John Lennon" has yet to arrive "Elvis: The Great Performances" - A fitting overview of the King from his Sun sessions and his "Ed Sullivan" launch to his paunchier, Quaalude-and-banana-sandwich days "Led Zeppelin: DVD" - All any fan needs "Tupac Resurrection" - Insightful, unflinchingly honest portrait of the gifted poet- rapper-actor that strains to sanctify him while admirably showing both his likable and dislikable side 7 More than five hours worth, spanning from January `70 to their final gig in August `79 "Best of Bowie" - Watch the chameleon change before your very eyes! See him turn from androgynous space creature to Thin White Duke in 30 minutes! See if you can make it through all of "Blue Jean"! 37 Pennebaker's eavesdropping documentary about magnetic Dylan on the cusp of something incredible while touring England solo in 1964; a year later he'd be back and garnering loathing for going electric 40 "Pink Floyd The Wall" - Imperfect and not for everyone, this midnight-movie staple remains a more mind-bending way to experience the Floyd's alienation epic than a dozen nights at Laserium "The Concert for New York City" - Wildly uneven, this, like "America: A Tribute to Heroes," should endure for historical value 27 In fact, it's quite likely that there are more music DVDs issued each year than there are new films released in theaters "A Hard Day's Night" - Richard Lester's trend-setting snapshot of Beatlemania, as innovative and delightful today as when it filled theaters with squealing girls Rage Against the Machine - Take your pick between two: "Live in Mexico City" or "Live at the Grand Olympic 23 Also required is the real thing - either "The Four Complete Historic Ed Sullivan Shows Featuring the Beatles," which provides context for the Fab Four's explosiveness; or "The Beatles First U I 36 Their "Anthology For now, it's represented only by run-of-the-mill concerts, clip collections as dated as acid-wash jeans, and a decent but by no means essential Johnny Cash anthology Amazon and Tower are always reliable "The History of Rock `n' Roll" - Spans pre-`50s influences to yesterday A 45 49 20 Well, there now are thousands of titles to get you going 35 Pennebaker's original film about the Summer of Love festival; another containing full sets from Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding; and a third with more than two hours of previously unseen performances - from the Who and Simon & Garfunkel, among many others 43 Prices, by the way, will vary depending on your discounter of choice