Monterey Pop (1968)
The Foundation

Description

DISC ONE: "Monterey Pop" New high-definition digital transfer, supervised by D.A. Pennebaker. New 5.1 mix by legendary recording engineer Eddie Kramer, presented in Dolby Digital and DTS. Audio commentary by Festival producer Lou Adler and D.A. Pennebaker. New video interview with Lou Adler and D.A. Pennebaker. Audio interviews with Festival producer John Phillips, Festival publicist Derek Taylor, and performers Cass Elliot and David Crosby. Photo essay by photographer Elaine Mayes. Original theatrical trailer. Orginal theatrical radio spots. Monterey Pop scrapbook. Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition.

DISC TWO: "Jimi Plays Monterey" and "Shake! Otis at Monterey" New high-definition digital transfers, supervised by D.A. Pennebaker. New 5.1 mixes by legendary recording engineer Eddie Kramer, presented in Dolby Digital and DTS. Audio commentary on Jimi Plays Monterey by music critic and historian Charles Shaar Murray. Two audio commentaries on Shake! by music critic and historian Peter Guralnick: the first on Otis Redding's Monterey performance, song by song; the second on Redding before and after Monterey. Interview with Phil Walden, Otis Redding's manager from 1959 to 1967. Original theatrical trailer for Jimi Plays Monterey. Video excerpt: Pete Townshend on Monterey and Jimi Hendrix. Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

DISC THREE: "Monterey Pop -- The Outtake Performance" Two hours of performances not included in the original film, from the following artists: Buffalo Springfield performing "For What It's Worth, " The Association, Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Blues Project, The Byrds, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Country Joe and the Fish, The Electric Flag, Jefferson Airplane, Al Kooper, The Mamas and the Papas, Laura Nyro, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Simon and Garfunkel, Tiny Tim, and The Who.

Tags

Rock, Hippies

Collected reviews and ratings

10 digitallyobsessed.com | Debi Lee Mandel, Jesse Shanks

There are no clichés here; what seems all-too-familiar now began somewhere, and the Pop Festival at Monterey in 1967 is where our cultural and musical diversity was truly embraced, perhaps for the first time. The rest, as they say, is history... made there, and preserved here, in this definitive collection for all time.
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9.5 DVD Verdict | Patrick Naugle

I don't know about you, but as the years go by I become more and more enticed by the music of yesteryear than today's melodic drivel. In an age of prepackaged pop stars and hardcore shock acts, stuff like The Mamas and the Papas seem both innocent and a refreshing breath of fresh air.
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9.0 Amazon user reviews

Monterey Pop, D.A. Pennebaker's 79-minute, 1968 film, effectively sets the scene for the festival, which took place during the fabled "Summer of Love," when the hippie ethos was in its fullest flower, especially on the West Coast. And while not all the featured performances are thrilling, those that are--principally by the Who, Jimi Hendrix, and the amazing Ravi Shankar--are worth the price of admission.
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9.0 New York Times | Renata Adler

It is possible that the way to a new kind of musical—using some of the talent and energy of what is still the most lively contemporary medium—may begin with just this kind of musical performance documentary.
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9.0 allmovie | Tom Wiener

Although Woodstock ultimately surpassed Monterey Pop for capturing a better sense of the entire experience of an outdoor music festival, Monterey's historical status is unassailable.
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9.0 DVD Talk | Randy Miller III

No matter your age or budget, those who love the music of the era should make it a point to own D.A. Pennebaker's landmark documentary on DVD. You honestly can't go wrong either way.
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9.0 DVD Times | Gary Couzens

This [Complete Criterion Edition] contains everything you’ll ever want to know about the festival, which remains a key event in Sixties music. Play it loud!
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8.0 filmcritic.com | Rachel Gordon

All in all, Monterey Pop is a precious, rare look at a time period that still holds sway over us. The variety of music, as well as the beautifully shot performances, are easy to become immersed in. If there was ever any question as to why most of these bands were so popular, this is quickly dispelled.
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8.0 DVD Journal | Mark Bourne

Criterion's The Complete Monterey Pop is not just a beautifully produced record of an event important when viewed through the lenses of popular music, cultural history, and simple nostagia. It also represents everything we love about DVD and home theater systems.
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