REVIEW: Various Artists, Saturday Night Live The Musical
Performances Vols. 1 & 2
- Scott Hudson
Let the celebration begin! Saturday Night Live is celebrating 25 years as television's reigning king of groundbreaking, cutting edge, late-night comedy. And while many networks are singing it's praises through a proliferation of interviews, reruns and specials; SNL and Dreamworks Records have chosen to commemorate the event with the release of the most memorable musical moments from the show. Hence, Saturday Night Live 25, The Musical Performances Vols.1 & 2. This two-volume compilation, sold separately, reflects the show's vital commitment of presenting to their audience, a wide variety of musical styles.
Volume 1 features a treasure-trove of standup performances for Pop/Rock lovers. Billy Joel's chart-topper "Only The Good Die Young" is nothing short of masterful, while Lenny Kravitz' "Are You Gonna Go My Way" rocks the audience like nobody's business. Eric Clapton's signature guitar licks give his passionate version of "Wonderful Tonight" a touch of class and is a perfect segue to the Counting Crows somber intro to "Round Here." Jazzy renditions like Jewel's "Who Will Save Your Soul" and Sting's "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" are squeaky clean, while Randy Newman's love for the City of Angels is solidified in his classic "I Love L.A."
This disc also includes Elvis Costello's controversial 1977 appearance where he abruptly halted the "record company-sanctioned" "Less Than Zero" in midstream and blasted into the "music-industry indictment," "Radio, Radio" in one of the most memorable performances in SNL history. The disc also includes classic sets by the Greatful Dead, David Bowie, Paul Simon and Tom Petty to name a few.
Volume 2 boasts a more diverse mix of artists and styles. The highlights of this volume are many, from Nirvana's angst-ridden rendition of "Rape Me" to Chrissie Hynde's (Pretenders) soulful lament on "I'll Stand By You." Rock fans will devour the live versions of Oasis' "Acquiesce", Green Day's "When I Come Around" and the Beastie Boys wicked performance of "Sabotage" which kicks royal ass. Hip-Hop king Dr. Dre owns the audience on "Been There Done That" while TLC lures them in on "Creep." Not to be forgotten are outstanding performances by R.E.M., Alanis Morissette, Hole, Beck and many more.
While SNL 25, The Musical Performances, Vols. 1 & 2 are outstanding compilations in and of themselves, they only represent 30 of nearly a 1,000 musical performances aired by the show in the past 25 years.
However, the development of further volumes is in the works which will include not only vintage musical performances, but musical comedy as well. In the meantime, SNL 25 Vols. 1 & 2 should keep listeners glued to their CD players, gettin' off on classic musical moments courtesy of Saturday Night Live!
