Sound Advice (The Dick Cavett Show -- Rock Icons)
  Will McGinniss, CCM Magazine -- January 2005

Many times artists speak of their musical inspirations and derivations of your favorite records.  However, being able to experience those early recordings brings new light to the music of today.  Audio Adrenaline has long looked to the annals of classic rock in order to bring you the energized music you hear.  Recently, I took a jaunt down memory lane with my purchase of late-night variety show The Dick Cavett Show -- Rock Icons.

"The Dick Cavett Show" may be new to the younger set, yet will bring a warm smile of remembrance to older readers of this article.  No matter your age or musical IQ, this is a must-watch set of classic performances.  The three-disc set includes works by Jefferson Airplane, David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, and George Harrison, among others.

Dick Cavett was not only known for having great performers of the late '60s and early '70s on his show, the interviews were decidedly candid and revealing about the times, both socially and musically.  The second disc includes a great interview with Cavett himself addressing his career, the show, and its uniqueness compared to other late-night variety shows of the day.

Particular favorites on this DVD collection are efforts by George Harrison and Paul Simon.  Harrison appeared with Ravi Shankar to promote the Concert for Bangladesh album; however, Gary Wright and Wonderwheel also played the same show, and Harrison stole away to play steel guitar for the band.

Paul Simon was a guest on a 1974 episode and delivered a beautiful version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," plus three other favorites.  I think the crowning moment for the eccentricity of early '70s performers was Cavett's interview with Sly Stone from 1970.  Stone is definitely a character for the ages.

Check out The Dick Cavett Show -- Rock Icons, available everywhere on DVD.  Give yourself a little music history education or a blast from the past.  Whichever you choose, there are tons of great performances, and it's all hosted by one of the greatest interviewers of the day.



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