Thought music concert DVDs in India are expensive as most are imports, you’d be surprised that this DVD comes to you at a cost less than an international music CD. Yes you have one of the world’s most famous rock groups, The Rolling Stones – Greatest Hits live in concert back in 1981, in a full one and half hour concert all yours for just 299. Academy Award winning filmmaker Hal Ashby was given all access to make this rockumentary, which is truly a fans collectible.

The DVD captures The Rolling Stones on an American tour filmed at two concerts: 13^th December 1981, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, and 5^th November 1981 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, playing their very best tracks at a time when they were at the zenith of their career. The lineup features singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ron Wood, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts accompanied by keyboardists Ian Stewart and Ian MacLagan and sax players Ernie Watts (no relation to Charlie) and Bobby Keys.

Get an adrenaline rush as you flick through songs like a cover of Eddie Cochran's Twenty Flight Rock, something the band has not attempted before, their bluesy sound coming off well. The 25 track set also has their 60s hit list to the bands '70s songs like Under my thumb, Black Limousine, Beast of Burden, You can’t always get what you want, Miss you, Start me up, Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Satisfaction, among many others from their catalog.

Jagger is in his element going shirtless sometimes followed by Keith Richards taking control on a few tracks. Jagger is definitely athletic, strutting around the stage like a young boy, belting out his songs one by one, as his band plays behind him. Jagger prances around in tights, kneepads, a puffy teal jacket, and a hot pink tank top in Arizona, while in the concert at New Jersey, he opted for a slightly more dignified football-jersey-and-gypsy-scarves combo. You cannot miss his erotic choreography that was similar to our very own Freddie Mercury.

Ashby does some splendid editing of both concerts. He offers you panoramic views of the stadium from a helicopter to close-ups of the bands, pre concert make up shots and the band relaxing after concerts, all very memorable. He also deserves special mention for using archival footage of war, famine, and death into the middle of the song ‘Time Is on My Side’. The finale that ends with the song ‘Satisfaction’ is greeted with fireworks. There’s also the array of other props like massive stage backdrops, balloons spilling into the crowd that add that extra sparkle to the concert.

The film is a must have for fans of Rolling Stones and those who love classic rock. Even to this day The Stones' travel the length and breadth of America and beyond to sell out concert venues around the world. They still are one of the longest performing bands of all time and still loved wherever they may go.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira