Lisa Crovo

On the rich, eclectic and thoroughly enjoyable double CD package that Columbia Records has put together to commemorate the event, some of the sweetest moments belong to rock’s extended family. You can almost see The Rev. Al Green dropping to his knees during his inspired rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and his version of “Tired of Being Alone” is wrenchingly sublime. Soul also has its say with Sam Moore’s jazzed-up version of “Hold On, I’m Coming,” Aretha rocking out on “I Can’t Turn You Loose” and The Godfather, James Brown, giving his blessing with “This is a Man’s World.”

Fittingly for a collection saluting rock’s elders and those who have passed on, there are a number of top-notch cover versions. Jackson Browne delivers a tender, acoustic version of “Redemption Song” saluting reggae’s high priest, Bob Marley. In another touching tribute, Bruce Hornsby remembers close friend and fellow collaborator Jerry Garcia with a version of “I Know You Rider” that begins with the hauntingly beautiful piano solo from the song “Terrapin Station.”

In the funk vein, George Clinton and former Sly and the Family Stone bass player Larry Graham
turn the temperature all the way up with sweaty, pulsating versions of Sly’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “I Want to Take You Higher.”

Equally sexy, but in a bluesy vein, Natalie Merchant torches up Dinah Washington’s “I Know How to Do It” with stunningly sultry blues vocals that I had no idea she knew how to do. Also doing the blues justice were Boz Scaggs and Slash, (yes, that’s right), pairing up for a very respectable version of Hendrix’s “Red House.” Slash smokes on a guitar with just the right amount of fuzz. Who knew those white boys could sound so blue?

Even country music is represented, with Johnny Cash’s
knee-slapping “Folsom
Prison Blues” proving The Man in Black can rock up there with the best of them.

Soul Asylum backs two of the New York music scene’s legendary warriors, Iggy
Pop and Lou Reed. Never known to be squeamish or shy, Iggy gives a blistering rendition of Willie Dixon’s “Back Door Man,” changing the “I eat more chicken” line to “I eat more pussy.” Punctuated with his trademark whoops and shrieks, he makes the song his own. Though definitely a worthy version of a classic tune, Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane” doesn’t pack the same punch. Lou’s voice sounds tired and let’s face it, if you’ve grown up with the live Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal version of “Sweet Jane,” nothing else will cut it.

Bruce Springsteen reunites with Clarence Clemons and the rest of the E Street Band to collaborate with Jerry Lee Lewis on “Shake, Rattle and Roll” in a salute to Big Joe Turner before going on to cover two of Lewis’ classics, “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” At 60, Lewis apparently still has the energy and the vocal ability he did in his early 20′s.

While those covers make for some of the album’s best moments, a good portion of the album is devoted to songs performed by the original artists. John Fogerty teams with Booker T. and the MGs to blaze through spectacular versions of “Born on the Bayou” and “Fortunate Son.” Booker T. and his band also contribute their own hit “Green Onions.” Bob Dylan rips through an upbeat “All Along the Watchtower,” Ohio native Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders do “My City Was Gone” and The Allman Brothers Band deliver two solid cuts, “Blue Sky” and “One Way Out,” with stalwart guitarist Dickie Betts showing no sign of ever slowing down.

The performances recorded here are a well-chosen sampling of rock’s sometimes dysfunctional but always colorful family, and the energy of this reunion is both palpable and infectious. This collection celebrates the evolution of rock music in fine partying style. The 28 tracks of “The Concert for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame” are testament both to the rich variety of musical styles that preceded rock and to the raw, adventurous music itself.

Smartly dressed in a gray pinstriped ensemble, Gore, who just turned 46 (she shared candles on Monday with President Bill) plays the part of political wife to perfection. She has ironed out every trace of a southern drawl, but without sacrificing any of that down-home country goodness. And she’s slick enough to handle provocative questions: When asked if Al Gore has designs on the presidency in 2000, she craftily evaded any revelations by telling Shafer that she “can’t think beyond November.”

The Second Lady is most famous — or notorious — for her crusade against sexually explicit and violent album lyrics, a position that led to a public battle with the late Frank Zappa. Although she doesn’t recant her stance, Gore now chooses her causes with more caution, like a good vice president’s wife should.

Gore’s photographs are a blend of gritty photojournalism (children, the homeless and the mentally ill are favorite themes), glimpses behind the scenes at the White House, and portraits of national and world leaders. Images of Rwandan orphanages mix with shots of Hillary Clinton, Winnie Mandela and Jesse Jackson in South Africa, and bullfights in Spain.

The homeless have long been a special concern of Gore’s, and her portraits display an intimacy that could only come through with protacted contact and trust. A special advisor to the Interagency Council on the Homeless, Gore volunteers for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, which will receive all of the proceeds from her book.

The best photos, though, are of her family: an early photo of her husband shaving in which he looks remarkably like Jeff Goldblum, a shot taken aboard Air Force Two of Al teaching son Albert about Egyptian history en route to Cairo, and several that capture the intense working relationship between her husband and the President.

Politically, Mrs. Gore is not as outspoken as she was in her violent-rock-lyrics-bashing days, though she still calls for consumer labelling on products sold to children. Embracing that staple of First and Second Ladies, mental illness, she expounded on the need for adequate diagnosis and treatment, particularly among the homeless, and gave a pitch about the virtues of regular exercise. And, not surprisingly, the words “family” and “values” came up regularly.

Gore generally avoided partisan rhetoric during her brief appearance. But when asked about the sleazy state of political campaigning today, she turned trenchant: “It has turned a lot of people off from voting, particularly women. Women didn’t vote in 1994 — and look at the resulting Congress we got.”

As for her Republican rivals, Tipper called Liddy Dole “a formidable woman who should be taken quite seriously” and praised Jack Kemp for his debating skills.

It wasn’t until Shafer asked if she is going to help her husband prepare for his debate against Kemp that the Southern belle emerged. Smiling coquettishly, Gore said “Yeah, in my own special way.”

Quote of the day

Hold your tongue, go to jail?

“The real story here is, if you don’t cooperate with independent counsel and do their bidding, they will crush you.”

– Bobby McDaniel, lawyer for Whitewater defendant Susan McDougal, who was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison, while other defendants have received lighter sentences (as quoted in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette).