Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Hampton Coliseum - Live in 1981 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 7, 2014

The Rolling Stones gave fans at the Hampton Coliseum an early Christmas present in 1981, performing before a raucous crowd on December 18 of that year in a performance that has languished in the Stones’ own archive but which Eagle Rock is now bringing out on one of their so-called SD Blu-rays. Video quality here is pretty iffy, but the audio is fantastic on a concert filled with a glance back at Stones classics from the sixties and seventies while also offering quite a bit of then-newer material from such albums as Tattoo You. Mick is properly manic throughout this concert, and the long catwalk like runways that extend from the main stage give him plenty of real estate to strut his stuff on. Keith, who celebrates his birthday during the concert, seems perhaps to have been celebrating for quite some time before the concert as well, but plays with some furious intensity on several songs.

The set list for this concert includes:

Introduction
Under My Thumb
When the Whip Comes Down
Let's Spend the Night Together
Shattered
Neighbours
Black Limousine
Just My Imagination
Twenty Flight Rock
Going To a Go-Go
Let Me Go
Time Is On My Side
Beast of Burden
Waiting On a Friend
Let It Bleed
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Band Intros
Happy Birthday Keith
Little T&A
Tumbling Dice
She's So Cold
Hang Fire
Miss You
Honky Tonk Woman
Brown Sugar
Start Me Up
Jumpin' Jack Flash
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Hampton Coliseum - Live in 1981 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Rolling Stones From the Vault: Hampton Coliseum (Live in 1981) is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Vision (an imprint of Eagle Rock Entertainment) and Universal with an AVC encoded 1080i (upscaled) transfer in 1.32:1. The opening introduction, which features a nubile young woman covered in body art (what is this, Laugh-In all of a sudden?) actually looks pretty good by "SD Blu-ray" standards, and hopes may therefore be artificially raised, but once the concert kicks in, things look pretty rough and ragged quite a bit of the time, though they're watchable. Colors are anemic, detail is often pretty nonexistent, especially in midrange and wide shots, and there are video anomalies like ghosting in evidence. It may be better to simply listen to this disc and treat it as an audio Blu-ray.

The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Hampton Coliseum - Live in 1981 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both an LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix are included on the Blu-ray, and the difference in amplitude between them is nothing short of astounding. The LPCM offering does present a nicely focused balance of Mick and the band, but once you try the 5.1, my hunch is you won't be toggling back to the stereo track. The low end is manifestly more forceful here, but never overpowers Mick, and the entire mix is considerably louder and more vibrant in this iteration. Fidelity is excellent, though there are occasional issues with very mild distortion in the midrange at the loudest moments.

The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Hampton Coliseum - Live in 1981 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no supplements on this Blu-ray disc. The insert booklet does offer a nicely done essay and lots of photos.

The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Hampton Coliseum - Live in 1981 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Rolling Stones From the Vault: Hampton Coliseum (Live in 1981) shows the boys at the top of their game, and they only seem to become more energetic and enthused by the audience as the night goes on. Mick is in fine form here, though truth be told, I could have lived without seeing him in a saggy crotched pair of dirty yellow leggings. Like I said, maybe it's best to just listen to this and consider it an audio Blu-ray. For the audio if for no other reason, this release comes Recommended.