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Notes: Originally shown in 1998, Big Train was the eagerly awaited follow-up to Father Ted from writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews. Resisting the pressure to make another sitcom, Big Train is, instead, a sketch show in the best Monty Python tradition, updated with influences from arch-surrealist Chris Morris as well as the contemporary The Fast Show. The sketches can be joyously odd--Pythonesque firefighting showjumpers, the evil hypnotist, and the outrageous onanistic office workers, for example--but the show never neglects to keep the punchlines coming thick and fast (though the animated staring contest does rather drag after a while). The cast comprises some of the best new names in comedy, including Kevin Eldon, Simon Pegg, Mark Heap, Julia Davis and Amelia Bullmore (who went on to become Alan Partridge's Ukrainian girlfriend).

Series 2 didn't pull into the platform until 2002, by which time Graham Linehan was absent writing Black Books. But Arthur Matthews maintains the quality of the first series on the whole--the man with oversized hands, the creepy cult questionnaire, the zookeeper's recruitment agency--adding some spot-on French art house cinema spoofs and other movie-style take offs somewhat in the manner of Spaced, which Pegg and Heap had gone on to make. That duo return here for more silliness along with new cast members Rebecca Front (The Day Today, Knowing Me, Knowing You) and Tracey-Ann Oberman (better known now as Chrissie Watts in Eastenders).

On the DVD: Big Train belatedly arrives on DVD in a two-disc set which includes a plethora of deleted scenes for both Series 1 and 2. There are cast biogs plus three of the sketches as performed on a German TV sketch show. Commentary on the first series is by both writers, though happily Pegg, Heap and Eldon gatecrash halfway through. Matthews and Eldon join director and producer for the somewhat more straight-faced commentary on the second disc. Menu options thankfully include the treasurable "Play all" facility. --Mark Walker

Region 1 NTSC format. Will only play on multiregion DVD players.

Notes: Zakk Wylde shines with his Black Label Society in this concert recorded in Paris by big sound, good editing and sharp image. The directior is extremely creative with tools such as zoom, split screen and optical alienations, including tracking shots from the ceiling of the location. The band itself additionally gives everything in its committed and agile performance. As a plus there are four songs from a gig in London. With almost four hours of total playing time, this Blu-ray is filled to the brim and should be an essential part of any BLS collection!

Region code: 2

Notes: Beautiful People "If 60's Were 90's" Box Set Consisting of over 50 sampled Guitar Riffs, Lead Vocals & Word Raps From Guitar God Jimi Hendrix. Commissioned by legendary record producer and former creative head of the Jimi Hendrix Estate Alan Douglas in 1990, the cleverly titled "If 60's Were 90's" by the band Beautiful People, is a truly unique and seminal record. "Beautiful People are a bunch of movers and shakers from London's Acid House Scene, who have a highly developed fascination with the music of Jimi Hendrix, emphatically not a 'Tribute' band in the style of the Bootleg Beatles or the Australian Doors, Beautiful People have used sampling technology to virtually recruit Hendrix into the groups line up." - David Sinclair, Billboard Magazine.

Consisting of over fifty guitar riffs, vocal cut outs, out- take lead breaks, and word raps from guitar god Jimi Hendrix, "If 60's Were 90's" also features spoken steals from Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, 60's blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield and a party called the "Milky Way Express" that included the one and only Frank Zappa.

Like some Groovy Psychedelic time-machine cruising the Hendrixphere, Beautiful People pluck from over 30 different Hendrix recordings, writing nine new songs creating an... "Ambient Dance Dream Tribute" (Kris Needs, NME)... of ... "Super Psychedelic Baggy Indie dance with Orb like overtones.." (Ian McCan, VOX) creating a sound that arguably helped kick off the rock dance crossover phenomenon of the early 90's, bringing guitars back into dance music, while still retaining the psychedelic rock majesty of one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th Century.

Region code: 0 (universal)

Notes: In honor of Sawyer Brown's 40th anniversary, the band is releasing Get Me To The Stage On Time, a documentary of how a Nashville outlier changed the country genre by turning 15 minutes of fame into 40 years.

Executively produced by Blake Shelton, Get Me To The Stage On Time is a behind-the-scenes look at millions of miles, 24 albums, 6,000 shows that span the band's storied 40-year career.

Notes: HAVE YOU GOT IT YET? is the story of Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd, directed by Roddy Bogawa, produced by Orian Williams, and features legendary artist & designer the late Storm Thorgerson as interviewer. Thorgerson, who grew up in Cambridge with Barrett and many of the people who appear in the film, provides an intimate examination of the mysteries and myths surrounding Barrett's puzzling disappearance with rare unseen material, new interviews of the surviving Pink Floyd members, childhood friends, ex-girlfriends, and contemporary musicians. The film is at once a chronicle and a mosaic, an investigation of fame and its personal cost while also exploring the larger social context of the 60s, its hopes and failures, and a compelling story that involves us all in discovery and how one chooses a path in life, measured by the outside. Have You Got It Yet? is narrated by Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The Patriot)

This package features "Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd" on DVD and Blu-ray, along with an exclusive poster designed by StormStudios. The DVD and Blu-ray includes a Director & Producers commentary of the film with Roddy Bogawa, Julius Beltrame and Rupert Truman, along with 26 minutes of bonus materials:

"Arnold Layne" Live at The Royal Albert Hall 2006 (with David Gilmour & David Bowie)
"Arnold Layne" Live at The Barbican Centre 2007 with Pink Floyd (David Gilmour, Nick Mason & Richard Wright).
Interview with Director Roddy Bogawa
On Syd's Paintings
On Syd's Lyrics

Bonus features

Some details regarding the bonus features:
"Arnold Layne" Live at The Royal Albert Hall 2006 (with David Gilmour & David Bowie) - This originally appeared on David Gilmour's live video "Remember That Night Live At The Royal Albert Hall", which was released in 2007.
"Arnold Layne" Live at The Barbican Centre 2007 with Pink Floyd (David Gilmour, Nick Mason & Richard Wright). - This is from The Madcap's Last Laugh, a tribute concert for Syd Barrett. This was also Pink Floyd's final performance.

On Syd's Paintings - Discussion of Syd Barrett's Paintings

On Syd's Lyrics - Spoken word performances of Syd's lyrics by:
Noel Fielding (Comedian) - "Dark Globe"
Rob Fitterman (Poet) - "Rats"
Gerard Bell (Actor) - "Lucifer Sam"

Technical info

Discs: DVD9 + BD50
Region Code: NTSC 0 (DVD) / A/B/C (Blu-ray)
TRT: 120 minutes (94 main show + 26 minutes bonus)
Video: 16:9
Audio: (DVD): Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS / (BD): LPCM Stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish
Ratings: BBFC 12 / FSK 12