The 1960s produced some of the most iconic Rock-n-Roll bands ever to exist. With so many up for discussion, of course, no one can deny that The Beatles were a massively dominant force out of England from the mid-1960s until the end of the decade. A powerhouse like no other, they are cultural icons, but on the otherside of the spectrum were fellow countrymen, The Rolling Stones. Grittier and, as a result, feeling like a more rebellious form of Rock-n-Roll, The Rolling Stones may have been second to The Beatles during the ‘60s, but have historically surpassed them in longevity.
In fact, while The Beatles last performed live at the end of 1969 (for the famous Rooftop Performance) and released Let It Be in spring of 1970, The Rolling Stones would continue on for decades to come, putting out six studio albums in the 1970s, five more in the 1980s, and ten from 1994’s Voodoo Lounge into 2023’s Hackney Diamonds. Truly one of the most prolific, trend-defying bands ever to walk the earth, The Rolling Stones are not only recognized for their raw brand of Blues Rock, but also a symbol of Rock-n-Roll, forever associated with the 1970-created Hot Lips symbol that everyone recognizes, no matter their age.
Still going strong in 2026, with plans to release their 25th studio album, the core of The Rolling Stones remains largely intact, with Vocalist Mick Jagger and Guitarist Keith Richards, joined by Guitarist Ronnie Wood, who has been a member for over 50 years. Inspiring, you could argue The Rolling Stones keep the spirit of Rock-n-Roll alive, and if you ever had the pleasure of seeing them perform live, you would agree. Legendarily the highest-grossing live band ever, The Rolling Stones outgrew theaters and ballrooms by the late 1960s, moved into outdoor stadiums by the 1970s, and by the early 1980s, they were the definition of a modern stadium rock spectular.
It is important to recognize their staying power during the 1980s, because music was changing drastically. Still at the top of their game, in 1981, The Rolling Stones embarked on a massive North American Tour, which took them to arenas and stadiums across the country. Touring in support of their new album, 1981’s Tattoo You, the tour was massive, drawing an estimated 3 million fans across 50 shows. Historically, it was a tour many consider the first modern stadium tour, ushering in a blueprint for others like U2, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen to take on mega tours.
Changing Rock-n-Roll music forever, it was all captured in the concert film called Let’s Spend the Night Together. Filmed across three shows (two at Brendan Byrne Arena, now known as the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey, and the other at Sun Devil Stadium in Arizona), they selected the talented Hal Ashby to direct, largely respecting his artistry as a filmmaker. A wise choice, the concert film employs a massive 20 cameras that take on the performances from various angles (close-up and zoomed out to capture the enormity of the audience), you can feel the energy from both the band on stage (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman) and the crowd themselves.
Also unique among other concert films released to that point, Let’s Spend the Night Together focuses solely on the performance and takes you backstage to see the behind-the-scenes drama. Making it an enjoyable watch, the set covers the first 20 years of the band to that point, as they play favorites like 1964’s “Time Is on My Side,” 1966’s “Under My Thumb,” 1967’s “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” 1968’s “Jumping Jack Flash,” and 1969’s “Honky Tonk Women,” among others. Furthermore, it featured the interjected “Start Me Up” (at the time brand-new) and other cool performances, such as their rendition of The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).”
Altogether a fantastic concert film, it is a blast watching Mick Jagger strut across the stage in a Philadelphia Eagles jersey for some tracks (even though some of the film was recorded in New York Jets fan territory), but also watch a chorus line of women come out on stage for “Honkey Tonk Women.” Something that all Rolling Stone fans should add to their home media collection, it first appeared on VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, and CED (a rare format few might remember) in the 1980s. Then, in the late 1990s, it made the jump to DVD, before the Blu-ray release in 2010; however, in 2026, there is the newly restored 4K Ultra HD version from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
A two-disc set (one 4K and one Blu-ray), it arrived on January 27, 2026, for all fans to purchase. Featuring a truly pristine 4K restoration from the 35mm original camera negative, the colors are bright and the contrast deep, but the audio is also substantially better, with richer quality. The release also includes audio commentaries from Justin Sosa (Host of Hang Fire: A Rolling Stones Podcast) and features the original 1983 film artwork on the inlay and cardboard slipcase.
A new release from Kino Lorber, with separate Blu-ray and DVD versions for those interested, the 4K Ultra HD set is worth every penny. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the new 4K Ultra HD release of The Rolling Stones: Let’s Spend The Night Together 5 out of 5 stars.
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