Time Life is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a slam-bang nine-disc collection, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live. Featuring scores -- and I do mean scores -- of music performances and speeches from a quarter-century's worth of Hall of Fame inductions, this anthology runs the gamut of stars and styles, from the mellow croon of James Taylor to the slash-and-burn of Metallica. It's exhaustive stuff, to be sure (and somewhat exhausting, perhaps) but how can any self-respecting rock 'n' roll buff not be at least partially mesmerized?

The featured acts boast many of the greatest rock 'n' rollers of all time, not particularly surprising given that the performances are from annual Hall of Fame ceremonies. The star-studded lineup includes but is hardly limited to: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Chuck Berry, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Kinks, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, Roy Orbison, Queen, Bonnie Raitt, R.E.M., Keith Richards, Robbie Robertson, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, U2, The Who, Steve Winwood and ZZ Top. The wealth of talent makes for one helluva hootenanny, with the quality of performance ranging from gloriously precise to gloriously sloppy, bland to incendiary.

Just don't expect much thematic cohesion in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live DVD set. Performances and induction speeches are presented out of chronological order, and stabs at musical continuity -- the soul/R&B of I'll Take You There, for example, or the early rock 'n' roll of Whole Lotta Shakin' -- seem half-hearted, at best. The good folks at Time Life even appear to have lost interest in designating the order of "volumes."

Still, part of the fun is combing through the multi-disc extravaganza. Highlights are plentiful. In 1993, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder took the microphone to perform with the surviving members of the Doors, with astounding results that would have made Jim Morrison proud. Jefferson Airplane in 1996 ripped into a bracing version of "Volunteers," even without the presence of Grace Slick. Kid Rock joined Aerosmith on stage in 2001 for a hard-charging "Sweet Emotion."

U2 and Bruce Springsteen teamed up in 2005 for a soaring rendition of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Blues fans are certain to swoon over legends Buddy Guy, B.B. King and Eric Clapton sharing the stage for "Let Me Love You Baby." Real-life guitar heroes Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ron Wood, Joe Perry and Flea join Metallica for the classic "The Train Kept a-Rollin'."

Other performers who brought their A-game to the proceedings include Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, John Lee Hooker, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt and the Staple Singers.

Lowlights: Whether Stephen Stills is playing with Crosby, Stills & Nash or Buffalo Springfield, his hippie-dippy cajoling of the audience to sing along smacks of desperation. The Pretenders are inexplicably bleeped in an otherwise solid run through their post-punk anthem, "Precious." The Who, the Band and the Byrds turn in surprisingly groggy performances. And the shows' disorganized closing jams, in which everyone on stage is deemed part of the so-called Rock Hall Jam Band, are more self-congratulatory than sizzling.

That doesn't really matter, though. The sheer scope and variety of this box set -- which is initially available exclusively through RockHallDVDs.com or www.TimeLife.com -- are overwhelming. If you like rock or pop, chances are there will be at least a couple dozen of songs to your liking.

Now, whether rock 'n' roll is a genre that should be commemorated by old men in tuxedos at highfaluting affairs is a debate for another time.

During Cream's 1993 induction in the Hall of Fame, Clapton suggested there is something antithetical about rock 'n' roll being respectable, and I would contend the guy has a point.

The program on each disc is as follows:

The emphasis here is on Sixties-era rock, with stellar performances by Jefferson Airplane, Cream, the Doors and Santana. Mick Jagger gives a warm and funny induction speech honoring the Beatles. Dhani Harrison, the son of the late George Harrison, joins Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood and Prince for a terrific version of "While My Guitar Gentle Weeps." A shambling take of the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" encompasses the likes of Jagger, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Ringo Starr.

Not much musical consistency in this smorgasbord of hard rock, alternative and heavy metal. R.E.M. and Eddie Vedder sound great doing R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon." Metallica is searing in "Master of Puppets," while Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band bring down the house for a shimmering version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."

Kind of a sonic grab bag. Billy Joel shows his witty side in paying tribute to John Mellencamp. U2 and the Boss prove a perfect fit in covering U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." It helps make up for some disappointing turns by the Who and the Byrds.

Rock 'n' roll pioneers are showcased in this volume featuring the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chubby Checker and Bo Diddley. Tina Turner is in fine voice doing "River Deep--Mountain High" alongside an impromptu band that includes Paul Simon, Little Richard and Stevie Wonder. Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson serve up a slice of blues manna in "Farther on Up the Road."

With an emphasis on rock 'n' roll from the Fifties and Sixties, this volume is among the most solid in the collection. John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt share the stage for a raw, sexy version of Hooker's blues classic, "I'm in the Mood." If that wasn't enough, B.B. King and Eric Clapton join Buddy Guy for a rousing take on "Let Me Love You Baby." Still, nothing can top the dazzling lineup of Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Ron Wood, Flea and Metallica conjuring up rock heaven in "The Train Kept a-Rollin'."

A more contemporary vibe marks this collection of performances and speeches. Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono hug on the occasion of John Lennon's induction into the Hall. Bruce Springsteen inducts Jackson Browne and admits his envy at Browne's success with women. The surviving members of Creedence Clearwater Revival don't do much to hide their dislike of one another during their 1993 induction. Elvis Costello and the Attractions give a blistering rendition of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." The misguided pairing of Axl Rose and Bruce Springsteen doesn't do the Fab Four any favors in "Come Together."

Melissa Etheridge delivers a soulful acoustic cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." James Taylor proves he can still hit the emotional buttons with "Fire and Rain." Lynyrd Skynyrd proves it doesn't get the joke and launches into "Free Bird." The Pretenders get time for three songs, but Chrissie Hynde's f-bomb in "Precious" is censored and she substitutes a Stevie Nicks reference for Brigitte Bardot in "Message of Love." I respectfully disapprove.

Emphasizing soul and R&B, this anthology captures performances by such greats as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Isaac Hayes and Parliament-Funkadelic. Percy Sledge does a commanding "When a Man Loves a Woman" (a song you just know he's sick to death of singing), while Franklin and Green are spellbinding. Mary J. Blige stumbles over her induction of Solomon Burke. He deserved better.

Highlights from the 1995 Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that commemorated the facility's opening in Cleveland, Ohio.

All nine DVDs are in separate plastic keepcases and housed in a study cardboard slipcover.

Picture quality is all over the map, from shoddy, washed-out video to stellar images of sharp detail and lines. Essentially, everything from the 1980s and early '90s is dicey, with ghosting, pixilation and grain occasionally evident. The 1987 clip of Bruce Springsteen inducting Roy Orbison is particularly rough-going. But the good news is that the vast bulk of material is in great shape, with no serious discernible flaws.

Each volume boasts 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo or 5.1 Surround. Both are crisp and lively, but the latter is the obvious way to go. Audio is of the utmost importance in a package like this, and the production delivers with clear, rich and immersive sound.

All but one disc contains hours of bonus material. The chief extras are full induction and acceptance speeches, as well as copious amounts of rehearsal and backstage footage. Viewers can select "play all" or view each clip separately. In addition, all nine DVDs feature succinct and interesting liner notes.

Induction speeches with a total running time just north of an hour include Paul McCartney inducting John Lennon (1994), Bruce Springsteen inducting Jackson Browne (2004), Elton John inducting The Beach Boys (1988), Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner inducting The Sex Pistols (2006) and Pete Townshend inducting The Rolling Stones (1989).

Backstage and rehearsal footage (total running time 33:50) includes John Fogerty, Robbie Robertson and Bruce Springsteen rehearsal (1993); Cream rehearsal (1993); Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Paul Kantner, Jack Cassidy and Jorma Kaukonen backstage (1996); Crosby, Stills & Nash rehearsal (1997); and The Band and Eric Clapton rehearsal (1994).

Induction speeches (trt 1:15:20) include Mick Jagger inducting The Beatles (1988), Flea inducting Metallica (2009), Keith Richards inducting Leo Fender (1992), James Taylor inducting Crosby, Stills & Nash (1997), Paul McCartney inducting James Taylor (2000) and Billy Joel inducting The Righteous Brothers (2003).

Backstage and rehearsal footage, with an aggregate length just past 20 minutes, includes James Taylor rehearsal (1997) and Metallica rehearsal (2009).

Speeches (trt:15:40) include: Jakub Dylan inducting Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (2002), Lou Reed inducting Dion (1989), Dave Matthews inducting Traffic (2004), Ray Charles inducting Billy Joel (1999), Billy Joel inducting John Mellencamp (2008), Kid Rock inducting Lynyrd Skynyrd (2006) and Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne inducting George Harrison (2004).

Backstage and rehearsal footage (trt 12:15) includes backstage (2003), backstage (2004) and Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock rehearsal (2006).

Induction speeches (trt 1:09:46) feature Tom Hanks inducting The Dave Clark Five (2008), Robbie Robertson inducting Eric Clapton (2000), U2 inducting The Who (1990), Keith Richards inducting ZZ Top (2004), Led Zeppelin induction (2005) and The Rascals induction (1997).

Backstage and rehearsal footage includes backstage (1994) and The Rascals rehearsal (1997). Total running time is 12 minutes, 54 seconds.

Induction speeches include Bono inducting Bruce Springsteen (1999), David Byrne inducting David Bowie (1996), Melissa Etheridge inducting Bonnie Raitt (2000), Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield inducting Black Sabbath (2006) and The Edge inducting The Clash (2003). Total running time is approximately 77 minutes.

Backstage and rehearsal footage (trt 26:17) features Jerry Lee Lewis and Bruce Springsteen in rehearsal at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995); Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ron Wood, Joe Perry, Flea and Metallica rehearsal (2009) and The Doors and Eddie Vedder in rehearsal (1993).

Speeches (trt 1:39:07) feature Blondie acceptance speech (2006), The Edge inducting The Yardbirds (1992), Bono inducting Bob Marley (1994), Steven Tyler inducting AC/DC (2003), John Mellencamp inducting The Lovin' Spoonful (2000), The Grateful Dead induction (1994), Jefferson Airplane acceptance speech (1996), Axl Rose inducting Elton John (1994) and Bruce Springsteen inducting U2 (2005).

Backstage and rehearsal footage (trt 13:17) includes Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Axl Rose backstage (1994) and Blondie rehearsal (2006).

Induction speeches (trt 1:03:39) spotlight John Fogerty inducting The Ventures (3008), Sheryl Crow inducting Fleetwood Mac (1998), Elton John inducting Elvis Costello and The Attractions (2003), Keith Richards inducting Chuck Berry (1986), Neil Young inducting Mo Ostin (2003) and Little Richard inducting the Isley Brothers (1992).

Backstage and rehearsal footage includes Lynyrd Skynyrd rehearsal (2006), the Bee Gees rehearsal (1997) and Metallica rehearsal (2006). Aggregate running time is 34 minutes, 33 seconds.

Induction speeches (trt 1:12:38) boast Ronnie Wood inducting Bobby Womack (2009), Paul Simon inducting Stevie Wonder (1989), George Clinton inducting Sly and the Family Stone (1993), Mariah Carey inducting Gladys Knight and the Pips (1996), k.d. lang inducting Etta James, 1993, Smokey Robinson inducting Little Anthony and the Imperials (2009), Jerry Butler inducting Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff (2008), Billy Joel inducting Sam and Dave (1992), Bonnie Raitt inducting Charles Brown (1999), Ray Charles inducting Nat King Cole (2000) and Steve Winwood inducting James Brown (1986).

Backstage and rehearsal footage (trt 20:43) has Parliament-Funkadelic backstage (1997); Bobby Womack, Robbie Robertson and Paul Shaffer backstage (1995); rehearsal of Solomon Burke talking about Wilson Pickett (2006); James Brown and director Joel Gallen backstage at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995); and Al Green, Robbie Robertson and Aretha Franklin in rehearsal at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995).

Rock 'n' roll fanatics will find lots to love in this nine-disc celebration of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Time Life has crammed it all in here, from the early-day pioneers to the more cutting-edge of contemporary acts. While there are some notable omissions -- Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Bob Marley, The Clash, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Jackie Wilson, Van Morrison and Miles Davis are but a few of the no-mentions here - why quibble? This is about as inclusive as it gets.

But is The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live DVD box set worth the hefty $120 price tag? (a $40 three-DVD version is also available). That's what separates the diehard from the fair-weather fan. But (with apologies to Led Zeppelin and AC/DC) if it's been a long time since you rock and rolled, well, prepare to be saluted. This is a keeper.