Product Description

The Beatles' appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 and 1965 helped catapult the band to stateside fame and fortune. Their debut performance alone was viewed by 73 million viewers. This collection compiles four full episodes containing 20 songs in total, and including other guests like Soupy Sales, Cab Calloway, and Cilla Black; and even commercial breaks. Shown in their original black and white, these episodes convey the feeling of a bygone era, while placing some of The Beatles' early appearances in a framework that shows how they eventually exploded as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. The four Beatles, with their fluffy mop-head haircuts and little black suits, look like fresh-faced kids as they stride nervously onto the stage in their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964. Met by screaming, lovestruck fans--mostly teenage girls dressed in clean-cut sweaters with their hair curled and combed--The Beatles launch into a trio of carefully played songs including "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," and "She Loves You." The next two weeks, on February 16 and February 23, 1964, they reappear on the Ed Sullivan Show, each time to the same unabashed hero worship, performing hits like "Twist and Shout" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The last episode on this fascinating collection, September 12, 1965, shows how the band has changed after a year and a half--with longer hair, a loose and rebellious spirit, and a bolder stage presence. Through these classic television episodes, viewers of all eras can join the fab four as they begin their ascent into the musical history books, courtesy of the Ed Sullivan Show.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12446 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 240 minutes

Amazon.com
A great concept: The Beatles appeared four times on CBS' The Ed Sullivan Show, and while one is tempted to skip through this collection to watch only the Fab Four's 20 performances, there is historic value in seeing Sullivan's complete programs. With America reeling from the murder of a popular president, JFK, less than three months prior, the Beatles' Sullivan debut on February 9, 1964, ushered a renewing joy into the country's living rooms. The band kept it up another two weeks, sharing Sullivan's variety-show bills with the likes of impressionist Frank Gorshin, comedians Allen & Rossi, future Monkee Davy Jones (in a scene from Oliver!), and sundry unrepentant vaudevillians, magicians, and acrobats. Various problems with microphones and bad direction (one barely sees John Lennon on 2/9) couldn't stop the magic, and by the time the Beatles made a return trip in September 1965, the group's brilliance and wit outsized their television surroundings. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Nice piece of history
This 2 disc set provides a most wonderful glimpse of an important time in both music and television history. Most notably, it contains the three full length shows (along with commercials) that were integral in the Beatles' first visit to the United States. The Beatles perform their chart toppers in the U.S. including "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," "From Me To You," and "Please Please Me." The set also includes a most intriguing (and complete) 1965 show where you can clearly see the group's growth as songwriters. The 1965 song set consists of "I'm Down," "Ticket to Ride," and "Help." This is a long way in a relatively short time from "All My Loving" and "From Me To You." The first show is the one most treasured by fans, and it obviously is a must-see. Viewing the complete show allows you to better appreciate the magnitude and importance of the Beatles appearance in the U.S. However, ALL of the shows provide an amazing look at popular music during this time. Performances by Mitzi Gaynor, Cab Calloway, and the original brodway cast of Oliver (including Davy Jones who later became a member of the Monkees) are incredible and historical. Cilla Black (also managed by Brian Epstein) performs two enjoyable numbers.

One interesting note about the entire set is that you might get a feel for the generation gap that existed in America at that time and what impact the Beatles had on whom Ed Sullivan called "youngsters." Performances by Acker Bilk, Tessie O'Shea (from England), and Gordon & Sheila McCrae show us what most adults who tuned in to Sullivan were listening to. The Beatles clearly went against the grain. As one famous person noted, "Suddenly, there were the Beatles and everybody else. And everybody else just looked wrong." As you see the younger generation embrace the Beatles, references to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and even Dave Barry's comedy routine (on disc 3) seem like something that only the "old folks" would be interested in and perhaps considered very "square." Suddenly, the younger generation has decided what they like and what they would listen to. Soon after the Beatles first visit, Sullivan would be sure to always include "something for the youngsters."

Historic and classic comedy routines by Allen & Rossi, Morcombe & Wise (also from England), and Soupy Sales are enjoyable to watch as well. The novelty acts are quaint and somewhat amusing, but nevertheless important because they were an integral part of Sullivan's shows. The real importance of these discs lies in the music and musical productions.

The only drawback to the set is that it leaves Beatle fans hungry for more in the sense that now we want "the story behind the story." Davy Jones mentioned his inability to leave the wings during the broadcast because he was so enraptured by the Beatles' performance and how he suddenly realized that he wanted a future in a band. McCall & Brill, who perform a comedy skit on the first show, have told of their experience that Sunday night. Ed Sullivan hated their skit and wanted them to switch to another routine just before they hit the air. They panicked and didn't know what to do. By chance, they met the Beatles backstage while John Lennon was looking for a Coca-Cola. All of the Beatles made them feel more at ease and they went ahead with the routine, but Sullivan was not pleased. You'll notice that he does not call them over to shake hands, which is what Sullivan usually did with the acts he truly liked. It would have been nice to see interviews with reflections from those involved in the production of the first show.

There are naturally some technical glitches once in a while but they are really not noticable. The shows are in glorious black and white and the audio is at its best. If you are a Beatle fan, this is definitely a must-buy. If you're not, but have a longing for musical variety programs once again, this set is still classic and enjoyable.

The Only DVD With The 1965....Ticket To Ride/I Feel Fine Stuff!
I have all of the other Beatles DVD's and this is the only one with the I Feel Fine, I'm Down, Yesterday, Ticket To Ride performances from 1965. Shortly after this, the Beatles stopped performing live.

For John Lennon fans, this is a priceless piece of what many of us liked best of John's days as the smart, fun, confident Beatle. It also takes many of us back to the Ed Sullivan Sunday evenings of our youth.

A Fabulous Journey Back to 1964
This DVD collection is an example of why the simplist approach is often the best way to present an historic event. The four "Ed Sullivan" programs featuring the Beatles are shown 99% complete. Unlike many DVD issues, there are no clever edits or extras. But these shows stand on their own. Not only do you see the Beatles in glorious black and white, but you also get the other acts (many quite entertaining) and Sullivan's classic introductions. By having unedited versions of each show, one can truly experience what 73 million viewers saw all those years ago. For those who saw the shows when they first aired, the DVD will bring back wonderful memories. For those who weren't even born in 1964, it will give an accurate picture about what all the excitement was about. It is a true pleasure to see each Beatles performance in its entirety without any anoying voiceovers. I don't need or want anyone telling me about the importance of these performances. I just want to sit back and enjoy the magic of the Beatles as captured by the CBS television network in 1964. The camera work is excellent throughout, particularly on "I Want To Hold Your Hand," which efectively mixes long shots, close-ups, crowd shots and a move in and out on Ringo by a mobile crane camera. There are a few glitches on the sound balance on a few performances (originating from the original broadcasts), but this does not lessen the impact or excitement of the songs. The DVD sound and picture quality is superb. The DVD is indexed by performance so you have the option to skip the other acts and just watch the Beatles. My soon to be published book, "The Beatles Are Coming! The Birth of Beatlemania in America," covers the three 1964 shows in great detail. But while words and photographs can explain the magic and significance of these shows, the only way to truly experience it is to watch this DVD. This is an absolute must for every Beatles fan or anyone interested in learning why the Beatles took America by storm in 1964.