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The Beatles - The First U.S. Visit

The Beatles - The First U.S. Visit

List Price: $24.98
Your Price: $19.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Beatles
Review: The DVD itself is amazing. It really shows america how important and how much of a influence The Beatles were to the U.S. Great DVD, so go and buy it!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Technical Only - Comments on Audio
Review: The DVD video quality is quite good for the period considering source material available. I have seen better versions televised on CBS when they do specials, involving some identicle segments. As for the Audio however, someone forgot to do an A/B comparison with the original unfiltered sound as they went,(or has a tin ear..), before giving it the final press. Other reviewers claim the sound is great for the Sullivan Shows. Not really. And its remarkable what influence good video has on the opinion of those litening to its associated audio. In reality the sound is thin and squished. Worse, it has some sort of steady "flanged" type sound effect(less the rotation), and virtually all the low end has been removed, likely with a highpass digitalfilter. The result is bad or missing low dynamic punch that should be there, and a nice analog sound turned digitally inferior. The vocals in particular, sound more-- "vocally" true to life on an original, whereas they sound "processed", and factory fake on this DVD.(I have some raw '64 Sullivan show video I compared it to. -- Poor video,you bet; but better sound by far) The raw unprocessed sound, is more lifelife, fuller, and real. Its the way it sounded, and way it should always sound. The filtered, thinned-out and compressed version on this DVD, take a bit of the magic and realism out. Too bad. The Wow and flutter control worked out quite well, but I must wonder if it was at the expense of the aforementioned lifelessness quality it resulted in. Only those with other sullivan show video would see the dynamic range and audio differences. And I don't mean to imply it's Huge. Yet its not so subtle it will escape you either. Without it to compare to, sure they'd say it sounds great. But to whomever the sound engineer was on this: You get a D. Next time use the A/B switch, and get a second opinion. You may just go with the original unaltered analog track.
As for content, thats been covered in other reviews. I liked it!! And its such a nice collection all in one place that overall I rate this 4 of 5. If audio hadnt been fiddled with I'd give it a 5+

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An incredible release. Its the real "Hard Days Night"
Review: The footage released as part of the 83 minute DVD is absolutely fantastic and documents the Beatles first US visit. See them in the hotel, see them on the train, see their first stateside photo shoot. Complete full length versions of all the their appearences on Ed Sullivan with fabulous Dolby digital sound. Everything has been fixed up and as near perfect as technically possible. As well there are several songs from their Washington D.C. Arena concert (sound is rough but they are an absolute blast and theres nothing else available like it) Put together by Neil Aspinal, who is the Beatles historian. What else can I say....first class all the way.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE MAYSLES BROTHERS ARE GENIUSES!
Review: The Maysles Brothers have done it again (first, with"Salesman" in which they followed around Bible salesman andshowed the human side of door-to-door salesman). That was brilliant and this is even better. The footage is unbelievable. You wouldn't have ever guessed that the Fab were so funny! GET THIS DVD! There's nothing like it (unless, of course, you can find a copy of A Hard Day's Night, which is currently on moratorium/not available to buy at this time)! This and "The Compleat Beatles" are the definitive Beatles documentaries. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS DOCUMENTARY! You won't be sorry! Don't pay attention to the negative reviews! The good ones overshadow them.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Beatles had the core issues mastered
Review: The most valuable thing that the Beatles had was their extraordinary songwriting ability.|

Oh, yes, they had many other great cards to play, but their songwriting was their ace of spades. To use a sports analogy, their songwriting ability was their Babe Ruth or Wayne Gretzky in their lineup of formidable talents.

This video shows this. It shows the Beatles showcasing songs that collectively run circles around their competitors.

Yes, occassionally a group or artist will come out with a song that can hang with the calibre of those of the early Beatles, but NO ONE or NO GROUP has had an output of such relentless quality in such a condensed time frame.

This isn't recognized enough, in my opinion.

But, had these magnificent sonic blueprints that the early Beatles created not been properly handled, the Beatles' impact would have been far less. We can all be thankful that the songs were delivered with infectious joy and cheekiness and feeling. We can count ourselves very lucky that the Beatles had great vocal gifts, especilly for harmonizing. We can consider ourselves fortunate that Brian Epstein "cleaned them up" for public viewing (in matching suits, and so forth). We can thank ourselves that they weren't "neat freaks" about letting a little rawness into their musical execution. There are untold numbers of talented band musicians with superb execution, but where has that gotten them? Up to a point, reasonably crisp execution is necessary; but beyond that, it runs the grave risk of impeding the flow of more important things, such as joie de vivre. The Beatles were not at all guilty of blocking the flow of joy, of generativeness.

What the Beatles were "guilty" of was, instead: 1) playing WELL WRITTEN SONGS (that this is so very crucial to great success seems to escape so many artists and bands); and, 2) exhibiting joy and buoyancy (who is going to consider the nihilistic output of rappers and punkers with nostalgia and misty-eyed remembrance 40 years from now? Not many, I can assure you. History does not long applaud and laud such "energies." Nobody long cherishes negativity).

I am so very pleased that this video exists to show future genrations that the pinnacle of musical output is not trash-talking or in-your-face decibels. It is instead quality musical craftsmanship and joy that hits the mark for the long haul. (It is great and most heartening, though not AT ALL unexpected that, forty years later, the Beatles CD "1" topped the charts. Is a similar thing going to happen with a rapper or a punk musician or Madonna or Nirvana? Bloody unlikely. They simply have not delivered the goods for the ages as the Beatles have.)

For committing the lovely "crimes" of bringing top quality songwriting and bouyant joy to the stage and to our ears, long live the Beatles!--and they shall long live, for the reasons discussed above.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Historically interesting and entertaining
Review: This black-and-white documentary chronicling the Beatles' first US visit in 1964 is very interesting for the historical perspective it gives. Hate 'em or love 'em, there is no doubt the Beatles completely shook up the music world. Some of the crowd reactions are scary/funny with their frenzied screaming fanaticism.

Much of it is comprised of the Beatles in hotel rooms as they watch TV, smoke cigarettes incessantly, and chat among themselves, or going out and about town, or riding in trains. This is intercut with various DJ's discussing the upcoming Ed Sullivan show event, crowds and crowd comments, and the actual appearance of the Beatles on that show.

The sound and image of the straight documentary portion is pretty good. However, the appearance from the Washington Coliseum concert comes across very poorly, mostly due to the limitations of the original recording and skimpy stage equipment. At one point, when Ringo gets to sing "I Wanna Be Your Man", he is barely heard.

There is a 50-minute "making of" the 80-minute documentary, as well as a commentary by the film-makers, and a booklet with some quotes and photographs. If you like the early Beatles, this is the DVD for you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Another Great DVD For BeatleFan!!!
Review: This DVD is another ithem collector for BeatleFan great great songs live and footage form the night party and airport only the Ed Sullivan performans is see en the same name DVD The Ed Sullivan Show The Beatles but collection is collection great 80minutes of beatles scenes

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: ANYONE WHO LOVES THE BEATLES...
Review: This dvd is perfect for any beatles fan. It has many enjoyable moments and concerts. You also get a chance to see the fab four off stage, and having fun. Emphisizing one scene where they are at The Peppermint Lounge. Ringo gets on the dance floor. Once you see this film the first time, you'll be watching it over and over again. It is impossible to watch this ony a few times. I love this dvd. The only problem is that I wish it wasn't in black & white! Oh well. The picture quality is excellent otherwise. (Except when you watch the Extras.) Anyone who loves The Beatles NEEDS TO GET THIS! Whatever age you are, it's a must have!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: FINALLY FIRST RATE FOOTAGE OF THE SULLIVAN SHOWS
Review: This is a great opportunity to see the Beatles perform their most famous hits in February 1964. The documentary footage of their 1st visit was also excellent. i recommend it highly. My only gripe was the deletion of several performances they had given on the Ed Sullivan Show. From what i had seen on poor bootleg videos, at least 4 or 5 performances were left out ( admittedly of the same songs) However there is plenty of room on a VHS tape or DVD to have included all without compromise.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Must for Beatle Fans
Review: This is a must for any Beatles fans!! Especially those of us that were too young to remember the flavor of the time. Not being staged or scripted is the best part of it. It is more of a look behind the scenes as the Beatles go about their routine during their visit to the US. Very good!!


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