Rating: 
Summary: New fans because of these tapes!
Review: Not only are these a must for any 60s collector, they apparently introduce "newbies" to great oldies. I have a Freddie and the Dreamers website and club on Yahoo groups and have a few new members. They mentioned that they had seen these shows and researched some of the bands on the net. Great fun and I'll watch these tapes again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: Nostalgia: overrated?
Review: The answer, of course, is no. A lot of time has been spent whining about the stuff on Hullabaloo that wasn't really rock and roll. Sure, safe acts, crooners and Vegas swingers ruled on the show - particularly as hosts - but it all works as a beautiful period piece. Rock and roll was only a decade old when these shows were filmed, and TV execs were fighting a losing battle to co-opt it. The purity of performances by the Animals, the Yardbitds and the Byrds show how uncontrollable the energy was. Anyone who grew up in the era will love this. And if you remember the actual show, you'll spend days wiping that grin off your face.
Rating:
Summary: A 60's Music Flashback
Review: This four-volume box set has a total running time of about four hours. It contains seven complete Hullabaloo shows (six half-hour shows and a one-hour special), plus eighteen bonus songs. Details are given at the end of the review. Each show is fronted by a different guest host, who - as well as introducing the acts - also performs one or two songs of his own. Featured throughout are the Hullabaloo Dancers, who twitch their bodies and shake their mop-tops in time to the music. The shows themselves are made up of three separate elements. Firstly there are guest acts performing their latest recordings. Although a few are clearly miming, most do actually sing their numbers live. In the middle of the show comes the medley. In many ways the medleys are the most interesting to watch - since it gives us a chance to see our Sixties heroes performing numbers not associated with them. Some struggle in the attempt, others are plainly nervous - but they all make it through to the end. It is this element of uncertainty that makes the medley fascinating to watch more than thirty years on. The show ends with a visit to the Hullabaloo A-Go-Go, where a live act performs to an audience of that week's guests - complete with Go-Go dancers in cages. My only disappointment with this section is that the cameras focus mainly on the dancers - providing only brief glimpses of the performers. And, with performers like The Yardbirds, that today feels like an opportunity missed. Hullabaloo was broadcast from January 1965 to August 1966, and - for the first three months - included a segment from London hosted by Brian Epstein. Many of the bonus songs on these tapes come from these London segments, and feature Brian's somewhat shy introductions. Here are the details: Volume One: April 11, 1966 (in colour); Paul Anka (host) - What now my love; The Cyrkle - Red rubber ball; Lesley Gore - Young love; Peter & Gordon - Woman; Wrong from the start; plus Academy Award Song Medley, including What's new pussycat by The Cyrkle December 6, 1965; Frankie Avalon (host) - Do I hear a waltz?; The Hollies - Look through any window; Nancy Sinatra - So long babe; Lola Falana - Loverly; The Yardbirds - I'm a man; plus TV Theme Song Medley Bonus Songs; Gerry & The Pacemakers - I'll be there; It's gonna be alright; The Bobby Fuller Four - I fought the law; The Vogues - Five o'clock world; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Going to a Go-Go Volume Two; November 29, 1965 (in colour); Michael Landon (host) - I like it like that; The Byrds - The times they are a-changin'; Jackie DeShannon - A lifetime of loneliness; Chad & Jill - The cruel war; Paul Revere & The Raiders - Steppin' out; plus, Top Pop Medley, including Do you believe in magic by The Byrds March 14, 1966; Gary Lewis (host) & The Playboys - Run for your life; The Mamas & The Papas - California dreamin'; Dionne Warwick - Message to Michael; Bobby Rydell - The joker; Noel Harrison - (It's all over now) Baby Blue; plus, Top Pop Medley, including Nowhere man by the Mamas & Papas Bonus Songs: The Moody Blues - Go now; The Marvelettes - Don't mess with Bill; The Turtles - You baby; The Animals - I'm crying; Volume Three; September 20, 1965 (in colour); Jerry Lewis & Gary Lewis (host) - Help; Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Everybody loves a clown; Barry McGuire - Eve of destruction; Paul Revere & The Raiders - Ooh poo pah doo; Joannie Sommers - Before and after; plus Top Pop Medley, including It ain't me babe by Gary Lewis & The Playboys September 13, 1965; Sammy Davis Jr (host) - I know a place; The Lovin' Spoonful - Do you believe in magic; The Supremes - Nothing but heartaches; Sonny & Cher - I got you babe; The Strangeloves - I want Candy; Sammy Davis Jr & The Supremes - Toot-toot-tootsie; plus, Top Pop Medley, including (I can't get no) Satisfaction by Sonny & Cher Bonus Songs: The Searchers - Love potion #9; What have they done to the rain; Marvin Gaye - Ain't that peculiar; Dusty Springfield - Some of your lovin'; The Young Rascals - Good lovin'; Volume Four; May 4, 1965; Trini Lopez (host) - What'd I say; Sad tomorrows; I've lost my love for you; Sir Douglas Quintet - She's about a mover; Herman's Hermits - Mrs Brown you've got a lovely daughter; Silhouettes; Can't you hear my heartbeat; Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode; The Four Seasons - medley: Dawn (go away), Rag doll, Toy soldier, Bye bye baby; Vikki Carr - There goes my heart; Martha & The Vandellas - Nowhere to run; Freddie & The Dreamers - You were made for me; The Travellers Three - San Francisco Bay blues; Trini Lopez & Chuck Berry - Memphis; Trini Lopez & Vikki Carr - If I had a hammer; Entire cast - Do the Freddie; plus, Top Pop Medley, including Do you wanna dance by The Four Seasons Bonus Songs: Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders - Game of love; The Four Tops - Something about you; Gene Pitney - Town without pity; Johnny Rivers - Midnight Special
Rating:
Summary: What a trip!
Review: This is a must-see for nostalgia fans of the 60's. I mainly bought it because it has Gary Lewis in it--he is a friend of mine and his goofy sense of humor shines in this dvd. And his personality hasn't changed much since then.
The only problem I have with this dvd is that the dubbing is so obvious--especially watching musicians play an electric guitar that isn't plugged in--but it's still fun watching the lip-synching. Heck, people pay big bucks to see Britney Spears lip-sync live.
| 
