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DVD: Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics
Chart Toppers, Vol. 1Hits of 1965-1967
Rhino Home Video
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
As it was with a few of the horror videos at Halloween time, Rhino is being smacked around by public opinion regarding the Ed Sullivan musical performances 9 DVD box set. And once again, the people are pickin' on the wrong company. Rhino is bound by contract to release these performances as they were when they purchased them. They were shown in half-hour episodes on VH1, and at that time the musical performances were already hacked up to fit the time frame. Now everybody's yelling "how could you, Rhino." Well, how could they not? They had to license from VH1.
All I had to look at was volume one, Top Hits of 1965, 66 and 67, and yeah, there are times you want to throw something at the screen because you know the song wasn't actually over when the scene shifted, but it was still a blast from the past seeing performances that had meant so much to me when I was a kid. Within seconds of the start, I'd remember a performance and anticipate moments to come, which is why the butchered performances sting like they do (shame on whoever did this, presumably VH1's people). After a while, you get used to it and you're just grateful for the chance to relive the experience of watching these performances, of seeing The Association do "Along Comes Mary," watching The Four Tops do a medley of hits, enjoying The Stones' performances of "Paint It Black" and "Ruby Tuesday" for the zillionth time, only this time from the source (more or less), and watching career-making appearances by Tom Jones, Herman's Hermits, Sonny & Cher, and The Mamas & The Papas, and seeing strange blue screen trickery with The Lovin' Spoonful as they sang "Do You Believe In Magic."
This DVD even offers up proof of DADSCAM, the crime committed by Dean Martin and Desi Arnez, aided and abetted by rat pack pal Frank Sinatra, in which they arranged for their basically talentless sons to make a record and get airplay and TV exposure, including a shot on Sullivan. Don't believe me? Watch Dino, Desi and Billy lip sync badly to "I'm A Fool" and then we'll talk. Each year is an episode, each episode seems short because it is, and the final decision comes down to whether or not you can deal with chopped up songs. For my money, it's just nice to have some record of these performers appearances on the show that either launched them or furthered their careers a great deal. As for sound, it's not bad, but it's just cleaned up mono. Working with what they had at the time, right?
Top Hits Of 1965
Four Tops - "Same Old Song," "Sugar Pie," & "Something About You"
Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"
Herman's Hermits - "I'm Henry The VIII, I Am"
The 4 Seasons - "Let's Hang On!"
The Lovin' Spoonful - "Do You Believe In Magic"
Tom Jones - "It's Not Unusual"
Dino, Desi & Billy - "I'm A Fool"
Top Hits Of 1966
The Association - "Along Comes Mary"
The Supremes - "My World Is Empty Without You"
Lou Rawls - "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing"
The Animals - "Don't Bring Me Down"
The Mamas & The Papas - "Monday, Monday"
The Rolling Stones - "Paint It, Black"
Top Hits Of 1967
Johnny Rivers - "Baby I Need Your Lovin'"
The Supremes - "The Happening"
The Association - "Never My Love"
The Mamas & The Papas - "Creeque Alley"
The Rolling Stones - "Ruby Tuesday"
© 2002 - DJ Johnson