Search - Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics - Chart Toppers, Vol. 1 - Hits of 1965-1967 on DVD

Can Someone Explain?

K. Giorlando | Eastpointe, Michigan United States | 03/23/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Is there anyone over the age of 40 who doesn't remember sitting down in front of the TV on Sunday evenings waiting to see that 3 minutes of their favorite performer singing their latest hit? Well, now available is something that, on paper, had the potential to be one of the most historical DVD releases in rock and roll history. I mean, what could be better than an Ed Sullivan pop music collection? Just look at the artists and song titles: Mama's and Papa's Ceeque Alley, Animals doing Don't Bring Me Down, The Rolling Stones' Paint It Black, The 4 Seasons Let's Hang On, and and fourteen more gems from 1965 through 1967.
I had to get it!
Now, here's the reason for such a low rating - why are most of the songs cut? Sonny and Cher's I Got You Babe is cut off halfway through! Lou Rawls'Love Is A Hurtin' Thing is also shortened. Actually, about half of the tunes are noticeably cut short either with a false ending or a verse (quite obviously) edited out.
Now, these are not shortened "45 versions" either. They have been deliberately cut for this DVD. Why? Well, the supposed answer is right there on the back of the package: DO TO THE HISTORIC CONTENT OF THIS RELEASE, SOME SONGS AND PERFORMANCES ARE REPEATED AND MAY NOT BE PERFORMED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. What does THAT mean? "Do to the historic content"??? Wouldn't "historic content" mean that they would keep the performances historically accurate? Can someone please explain this load of bull---- to me? I paid good money for these performances. Like another reviewer stated, they could have fit more than double the length of what they did on this disc, but instead, chose to really stick it to us by giving us only a little more than an hour's worth of edited "historical" performances.
Rhino, you did us wrong. I'll remember this. I will not purchase another of these and I'll keep my eyes peeled on any of your releases for length of disc AND content.
By the way, I gave this disc a 3 rating for the performances that weren't cut up."

ED SULLIVAN VOL 1ROCK AND ROLL HITS

Thomas A Lewis | 10/03/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It is great material and wonderful memories....but way overpriced....they only give you 60 minutes for a suggested list price of $... Why couldn't they have simply combined vol #1 & #2 on a single disc and still offered it for the same price. Frankly I am fed up with companies who gouge on price simply because it is a DVD. I hope everyone who buys this disc takes time to write Rhino Video and tells them they have way overpriced this as well as most of their other DVD discs. They seem to think nobody cares because we are so anxious to have this wonderful material on disc."

Don't buy this mess

Thomas A Lewis | Phoenix, AZ United States | 06/24/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I paid over ...bucks for the the 9 disc boxed set and didn't buy it from a store but ordered on line, so I couldn't get the refund I SO deserved. Rhino..you should be ashamed of yourself for duking lovers of this classic period in Americana. Some oif the performances are cut, Diana Ross and The Supremes' version of Love is Like An Itching in My Heart was part of a 3 song medley when it originally aired (complete w/classic Supremes choreography) and you butchered the other 2 songs. And that's just the start...Folks don't buy this or any other Sullivan "shew" compilation unless all it's the full content of the show. And where is Shirley Bassey?"

Video equivalent of swiss cheese

Nancy Solitare | New Haven, CT USA | 03/31/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The custodian at CBS swept the cutting room floor and handed the assemblage off to a dim-witted chimp for editing.
Frustratingly small snippets of songs.
Try this only if you suffer from attention deficit disorder, otherwise you'll be suffering from videoitis interruptus.
"