Search - Swinging U.K. on DVD

Great look at rare British videos

Joy Katzen-Guthrie | Tampa Bay Area, Florida | 08/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this item on E-Bay as a 1990 video and I was thrilled to get it, but the original films had not been color-restored and were a bright yellow. At least the sound was excellent and it was still thrilling to see this wacky vintage film set from 1963-65 containing the only known footage of some rare sixties British pop bands/performers, as well as very early footage of others who would become world renowned. Because the video had contained no notes, I researched for hours to find background info on obscure groups like The Cockneys. Then when I saw this new DVD release and recognized instantly that it was the same set of videos, I decided to jump in the deep end and take a chance to see if the films had been color-restored for the new release. They have been, and may be viewed in all their original color glory, still in excellent sound quality and the films in excellent condition.

The deejay emcees (Brian Matthews, Kent Walton, Alan Freeman) are totally over-the-top now but were celebrities in their day, and many of the musicians are top-of-the-line for mid-sixties British pop. All performances are lip-synched of course, but that only adds to the whole wacky experience. The DVD provides bio info on all acts so you don't have to research for hours as I originally did. Acts range from the famous (The Hollies, The Animals, Lulu) to the less famous (Millie Small, The Merseybeats, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Four Pennies) to the all-but-or-utterly forgotten: (The Applejacks, The Wackers, The Cockneys, The Migil 5, The Tornadoes).

The only confusing thing about the DVD (as opposed to the video, which featured a linear progression of the two films back to back) is that there is a second film embedded in there and you have to look for it. The collection is of two films, Swinging UK and UK Swings Again. My DVD stopped after the first collection and I was stymied because I knew there had to be other songs in there. I had to go find it, but it's there. There are even a couple of extra songs that weren't in the video.

The films contain the The Cockneys (After Tomorrow), Brian Poole & Tremeloes (Do You Love Me?, Someone), Millie Small (My Boy Lollipop, Oh Henry), The Wackers (Love Or Money), The Merseybeats (Fools Like Me, Don't Turn Around), The Migil 5 (Mockingbird Hill, Oh Baby), The Four Pennies (Juliet, Running Scared), Swinging Blue Jeans (Don't You Worry About Me, You're No Good), The Tornadoes (Blue Blue Beat), The Animals (Baby Let Me Take You Home), The Hollies [with a very very young Graham Nash] (Here I Go Again, Baby, That's All), The Applejacks (Like Dreamers Do, Tell Me When), Lulu & The Luvvers (Shout). The energy of some of these performances -- like Lulu's -- will knock you out of your seat, and of course, it's always a hoot to see faces like that of Graham Nash when they are practically just out of knickers. Some of the bands, like the Applejacks, look like they are all of maybe 14 years old, and the nerd-quality of some of the faces and fashions is truly precious.

Highly recommended if you love this music and this history. Kudos to the creators of the DVD who have restored these amazing films that, in some cases, are the only known visual testament to these performers of a magical musical era. Thank you thank you thank you for this gift."

Wonderful legacy of the British Invasion.

Alan R. Dennen | 08/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was truly wonderful to see the many groups of the British Invasion. It was so exciting back then to hear them on the radio, and often times here in the U.S. we did not see them on television. Here on this DVD I am able to recapture the excitement I felt about these groups and their music. I only wish there were more of these to watch. Just fantastic!

Thanks."