Customer Reviews

Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics Boxed Set

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Let me start by saying this could have been one of the great DVD sets ever released but Rhino really dropped the ball.

Some reviewers seem to think they are viewing the complete performances or the performances as "originally aired". Lets clear that up right now. These are the edited performances that aired on VH1 and in no way are they as originally performed on the Ed Sullivan Show in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Anyone who believes they are viewing the original performance need only compare the Beatles Ed Sullivan appearances from "Beatles Anthology" or "Beatles First US Visit" to the same performances contained in this DVD set. You will then see and hear exactly what you are missing. All songs suffer a similar editing done so skillfully that anyone unfamiliar with the songs or original broadcasts might be fooled. Don't think for a second that a group fortunate enough to appear on Ed Sullivan's show would have chosen to perform a "shortened" version of their songs. It just didn't happen. Sorry folks, but if you think you are viewing the original performance as aired you are just plain wrong.

Because of the price I was convinced that we would now see the full versions of these songs and not the hatchet job we saw on VH1. But Rhino really fooled us. One reviewer felt that the high price may be due to royalty payments to so many artists. Maybe, but I doubt it. The Hullabaloo DVD series has many artists but the set is very affordable and you get the complete performances as aired. As for groups like the Dave Clark Five being absent (they made 18 appearances on the Ed Sullivan show) it's possible that Dave Clark was able to avoid being part of this project. He was and is very protective of the usage of the DC5 material. But if he could avoid it then surely Apple (the Beatles management) would have disassociated themselves from this set as well. They are highly protective of the Beatles and would have opted out if possible. But that's another debate.

Sound quality is as good as you can expect from mono sources so long ago. Remember, Ed didn't broadcast in stereo. The so called 5.1 mix is just processed mono but does give the sound more depth than the plain mono track.

Overall this set is just a huge disappointment for the serious collector but may satisfy the casual fan although at quite a price. I would return mine for a refund if I could. I would really like to see Rhino post a response on this site and explain their decisions.

I saw this coming a mile away ... I've seen those network "Ed Sullivan" retrospectives and have cringed all the way through as songs were cut in half (or worse). They are so carved up and edited down, it's really a shame.

When I saw this set advertised, I was hoping that MAYBE, just maybe, the folks who run the Ed Sullivan estate and the company which puts his footage out had finally "got it." Oh, how wrong I was.

Oh, yeah, there are about 144 performances, but not one song is complete. Adding insult to injury, each DVD runs a scant 60 mins. Meaning this 9 DVD set could easily have fit on 4 disks - and cost the consumer a lot less money.

One day - hopefully in my lifetime - the powers that be will come to their senses and release "Ed Sullivan: The COMPLETE Beatles Performances" and a similar volume contining FULL LENGTH versions of the Doors, Rolling Stones, and other essential groups of the 60s.

Until then, we will continue to get very little value for our money. This box set is a perfect example of consumers being taken.

Don't you find it strange that the edited songs or 60 minute running time per disk are nowhere to be found in the official description of this item? I'd think that would be rather pertinent information.

This is a set for casual TV viewers only. There are some historic moments... but for the price being charged, one would expect to see/hear the songs in their entirety. That's not too much to ask for, and once the word gets out about this set, should prove to be the "deal breaker."

Buyers beware! Most of the performances on this Ed Sullivan DVD box set have been cut. How in the world can you take a 2 minute song and cut it? Well, Rhino found a way. This would have been a great set if all 144 songs were complete. Surely they had enough space on each DVD (60 minutes per disc? Come on). I'm sending my set back for a refund.

When I first saw the DVD set in the stores, I thought this was a no brainer to buy. Like many of you, I often look up the Amazon.com reviews first. I was really taken aback buy the poor ratings which made me think twice. Anyway, I had a chance to buy the set new for [a good price] this past week. I've watched 5 of the first 9 DVDs so far. Yes, some of the performances are cut short (not all verses sung). First of all, who cares if Sonny and Cher don't drag out I Got You Babe. I was more saddened at the short versions of Sly's Dance to the Music. Most of those abridged versions were due to programming at the time.

Overall I was quite pleased. I thought the sound and pictures were pretty well mastered. Yes, there is some song duplication, but it didn't kill me. No, I wouldn't pay full price, but I'm really quite pleased. Actually , the most annoying thing is getting the DVDs out of the package. They are in there tight and you have to be careful pushing the middle ring to get the discs out. I can live with this compilation. At least it's not put together by some self indulgent producer who has to put interview footage in the middle of live performances like many do...that's the worst sin of all. Bottom line is this was a rush to watch. Really enjoyed the young Tom Jones and the Association. FYI, one of the Association's hidden harmonies was the Hawaiian singer's brother, who was always off stage with a microphone. Buy it, but get it on sale.

The reviews on this box seem to vary from great to rotten. Yes, I agree that it's got some value due to its historic content. But make no mistake, these performances are chopped. The thing that burns me up, is that its not just long jams that are cut, but very short songs also. To end all confusion with artists doing shortened versions on purpose, I ask you to view the DVD of The Beatles: First U.S. Visit. Compare the same songs, played on the same night back in 1964. This is a dececptive product that tries to fool the unsuspecting buyer. It took me several viewings to figure it out. Shame on you Rhino!!!

I made a tremendous mistake thinking that I could trust Rhino. I've purchased many of their releases in the past and have almost always been quite happy with them. Their two Nuggets box sets are a joy. But this DVD box is just a plain mess and a total disappointment! If there are specific performances that you want, stick to the individual DVD's which are also being released separately.

What's wrong with this? Geez, where to begin? First, the entire running length of this nine DVD series is less than nine hours, meaning the discs average less than one hour each. Thus, the entire set could easily have fit on four DVD's. The performances are arranged in a very clumsy way so that bands like The Beatles have their clips scattered across several DVD's. Liner notes are non-existent and the viewer must rely on between performance commentary to pick up info, which sometimes doesn't even include original airdates. And several perforances are repeated in the series, including The Jefferson Airplanes' "Crown of Creation" showing up twice on the same disc! What the hell is that all about?? There are other problems and little annoyances spread throughout, such as box set credits rolling two to three times on per DVD, Ed's endless signoffs and many truncated versions of songs.

All in all, I can't remember being so disappointed with something that could have been so great. This set is a plain waste of money. Rhino should be ashamed for foisting this on the public.

The ONLY reason that this set deserves one star is because much of the old footage is beautiful to watch and several of the performances are really good. But don't let that fool you into plunking down big bucks for this! It's a very poor value.

I'd seen the original Ed Sullivan Shows from the mid-60's to the end, the syndicated versions during the early 90's and the "Ed Sullivan Rock and Roll Classics" episodes on VH-1, so I was ready for a real treat. I wasn't sure what I was getting because the outside box gives very little information concerning any kind of track listing, something you'd expect for a 9-volume set, but I took a gamble anyway. Man was I shocked to find out that this is just a collection of the syndicated "Rock and Roll Classics" episodes, minus commercials. No DVD runs longer than 65 minutes, so I agree that the whole 9 DVD set (which runs less than 9 hours) could have fit on no more than 4 DVDs. There is also no reason why several identical performances are repeated. Each DVD has two or three episodes with the same repeated openings/closings, and all kind of really useless newsreel footage clogging up the set. The performances are sharp and sound crisp, and probably will be a lot of fun if you've never seen Sullivan's show or haven't seen it in a long while. There were so many performances that could have been included in this set from the Bee Gees "Words" to Ike and Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" to Tiny Tim's fascinating rendition of "Earth Angel", but this skimpy, padded box set is just ... If you can rent this, or buy it used it's worth a peep, otherwise don't shell out big bucks for it

This box set had so much promise but I havta admit I was let down. Where's the classic performance of The Rolling Stones singing the altered version of LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER? Where's the clip of Gary Lewis and The Playboys screwing up at the end of a song? Why is The Doors only performance of LIGHT MY FIRE on this collection TWICE??? What a waste of space! Why are there no clips of the Dave Clark 5??? They were on the Sullivan show EIGHTEEN TIMES!!! More than the Beatles, yet NOT ONE PERFORMANCE BY 'EM! Why is a whole disc devoted to the Temptations and the Supremes??? BORING. Jeez, if that ain't enough, there's still another disc that features MORE AND MORE Temptations and Supremes! Elvis and the Beatles ain't here as much as them!!! I'd like to say the Beatles clips are interesting; they are for what they are, but they cut the performances off after only one song then come back to 'em later on another disc. Why not put the whole performance on at once? It was short enough! Even though I'm more of a Beatle fan than an Elvis fan, the Elvis clips were the highlight for me...not for the music, but for showing Elvis to be extremely cool and with a great sense of humor you might not realize he had. If Rhino (who I still love dearly) decides to put out a second volume, they need better consulting.......AND NO MORE SUPREMES!!! WE HAVE ENOUGH!!!

I know there seems to be an ongoing debate whether
these performances are full-length or not, but take
it from someone who watched this show faithfully
every week, and then later saw the chopped-up,
syndicated versions. THESE PERFORMANCES ARE NOT
COMPLETE. Some of them end just as they are pick-
ing up steam. It's a shame the way Rhino or
whoever has butchered this legacy. This set is a HUGE disappointment!

In short, the value you get out of this box set is worth rubbish.
Each of the nine DVD's had only 60 minutes on each, which could of easily been cut down to 3 or 4 DVD's. In addition they cut down each song even though they are short enough in the full versions. I'm warning you: do not buy. Save your money.