Product Details

• Actors: Carl Perkins, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Snapper UK
• VHS Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000065B2W
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,977 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The appearances of two ex-Beatles, including the late George Harrison, are among the principal attractions in this hour-long 1985 TV show, which spotlights one of the prime movers behind the rock-and-country blend known as rockabilly. Carl Perkins, who died in 1998, was the composer of "Blue Suede Shoes" and other classics, as well as a highly influential guitar player. Here he's joined by a host of luminaries, including Eric Clapton, musical director Dave Edmunds, Rosanne Cash, and members of the Stray Cats, in addition to Harrison and Ringo Starr, who perform the Perkins tunes ("Matchbox" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby") that the Beatles recorded lo, these many decades ago. But star power notwithstanding, it's Perkins's show all the way. Not only can the man still play, but he's clearly basking in all the attention--as is Harrison, whose rare live performances should be treasured all the more now that he's gone. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 5 STARS FOR THE SHOW. 2 STARS FOR THE AUDIO ON THE DVD VERSION., January 9, 2007

By	sallie*mae*dog (doesitmatter) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carl Perkins and Friends - Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session (DVD)

Much has been said about how close to perfection the show is. And it IS. If ever an opinion was a fact, that's a fact jack. So let me be very clear - the show itself is above and beyond 5 stars. I want to instead rant and rave about the mediocre audio quality of this particular dvd transfer here. Anybody who doesn't complain never owned the VHS before, and so of course they must think the sound can't get any better. It CAN. The picture on the dvd is fine, the audio is not terrible, but OH, if you had the VHS before, you'd know what you're missing. I thought I just had ungrateful amateur ears until a) I looked on the second page and started seeing that other people were complaining about the sound on this dvd and 2) sellers are still selling the VHS at full price here on amazon because a lot of people must be complaining about the dvd quality. I assumed I would see a bunch of penny listings, but it's going to be worth it to me to buy the vhs back for $10-15 and transfer it to dvd, and now beg Eric Clapton and his people, Olivia Harrison and her people, Carl's family, Ringo - somebody - RE-RELEASE THIS AS A SPECIAL EDITION DVD WITH OUTTAKES AND LOADS OF SPECIAL FEATURES AND, ABOVE ALL, REMASTER THAT AUDIO. PLEASE! For all those who agree with this last statement, say you find this review "helpful."

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carl Perkins Rocks With The Beatles and Eric Clapton!, April 18, 2005

By	Perry Celestino (Tahmoor, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Carl Perkins and Friends - Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session (DVD)

I have just received this DVD and cannot stop playing it. As a fan of the Beatles when I was a kid I have heard tunes on this that I haven't listened to since 1966! And they're fun to hear again. I agree with the previous reviewers, this is a very poor, runny, VHS transfer. It was taken from an HBO series that was screened world-wide (yes even here in Australia!) in the mid-1980s. The sound is OK, but it really sounds "Live" if you know what I mean. The colour is also very runny and there are a few drop outs captured on the disc. Even the cover photo on the case is out of focus! Oh well this was 20 years ago but the content is pure fun.

The late George Harrison, who was a great Perkins fan, comes across well but his playing is down in the mix, his cool red Gretch Guitar looks the part. His version of "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" brought back a lot of memories! Clapton probably plays better on this DVD than any in the last 20 years except his Guitar Festival appearence last year. Ringo Starr does a great rendition of "Honey Don't" (Done by the Beatles in 1965, 11 years after the Perkins original at Sun). Perkin's strange and controversial chord progession on this tune is what makes it so different and wonderful (see the section about this on the "Good Rockin' Tonight" DVD).

Carl Perkins was an innovator. He was from Tennessee and came to Memphis with a plethora of new ideas from country and blues music. He was a different type of rock musician. He was once marked to be bigger than Elvis (hence Jerry Lee Lewis' opening comments) but was hampered by a car crash in the early touring days and poor marketing by Sam Phillips and then others. However, like Albert King in blues, players and purists knew talent and the real thing. His beat and style of incorporating shuffles into country-rock grooves (rockabilly) was truly cool. Also he liked to use blues ideas hence we hear hints of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Blind Lemon Jefferson and others in his tunes. He was a gifted guitarist as well. Listen to his playing with George Harrison when he emulates the echo effect he heard Les Paul do in the early 1950s without any effects but his fingers! Extraordinary!

Lastly, this series should be remixed and released as a set. There are several great perfromances in the "A Session" concerts. The best, to me, is BB King's "A Blues Session" with Albert King, SRV, Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton and others. The "Soul Session" has James Brown with Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and others. When will these be released? (An update: both of these have just been released in 2005. They are also pretty poor in picture quality but they are fantastic and have very rare performances like the late Robert Palmer on "Soul Session" and Paul Butterfield and Albert King on "Blues Session". Get all three!!!)

Get this DVD it is delightful, fun to watch, has great playing and is historical. It's a little more pricey than the average Amazon DVD, but it's worth having!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST CONCERT SPECIAL EVER!, December 10, 1999

By	KEVIN C. ARNOLD (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Suede Shoes - A Rockabilly Session with Carl Perkins & Friends [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Man, this video NEVER gets old! CARL PERKINS is in total command of this ROCKIN' CINEMAX special that features the likes of Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Dave Edmunds! THE real HIGHLIGHT is GEORGE HARRISON coming out of retirement at that time and BARNSTORMING through "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" like he's back in 1962 at the CAVERN CLUB! Carl SMOKES on "Gone Gone Gone" "Boppin' The Blues" and of course, the all star jam of "Blue Suede Shoes!" THIS is the KING OF TRIBUTE VIDEOS and truly is one of the few that actually deserves a 5 star rating! The humbleness and sincerity that is CARL PERKINS comes across so deeply on the video that the true fan is almost moved to tears (just as Carl is toward the end of the video). CARL PERKINS will always be a true American TREASURE!