Post by Beatle Bob on Jan 25, 2009 17:02:58 GMT -5
REVIEW: NME POLLWINNERS CONCERT '64 - 66/SHINDIG (CD/DVD set) - Misterclaudel Label - mccd115/116
By Beatle Bob
I've been spending much time watching this new CD/DVD from Misterclaudel that contains some of my favorite short sets done by the Beatles where they usually played hot and very tight; where it didn't seem like they were going through the motions as they would on their long summer tours.
What's included on this set are the NME Pollwinners concerts from '64 - '65 and the Beatles award presentation only, from '66 (turns out their performance was not taped, even for posterity) and the one and only time they performed on the US tv show, Shindig in '64.
This set contains all available footage from these performances on the DVD. Most of it commonly available before, but NEVER in this quality. What we have here are tapes that are a few steps closer to the master tape and for once, missing the time-codes that are so prevalent on most Beatles TV footage. It's not electronically or digitally manipulated. The '64 NME show opens with the slate announcement by ABC TV. Something that could have been previously circulating, but something I never had on DVD. The '65 show I have everything on, but it looks much, much better. In fact, the quality on this is better than the '64 show but both have more detail, very good grey scale and pretty much glitch free. Both shows are offered with broadcast versions ("reverberant alt mixes") of the audio, though not the complete sets. The '66 show is just the awards presentation and is nothing special due to the fact no real thank you speeches seem to happen at these award shows.
Shindig offered is not the complete show (which would have been cool to have). It's only the introduction and Beatles performances in stunning video quality. If this isn't from a first generation master, it's awfully close! The audio is so detailed that with the open mike set up for Ringo (Beatles pre-taped the backing tracks the day before, singing live over it for broadcast)you can hear Ringo taping his drums sticks on the edge of the drum in an attempt to do a half way decent miming to the drum track. It gives it a "click sound" effect--something I've never noticed on previously available audio.
The set also comes with a CD companion of all the DVD's audio (something I like to have). The audio by itself is superb and the best you'll ever have emanating from these shows. We also are treated to trailers of the MC product as well as a collage of upcoming project. The one noteable one I'm looking forward to is their set of the Sweden '63 tour. Another group of shows (TV and radio) where the Beatles were hot, tight and on their game. Also included n the set is a nice insert that includes pictures of ads for the NME's, and Shindig show, Beatle boots and a ticket stub.
This set comes highly recommended and is an essential upgrade. You can throw out your other DVDs of these sets!
I hope this review has been helpful!
Regards,
Beatle Bob
By Beatle Bob
I've been spending much time watching this new CD/DVD from Misterclaudel that contains some of my favorite short sets done by the Beatles where they usually played hot and very tight; where it didn't seem like they were going through the motions as they would on their long summer tours.
What's included on this set are the NME Pollwinners concerts from '64 - '65 and the Beatles award presentation only, from '66 (turns out their performance was not taped, even for posterity) and the one and only time they performed on the US tv show, Shindig in '64.
This set contains all available footage from these performances on the DVD. Most of it commonly available before, but NEVER in this quality. What we have here are tapes that are a few steps closer to the master tape and for once, missing the time-codes that are so prevalent on most Beatles TV footage. It's not electronically or digitally manipulated. The '64 NME show opens with the slate announcement by ABC TV. Something that could have been previously circulating, but something I never had on DVD. The '65 show I have everything on, but it looks much, much better. In fact, the quality on this is better than the '64 show but both have more detail, very good grey scale and pretty much glitch free. Both shows are offered with broadcast versions ("reverberant alt mixes") of the audio, though not the complete sets. The '66 show is just the awards presentation and is nothing special due to the fact no real thank you speeches seem to happen at these award shows.
Shindig offered is not the complete show (which would have been cool to have). It's only the introduction and Beatles performances in stunning video quality. If this isn't from a first generation master, it's awfully close! The audio is so detailed that with the open mike set up for Ringo (Beatles pre-taped the backing tracks the day before, singing live over it for broadcast)you can hear Ringo taping his drums sticks on the edge of the drum in an attempt to do a half way decent miming to the drum track. It gives it a "click sound" effect--something I've never noticed on previously available audio.
The set also comes with a CD companion of all the DVD's audio (something I like to have). The audio by itself is superb and the best you'll ever have emanating from these shows. We also are treated to trailers of the MC product as well as a collage of upcoming project. The one noteable one I'm looking forward to is their set of the Sweden '63 tour. Another group of shows (TV and radio) where the Beatles were hot, tight and on their game. Also included n the set is a nice insert that includes pictures of ads for the NME's, and Shindig show, Beatle boots and a ticket stub.
This set comes highly recommended and is an essential upgrade. You can throw out your other DVDs of these sets!
I hope this review has been helpful!
Regards,
Beatle Bob
