A new two-DVD collection, “The Ed Sullivan Show Featuring the Beatles,” has been set for an Oct. 28 release.
The four-hour Sofa Home Entertainment collection captures 20 live performances by the band spread over four episodes of TV’s “Ed Sullivan Show.” It marks the first time the performances have been available in their entirety since the episodes originally aired in 1964-65.
Andrew Solt, owner of the “Ed Sullivan Show” archives and executive producer of the project, describes the first Sullivan appearance as “the seminal moment of the rock revolution. Beatlemania was born right there on that stage.”
Solt negotiated with Apple Corp., which oversees the Beatles’ assets, for more than five years to get clearance to release the footage.
Besides live performances of such No. 1 Beatles hits as “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “I Feel Fine,” “Help!” and “Yesterday,” the DVD features appearances by Cab Calloway, Mitzi Gaynor, Soupy Sales and Frank Gorshin. The set will sell for $29.95.
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