From: ers1@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (eugene.r.schroeder)
Subject: Re: Live shows on video (was:Re: Beatlefest `92 (again))
Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 11:46:55 GMT

In article <1992Sep4.045718.8250@menudo.uh.edu> edc@evolution.bchs.uh.edu (edward s. chen) writes:
>>Looking back at the Beatlefest catalog, I agree `The Beatles LIVE' is 
>>available at a lower price (though the catalog notes a limited quantity
>>is available). However, at one of the flea market booths I found a bunch
>>of Japanese-produced CDs (which I knew nothing about) and a black covered
>>beatles video of 20 minute length which I took to be a repackaged LIVE
>>video, but with a $62.50 tag. Let the buyer beware! 
>
>The dreaded "grey-market" videos.  Avoid such things at all costs.
>The operation usually consists of a collector with a label maker,
>and two VCR's.  The color (if any) will be horribly washed out, and
>the sound will be very tinny.
>

Not one to defend bootleggers, but... if this is what is available,
is priced appropriately, and the quality is satisfactory for your
use, why not?  I agree that the quality is often very bad, but
you generally have a chance to see what you are buying before the
fact.  I am not sure what the alternatives are other than wait and
hope for better.

>>
>>I am still interested in other beatle concert videos, and would like to 
>>know what is available, and what are good ones.`The Beatles First US Visit'
>>for $82.50 is a good one, but I can rent it locally. I've heard of 
>>some concerts in Japan that were good (i.e., recorded reasonably well),
>>but are they available? These are not in the Beatlefest catalog.
>
>Legitimately, "First Visit" is the only thing available on video.
>
>otherwise there are a handful of pro-shot concerts available in their
>entirety, and many more where only a song or two was filmed.
>
>Washington '64:  Excerpted in "First US Visit".  Originally filmed,
>           to be shown in theatres.  Original promos for this are
>           also around.
>
>Australia '64: Nice for history's sake, if only to see Jimmy Nicol
>           playing with the boys.  Have yet to see a complete copy of
>           this on video, but have been told it exists
>
>Paris '65: Filmed by French television cameras for "posterity".  Still,
>           a pretty nice color pro-shot film of the Beatles in action.
>
>Shea '65:  The famous Shea show.   Behind the scenes footage is included.
>           Originally aired on ABC, and has since lapsed into the public
>           domain.  Pops up from time to time during PBS beg-a-thons.
>
>Tokyo '66 (2 shows): Filmed by Japanese television, and briefly released
>           in that country in mint condition.  Despite the lackadasical
>           performance by the boys, nice to see them perform songs like
>           "Yesterday", "Nowhere Man", and "Paperback Writer" live.
>
>
>Of these, the Washington, Shea, and Tokyo concerts are fairly common.
>They were even released by a rather dubious video company several years
>back.  Your best bet would be to wait, as the highlights of this footage are
>bound to show up in pristine condition on the upcoming "Long and Winding Road"
>documentary.

Of course, I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants as much of the
complete thing as possible (or at least more than highlights).

While you might not classify it as a "concert," don't forget
Let It Be.  IMHO, the rooftop concert is great, although the
cut-aways to the street are annoying if you are just interested
and seeing and hearing the music.  As far as I
know, Let It Be is out of print, so you'll have to find a
secondhand copy (or a bootleg)

Gene