Tony Sheridan-Beatles audio DVD released in Europe

Update (3/12/04)
  • An explanation for the absence of "Cry For a Shadow" from Matt Hurwitz:

    Hi, Steve--

    Regarding the missing "Cry For a Shadow" on Universal's new U.S. release of "The Beatles with Tony Sheridan DVD, I've just heard from a spokesman at the label. The spokesman explained that they simply were unable to obtain the necessary publishing clearances for that track in time to make the scheduled release date (the goal being to make the release at/near the 40th anniversary).


    Update (3/10/04)
  • From Matt:

    Hi,

    Just a few quick thoughts on the Tony Sheridan DVD. Picked up the UK version the other day (which DOES have the CRY FOR A SHADOW clip on - set to a nice montage of George photos). I couldn't get any english subtitles to go along with the German language interviews. Tried to enable them under the disc menu and also manually via the subtitle button on my DVD player but no luck. Unless you're a major Tony Sheridan fan there's not too much here. Given the involvement of all the people concerned, it could have been the defintive documentary about the Beatles in Hamburg. Unfortunately there's more atmosphere of the times in the BACKBEAT film and more Beatles information in their own ANTHOLOGY series. It's not totally without it's charms; the CRY FOR A SHADOW and MY BONNIE clips are well put together, with a number of photos I've never seen before, and the sound mix on the songs is wonderfully clear. There's a great documentary waiting to be made about the now legendary Beatles stints in Hamburg; this isn't it. Maybe one day.

    Matt.
    THE BEATLES BAD HANDWOTER ARCHIVE
    http://www.angelfire.com/rock/beatlescripts/index.html


    Update (3/9/04)
  • From Reechie Firestone:

    Hi Steve,

    I hadn't noticed any mention of this in your coverage of the Sheridan tapes DVD (pardon me if I missed it, or if it's already been brought up), but I notice that on the US version, "Cry For A Shadow" has been omitted. Anyone know why?


    (Comment: No, but we'll ask around.)

    Update (3/6/04)

  • David Freis says the interview on the DVD with Allan Williams "is absolutely hysterical and worth the price alone. One key point that is really funny is his recollection of Paul McCartney borrowing some money for clothes, which Allan game to him, and his saying that Paul is now a multi-billionaire and that Paul (the bastard, he says, under his breath) has yet to pay him back!)"

    Update (3/5/04)

  • A review of the DVD by Bruce Mulle´:

    Hi Steve,

    I just got finished watching the brand new DVD: "The Beatles with Tony Sheridan". I was actually searching for the new live Dylan CD, which was put back a week... BUT, I was very happily surprised to see "The Beginnings in Hamburg - A Documentary" had finally been released!!!! I was unable to really turn up the volume because it was late by the time I got to watch it, but the sound is greatly improved from any prior versions. The packaging is quite nice and done very well.. It comes in the laminated digi-pack style DVD format. The tri-fold type, which has lots of good pics everywhere. Inside there is a four page insert booklet, and a packet of five really nice postcards. A classy added touch!

    The sound menu offers both PCM Stereo, and Dolby Digital 5.1 . You are able to listen to the film along with the 16 song soundtrack, or you can listen to each separately as well. The songs are combined with photographs of the time period and go along nicely.

    The interviews are quite enjoyable. Tony Sheridan is funny and very interesting. Allan Williams is ok, he comes off with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder I think... At one point, mumbling about Paul being a "cheap bastard billionaire", who won't pay him back some 15 pounds he had lent early on... Astrid and Klause are great! There are several other people interviewed, like Horst Fascher, Roy Young, and one of the actual recording engineers. There might be one or two new Hamburg pics I hadn't seen... It is very late right now, so I can't be certain of this.

    Each song has an introduction by Tony. There is discography feature that lets you see picture sleeves from all over the world, not just Germany. Many LP covers are also shown. I noticed that the U.S. red picture sleeve for "WHY" was missing (? ) Rather strange I thought, it is somewhat rare but you would think that they could have found a NM copy.... I would have lent them mine! LOL...

    Some of the interviews are in German, I was able to use the english subtitles with no problem. I had little, to no problem utilizing this DVD with my player. All in all, I feel this a great addition to my collection. The interviews are recent and fresh, and the sound can't be beat. Enjoy!


    Update (1/15/04)
  • A source tells us the tentative U.S. release date for the Tony Sheridan DVD audio disc is March 2.

    Update (12/6/03)

  • Great news!: Word from our source is that it looks like the DVD will be released in the U.S. at the end of January (though this could change ... our source said it's not in stone yet). No specific date was given, but we'll pass it along when we hear it. Our source also told us that the problems we had with the German copy (not playing on our stand-alone player) will be remedied.

    Update (11/19/03)

  • We've heard rumblings that the DVD is definitely under consideration for release in the U.S. We'll let you know when we hear more.
    Update (11/7/03)
  • From Sven Solterbeck:

    Dear Steve,

    I am happy with you, that you got this outstanding DVD. Unfortunately you can't play it on your DVD device. But I have to comment some things, that you comment on the DVD:

  • The pics in the video - I am almost sure - are not all taken by Astrid.
  • Believe me the 5.1 mix is quite clearer than the PCM Stereo - sorround even, but not overdozed, rather carefully, e.g. putting the left and the right channels equably to the left and right front/back speaker. Sometime the sound is a little bit stressed in the center.
  • Not all dialogues are in English. On my copy some German contributors, like Horst Fascher (former Star Club manager), are speaking German. No English subtitles are given for that.
  • The documentary, "From Liverpool to Hamburg," is the entire edit of the interviews without Music and Sheridan song comments.

    Yeah, it's really a neat item. I hope it'll be released at your side of the ocean as well.

    Best regards, Sven.

    • Update (11/5/03) We received our copy of this DVD-audio disc today. A few things to say about it geared toward American fans who might be interested in buying it (it's available through the German arm of Amazon.com):

  • Though this is a Region 0 disc, it would not work in our stand-up DVD player, though we were able to play it on our computer player under a couple of different programs.
  • As Sven Solterbeck notes in his review below, the songs are done in video form, illustrated by pics taken by Astrid Kirchherr. Many of the pics were unfamiliar to us (we don't have the Genesis books she's done), so watching them and listening to the songs at the same time gives the music a new dimension. We can't honestly review the 5.1 mix from our computer, but it's much clearer and upfront than the alternate PCM Stereo that's on the disc.
  • The menus go back and forth with a blurry effect that looks very stunning.
  • All the dialogue we heard (we haven't watched the whole disc yet) is in English. German subtitles are available from the menu.
  • A documentary, "From Liverpool to Hamburg," is one of the extras.
  • The songs all have comments in between them (all the ones we saw had them by Tony Sheridan). There is an option to play the songs without the comments.
  • The disc also features a gallery of Tony Sheridan/Beatles releases from around the world. It's not complete, but it's fun to see.
  • It's really a neat item. We hope it'll be released here.

    Update (10/26/03)

  • A detailed look at the Tony Sheridan-Beatles DVD by Sven Solterbeck:

    My recommendation for some closer information on the DVD:

    "Universal Marketing Group" has put together the optimal mixture from the relatively clear material: Poshy Polydor recordings, countless photos among others from Astrid Kirchherr, the memories of a couple of old road companions, above all Tony Sheridan, Klaus Voormann or Alan William. The lot is packed in a glossy Artwork. The entire product is authentic.

    For the valuations in particular:

    - The music: The songs of Tony with and without the Beatles sound significantly more freshly than ever. Just as the CD "The Beatles featuring Tony Sheridan - In the Beginning " (Universal 2000) is incredibly good sound and pure. Carefully! and without useless rubbish the sound engineers have converted the stereophonic sound in 5.1 Dolby Digital sorround sound (alternatively also PCM Stereo) with the DVD. Definitely brilliant - without to sound artificial however. Never there sounded the Polydor recordings so well. However, please, expects nevertheless no miracles in view of the current recording methods.

    The DVD includes all songs with the Beatles and as well as some "solos" from Tony with the Beat Brothers. Under latter is also "Swanee River", whose version with the Beatles was lost, unfortunately. The entire Polydor material is not so comprehensive as it is known, therefore, is to be assumed of the fact that no new version are to be heard.

    - The photo videos: It is obvious that there are no videos available from that time. Therefore, the producers have put together from hundreds of pictures so-called photo films for each song - altogether amusingly. But all pictures are in black&white and show the portraits of each member or concert scenes. In combination with the music the photo films supply a certain authenticity. But sometimes I feel Tony get a raw deal in the photo films - you know, formerly he was the star. Anyway, but Tony himself tells a brief story to every song. Nevertheless the songs are played entirely.

    - The interviews: The Beatles do not speak in this documentation, for it, however, other important contemporary witnesses. Alan William reports how he has brought the Beatles to Hamburg. Astrid Kirchherr describes her impressions of the first photo shooting with the Beatles. She tells from the growing affair with Stuart Sutcliffe. Tony Sheridan analyzes the music scene of that time in Hamburg and reports from the different preferences in the repertoire of some bands. Besides, Klaus Voormann, Horst Fascher (Star Club manager) and other German musicians speak. The interviews seem to have been done in the recent time.

    The stories are nice and at all not boringly - but do not expect some exposures. The story of the Beatles must not be newly written with the release of this DVD.

    - The menu technology of the production: The menu is divided clearly. In the background the Beatles sit before the entrance of the Star Club. The spectator can select from: Play all (the whole documentation with music and interviews), songs (choice of several songs as well as complete line of songs without interviews) and specials (complete line of all interviews, credits and discography). The discography shows incidentally a selection of world-wide covers (in color) of different releases with the Polydor material. German subtitles can be faded in. Unfortunately, there are to the interviews with the German conversational partner no English subtiles.

    - The Artwork: The DVD is in a glossy Digipack (two times folded). The Artwork as well as the films with interviews and the menu are formed in the color "brown&white" (sepia?). This fits in the time of the 1960s and looks valuable. The eight-paged booklet contains near the Trackliste with Credits also many small pictures of Tony, the Beatles and their pals. The postcard set (with 5 cards) is a gimmick - more not.

    You may wish to get a little bit more in information, when (and where) which song had been recorded and when it had been released. Here a big gap opens. The "CD 2 Boxed sets " to the Beatles Bop - Hamburg Days" (Bear Family in 2001) shows how your thirst for knowledge can be satisfied.

    Update (10/24/03)

  • Our contacts at Universal, after further investigation, confirmed that, to their knowledge, the disc wasn't on the U.S. release schedule.
    (10/23/03) The European arm of Universal Music is releasing a Beatles-Tony Sheridan audio DVD. It's already out in Germany and will be out elsewhere in the world Dec. 1. BUT, in checking with Universal in the States, from what our sources at Universal here could find out, it's not on the release calendar here. Obviously, if that changes, we'll let you know. (The German arm of Amazon.com is carrying it.) We were told by Universal in Germany that it IS playable on U.S. players, though we haven't tested it. (Thanks to Sven Solterbeck, Keith Putney and Florian for all their help gathering the info on this page.)

    Here's some details on the DVD from Sven Solterback:

    Dear Steve,

    You have to know that I am an "aficionado" of the Hamburg Tapes of the Beatles and thus I am appreciating everything on disc, what brings me this era close to my ears ... freshly and roughly. You know, the Beatles, as a backing band for Tony Sheridan in 1961 in Hamburg, recorded an album which has frequently been put on (in many, many formats) and sold world-wide a million times -- at least 3 years ago digitally remastered on CD (absolute brilliant).

    Universal Marketing Group, a subsidiary of Universal Music, launched in Germany on September 29, 2003 with "The Beatles with Tony Sheridan" the first audiovisual processing available on DVD of the special Beatles era from the beginnings of the band and their time on the Hamburg Reeperbahn.

    The DVD intends to reveal newly "these early days". More than 200 photographs unpublished partly up to now shift the spectator in a time when musicians did not begin their career yet as "popstars".

    Specially for this DVD companions, close friends, relationships and musicians of the Beatles remember in exclusive interviews. In over one-hour video material former Beatles manager Allan Williams, photographer Astrid Kirchherr and, naturally, Tony Sheridan share facts and anecdotes.

    DVD Tracklisting: 01. Ain´t She Sweet 2:14
    02. From Liverpool To Hamburg (Interview) 5:57
    03. Cry For A Shadow 2:26
    04. "Can You Lend Us Some Money?" (Interview) 5:12
    05. When The Saints Go Marching In 3:21
    06. Kaiserkeller (Interview) 5:03
    07. Why 3:02
    08. No Work Permits (Interview) 5:06
    09. If You Love Me, Baby 2:56
    10. Back In Hamburg (Interview) 6:26
    11. Sweet Georgia Brown 2:03
    12. Long Nights On The Reeperbahn (Interview) 6:39
    13. Nobody´s Child 3:55
    14. On Stage (Interview) 6:18
    15. My Bonnie (English Intro) 2:43
    16. "We´re Gonna Make A Record !" (Interview) 4:30
    17. Ruby Baby 2:54
    18. In The Studio (Interview) 4:05
    19. Let´s Dance 2:33
    20. Bert Kaempfert (Interview) 5:56
    21. What´d I Say 2:40
    22. "I Hated The Cover" (Interview) 5:05
    23. Ready Teddy 2:03
    24. The Photosession (Interview) 5:35
    25. Ya Ya (Part 1&2) 5:12
    26. Paul, George & John 4:23
    27. Kansas City 2:40
    28. Stuart & Pete (Interview) 3:56
    29. Skinny Minny 3:59
    30. Tony Sheridan (Interview) 6:07
    31. Swanee River 2:57
    32. Star Club 7:06
    33. My Bonnie (German Intro) 2:45

    Company: Universal Marketing Group, Germany playing time : 2:17:20 hrs
    total music playing time : 50:23 mins
    aspect : 4:3
    sound : PCM Stereo, 5.1 Dolby Digital
    duration : 137 min.
    language : German, English
    Region code : 0
    DVD : DVD 9

    The digipack package will included a booklet and as well 5 Postcard sets with rare photos.

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