First known as Talk of the Town but widely referred to as simply as The Ed Sullivan Show (the series wouldn’t officially change its name until 1955), after its host, syndicated columnist and radio man, Ed Sullivan. The reviews were never glowing, often commenting on his wooden mannerisms and his lack of discernible talent. Nonetheless, the show became “appointment television” before there was such a phrase. Tens of millions watched each week, as Sullivan introduced an assortment of celebrities, novelty acts comedians, and musicians. Many, legends in the making. It ran for 23 years—1948 to 1971—and 1,068 episodes.

There have been several Ed Sullivan collections released through the years. The latest, Ed Sullivan’s Rock & Roll Classics focuses on the rock acts that performed on his stage. Originally produced in the in the late ’90s, radio personality and actor Jay Thomas (Murphy Brown) serves as narrator, providing historical context for each of the acts. Better than just a clip fest, these narrations help the viewer understand just how groundbreaking some of these performances were. On September 9, 1956, a relatively unknown kid from Memphis, Elvis Presley, appeared on the show singing “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Ready Teddy” and a few verses of “Hound Dog” to an audience of 60 million people. That’s 82.5% of the television viewing public! Elvis officially became a star. On February 9, 1964, a staggering 73 million people watched as The Beatles made their American television debut. Anyone who was anybody—The Band, The Beach Boys, Carpenters, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The 5th Dimension, The Jackson 5, The Mamas & The Papas, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and many more—appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and are included on this 10  DVD Collector’s Set.

Given the quality of early television audio, lip synching was common on Sullivan particularly for the bands. The lead singer would lip synch to a prerecorded track, while band members pretended to play their instruments. On other occasions, singers would lip synch while accompanied by the Ed Sullivan house band. Ed always preferred the live performances, but audio flaws are rather easy to spot. During The Beatles performances (and other live acts) there are a few audio issues with the microphones and amps. For me, those hiccups only add to the excitement of the live performance. Having all these great artists recorded in the prime of their careers is wonderful for collectors.

Say what you will about Ed Sullivan, he had a nose for spotting talent. Elvis have been on The Steve Allen Show first, but it was his explosive performance on Ed Sullivan that launched him into superstardom. The Beatles chose to make their American debut on the Sullivan stage. Countless other groups appeared somewhere else first, but their performances on Sullivan are the ones remembered. Occasionally, Ed’s penchant for vaudeville and novelty acts brought the show down, but his ability to draw the hottest rock acts of the day is undeniable.

Presented in 1.33:1 full frame, video varies in quality, having been taken from kinescope and videotape. While occasionally rough, given its age and the materials available, video is solid across the discs.

Each disc has a Dolby Digital 2.0 track that is clear and listenable, but it lacks punch, result of the limitations of the era. Acts were originally recorded in mono.

The following special features are included:

  • The Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special (91:11) contains clips from the numerous comics that appeared on the show over the years. Much like Johnny Carson, an appearance on Ed Sullivan could launch a career. Performers include George Carlin, Flip Wilson, Rowan & Martin, Joan Rivers and more. The special is hosted by Mary Tyler Moore.
  • British Invades, America Fights Back (56:17) A look at the British invasion of the mid-60’s. Performances of The Who’s “Can’t Explain” and The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction,” among others, are included.
  • The Sounds of Soul (55:49) An examination of Soul music and performances on Performances by James Brown and Sam Cooke among others are included.
  • Interviews include Pete Townshend, Gladys Knight, Michelle Phillips, Rich David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Joan Rivers, Steve Allen, James Brown and more.

There are 128 performances spread throughout the discs. See the Time Life website for a breakdown of the artists and their songs available on Ed Sullivan’s Rock & Roll Classics.