1+ - part five

The second DVD in this collection - the + in the title 1+ - brings together a number of alternate promotional films and videos that were made by the group (not all of them, however, which was a criticism by some fans at the time of its release).  Also on display on this disc are some other promos made over the years to coincide with the release of various compilations, and even one associated with the soundtrack of the Las Vegas show Love.

Twist and Shout - This stark black and white videotape from the Granada/ITV program Scene at 6:30 was shot in August of 1963.  Most of it simply goes back and forth from one close up of John delivering his solo lines to another of Paul and George singing their answering phrases.  Ringo is seen in the background either brightly lit from below or as a large shadow on the back wall of the set.  They wear black turtlenecks as they mime to their original recording from the album Please Please Me.

Baby It's You - This promo was made for the 1995 release of the single and EP of Baby It's You following the success of the compilation Live at the BBC.  It uses many of the still photos from that collection's booklet, as well as some stock footage of fans camped out waiting for a show and surging crowds being held back by bobbies.  Best of all is the 8mm color film of the boys goofing around outside the BBC Paris Theatre shot by Kevin Neill of the Karl Denver Trio in April of 1963.  And there are a few shots of  Neil Aspinall's rundown van, which transported the group all around the UK for years before they became world famous.

Words of Love - This piece was put together to promote the collection On Air - Live at the BBC in 2013.  It uses some of the same footage from outside the BBC Paris Theatre as the previous entry, plus shots of the group in a studio's control room, at an airport with masses of fans, and even a few bits from A Hard Day's Night.  There is some animation interspersed here and there, including a bit about the time Mal Evans punched out the cracked windscreen of Neil's van.  The accompanying audio is from a performance of the Buddy Holly tune from an episode of Pop Go the Beatles in 1963.

Please Please Me - This great song, which I continue to believe should always have been on the original collection 1, is finally represented by a clip from the Ed Sullivan Show.  This performance is from the group's third appearance on the program, broadcast on January 23rd, 1964, but actually shot first on the afternoon of January 9th before their historic live appearance later that evening.  This black and white videotape features the typical shots of screaming fans in the audience and shows the band in their usual positions, with John a little bit forward in his signature bow-legged stance.  The delivery of the song, by the way, is flawless.

I Feel Fine - At some point during the long day at Twickenham Film Studios in November of 1965, while shooting ten different promotional videos, some fish and chips were delivered and put on the floor of the set.  As the boys gathered around, eating with their fingers, their guitars still strapped on, the cameras kept rolling and playback of this song began.  John looks up, surprised, as the opening feedback is heard, mimes singing a little in between bites, then his attention drifts to a story in the greasy newspaper.  During the guitar solo, George hops onto the exercise bicycle and pedals a bit.  Ringo merely continues eating throughout.  Manager Brian Epstein was not amused by any of this.  Of all the promos shot on this date, this is the only one not to be distributed for broadcast.  Fortunately, we are allowed to see it on this collection.  It was stored away for years, labelled by some wag as "I Feel Fried."