The Beatles In Tokyo 1966 CD & DVD: Do not buy this💩! 

When one of the most reasonable men in the Beatles RU-vid sphere says you’re mugging people off - there’s a very strong chance you’re mugging people off. Appreciate your review on this one - certainly one for me to avoid.

I will just chime in with the rest of the choir and say that I always respect your ingregity because you tell your version and backs it up with facts. Thank you for your videos.

Did not no about this so well done for showing and discussing this well done for your honesty 👍

Both shows have circulated on bootlegs and semi official DVDs over the years. The first show was released on quite a lavish laserdisc in the 90s, only in Japan. The packaging is great (although the photos on the cover are actually from the 2nd show). Audio is great for what it is. Picture isn't as good as what's in the Anthology but still pretty good, you can actually see the sweat on their faces (especially Paul's), just a bit washed out. The 2nd show appears on a DVD which from memory was called Around The Beatles which has the original Around The Beatles special (in full), the show in Washington 64 and the 2nd show in Japan 66. It appears to come from an old home film print. Personally, I think both shows have their pluses and minuses. Overall, the 2nd show is a tighter performance, but some songs were better on the first show. If I Needed Someone for example, George's voice was a little off on the 2nd show. The other thing with that 1st show is that they were having a lot of trouble with their microphones. They have to keep adjusting them because they keep moving (possibly due to vibration). Apparently, every show in Tokyo was professionally filmed and I've heard of collectors who have copies, but they've never circulated. It really is quite surprising that The Beatles have never released an official live DVD. There's been a few semi-official things which have been licensed but weren't produced by EMI or Apple. Yet they do have a lot of full shows in the archive, as seen on the Anthology and in the Ron Howard movie. The full (or close to full) live shows that I'm aware of are Washington 64, Melbourne 64 (although only audio for a few songs which weren't filmed due to commercial breaks), Paris 65 (there's actually 2 versions of that one), Shea Stadium 65 (missing a couple of songs, 1 song was dubbed with the studio version and Paul McCartney re-recorded some of his bass parts), Tokyo 66 (all shows, only 2 in circulation) and there's one from Germany 66 as well which is about half the show. Then there's NME Poll Winner's Concerts from 64 and 65 (they also played 66 but this was not filmed, which is a shame as it was their lasted official performance in England and the only time George played his SG on stage). Between all of that, plus various other songs and clips, there'd be more than enough content to fill a 2+ hour DVD. They could edit it together as one ultimate concert experience with the best versions of each song. I'd have preferred that to the Ron Howard film honestly.

I bought the bootleg on vinyl many years ago. What stood out most of all were the poor performances. George talks in the anthology about how he waved his hands between verses of Paperback Writer to get a response from the audience that he hoped would drown out the shaky harmonies. Speaking of the last show in San Franciso, there's a great recording of "Day Tripper on RU-vid" that sounds thunderous and huge- the Beatles like I've never heard them before, playing through new beefed up Vox amps and a state of the art sound system. They say the modern concert era started about 15 minutes after this show.

It is what it is, they DID NOT rehearse for this tour which is well documented, just watch the Munich video, they actually gather together onstage for a second to discuss how a song goes! In Tokyo they were tired, fed-up and facing protesters in Tokyo telling the Beatle to "go home". Also, these recordings come from 1966 television, so again sonically it is what it is. As for the package, it's top notch (I'm talking about the 2-LP version pressed on white vinyl, I don't waste my time on cd's anymore), you get a great book with many unseen or rarely seen photos, plus the artwork they created in their Tokyo hotel room is included as a blown-up frame-able poster (excellent), and the replica ticket is a nice touch. The video's of the 2 concerts has circulated forever, and some are excellent (of which I have a gorgeous copy of both shows). Last, this is a BOOTLEG, there was NO permission given by Apple or The Beatles and this is absolutely not an officially sanctioned release in any way shape or form. For 2-LP's on white vinyl, a 90 page book, poster and replica ticket, plus the 2 concerts on dvd all for $80CAD.....deal of the century is all I can say!

Thank you for the alert. I live in Japan, so I'll wait until this turns up in a second-hand shop.

Great review, firm but fair review. Couldnt do the set any more justice than you did. Ive got a sneaky feeling the dvd is youtube rips, like the audio on the cd. And the book being wikipedia text, AVA have messed up big time! Apple should rinse em dry

Fair play to you Andrew as you could have lied here saying this was brilliant & what a great addition to my collection as any true Beatles fan would but hats off to you for telling it as it is..... Believe me many wouldn't have!!!!

I'm so glad you reviewed this. I was on the fence about buying it, still might just for collection, but now I know for sure it sux !

Just had an email to say the vinyl released had ben pushed back yet again, so cancelling and getting a full refund was an option, one I have take after seeing this. I think you just saved me a tidy sum, thank you.

Thank you for your honest review. Was bummed when I didn't get a copy now not so much 😁 take care!

Thanks for the heads up just cancelled by pre-order of the 2LP set can imagine the sound quality on vinyl will be even bad than the CD. For me if the sound quality is not there I won't buy. just saved £80 odd pounds.... Cheers

When I want to enjoy the Tokyo shows I put on HMC’S TMOQ Gazette. It has both shows on DVD and CD in upgraded quality and the dvd includes some of the opening acts from Japan that I had never seen before. Quite enjoyable.

"I'm sure that's just an oversight" 😂 Brilliant delivery on that line.

Thanks Andrew for the heads-up. Would most likely have bought it. Seems almost like a bootleg. How dare they. This is the greatest band of all time, some respect please!

Naughty. I suspect Apple will pounce upon them like a ton of bricks.

Omg Andrew I actually pre ordered this after you mentioned it in one of your RU-vid talks. Mine hasn't arrived yet

Excelent work Andrew thanks ¡congratulations I've suscrib

Andrew have you seen the track listing for the new Dylan Bootleg Series?

if i ever get it, it'll be for for the historical document like you said

Hi Andrew . Well I have seen some other videos on people that have gotten this . And they have raved about how great it is . I do have all that is on this from other CD's and DVD's as well and I just couldn't see it being better then the one's that I have !! So I was on the fence about all of this one . UNTIL your video mate :). WOW you know I do appreciate you great ( honesty ) about this :"))). Not everything I have bot or have shone on my channel I did like . But I do thank you for your this and this is Y you are so much better then a lot of other channels out there . + you do well in them all mate :). Clap clap clap well said about this CD/DVD and thank you for this video cheers !!!!

Thanks for this video! I have considered ordering this one since early this year. But noticed the delay with the delivery that you and others had, so I waited. I will spend my money on other things. Really good to follow your channel. I will get the "Press to play" booklet delivered next week. Looking forward to that instead.

Thank you for the warning!

This whole thing does indeed smack of a cash grab. Especially now that you mention the quality of the audio and video I wouldn't be surprised if they simply just did a transfer of the widely circulated bootlegs of this material and threw together a nice looking package.

Lovely garden with sunflowers.

I recently acquired a copy of Paul McCartney’s Press to Play Sessions, another unofficial release. It also has 3 CDs and one DVD. The DVD quality is what you would expect: original VHS footage, which is what was available at the time. I have no idea if the content is available on DVD proper or not. This seems to a trend-unofficial releases (commonly known as bootlegs) are popping up lol over the place. Bootlegs have been around forever, it seems, but there seems to be a resurgence lately, as shown by these two sets alone. Anyway, could you review the Press to Play Sessions and let us know what you think, and how does it compare with this one?

Great review 👍

Mine arrived in Australia today. Not listened to it yet - Opened it. Made an entry for it on CLZ Collectorz, so if you enter it on there you can thank me LOL. If it's crap - Shit happens.

Okay.I believe you.

WOW,really glad i didnt go for this one now.i was going to buy this a few times but the fact that it was nothing to do with apple or capitol or anything to do with any company that controls beatles product or beatles music rights or publishing really put me off.what can they have to offer really on the beatles that isnt already highly controlled and marketed? the days of relevant or quality bootlegs are over. anything worth buying is in the hands of the official companies.so rip off as i thought,thanks for bringing this quality info to us Andrew

Hi Andrew...just posted a comment on your George Harrison Ranked post from a few months ago...

I nearly pre ordered this at the time but forgot all about it, sounds like i had a lucky escape with this one

So are you getting the £90 special Edition they are bringing out lol think it’s white vinyl

Andrew, is this release & all subsequent releases effectively bootlegs? Or is there a loophole as it’s a broadcast which is a bit of a grey area in the law? I’d certainly love The Beatles / Apple to restore this properly even if the performances are a little substandard. They shots really restore all known footage and have it available to stream from their website.

I'm not surprised about this. I got not that long ago a cd called ultimate live in japan, the cd side of the beatles in tokyo sounds very similar. Similar in that the first performance sounds better than the second one.

Hello Mr Dixon I didn’t know about this releas but I want to thank you for talking about it because if I would have known about it I would have probably ordered it and my parents would have been mad at me when looking at the poor content on the Dvd Also I must say that the music is very important to me and if the quality is bad then why bother having it I’am already upset with myself for buying a double CD of The Beatles at the Star club Sound quality on that is horrible so if you don’t own a copy of that then please do not get With that said I want to thank you once more for your honesty God bless you and your family

why you haven't show us some shorts of the dvd to see the quality?

You can use the dvd as a coaster.

Thank you for your honest review! Great! As I told you, I also bought the CD box, but I'm currently travelling and won't be able to listen/watch to the whole thing until next week when I'm back home. But I'm thinking of returning the box unopened. I also ordered the white vinyl box (available in Oct. ????), but I cancelled it yesterday. (They want €99 for it, completely crazy.) AVA had released a 5-LP box set, "The Beatles - Home And Away '64-'66", one of the LPs contains the June 30th concert at Budokan Hall. I have the repress box with black vinyl (was also a disaster, had to return/exchange three times), but I found the quality of the sound recordings ok. I can recommend this box (also available on CD), but it is also very expensive.

I hadn't even heard of this, but I'm glad you offered this information before I stumbled upon this release and even considered it.

@AndrewDixon..... generally anytime your dealing with bootlegs, unless its Vigotone, or Yellow Dog, or some others who have put out some prominent vinyl or cd collections in the past 35 years or so, including the folks from the States that put together the Shea Stadium concert stuff that is out their. Otherwise its basically like being at a casino... very shady and a Crap Shoot. So yes take chances I suppose, but there are other sources for the Budokhan Concerts from 1966.

Hope you enjoy Liverpool I just came back there was a great George Harrison play on

With any unofficial release I would be expecting the worst and anything better would be a bonus.

Oh! I've already got the CD/DVD and 2 LP/DVD sets pre-ordered and I can't cancel. ha! As long as it has the two full Beatles Budokan shows on both the CD (and LP"s) and DVD, and the book is nice, I'll be happy with that. I was expecting a much better DVD presentation, though. I'll bet the second concert will still be better than what I currently have on DVD.

Didn't know about this one, thanks for reviewing this, don't think I'll be getting it this time

I doubt Apple gave them permission.

I am still waiting for an official release of the July 1. 1966 concert on blu ray or dvd! sure this is a bootleg and not an official release; because there is still no official release ! by the way: some weeks ago that gig (white suits) was uploade here on YT, but they took it down some days ago. the audio was ok and the picture quality was quite good vhs quality. like I said: I am still waiting for an official concert blu ray by the beatles!

Thanks for the review Andrew. I was pissed when I missed out on this, but after hearing your review I am glad I didn't get it. I have a old vhs tape of one of the shows. I can watch that if I need a Beatles in tokyo fix.

I love your honesty Andrew thank you so much for posting this on RU-vid. This is the collection that I am definitely not going to be getting because you don’t have a lot more for your money I think this is probably one of the worst products that was ever put out Being a music collector who loves collecting deluxe edition I love to expect to have the Japanese concerts be remastered and restored,And I would love to have everything on the DVD with more special features including all of the press conferences and not just snippets of them. I did hear the song nowhere man on the anthology documentary volume two I thought it was pretty good it wasn’t that bad, but I know that the Beatles were getting very tired of performing at that time. I even found a vinyl version of the Beatles live in Japan which I haven’t heard yet but that should be interesting. And when the Beatles are discussing the Philippines incident in the background you can hear the Beatles doing if I needed someone on the Beatles anthology DVD man I just love that Beatles anthology documentary it’s one of the best I’ve ever heard maybe you can cover that in a future video you probably have as far as the CDs God that the DVD is fantastic even a montage of outtakes.

Thanks for the heads up Andrew, was considering buying this, not now! 🙏

It works out to be about 60 Australian dollars,so no,if you say it isn't really very good.

I won't buy it unless you tell me the question Paul was asked in that awesome press conference!

There's loads of companies trying to make money on the back of the Beatles especially in Asia. Not a surprise.

33 second press conference??! Unbelievable 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Not an official release so the source material isn't going to be the best. Might be worthwhile if you haven't seen and heard it all before.

Andrew, thanks for the honest review on the Beatles in Tokyo CD/DVD. On your recommendation I cancelled my copy this morning. I was aware this was not an apple product but was certain that it would be good quality for the price. Keep up the good work. A big thumbs up. Cheers. Rob

I bought it, because I buy everything Beatles. I got it used for 8 Bucks, so for a 3 disc set it was worth it. It's of course nothing official. Just like the Shea Set or Live in Munich Set (Vinyl and DVD Set).

There was once an official, Apple-sanctioned Japanese Laserdisc of the second show. There is no excuse for taking the material from a substandard source. The recording was made using Japan's earliest handheld color video cameras. The resolution is not up to modern standards. Essentially VHS-level resolution. Apple Corps now owns the recordings. The release that you review is an unauthorised, but technically legal release.

I must admit I saw this on Amazon and thought NO! If not released by Apple then the quality is going to be poor. All the stuff on it has already been bootlegged on RU-vid so why bother.

I'm going to buy thee Andrew Dixon does a stream outdoors. Will be worth millions one day.

I'm watching the rooftop concert right now on a DVD it's an extra on the Let It Be film. Simply awesome!

Hi Andrew. To paraphrase John Lennon, I don’t believe in semi legal/grey market bootleg quality releases, I just believe in the official releases. Often times the actual bootlegs themselves are better than these semi legal ones

No sign of Apple inc. or even a thank you to them , and plagerising Wiki? It's simply a bootleg, or as the say " the grey market". That said, some boot pressings are better than others. I have seen one edition of this concert where people are really happy with the quality.

Paul, George, Ringo AND JOHN, but why? Just like "Garfunkel and Simon"

Hi Andrew - a good, honest review. I've just seen something on Spotify that is VERY interesting. I went to go and listen to London Town (one of my personal favourite McCartney/Wings albums) and it now says 'London Town (Expanded Edition)' not just 'London Town'. So, I scrolled down the track list to see 'Mull Of Kintrye' and it's rocking B-side 'Girl's School' added to the album. Very interesting to see this, could this mean an archive release if Paul's team are updating London Town on Spotify? I think so. Just thought I would let you know - could be nothing but I think there is something there!

I only get official beatles releases from Apple or universal , not unofficial releases like this one , I avoided them at all cost .

43!

Perhaps there was a good reason for it being delayed so many times.

Had a great laugh on the Apple comments. It's a historical artifact. For someone who didn't have it on VHS or the old bootlegs, then it's not terrible.

Hi Andrew, great video and thanks for the honest review. To be honest this looks like a bootleg release and having been burnt before I stay clear of bootlegs. Back in the day you had to buy Physical media to get hold of this stuff - now with the internet I would say that most of what is on these discs is available somewhere online - I suspect that all of the content was sourced from there. Buyer beware! Cheers Matt

Glad this was blocked from US sale; as I was trying hard to purchase but already have dvd boots of this show and the japan press conferences.

Oh man! I ordered this in January and it's finally on the way.

I tried buying this but it was sold out. Sounds like I dodged a bullet.

Andy are you on Face Book mate?

I'LL BUY WHAT EVER I FEEL LIKE BUYING. WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT TO BUY AND WHAT NOT TO BUY!😣

Many thanks Andrew. I’ve just cancelled my pre-order based upon your review. I have recordings of these concerts already on CD but was looking forward to seeing the DVD as I thought it had been sourced from the Japanese TV footage. I’ll stick with Anthology for now. I honestly hope that someday Apple will release Shea, Japan, Munich & Melbourne where all or most of the concerts were recorded on film or video. The film and soundtrack footage from Shea that was shown at 8 Days A Week premiere was stunning! C’mon Apple please do us a nice 1+ type release of concert & TV appearance footage on Blu-ray/DVD.

a well packaged bootleg . i bought the beatles at the budokan dvd years ago , fun to watch & a piece of beatles' history .

Based on what you've said, to me it sounds like a bootleg.

Always just buy official products from official labels. Some of these independent products. Always do your homework

Andrew, the review is very good, I’ve never seen this , and don’t plan on it, I respect your comments , they could have done better the dvd could have been stronger and featured all interviews, concerts, these concerts could have been remastered, to get all the quality they had, Andrew, probably asking too much from them, Be Safe, Take Care, Steve

Sounds like someone downloaded You Tube Clips, packaged them, and sold them.

The Beatles not only were underrehearsed in Tokyo, they actually had a jet lag there, that’s why there's no energy in their performance. And maybe there were some other reasons either 😉. Good review, Andrew, thanks!

Truth in art is essential. Otherwise you just get fashion.

Thanks for your honest opinion, Andrew. It’s a funny one; I remember 30 years ago saving up my paper round money to go to record fairs and you’d be thrilled to find any kind of bootleg, usually of debatable quality, containing any live or rare footage of The Beatles. I remember buying a dodgy copy of the Australian music show ‘Rage’ which had about 3 hours of Beatle music vids. This was all pre Anthology and RU-vid and there was simply no other outlet to get hold of this footage. Fast forward 30 years on and Apple have released just about every last scrap of footage and recordings the Beatles ever made, lovingly packaged and presented in the highest definition possible. This means if there is anything out there that they’ve missed, bootleggers have got to produce something of a similar standard. Gone are the days when you’d be glad to see a wobbly bit of footage containing 3 minutes of a Budokan concert. It has to be presented in tip-top quality and contain information in its sleeve notes that would be new to die hard fans. Basically, this CD may have been a worthwhile addition 30 years ago, but nowadays us fans have much higher expectations after the bar was set incredibly high by Apple and The Beatles themselves!

I knew from the beginning this was a stinker release

My rule of thumb is if it ain’t on Apple / Capitol/ EMI leave well alone. There are one or two exceptions’The Beatles’ featuring Tony Sheridan First’ on Polydor Delux Edition being one.

Man buys a bootleg product and finds it's shoddy - shock, horror! 😏

You obviously know nothing about copyright © and this item just a bootleg and unapproved -call it what it is and not go dancing around -it’s fine not to a nice guy all the time ‼️More respect earned!

Given hell!

looks like it was put together from bootleg material

I presume the 2 Budokan tracks on Anthology sound much better than they do here, so if there had been professionals involved the CDs wouldn't have sounded nearly aa awful.

Hi mate, Sorry to hear this about the set. Your review about this makes me thinking going way back in time when i was chasing for Beatles bootlegs. Often with a quality that you cannot even call it quality. I think all Beatles fans have had their disappointments in buying bootlegs. I can remember buying a cassette tape of The Beatles bootleg Hot As Sun, around 1978 or 1979. Man ..... I was proud. I finally had some music from the Get Back sessions. But coming home and playing it in my tape recorder ..... it was just crackling noise with far away in the background some music. A disappointment for sure.

I never think of the Beatles as a live band as they stopped touring before if you like they became sophisticated in music genre with 66 on the cusp of this as Rubber Soul had already been released. Having said that LOVE the rooftop gig. I may be in the minority I am glad they never reformed or did a concert after 66, this left them with their mystique and studio fineness, and the end being "THE END" was part of their lasting greatness!

It must be bad fir you to go off on one - in this case.

To provide you with some context: The only footage of the Japan shows aside from what is presented in the Anthology/8 Days that has been officially sanctioned by Apple is a now thirty year old Laser Disc release of the first Budokan show that was issued to the Japanese market only! The first performance was remastered for that Laser Disc release which is why it sounds better than the second concert which is likely sourced from a Japanese television special "The Beatles In Recital" which aired way back in the sixties. So given the sources and the fact that the Japanese television footage has never been translated to English, I'm not surprised as to the quality of this release.

That's why you should never purchase bootlegs because this is a bootleg. The quality control on bootlegs is non-existent. I purchased a bootleg once about 20 years ago and it was sourced from a cassette that had been duplicated at least 10 times at fast speed so in quiet parts, you could hear a very loud humming. Some bootlegs are the worst. I wish Beatles collectors would stop promoting them and giving them your money. But thanks for the review. I hope it stops others from purchasing this piece of shit.

Thanks for the head's up. Looks like an attractive package but the contents sounds downright dismal if not misleading at times. Again, thanks for the warning.

I read somewhere that a Tokyo concert was filmed for police use exclusively, never shown and is a really robust performance. Your compilation idea is a good one and yeah, the Ron Howard effort was attrociously bad in every respect.

This package "is"---or WILL PROVE TO BE---a "MUST-BUY". Hold it, stop throwing those jellybabies---and Beatle boots at me---let me explain! Our host, if not poinnnnnting it out, angling an elbow at it & raising an eyebrow---notes that Apple (the Good Apple) is nowhere referenced or credited anywhere in the package. He doesn't say permissions & rights weren't obtained, but he can't find that they were. This is an imminent "rarity", a fluke that may not BUT MAY have future "value" (or PRICE, anyway) as result of quantities being truncated if any rights were infringed. For MANY reasons, DON'T OPEN THE PACKAGE!