The Beatles

The Beatles’ story has never rung louder and clearer than it does on this new five-disc DVD version of the 1995 VHS series detailing the band’s monumental career via interviews, songs, film footage and taped television appearances. The 5.1 surround sound is so strong, this is easily the loudest DVD I’ve yet heard. And the Beatles’ songs have never sounded better. The crystal-clear images and sounds comprising the Beatles’ “videos” (called “promos” back then)—“Strawberry Fields,” “Hello, Goodbye,” and particularly “Rain,” which seems as if it could have been created by the latest alternative band just last week—lend credence to George Harrison’s observation that the group basically created MTV. The bonus disc of left-out material is good but probably will best satisfy aficionados.