The Ed Sullivan Show’s incredible 23-year on-air run, between 1948 and 1971, was home to some of the most iconic moments of music; including the Beatles’ US live-television debut in 1964, or the moment Jim Morrison sealed his fate as a rebel hero when he sang the word “higher” during the Doors' 1967 performance of “Light My Fire” – host, Ed was fuming after, telling the band they would “never do this show again,” to which Jim famously replied, “Hey, that’s okay – we just did the Ed Sullivan show.’”
Now, for the first time since the show’s final episode aired in 1971, this treasure trove of classic performances will be available to stream in full via the new Ed Sullivan Show Official YouTube Channel. The channel launched last week with seven videos, including this uplifting performance of “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys on October 13th, 1968, as well as the Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” from September 25th, 1966 below.
The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" on The Ed Sullivan Show
“The Supremes were on The Ed Sullivan Show 16 times,” the group’s Mary Wilson told Rolling Stone.
“In the early Sixties, you never saw a lot of black people on television unless they were maids or doormen,” she added. “When we started appearing on Mr. Sullivan’s show in 1965, it was a new day for America. Black people in their elegance were now seen out front up close. Ed Sullivan brought rock & roll to white America. For the Supremes, it showed we had made it to the big time in those days. We had already begun to sell millions of records, but now we were on top of the charts. Being on The Ed Sullivan Show meant more records sales. After us, all of the Motown acts appeared.”
The Supremes "You Can't Hurry Love" on The Ed Sullivan Show
Other performances already available include Marvin Gaye’s 1966 performance of “Take This Heart of Mine,” Neil Diamond’s 1969 performance of “Sweet Caroline” the Temptations’ stunning “I Can’t Get Next to You” from September 28th, 1969.
The Temptations "I Can't Get Next To You" on The Ed Sullivan Show
Over the next three years, thousands of additional videos from The Ed Sullivan Show’s massive, 23-year catalogue of legendary performances will be added to the channel, including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley and that infamous Doors performance – many with digitally enhanced in available in high-resolution for the very first time. Check out all the performances already streaming via The Ed Sullivan Show official YouTube channel here.
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