Review of Classic Kids Hits: School Disco

Introduction

A cheap attempt to cash in on the popularity of the School Disco brand, Classic Kids Hits: School Disco is another bundle of episodes from old kids TV shows. Pearson TV/Fremantle have already released compilation discs like this before, so this rebranding as School Disco is just a cheap shot marketing ploy. When it comes to marketing, I`m with Bill Hicks.

This DVD features episodes from the six different shows mentioned up above and runs for about 90 minutes.

Video

The episodes of the various shows on offer here were made during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and all are in full frame. The actual quality varies slightly according to age and series, but even the oldest episodes still look fairly good, and have survived pretty well. Chorlton, Jamie and Dangermouse are a bit scratched up as they were recorded on film, whilst the others were recorded on video and look like video recordings from their age.

Look out for some nostalgic footage of a school sports day in Rainbow (old style Sainsbury`s and Boots carrier bags!)

Audio

All episodes are presented with their original soundtracks, and all of these usually sound as good as can be expected for old mono soundtracks. There is some distortion evident in a few places, and some muffled sounds now and again but everything is largely audible.

Nothing really ground-breaking about the sound, although it is good to hear the vocal talents of David Jason, Brian Trueman and Terry Scott, who made a great Penfold.

Features

Two interviews with one half of Cosgrove/Hall, but I`d swear that these were the same as the interviews that appear on the individual discs for Chorlton and Dangermouse.

Conclusion

A nice little collection of nostalgia. The highlight is by far and away Dangermouse (and the voices of David Jason and co). There are some great jokes in there. Rainbow is just as you remember it, and I`ve covered Jamie and Chorlton in my reviews of the whole series on DVD. The only let-down (as with a previous compilation) is the episode from Sooty, which is a bit rubbish. Why did we watch the programme in the first place? At least you can laugh at Alvin Stardust though!

Recommended for nostalgic types everywhwere if you fancy a mix of old shows. Don`t forget there are some good value DVDs of whole series of some of these shows out there.