The T.A.M.I. Show

I was just 16. I went to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium that night with a friend to collect autographs from some of the bands. I got only one, Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. (I lost it soon after getting it.) When we found out that we could get into see the concert free we quickly called our mothers and asked permission to stay to see the show. Lucky us, our mothers said yes. We had to wait in line until all of the people with tickets went in first then they let us in. Being young and couragous we didn't stay in the seats that they first ushered us into. By the time the second act came on we were in the very front of the stage on the right (as you face the stage). We were up close and personal with all of the acts. I was even caught on tape twice. Once over the shoulder of Jan and Dean and again at the end screaming my lungs out for the Stones. Although I have been to other concerts since, this one sticks in my mind for all of the groups that I saw that night. I love to tell the people I work with that I once went to a concert where I got to see Chuck Berry, Marvin Gay, The Supremes, who sang their current hit record "Baby Love", Leslie Gore, who sang every girls anthem "You Don't Own Me" as well as "It's My Party", Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, who sang "Surfer Girl" just to me a surfer girl, Billy J Krame r, Gerry and the Pacemakers and James Brown, who did bring down the house with everyone on their feet screaming for an encore. Oh, yeah, I forgot. And the Rolling Stones. I am the envy of anyone who knows any of the music that was represented there. To be able to see musical history in the making.

I later saw the show, once in the theater and later in the early 70's when it was shown on TV. I never expected that my face would be seen screaming for the Stones yet there I was. A night I never want to forget. A night that changed my life, or at least my voice, forever.

I saw this film in La Crosse, Wisconsin with my twin sister and best friend when we were 13/14 years old. We wore our Beatle hats and matching coats and screamed all the way through the movie which was filmed in black and white. For years I searched for the music for this show - found the theme for the show done on a CD by Jan and Dean called "Command Performance". One great memory but why isn't this available for purchase?

1964's The T.A.M.I. Show (T.A.M.I. is short for Teenage Awards Music International) was the very first live-concert movie of the rock era. And, believe me, this long-unavailable, landmark film is a real groovy treat for any ardent fan of early pop music.

Featuring a bevy of over-zealous go-go dancers and hysterically screaming fans, The T.A.M.I. Show proficiently showcased the budding talent of early-1960's pop music sensations from both sides of the Atlantic.

Filmed in b&w, at Santa Monica's Civic Auditorium (a 3000-seat venue), The T.A.M.I. Show's biggest highlights were The Beach Boys (performing "Surfer Girl"), The Supremes (performing "Baby Love"), and The Rolling Stones (performing "Time Is On My Side").

Directed by Steve Binder - This 2-hour music extravaganza also featured the singing talents of James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Lesley Gore, to name but a few of the 14+ performers.

I saw this in the theater in '64 or '65 when it was released and it pretty much changed my life. I already loved Jan & Dean, the Beach Boys, Lesley Gore (everyone PLEASE note the correct spelling of her first name: it's NOT "Leslie"!), Gerry & the Pacemakers, etc., but was completely unprepared for James Brown and the Famous Flames.

I kinda didn't know what to make of JB's dramatic finale with the cape, etc., at the time. It actually scared me a bit! (As it apparently did Mick Jagger and Keith Richards!) I thought he was having a seizure or something! It's since become sort of a cliché, down to Paul Shaffer's bit on "Late Night," but at that time no white kids I knew had ever seen anything remotely like THAT! Just blew me away completely!

It's also worth noting that the fantastic backing band for the show was led by noted producer/arranger/performer Jack Nitzsche, who worked with everybody from Bob B. Soxx and the Bluejeans to Captain Beefheart, with a few Lesley Gores, Tim Buckleys, Neil Youngs, Rolling Stones, etc., thrown in for good measure! A true unsung legend in his own right!

The Beach Boys' segment has been cut from most versions since then, if you could find the show at ALL. There was a "That Was Rock: the TAMI and TNT Music Shows" tape that was available years ago, but most of the TAMI Show was missing and the TNT Show I didn't care for much.

I recently found a pretty good copy (DVD-R)of the WHOLE THING ("TAMI Show 1964") on eBay, INCLUDING the Beach Boys' segment, and it brought back some incredible memories.

I hope that someday someone will release a "legitimate," uncut, first-generation quality version of this show, although with licensing deals, etc., I'm not too optimistic. In the meantime I've got the next best thing: a decent-quality uncut DVD-R, with much of it in widescreen format!

I'm one of the few who (mercifully) did not see the mutilated PBS version earlier this (2010) year. Finally, SHOUT was able to release (and, yes - WITH the Beach Boys performances restored) this totem of a time of amazing music and performances.

I saw this WHOLE film in the early 80's, here in NYC, at the (original) Irving Plaza. It was a 16mm print, and the place was PACKED (for those who don't know - Irving Plaza was THE place to go to for REAL punk music and alternative music concerts back then. It's still around, but - as far as I'm concerned, in name only).

The pandemonium on the screen was emphasised by the crowd attending this showing (if you don't know, The TAMI Show - and The Big TNT show were held in legal limbo for many years, so to see it - in any format was a treat). Watching it in this setting, one almost felt as if we were there. It was a very special night.

I'll agree with the consensus - James Brown's performance - RIVETING! REAL showmanship! One of my favourite performances (saying one was better than another in this film is impossible)was Marvin Gaye's. I don't want to just throw out superlatives, but - this movie is a must see for anyone interested in seeing a landmark bit of rock & roll. See this, and you'll get sick, thinking about the (very sad) state of music today. There was NO: auto-tuning, misogynistic, violence-riddled garbage. This was the whole SPECTRUM of rock music - with EVERY style represented.

For many years after, I pondered the thought; to try and do a TAMI show today would be impossible. The egos. The costs being demanded. Sure - everyone performing got paid, but, it was more than for the money they did this show.

I'm a huge Teri Garr fan, and seeing her (and Toni Basil!) doing the pony, , the jerk, the frug, the swim.... and so much more is just wild. Add to this, the incomparable Blossoms (and Ms. Darlene Love!).... there are no words to describe the talent encapsulated in this film.

If you're a parent, or just curious to see what rock music was REALLY like, then I highly recommend you purchase this landmark film.