The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus

"The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" strikes me as Woodstock's precursor: a collection of bands get together and play their hearts out. This is the only time that I know of that John Lennon performed with the Stones (although he didn't share the stage with all of them).

One of the significances of this event is that it was one of Brian Jones's final public appearances. He drowned in his swimming pool the following year, making him one of the members of the 27 Club*.

All in all, it's a great time. I often feel disappointed that I didn't come of age in the '60s. Even so, the music lives forever, and the Stones have stayed together long after most of the other groups broke up. Great documentary.

*This term refers to singers who died at the age of 27. Others include Robert Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

Wow. Wasn't that a party. An "intimate" show in a circus tent with the bad boys. I don't know why Mick felt the stones' performance was weaker than the other acts, I mean, The Who were the best of the bunch, but it doesn't get any better than the version of "No Expectations" contained herein. A time capsule in the best sense of the word, all the acts were great- from Tull's wicked opener to The Dirty Mac's "Yer Blues". If only Barnum & Bailey could do it as good.....Let's Drink To The Good Hearted People...

... Mick Jagger says after finshing a set as Keith walks across the stage while Mick graciously accepts the warm applause of the audience. Get a feel for the times as these rock'n'roll icons huddled under a circus tent for a great performance. Being able to see Mick Jagger really get into his performance, interact with the crowd, and even direct his singing to the camera is great and makes this production very unique... not like Gimme Shelter with Hells Angles. No, this is a controled stage performace and everyone is having a great time. If you look around you can even see the camera men lugging around their heavy equipment catching different angles and views of the performers and the crowd. This is a definate must have for fans of real rock n roll music.

This was one great special, but it was sad to see the man who was the original visionary of the Stones, Brian Jones, and the pitiful shell he had become. It was pretty much known that it was the end for him as a member of the band and this can be seen as his last hurrah. You also can see the changes the Stones had undergone from their beginnings as a group that covered songs by American blues greats to the juggernaut that was the Jagger/Richards songwriting team. It was also interesting to see The Who as they were in the middle of their transition from being the icons of the mods to the hard rock force they would be a few months later. Roger Daltry hadn't gone all the way with the look he was famous for, the fringed shirt and long curly blonde hair, and Pete Townsend had not yet gotten his white boiler suit. And as many people have commented, The Who blew the Mick and the boys off the stage that night.

I can't totally understand why the Rolling Stones were embarrassed by their performance here in their TV special Rock & Roll Circus. Sure, everything else you've heard about the Who outshining them is not far from the truth (it's definitely one of the Who's finest hours with Keith Moon).

They're no slackers here either (sans Brian Jones, who was on the decline and except for No Exceptions does nothing significant here with the band), and hearing them perform Jumpin Jack Flash and Parachutte Woman- the latter a fantastic blues tune from Beggars Banquet- is a fine delight from late 60s rock & roll. They also make sure to end the special on two high notes: Sympathy for the Devil makes for a powerful punch of music that rocks the socks off everyone in attendance and without Jagger's preening to the camera (only to the camera is it annoying, everything else is a given with him), it's one of the very best performances of that song, and there's a fine little ending with Salt of the Earth. It's nothing to be ashamed of on their end.

Then again, the acts that surround them both outshine and lack the punch of their performances, so maybe at the time of their heights (and the sentimental factor of Brian Jones's departure and death from the band soon after) contributed to the decision to keep it from the public. As mentioned, the Who are in the great 'maximum R&B' tradition with A Quick One (While He's Away), which has as thunderous momentum matched with a wicked sense of humor. Other notable acts are Jethro Tull (featuring a slightly dazed Tony Iommi on guitar), Taj Mahal (a musician I never heard before but was blown away by), and a one-night-only type of grouping with Lennon, Clapton, Richards and Mitch Mitchell doing Yer Blues, which actually comes very close to topping the Who's performance- it's that awesome a rendition of the song.

Marianne Faithful is not my cup of tea, but is a talented singer here. My kryptonite though is the 2nd song by the Lennon group features one plus (violin) and one heavy minus (Yoko Ono's singing, which is like nails on a chalkboard). There's also the creepy sense that the audience looks like it's awaiting the 2nd coming, so to speak.

But it's always a lot of fun, the circus acts look cool in a kitsch kind of way, and there's a truly lively spirit going through all the performances. It's far from perfect, but it's a lot better than I expected, and will have a good place in my collection.