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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus was released Oct 15, 1996. It is the long suppressed made-for-TV special recorded 28 years earlier on Dec 11-12, 1968 with The Who, John Lennon, Taj Mahal, Jethro Tull, Marianne Faithful, and Eric Clapton. The packaging is beautiful with a great 42 page glossy color booklet that has all the rare behind the scenes photos and a full account of things leading up to the event. The Who were red hot at the time and easily upstaged the Stones who were still struggling through their first major crisis after the removal of Brian (and his subsequent death) and attempting to figure out how to hold on to their status as the premier band. The Stones refused to release the recordings because their performances were not spectacular. Most reviewers agreed when they finally got to see the film themselves. However, what the film lacks in production (which was obviously amateurish) it makes up for in history. The Stones lackluster set of Jumpin' Jack Flash, Parachute Woman, No Expectations, You Can't Always Get What You Want, Sympathy For the Devil, and Salt Of The Earth are easily compensated by The Who's mini opera A Quick One While He's Away and Lennon and Clapton's Yer Blues. There are also dated period piece interviews with Mick and John and very amateurish introductions by the individual Stones, which when combined with the extremely amateurish set, acting, and cinematography amply demonstrate why this is one for Stones and rock history collectors. The Stones were right, it didn't work for them, and it is good that the release was delayed until it appealed to collectors and would not reflect on the reputation of the band.
Most people know the music, so in my reviews I try to give you data on the sessions and interesting facts connected with the songs and the album. Here we go:
Interesting notes include:
.....this CD and the companion DVD and VHS releases were the last time Brian Jones performed with the Stones
.....Brigitte Bardot was Mick's original choice for the ringmaster, when she declined, he did it himself
.....Keith wanted Johnny Cash, but he declined too
.....Mick refused to consider Jimmy Page's new band "The New Yardbirds" without hearing their tapes (which were released on their first album "Led Zeppelin")
.....Ivry Gitlis was a great classical violin virtuoso.....he accepted an invitation to perform because he respected Brian Jones
.....John Lennon's temporary supergroup (Clapton, Mitch Mitchel, and Keith) was named Dirty Mac in response to the hottest band of the day....Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
.....the taping started around noon on Dec 11 and ran for 18 hours...when the specially chosen fan audience left at 6AM, Mick and Keith shook hands with most of them and thanked them for coming
Other songs from the same show that were recorded for the Circus but which have not yet been released are:
.....Route 66
.....Confessin' The Blues
.....Yonder Wall
.....Walkin' Blues
This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection, with some of the notes from Davis' "Old Gods Almost Dead." Both books are available from Amazon.com.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Today marks the 35th anniversary of one of the greatest rock n' roll shows of all time. The Who, The Stones, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, and The Dirty Mac - a super group comprised of Keith Richards, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell - rocked out while wearing clown suits and other circus garb. Jagger and a midget introduced Tull. The Stones kept this recording in the vault until 1996 because they thought The Who out performed them. They did - which says a lot, as The Stones set was great. Regardless, this CD contains the best performance of "A Quick One" I've ever heard.
After the opening ceremonies, the show kicks off with Jethro Tull playing one of their earliest hits - "A Song for Jeffrey." This version sounds a lot like their studio version of the song, however, leading me to believe it was lip-synched. Regardless, it's a great song.
The Who follow with a phenomenal version of Townshend's mini-opera, "A Quick One" (you my be familiar with this song from the movie "Rushmore"). It's one of The Who's best and this is easily the best version of it.
After ok songs by Taj Mahal and Marianne Faithfull, The Dirty Mac takes over for two songs. They do a great cover of The Beatles' "Yer Blues." Then they did "Whole Lotta Yoko," which is way too much Yoko for me. Her wailing obscures what is an otherwise incredible jam session featuring some of rock's all-time greats.
The Stones then take over and end the show with a five-song set featuring some classics. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is pretty good - I prefer it with the choir opening, however. "Sympathy for the Devil" is another highlight from their set. It sounds incredible.
The CD also comes with a thorough booklet with lots of pictures and a good write-up of the evening.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I don't feel the Stones are a consistently good live act, although the set they played here, isn't without merit. I have to give them credit, because Mick Jagger is still today what you see in this film. He's got a few lines on his face, and a few traces of grey in his hair now, but time hasn't been his enemy. Keith Richards, on the other hand, doesn't even look like the same person anymore; that's what hard living will do to you.
Their set wasn't bad, though it had that "garage band" feel to it, but that's always been one of their selling points. "Jumpin' Jack Flash," " Parachute Woman," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and the others all sound up to snuff, although some back-up singers would've helped; they had a piano player, and a percussionist, why not back-up singers?
Taj Mahal's number was OK, but seemed to be a little lifeless, and Marianne Faithful has been correctly described as "lovely," her segment was a good off-set to everything else.
The Who's performance was definitely show-stopping, hard to believe Keith Moon and John Entwistle are gone. They were so "alive." They were just coming into their own when this event was held.
Depending on my mood, often my favorite segment was Jethro Tull's number. Isn't annoying when people call Ian Anderson "Jethro Tull?" Even though Anderson was the only musician with the band at every phase of its existence, "Jethro Tull" was, and is, the band's name. Apart from Anderson, none of the musicians here were with Anderson for that long. Drummer Clive Bunker was replaced by Barriemore Barlow, Bassist Glenn Cornik was replaced with Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, John Evan was added on piano, and Martin Barre replaced the man playing slide guitar here, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi.
I thought The Dirty Mac was cool, Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums, Keith Richards playing bass, when Bill Wyman could've sufficed. But Richards is, in his own way, as charismatic as Jagger, so I say good choice; it was a "super group" anyway; Eric Clapton on lead guitar (God he was young back then), and John Lennon as band leader. I thought their rendition of "Yer Blues" was as good as the version Lennon did with The Beatles. That other thing they did was thrown together at the last minute, obviously. Irvey Gitlis played a great solo on violin here, I don't even know who he is, but I can tell he's got a lot of talent. I've never understood Yoko Ono's contributions to these things; giving credit where it's due, she's a very creative woman, and she was the catalyst in Lennon's life for finding and redefining himself. She was good for him. But she has screamed into microphones in front of some of the most talented musicians in the world, and I'm tempted to ask, "why?" Call it a guilty pleasure, but listen to her songs on "Double Fantasy." These are great songs, and she is actually carrying a tune there. I really like it, and that's what's frustrating; she's got an unusual voice, and it is abused and squandered on things like "Whole Lotta Yoko," the number she sang at the R'n'R Circus. Did she have the first idea how much audiences hated her? The only real applause she ever got, as far as I could tell, was when she and John sat in with Zappa and the Mothers at the Fillmore. And that's because Zappa's fans, especially then, were open to almost anything.
In all, this is a good investment, if nothing else, to see what the big names were doing in December of 1968. The music was so much better long ago...
Their set wasn't bad, though it had that "garage band" feel to it, but that's always been one of their selling points. "Jumpin' Jack Flash," " Parachute Woman," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and the others all sound up to snuff, although some back-up singers would've helped; they had a piano player, and a percussionist, why not back-up singers?
Taj Mahal's number was OK, but seemed to be a little lifeless, and Marianne Faithful has been correctly described as "lovely," her segment was a good off-set to everything else.
The Who's performance was definitely show-stopping, hard to believe Keith Moon and John Entwistle are gone. They were so "alive." They were just coming into their own when this event was held.
Depending on my mood, often my favorite segment was Jethro Tull's number. Isn't annoying when people call Ian Anderson "Jethro Tull?" Even though Anderson was the only musician with the band at every phase of its existence, "Jethro Tull" was, and is, the band's name. Apart from Anderson, none of the musicians here were with Anderson for that long. Drummer Clive Bunker was replaced by Barriemore Barlow, Bassist Glenn Cornik was replaced with Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, John Evan was added on piano, and Martin Barre replaced the man playing slide guitar here, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi.
I thought The Dirty Mac was cool, Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums, Keith Richards playing bass, when Bill Wyman could've sufficed. But Richards is, in his own way, as charismatic as Jagger, so I say good choice; it was a "super group" anyway; Eric Clapton on lead guitar (God he was young back then), and John Lennon as band leader. I thought their rendition of "Yer Blues" was as good as the version Lennon did with The Beatles. That other thing they did was thrown together at the last minute, obviously. Irvey Gitlis played a great solo on violin here, I don't even know who he is, but I can tell he's got a lot of talent. I've never understood Yoko Ono's contributions to these things; giving credit where it's due, she's a very creative woman, and she was the catalyst in Lennon's life for finding and redefining himself. She was good for him. But she has screamed into microphones in front of some of the most talented musicians in the world, and I'm tempted to ask, "why?" Call it a guilty pleasure, but listen to her songs on "Double Fantasy." These are great songs, and she is actually carrying a tune there. I really like it, and that's what's frustrating; she's got an unusual voice, and it is abused and squandered on things like "Whole Lotta Yoko," the number she sang at the R'n'R Circus. Did she have the first idea how much audiences hated her? The only real applause she ever got, as far as I could tell, was when she and John sat in with Zappa and the Mothers at the Fillmore. And that's because Zappa's fans, especially then, were open to almost anything.
In all, this is a good investment, if nothing else, to see what the big names were doing in December of 1968. The music was so much better long ago...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
the stones
A collection of a live show that included John Lennon and Eric Clapton. It's great. I recieved it fast and in great shape.
Published on October 15, 2009 by Joseph M. Raymond
The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus
The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus
What can you say about a recorded show that, until the late 1990's, was kept from view to the general public, (for reasons... Read more
What can you say about a recorded show that, until the late 1990's, was kept from view to the general public, (for reasons... Read more
Published on January 31, 2009 by C. Frazier
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
This is a real treat, but it helps to see the video of it too. Great for folks who remember and enjoy these bands. (Not only "Stones" music)
Published on January 9, 2009 by G. Spivey
Forgotten Memories
I was in college when this came out. I guess it was only released in the UK and probably on TV. Still it brought back memories of the time - 1968. Read more
Published on April 5, 2008 by Cody Grundy
'You are forgiven', but not if you don't by this CD
This is a great CD, I really enjoy The Who's performace of 'A Quick one While He's Away' Taj Mahal's 'Aint That A Lot Of Love.' I play this CD over and over again.
Published on March 27, 2008 by Robert C. Hallden
those were the days
The Stones, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, The Who: A snapshot in Rock and Roll History, (before everyone grew to hate Yoko). I think one of the last live Stones shows with Brian. Read more
Published on December 30, 2007 by Emilio D. Gironda Jr.
captivating,
this video is a classic. jethro tull starts the concert out with a very real performance. the who, Marianne faithful, and especially taj mahal give great performances. Read more
Published on November 4, 2007 by Mr. David L. Abeles
Advertise DVD and get CD ??
I was so looking forward to seeing the "young" English cats, but the product was just a CD of the Circus, not a DVD ! Don't even know if I got credit when I returned it !!
Published on May 6, 2007 by Denny L. Reeves
as if anyone wouldn't love this...
Antone alive in the mid-late 60's couldn't, wouldn't and shouldn't NOT love this- flashbask to the center of youth- old folks- we are still there in our minds!
Published on March 17, 2007 by dottie gale
great view of the sixties
i love this cd, the dirty mac is the a great combination ruined on the second song by yoko ono's wailing, this contains the best preformance of a quick one by the who and an... Read more
Published on August 12, 2006 by floydfan
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