The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Conceived in late-'60s London, this literal three-ring would-be "television spectacular" featuring the Stones and a select cadre of friends and associates became (along with the Beach Boys' Smile album and Bob Dylan's Albert Hall concert) one of the era's greatest unreleased projects. When it finally surfaced in the late '90s, those overinflated expectations all but guaranteed it a tepid response. Legend has it that the Stones originally nixed it because they felt overshadowed by the Who, but it's likely the shelving had more to do with the band's then-unsettled state of affairs. The Stones' raw, powerful set here both bridges the first Stones era with what was essentially the swan song of band's ill-fated cofounder Brian Jones, who would be fired for ongoing substance-abuse problems. (That really took some doing in a band that also featured Keith Richards!) Also notable is the one-time-only teaming of John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Richards, and Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell (as "The Dirty Mac") for a long, loud, and lugubrious workout of Lennon's "White Album" standout "Yer Blues." --Jerry McCulley

Tracks:

MickJagger's Introduction Of Rock And Roll Circus - Mick Jagger
Entry Of The Gladiators - Julius Fucik
Mick Jagger's Introduction Of Jethro Tull - Mick Jagger
Song For Jeffrey - Jethro Tull
Keith Richard's Introduction Of The Who - Keith Richard
A Quick One While He's Away - The Who
Over The Waves - Juventino Rosas
Ain't That A Lot A Love - Taj Mahal
Charlie Watt's Introduction Of Marianne Faithfull - Charlie Watts
Something Better - Marianne Faithfull
Mick Jagger's And John Lennon's Introduction Of The Dirty Mac - Mick Jagger And John Letter
Yer Blues - The Dirty Mac
Whole Lotta Yoko - Yoko Ono And Ivry Gitlis With The Dirty Mac
John Lennon's Introduction Of The Rolling Stones/ Jumping Jack Flash - John Lennon/ The Rolling Stones
Parachute Woman - The Rolling Stones
No Expectations - The Rolling Stones
You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones
Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones
Salt Of The Earth - The Rolling Stones

Amazon.com

Conceived in late-'60s London, this literal three-ring would-be "television spectacular" featuring the Stones and a select cadre of friends and associates became (along with the Beach Boys' Smile album and Bob Dylan's Albert Hall concert) one of the era's greatest unreleased projects. When it finally surfaced in the late '90s, those overinflated expectations all but guaranteed it a tepid response. Legend has it that the Stones originally nixed it because they felt overshadowed by the Who, but it's likely the shelving had more to do with the band's then-unsettled state of affairs. The Stones' raw, powerful set here both bridges the first Stones era with what was essentially the swan song of band's ill-fated cofounder Brian Jones, who would be fired for ongoing substance-abuse problems. (That really took some doing in a band that also featured Keith Richards!) Also notable is the one-time-only teaming of John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Richards, and Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell (as "The Dirty Mac") for a long, loud, and lugubrious workout of Lennon's "White Album" standout "Yer Blues." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Advertise DVD and get CD ??.......2007-05-06

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 !!

as if anyone wouldn't love this..........2007-03-18

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!

great view of the sixties.......2006-08-13

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 excellent preformance of sympathy and you cant always get what you want by the rolling stones, the early preformance by jethro tull is intresting and i like the taj mahal song, buy this cd

No Polished Diamond, but Surely a Jem!.......2005-11-02

Rock acts in the sixties never took themselves too seriously, and this production of the Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus is no exception. Sex, drugs, and rock & roll were the order of the day, not high-tech professionalism, and members of "the Establishment," such as television producers, had no choice but to conform. Obviously, this project was an attempt to assemble a handful of British rock acts for a loosely thrown together BBC variety show, modeled on America's zany and popular "Rowen & Martin's Laugh-in." Set under a circus big top, the result is revealing window into what was then coined "The British Invasion" of the classic rock era.

One has to look below the surface of this light-hearted production to appreciate its magic. Tony Iommi, the left-handed guitarist, later to become the driving force behind Black Sabbath seemingly goes unnoticed as Jethro Tull's side man in "Song For Jeffrey." The falsetto harmonies of the Who's quiet bassist John Entwistle, and Keith Moon, barely able to contain himself, highlight Pete Townsend's "A Quick One While He's Away. "Ain't That A Lot of Love" and some extra performances resurrect the nearly forgotten blues group Taj Mahal.

Girlfriends and wives also got in on the act, and contributed performances. Marianne Faithful, then Mick Jagger's main squeeze, delivers a cutesie virbrato rendition of "Something Better." Yoko Ono (with classic violinist Ivry Gitlis) reminds all within memory just how horribly wretched her dying animal, no talent voice passed off as art, can be on "Whole Lotta Yoko."

Dirty Mac, an all-star garage band featuring the late John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richard on bass, and Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell, resurrect a lost art: the Jam. Lennon's powerful vocals leads the ensemble through a rendition of "Yer Blues," while a youthful Clapton gently caresses a beautiful red Gibson ES-335. Richard, surprisingly competent on bass, provides a solid foundation along with the ever meticulous Mitchell. A lose ending nearly spoils a perfect performance, but hap-hazard endings have always been a Rolling Stones trademark anyway.

Predictably, the Stones highlight the show with six exceedingly rare performances. The late Brian Jones, an original founding member, who would be fired by Jagger & Co., then mysteriously drown shortly thereafter is seen here in this unique footage. The Stones remain true to the studio version of the now classic "Jumping Jack Flash," as the crowd needs no cue to come alive. Richards launches the band into the slow blues "Parachute Woman." Mick's harmonica and the honky-tonk piano of the late Nicky Hopkins fill the gaps nicely. Jone's hauntingly beautiful slide guitar, Richards' acoustic rhythm, Hopkins' pounding fills, and Jagger's intoxicating vocals nail "No Expectations." The Stones increase the tempo with yet another classic, "You Can't Always Get What You Want," then launch into the sinister "Sympathy For The Devil." Charlie Watts' rim work coupled with guest conga man, Rocky Dijon lend a raw authenticity, later lost in stadium venues. Ever the front-man, Jagger's voodoo screams are climaxed by him kneeling submissively, peeling off his shirt, like a slave about to be whipped, only to reveal some devilish, if temporary body tattoos. An audience participation finale of "Salt of the Earth" highlight Jagger and Richards vocal harmonies quite nicely.

Despite the few legitimate circus acts interlaced with humorous, if sometimes ridiculous witticisms by Jagger, Lennon, and others, this nicely arranged package is a must for any die-hard Stones fan, or afictionado of classic rock history.

HMMMMMMMM....... YEAH.......2005-09-08

VH-1 pulled this out of the vaults about six or seven years ago and I can remember loving the special on TV. There is a DVD out now which I haven't seen so I don't know if theres anything new on it.

The music is live but in front of a selected audience in an atmosphere made up to look like an actual circus.

The cuts don't sound live, but for the most part are actually EDGIER than their actual studio cuts.

BEST EXAMPLES ARE:

JETHRO TULL: SONG FOR JEFFREY, I remember this because, this was the first time I ever heard this song. I went out and found it on TULL's THIS WAS album and I was extremely pissed. Actually the reason I purchased this disc was solely for the version of this song WHICH ROCKS!

THE WHO's: QUICK ONE, this one sounds as if it were written just for this performance. Way better than the studio.

THE DIRTY MAC: YER BLUES, in case you don't know THE MAC was compiled of John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The Beatles album was brand new but since they were the biggest coveted thing on the planet, they weren't ever gonna be on this show.The Mac version is way full of sound. It's to bad this faux rock band only played together this one time.

Then you got TAJ MAHALL and MARIANNE FAITHFUL doing some cool tracks and all THE STONES stuff at the end.

Even though there is a lot of bogus clown music involved between tracks the cuts are so good that I will give it 5 stars.

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