Disco de The Rolling Stones: “Rock & Roll Circus”

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.

This is actually better visually than on CD. Seeing some of the legends of Rock together is nirvana. The Dirty Mac is a knockout - "Yer Blues" extends into a riff jam, while Who's operetta "A Quick One" is a killer. Best is, surprisingly, "Whole Lotta Yoko", with classical violinist Ivry Gitlis accompanying Yoko on a an excursion into primordial musical terrain replete with Yoko's 'in-labour' sound effects. The effect, following "Yer Blues", is electrifying.

Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithful and Tull also perform above standard, but I felt the Stones themselves were a little loose, perhaps due to the pressures of the moment. "Salt of the Earth" was an appropriate sing-a-long conclusion.

John Lennon is deeply missed.

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.

This album has finally been released, and should be an immediate buy for anyone who was alive in the sixties, or just wishes thy were. Especially if they are into the who, the stones, or 60's english music in general. Everyone will tell you buy this album for the Who, and while I hold the Who as my favourite band, the unsung gems of this album (pun somewhat intended) are the performances of marianne faithful and jethro tull. If you are familiar with who they are, but unfamilar with their music, but this album. If you like one of the other bands, buy this album too. Taj mahal, yoko ono, and the dirty mac are all great performances too. its a gem of an album, and it would be a tradgedy if it hadn't been released almost 4 years ago.

This CD is probably not for those who are new to Jethro Tull, the Stones, or John Lennon. For the rest of us, however, this is one step closer to nirvanah (not the band).

The little between the songs circus music rates 5/5 stars. Not that its special for the music itself, but it adds a great circus feel to the whole event.

The intros by the Stones and Lennon are about 3/5 which isn't bad considering the announcers that were invited said "no" and left the event announcerless. The most interesting of these is track 11, a dialog between John and Mick.

Now for the songs:

"Song For Jeffrey"- Jethro Tull

"A Quick One While He's Away"- The Who

"Ain't That A Lot of Love"- Taj Mahal

"Something Better"- Marianne Faithfull

"Yer Blues"- The Dirty Mac

"Whole Lotta Yoko"- The Dirty Mac with Yoko Ono and Ivry Gitlis

"Jumpin' Jack Flash"- 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

Great show!