The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996) User Reviews

Stones fans will dig it.

[MovieAddict2016 · 7/10 · 14 August 2006]

Filmed live in 1968 as an intended television special but kept from the public eye due to the Rolling Stones' own dissatisfaction with their performance over a span of two nights, "Rock N' Roll Circus" showcases the Stones at the height of their game. Although I admit they have performed better in terms of musical companionship and melody, there is no denying the amount of energy they exude here.

The standout for me is the reggae-infused "Sympathy for the Devil" which sounds like the drunken plea of society's virus. The original came across as a taunt, and this rendition of the song is helpless and a desperate outcry - in a good way, of course.

Mick Jagger's vocals have been better and his voice is a bit off - I guess the guys were totally wasted and stoned out of their minds around this time. But watching them on stage, it's hard to deny they were one of the great rock n' roll bands. They're really not given enough credit for their fusion of blues and mainstream rock - at the time of their emergence, a lot of critics compared them to The Beatles - a comparison both understandable and equally unfair. They did write a few Britpop songs early on, but they always had a bluesy edge that the Beatles - despite their superiority in musical influence and range - never had.

If you're into the Stones, this is a must-see. If you're *really* into the Stones, it's probably a must-own. And if you aren't into the Stones at all, I'd recommend starting off with their double-album Forty Licks (a Greatest Hits compilation).

underrated and flawed, hard-rocking & blues-filled highlights, and sideshow acts

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 4 February 2007]

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). But 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. The low-points, however, are like thorns on the side of the show, which are Marianne Faithful, who though very pretty sings like a pretty little goat, and 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.

Getting' Down And Dirty With The Dirty Mac

[ferbs54 · 8/10 · 18 October 2007]

Most people who watch "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus," a TV program that the Stones put together for the BBC in December '68--but that was never aired--will likely be struck by the same thought: How could this remarkable show fail to have been shown back when? The program turns out to be a godsend for fans of '60s rock, featuring as it does not only "The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band," but also Jethro Tull, The Who, Marianne Faithful, Taj Mahal and a band called Dirty Mac, interspersed, under the big top, with some amusing circus acts, and observed by a small but enthusiastic audience in whimsical regalia. All the performers are in top form here, but the highlights for me were Jethro Tull, here with future Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi filling in for the recently departed Mick Abrahams, and the two songs performed by the Dirty Mac. This was a one-shot supergroup consisting of Mitch Mitchell on drums and Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and John Lennon on guitars! The version of the Fab Four's "Yer Blues" that they dish out here is just awesome, and when Yoko Ono hits the stage to caterwaul on the instrumental blues romp "Whole Lotta Yoko"...well, just hold on to your eardrums! This program, fittingly, belongs to the Stones, however, and the six tunes that the boys give us are just terrific, especially that "Sympathy for the Devil," during which Mick Jagger gets to prove again that he really is rock's best frontman. Whotta high-energy display; no wonder John Lennon can be seen boogying his pies off in the audience! Bottom line: If you're a fan of any of the artists mentioned above, this DVD is for you!

The Rolling Who?

[jkstevens57 · 22 August 2000]

Legend has it that The Stones withheld airing and release of this production for many years because they thought that they had been upstaged by The Who. One look at this show and you'll know why: Pete and the boys quite simply stole the show with renditions of such tunes as 'Happy Jack' and--especially--'A Quick One (While He's Been Gone)'.

In my opinion though, The Stones put on quite a show of their own, and its great to see them (and the other bands of that era) in their prime. If you're a fan of rock (especially of the late '60s), you MUST check this one out--you won't regret it.

"You've all been forgiven"--Townsend

Brian Jones's last stand

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 30 May 2015]

"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.

A Time-Travel to a Magnificent Concert

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 14 November 2004]

On 11 December 1968, The Rolling Stones presented two concerts on a stage of a circus, with the presence of great bands. About twenty-eight years later, the show was released on VHS and CD in USA, and I bought both of them. On January 2003, this concert was finally released in Brazil on DVD. It was a time-travel to a magnificent concert and today I have seen it again. The opening, with Jethro Tull playing one of their best songs, 'Song for Jeffrey', from the successful album 'Living in the Past', is amazing. A very simple band, composed by Glen Cornic (Bass, Harmonica), Mick Abrahams (Guitar), Clive Bunker (magnificently playing a very small drums for the standards of the present days) and highlighting Ian Anderson in the lead vocal and flute in a wonderful performance. The Who (Pete Townsend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon and John Entwhistle), Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithful, Dirty Mac (John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell) and The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts) are also excellent. The unique weak part of the whole concert is Yoko Ono screaming like a jay in 'Whole Lotta Yoko'. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): 'Rock and Roll Circus'

another example of the odd late 1960s

[didi-5 · 6/10 · 2 January 2005]

This circus-based rock show starts with Jethro Tull and The Who, moves through Dirty Mac (Lennon and Yoko, Clapton, etc.), Taj Mahal, and Marianne Faithful, and ends up with the Rolling Stones themselves. Some acrobats and other acts along the way add to the sense of spaced-out-ness and general oddity.

The performances range from great (the Stones set culminating with 'Sympathy for the Devil'; the Who with 'A Quick One'; Jethro Tull - featuring a young Tony Iommi - with 'Song for Jeffrey') to embarrassing (Yoko's wailing). The mood is chaotic and more than a little amateur, but this gives the show a certain amount of interest and charm.

The only colour footage of the original Stones line-up? Some crazy costumes here and colour clashes but good to see them together in their heyday, even if Brian Jones does seem a bit out of it.

Overall, enjoyable.

Great artists, great songs, great performances

[grantss · 8/10 · 27 December 2014]

Great artists, great songs, great performances.

A Rolling Stones-inspired and headlining concert from 1968. Staged inside a circus tent, it has some superb acts: Jethro Tull, The Who, Taj Mahal, The Dirty Mac (a temporary supergroup consisting of John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell) and, of course, the Rolling Stones. All of these deliver in spades.

Marianne Faithful is also there and is not too bad.

On the downside, unfortunately, John Lennon lets Yoko Ono sing... Though that's using the term "sing" in it's broadest definition...

While the Stones' performance is great, I would have preferred a more even spread, song-wise, between the artists. While the Stones get 6 or 7 songs on the movie, all the others only get one. A few more tracks from The Who and Jethro Tull would have been awesome.

Well worth seeing--just be ready with the remote control!!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 15 June 2011]

This is an amazing film and it's sad it took so long to see the light of day. After all, it's an unaired TV special that features the Rolling Stones as well as performances by their friends--such as Jethro Tull, The Who and others. For fans of rock of this era, it truly is a must-see and is floating around on the internet. So why, then, do I give this show a 6? Well, because aside from lots of GREAT appearances, John and Yoko Ono show up as well and they actually let her 'sing' (if you can call it that). Ono's singing, quite literally, is high-pitched screaming--well, more like screeching! It is, without a doubt, the most god-awful and terrible singing performance in the history of mankind and she makes no effort to actually sing--just scream like some ungodly creature! Hearing cats being skinned would be more pleasant to the ears!! It's so bad that when I taught history, I would occasionally show it to my students--as a punishment or to make them laugh (if used as punishment, I'd have them watch ALL her singing)! But, if you can sit there with a remote control (either to fast-forward or turn down the volume), it's well worth seeing...and actually a great history lesson (the music, the outlandish styles, etcetera). And, if you are a glutton for punishment, it's a great laugh if your ears can take Ono's vocal talents! I wonder if they could use these portions at Guantanimo to interrogate prisoners! Nah...the Geneva Convention wouldn't allow such cruelty!

You've heard of Oxford Circus; you've heard of Piccadilly Circus; and this is The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus

[azeemnavarro · 8/10 · 22 September 2019]

Originally made back in 1968, The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus remains a product of it's time. Shelved until 1996 because the Stones were disastified with their performance, something I can't understand because (except for Jumpin' Jack Flash and Parachute Woman) they did an amazing job here, more if you consider they played a day after full of rehearsals and exhaution (and drugs). Clearly inpired by the Beatles TV specials, Mick got the idea of do one too for promoting the upcoming Beggars Banquet. Recorded in a sound stage decorated as a classic british circus in front of an invited audience with stellar sideacts, this TV special remains a lost (semi) gem. Presented in a classic circus way, right at the start you know you don't have to take this very seriously. Unfortunately there's 6 minutes of classic circus acts like a flame eater or a trapeze artist...the Stones should've been ashamed of that, not their performance. If you want to skip those you can pick the album, that wisely cuts the cr@p off. Things kick off with Jethro Tull. Though Ian Anderson was the only one that wasn't miming, this rendition of Song for Jeffrey is pure bombastic fun and a great way to start the concert. Fun fact: a then unknown Tony Iommi appears here (he only lasted two weeks in the band). Rumours had circulated that this show wasn't aired because the Who outperformed the Stones in their own game...I mean, they do a great job here but c'mon, that's just not true. I'm not a big fan of them and I don't enjoy A Quick One that much, but I recognize that their performanc here is stellar, and IMO the 3rd best of the Circus. I never heard of Taj Mahal, and that's very weird because of how much of a music sucker I am, but oh boy what a surprise it was to discover this man. Totally blown away by the blues rocker that was Ain't That a Lot of Love. I don't want to hate on Marianne Faithfull, but she's the worst of this special by a long shot. I respect her music career and I know she's a great songwriter but man, I just can't stand her voice. She was brave though, because just a couple of weeks before the filming, she had a miscarriage. Nevertheless she performed, and that's something I applaud, and she's not bad here really, is just unspecial. But something truly special followed. The one time only supergroup The Dirty Mac, conformed by John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell, went on stage and totally blew everyone away. The not only stoled the show, but they also made the best version of Yer Blues, an almost imposible task if you ask me. Then they got joined by Yoko Ono and violinist virtuoso Ivry Gitlis to perform the Ono penned Whole Lotta Yoko. Some people will hate me for this, but I love this jam...yes even with the shrieks of Yoko. And finally, the Stones would hit the stage with 4 songs of the upcoming Beggars Banquet + Jumpin' Jack Flash and an early version of You Can't Always Get What You Want. The first two songs (Jumpin' Jack and Parachute Woman) actually show the band exhauted and playing without that much energy...however, their performance starts to get better with a beautiful rendition of No Expectations, and they totally skyrocked with You Can't Always Get What You Want, don't know what Mick did but he seems to have all the energy and pasion in the world from this song onwards. Jagger turns into a madman in what may be the best live version of Sympathy for the Devil; shirtless and covered with silly tattoes, he goes totally berserk and gives a demonic performance, proving why the Stones were the best band to see live. The concert finish in a both beautiful and orgasmic note with Salt of the Earth, that though the vocals were the only thing live, you can't help but want to dance seing the crowd go nuts. People waited for 28 years to see and hear this, and you know, totally worth it for them, because the Rock and Roll Circus remains one of the best moments in rock history and something every music enthusiast should experience.

Summary and commentary of film content

[jeannine-17 · 6/10 · 22 April 2008]

At the time of this film (Dec, 68) Jethro Tull was a virtually unknown group. The circus show opens appropriately with the odd-ball band doing 'Song For Jeffrey'. Great to see Tull when they were nobody but on their way up. Too bad we only got one song. 'The Who' was next. If you are a Who fan then this is vintage. Keith Moon is on fire. Taj Mahal brings the blues out like few can next. What a presence that man has/had. His singing is so very strong you can feel it come deep from his soul. It vibrates. Next a very thin looking John Lennon and Eric Clapton collaborate to do some bluesy numbers with Keith Richards on bass and Mitch Mitchell (of Hendrix Experience fame) on drums. Other than the material being cliché, weak blues songs, the playing is world class. Then we are subjected to Yoko squeaking, which you can FF through. Do not waste your time there is nothing redeeming about her 'performance'. After this Marian Faithful does a number. We get a great view into her vocal strength and blue-eyed-soul. It is kind of spooky to realize how many of these people were doing heroin at the time of this film. Next of course are the Stones. We get to see Brian Jones before he passed away. Mick unveils his devil tattoos at the end of the film during 'Sympathy For The Devil'. I wonder if he really did those permanently.

Not a bad film - great music - except Yoko. She is a dear person but has no place on a singing stage. I would have preferred maybe 2 or 3 more Tull songs over 12 minutes of her screeching.

What can I say? It's a beautiful thing from a beautiful time...

[himynameis · 10/10 · 23 August 2005]

The Rolling Stones Circus is amazing. You can tell the party that was going on in the background, because it is so full of energy. From the start, all of these terrific musicians lined up in crazy clothing, walking around with instruments, to the last "goodnightly song", with a whole audience and all the musicians swaying back and forth, it is terrific. I can hardly even pinpoint the best performances. The Who's is definitely up there. The performance is great musically as well as in terms of the overall thing--basically everyone (besides Entwistle) going wild. The Dirty Mac is really interesting as well, to see this medley of famous people playing with each other--not in their own respective groups. I didn't originally buy this because of the Rolling Stones, more for John Lennon, the Who and the basic idea. But seeing and hearing them got me to listen to several of their albums...Pete Townsend is right about Mick Jaggers energy...he certainly keeps it alive at 2am in the morning after 2 days of insanity. Basically, this is just a beautiful and amazing show. Something like it could never happen again for many reasons, but at least we can watch it. It's so alive and crazy, and though I wouldn't really know, I like to think that it does sum up part of an era. A great one at that. Wish I could have been in the audience...

A couple of great performances, a few mediocre ones...

[santegeezhe · 6/10 · 7 January 2008]

Although I'd seen parts of this film before, I'd never seen "RnRC" in its entirety until the other day. I found it to be an enjoyable film, although I can understand why the Stones decided not to release it back in the day - it's good but not great, and the Stones' performance leaves a lot to be desired in the excitement department.

As the title informs us, this is indeed a "rock and roll circus", featuring several different bands jamming under the big top, and a variety of circus performers doing their thing in between the bands. Honestly, it sounds like an interesting concept but in reality it's more of a stupid gimmick. The best thing about this film are the performances, but sadly only some of them are fully up-to-snuff.

Jethro Tull pull off a fairly decent, mostly-mimed performance - apparently only the vocals/flute were performed live. It's a pretty good performance though nothing more.

The Who turn in a thrilling performance of "A Quick One" which is easily the musical highlight of the film. According to rumor, the Who's superior performance is the main reason the film wasn't released at the time. It's easy to see why - the Who were tight from being constantly on the road, whereas the Stones hadn't toured in over a year.

Taj Mahal's performance is decent blues rock/soul, but nothing to get too excited about. His performance is mainly notable for featuring a young Jesse Ed Davis on guitar.

Marianne Faithful sings a nice song which is ruined by her wretched vocals. She looks pretty cute though. I guess it pays to be Mick's girlfriend, because her musical ability is negligible.

Next up is the Dirty Mac, a "supergroup" featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell and Keith Richards on bass. One would think this would be a good combination but one would be wrong. Richards sounds like what he is - a guitar player playing bass, and Lennon's guitar is not even close to being in tune with Clapton (or anyone else for that matter). Despite this they manage to turn in a fairly decent reading of "Yer Blues" which makes me wonder how history would be different if the Beatles actually played live after '66...They also play another song with Yoko on vocals which really isn't worth mentioning. What's with Lennon and Jagger and their tuneless, talentless girlfriends? Interspersed between a couple of the numbers is some footage of Jagger and Lennon goofing around which is probably the most revealing and interesting part of this whole spectacle...

Closing out the show are the Stones, who manage to turn in a fairly lacklustre performance. After the likes of the Who in particular, the Stones somehow sound very spare and empty, not to mention kind of boring. It's not a terrible performance by any means, just a so-so one which is easily overshadowed by the other acts on the bill. It is nice to hear the material from "Beggar's Banquet" played live though. The highlight for me is the mostly-mimed performance of "Salt of the Earth", which has always been one of my favourites.

Oh dear, oh dear

[imdb-60896 · 4/10 · 10 August 2021]

Morbidly fascinating but ultimately excruciating. Everyone trying way, way too hard. A clip from any of the performances could easily be inserted into the 'band history' section of 'This is Spinal Tap'. The Stones were quite right to withhold it for so long. The Who are clear winners - but it's a hollow victory.

"Sorry Keith, I forgot your guitar"...

[acampen · 23 May 2002]

... 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.

Pretty good...by today's 'Creed' standards: a MASTERPIECE

[coy_dog0 · 10/10 · 31 January 2005]

When the Stones take the stage and erupt into Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's quite obvious we are witnessing an age is long now dead. The 'beautiful people' in the audience--draped in yellow rain coats or something--resemble participants in some kind of primitive religious ritual.

This, of course, is the true purpose of Rock n' Roll, isn't it? It replaces our instinctual need for community rituals that we've lost in the past few hundred years. The Stones occupy the stage like Shamans in a primitive hunting society. A Judeo-Christian might be offended by their endorsements of Lucifer in 'Sympathy for the Devil', but the real purpose of the song (or any Stones song) lies right there in the title. Good NEEDS Evil in nature. Things live, things die.

So, have some sympathy. And some taste.

10/10

Rock and Roll Up, Roll Up

[Lejink · 9/10 · 18 September 2023]

For almost 30 years, the Stones kept their Rock and Roll Circus filmed in December 1968, under wraps, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with their own performance. When it was finally released, a number of significant contributors were no longer alive, including John Lennon, Brian Jones and Keith Moon. All I can say is that it was great to finally see and hear the show in its entirety and for me anyway, it doesn't disappoint.

Sure the idea of staging the whole show in a circus big-top and including performances by actual circus acts is definitely out there, but taken as a whole it still stands today as a rollocking if sometimes rocky snapshot of rock music in the great year of 1968.

The all-star cast includes a sprightly Jethro Tull with Ian Anderson not quite landing his flamingo pose this early in his career and the unlikely figure of Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi on bass, a cool blast of R 'n' B by blues rocker Taj Mahal and band, a demure-looking Marianne Faithfull sings "Something Better" a rare co-write between Brill Building songwriters Barry Mann and Gerry Goffin obviously free of their usual partners Cynthia Weil and Carole King, to a pre-recorded backing and an all-action rendition of "A Quick One," by the Who.

Next up was one of the main talking points, a potent version of "Yer Blues" by the supergroup's supergroup, called The Dirty Mac, featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, although I'd have liked to have seen Moon in the chair. This runs into a crazed blues work-out as they're joined by classical violinist Ivry Gitlis and a screeching Yoko on an item titled "Whole Lotta Yoko".

Finally, reportedly at 5 in the morning, the Stones themselves appear as they crank up "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Yes, they seem a bit whacked out and underpowered but they look great and once you lock into their stoned vibe, especially Jagger's intense, turning manic performance, it's hard to understand what they thought was wrong with their showing.

Of course, there's much fascination with Brian Jones, whose last filmed appearance with the group this was, but in truth he doesn't look much more out of it than anyone else present. He plays lovely slide guitar on "No Expectations" although quite why such a talented multi-instrumentalist is left to shake his maracas on "Sympathy for the Devil" is anyone's guess.

Jagger though is the real deal, lording and camping it up at the same time as the ringmaster, while on stage he winds himself up song by song, delivering a great rendition of the at-the-time unreleased "You Can't Always Get What You Want" before climaxing the show with a possessed version of "Sympathy...".

With wacky spoken introduction inserts by all and sundry, it really is quite the trip. Like many a music historian I consider 1968 to be the greatest ever year for pop music, so it really pleases me that this madcap extravaganza featuring some of the biggest and best names of the time finally found its way out there for public consumption.

A Vintage 1968 Presentation When Stones' Guitarist, Brian Jones Was Still Alive

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 15 July 2020]

Even though I view singer, Mick Jagger as being one of the top 10 most despicable rock performers of his generation - This 1-hour "Rock'n'Roll Circus" presentation was still a nostalgically enjoyable look back at pop music of yesteryear.

Featuring such well-known musical acts as Jethro Tull, the Who, and Taj Mahal - These live performances (with no lip-syncing) are certain to appeal to a wide audience of viewers.

Great!!

[mdunnzx · 10/10 · 8 December 2017]

I don't agree with this movie addict person's review at all. It's the best performance I've seen of the early Stones and I'm from that era same age as them. The band was spot on , tight and Mick's vocals were about like always , he's not the greatest singer in the world you know. His songwriting , presence and delivery have been his high points. It was worth it just to see Brian Jones play slide one more time on No Expectations , he was a true master of the slide guitar. It was well known at the time that the reason it never got released was because Yoko made a fool of herself on screaming vocal at the end of the Dirty Mac's set and there's no way the movie would get released like that. At the time Mick and John Lennon were friends and not wanting to hurt John's feelings it just didn't get released at all. Well worth the money even if you're not a Stones fan because it gives all a glimpse of how it was in 1968 , a fabulous year to be a young person!!! I'm searching for a blue ray of it now if it exists. Peace.

did not fast forward Yoko

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 28 November 2023]

The Rolling Stones are hosting a Circus themed variety show. First guest is Jethro Tull. Other guests include The Who, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and various dancers and acrobatic performers. This does depend on one's acceptance of Yoko Ono's "singing". It is unique if nothing else.

The Rolling Stones made this in 1968 and meant to air it on BBC as promotion for their newest album Beggars Banquet. Ultimately, they kept it from TV due to their exhausted performance. They are half of the show and the less compelling half. I still find this quite fascinating as a concert and a time capsule for the music scene.

It's a Gas

[Screen_O_Genic · 8/10 · 20 August 2019]

A probable counter and tribute to The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" The Rolling Stones added their own musical take on the silver screen with this lively and colorful event. Using the circus as a basis and filmed inside a circus tent the band invited a number of musical acts to perform with them headlining the show. The musical performances shine and the diverse array of sounds and styles add to the appeal: Jethro Tull's flute-driven Medieval tinged "Song for Jeffrey; Taj Mahal's rocking Blues with "Ain't That a Lot of Love"; The Who's fantastic Proto-Metal power in "A Quick One While He's Away"; impeccable Pop with Marianne Faithfull's "Something Better"; supergroup Dirty Mac's (John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell) down and dirty version of The Beatles "Yer Blues"; and The Stones capping the show with performances of their recent material from the time. Circus performances are interspersed between some of the songs as fire eaters and trapeze artists add entertainment to the festivity. Some flubs occur in the proceedings proving that Rock Gods are human too: Jagger's hyperactivity ironically makes great songs like "Sympathy for the Devil" boring and Yoko Ono's unaesthetic screech has to be heard to be believed and has the unearthly power to drown out a great jam. Unfortunately withheld from release fearing The Stones were not up to par, this memorable flick finally got it's due nearly thirty years after its inception and it was worth the wait. "Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth"!

A 1968 vanity project for the Stones, who get upstaged by the Who...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 2 July 2006]

Long-shelved concert film was originally intended for British television in 1968, but the Rolling Stones were unhappy their musical sequence was not as dynamic as that of the Who. The project languished in obscurity until it was found and received a theatrical release Stateside in 1996. It's a raucous, shapeless extravaganza, a perfect example of content without form, providing some great music, a decadently cavalier atmosphere (which is intriguing), but no food for thought. This is the only known appearance of the Dirty Mac (who perform John Lennon's "Yer Blues"), but everyone gets upstaged by the Who, who really whip up a frenzy. As for the Stones: they clearly felt no threat another rock group was out to steal their limelight; they are indeed exciting, but even more endearing is the old-fashioned, fire-eating circus stuff which doesn't quite jell with the music on hand but is amusingly presented nonetheless. ** from ****

Wish I was there!

[Infofreak · 25 June 2001]

Rock'n'Roll fans it doesn't get any better than this! This is as close as you're going to get to your 60s rock dream. A Lennon/Keef/Clapton/Mitch Mitchell jam. Early tasty Tull with Sabbath's Tony Iommi on guitar. Marianne Faithfull looking like an angel. The Who destroying the competition with a sensational version of A Quick One. And last, but not least, The Stones with a relaxed but smoking set including classics Sympathy For The Devil and You Can't Always Get What You Want. Unforgettable.

One Last Look

[Sargebri · 13 December 2002]

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.

Sights and sounds to delight your eyes and ears

[shierfilm · 27 September 2002]

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...