The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus

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...

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.

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.

... 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.

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).