Originally filmed at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on November 14, 1964, The T.A.M.I. Show was a concert featuring many of the top rock and soul acts of the day. It later became a movie (filmed in glorious "Electronovision" no less) which saw a very limited release in movie theaters.
With a lineup including everyone from The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones to Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye and James Brown, this was a mega-concert long before such things even existed. Since it also disappeared just as quickly as it was there, The T.A.M.I. Show (it stands for Teenage Awards Music International) has also become a concert film long coveted by collectors.
Its legendary status comes for very good reason. Quentin Tarrantino calls The T.A.M.I. Show "in the top three of all rock movies," and Sting even sings about it in the lines "James Brown on the T.A.M. I. Show, same tape I've had for years" from The Police hit "When The World Is Running Down (You Make The Best of What's Still Around").
For the most part, the performances all live up to the hype too. But none of them touch the James Brown set that Sting is still singing about all these years later. Producer Rick Rubin — who is no stranger to some great performances himself — has called Brown's turn that day the greatest rock performance ever captured on film.
Yet, up until now The T.A.M.I. Show has remained locked up in a vault somewhere gathering dust, and only able to be seen through the many grainy bootleg copies which have circulated among collectors over the years. There has never been an official VHS or DVD release until now. Thanks to Dick Clark Productions and the folks at SHOUT Factory, The T.A.M.I. Show has finally, at long last been restored.
Article comments
1 - A Geek Girl
I've always wanted to see this. I've heard about it a lot over the years. Thank you for reminding me of it, and for the amazon link.
I love the work Dick Clark Productions is doing; bringing the best of the past back to life. I'll have to check out all of their productions. Some amazing titles I'm sure.
2 - Glen Boyd
Thanx AGG. All's i can say is James F'n Brown, man.
-Glen
3 - Greg Barbrick
This sounds like a must.
In the You Can't Always Get What You Want book by Sam Cutler, Keith talks about following James Brown at that show. "We will never do that again," was the gist of his quote.
4 - Glen Boyd
I read Cutler's book and must have skimmed past that part...too absorbed in all the dirt about Altamont I guess.
I do know the Stones initially refused to follow James Brown though, but finally went ahead with it. You can kind of see in this film where Jagger is trying to duplicate some of JB's moves. Its actually very funny when you watch it in that context.
But yeah, you need to get this one Greg.
-Glen