The liner notes to the Rock And Roll Circus CD by The Rolling Stones read, “an entertainment extravaganza planned and put on by The Rolling Stones in December, 1969.” The original intent for Rock And Roll Circus was to broadcast it on the BBC as a television special. Alas this never materialized. It would be years before the music from Rock And Roll Circus would be released on CD and longer still before the program itself became available on video.
The idea behind Rock And Roll Circus was not bad and the artists involved were top notch. In some ways I prefer the CD over the DVD mainly because while I can still hear the bad parts, at least I don’t have to see them. The bad parts include almost every spoken word, some of the costumes involved, the basic production values and any time Yoko Ono opens her mouth.
Rock And Roll Circus could have been even more interesting or bizarre. Brigitte Bardot and Johnny Cash both turned down invitations to appear. Having them appear on the same stage together may been enough to push the whole affair over the edge. Mick Jagger turned down Jimmy Page and the New Yardbirds because he did not have a tape of their music. Their name change to Led Zeppelin and the music from their first album would have been historic if Mick Jagger had just trusted Jimmy Page.
The brand new group, Jethro Tull, kick off the show with “Song For Jeffrey.” Ian Anderson’s flute has become an accepted part of rock history but this was a new concept in 1968. The vocal is strong and Tull rocks but it is the harmonica playing of Glen Cornic that makes the song worth listening too.
The Who almost steal the show. “A Quick One While He’s Away” finds a pre-Tommy Who just beginning to experiment with the rock opera concept. While the song may meander around a bit, Pete Townshend’s guitar always brings it back home. There are some interesting falsetto vocals by Keith Moon and John Entwhistle. The Who are just about to leave their early raw period behind but have not quite reached the smoother sound that will begin to creep into their music after Tommy.
Taj Mahal can simply sing the blues. “Ain’t That A Lot Of Love” is my favorite track on the album. Jesse Ed Davis lays down his funky guitar licks as the backbone of the song and his guitar bridge in the middle of the song is hard to beat.
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Article comments
1 - Pico
An interesting footnote in rock history, for sure.
I had thought this was taped in December 1968, not 1969.
2 - zingzing
people need to lay off yoko. bashing her for being an annoying singer (while ignorantly ignoring [what?] her quite amazing music) is getting really fucking annoying.
"i just don't like her," you are saying right now.
YOU'VE NEVER LISTENED TO HER.
true? you bet your ass it is.
*btw--david, i like your columns and i find your taste, for the most part, to be very good. i just get pissed at the obviously lazy criticism leveled at yoko time and time again. it's more annoying than she could ever be.
3 - JC Mosquito
The Who stole the show - the Stones' performance was simply not one of their best, but the Who were on top of their game that night.
Tull lipsynched I believe - and being as they were between guitarists, that's Black Sab's Tony Iommi on lefty six string.
And zing - if you didn't see it, thanx again for your Smile comments that pushed me in the right direction. Yeah, it's good'un alrighty.
4 - Pat Wonder
Just for the record, you say that it is "the harmonica playing of Glen Cornic that makes the song worth listening too." But Tull's part was all mimed except Anderson's vocals, so it is in fact Anderson's harmonica, vocals and flute.
5 - zingzing
jc--glad you got a copy. what did you get? the brian wilson or the '66 tapes? both certainly have their virtues.
6 - JC Mosquito
The new version - BW presents Smile. But why'd he change the lyrics of Good Vibrations? Wuzzapwi'dat?
And just keeping to the thread, why wasn't Brian Wilson and Company invited to the filming of a bunch of rock n rollers hangin' out with the Stones?
7 - Rob
'69? Close enough, I guess.
Interesting factoid about 'Zep; I never heard that one before.
The Who stole the show? Well, yes: Theirs on Circus was one of the all-time Performances. For Anyone. Ever.
Yoko may be a great artist [I don't know]. This is probably the performance that she's is most known for; and yes, it invites ridicule.
I tried to get Circus on bootleg for years before release: There were no good versions; but I did get some footage that made the cutting room floor of a classical pianist -- introduced by Brian.