The Rolling Stones - Rock And Roll Circus

Amazon.co.uk Review

Unavailable at all for nearly three decades, then issued in a VHS edition in 1996, the Rolling Stones' legendary Rock and Roll Circus finally gets the full treatment with this DVD release documenting the 1968 event. The Stones were reportedly unhappy with their performance (hence the long delay), and it isn't their finest moment; performing "Jumping Jack Flash" and a variety of songs from their then-new Beggars Banquet album, Keith Richards is game, but Jagger's preening (especially on "Sympathy for the Devil") is over the top, and guitarist Brian Jones looks dissolute and well on his way to his death the following year. A certain weirdness permeates some of the other musical acts as well: Jethro Tull lip-syncs unconvincingly, Taj Mahal and band were obliged to perform before the circus set was completed and the audience had arrived, and John Lennon's outing with impromptu supergroup the Dirty Mac (with Richards, Eric Clapton, and drummer Mitch Mitchell) is hampered by Yoko Ono's caterwauling, although their version of the Beatles' "Yer Blues" is cool. Still, the Who are brilliant, Marianne Faithfull is beautiful, the various circus acts are fun, and the crowd clearly loves it.

The DVD comes with some fascinating bonus features, including three extra songs by Mahal, some lovely classical piano by Julius Katchen, and a "quad split-screen" version of "Yer Blues". Best of all are a new interview with the Who's Pete Townshend and the various commentary tracks added for the DVD--especially those by Tull's Ian Anderson, director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and Stones Jagger, Richards, and Bill Wyman (who dryly attributes Jagger's reluctance to issue the show to his dissatisfaction with his own performance, not the band's). Flaws notwithstanding, this is a treat. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

rock and roll at its best.......2007-07-31

the 60's and 70's as know is the best era for rock! this dvd is awesum and brings u into it. get a bottle of jack daniels and some coke and put this on very very loud. then go out. you'll have an incredible night. jethro tull is immense u got john lennon and eric clapton in the same band. the stones are at there peak... yes wow! buy this dvd

Documentary rather than entertainment.......2006-11-01

I have liked the Stones music since the 60's and recently have been completing my collection of their studio recordings. I was therefore intrigued by the varied reviews of 'Rock and Roll Circus' and put this on my DVD rental list to find out for myself.

Having watched it, I can understand why it was never released. Like other reviewers, I find that the Who's short performance was good. Taj Mahal also put in a good performance - also on the extra material. The Stones performance is not one of there best, but here the documentary background has to be taken into account: this was the last time Brian Jones performed with the Stones and Keith Richard(s) was reputedly on 'various substances'. Nevertheless, the 65 minutes of the main video did not have an exciting feel for me.

In my opinion the circus acts and the circus scenario were a waste of time. If I had not watched the Pete Townshend interview, I would have thought the whole DVD really disappointing as it lacked the buzz I was expecting. The interview (obviously recorded about the time the DVD was released) put the whole project into perspective and the comments made by PT are very perceptive. I might have re-watched the main video after watching the interview, but it was not that good - so I just put the DVD back in the envelope ready to post off to get my next DVD.

More of the Who please.......!!!.......2005-07-20

Fantastic DVD, no thanks to the Stones.

A flat performance all round from them. Carrying an ill and addled Brian Jones through lacklustre shapes. Only the mighty "Sympathy for the devil" takes them anywhere near their incendiary best. Even then, Jagger becomes hard to watch in a sublimely hysterical performance. I waited for "No expectations", expecting beauty, it was flat, lacking the great finesse of the original. The whole gig coulda been so much better.

However, in return for your money you get the magisterial Who. They manage to carpet bomb all before them with an insane take on "A quick one while hes away". Moon, flailing away like a gurning Methadrine crazed Dervish, water rising from the Snares like licking flames, as if he about to consume himself in his own mentalness. Townshend shines here giving that Gibson a good kicking, producing a great chaotic wall of noise. All rock n roll bands should be like this.

Not what it should have been.......2005-01-03

This should have been so much better. Jethro Tull are good, Taj Mahal are great and The Who remind us just how damn great they are, and yet it's something of a dissapointment.

The blame for this lies at the Stones' Door. Simply put, they're rubbish. 'No Expectations' is good, and 'Parachute Woman' is great but on all the other numbers they suck royally. Also, The Dirty Mac's Yer Blues isn't so great, though they jam well with Yoko. Maybe, if Taj Mahal and The Who had been given more numbers, and the Stones less, it would have been great. As it is, it's merely good

Let's drink to the hard working people!.......2004-11-08

A fascinating document of the UK music scene in 1968. Worthy of purchasing for fantastic performances from The Who and The Dirty Mac Band but what really tugs at your heart strings is the shaky handed Brian Jones wrestling beautiful blues licks during No Expectations and the lost far-away look in his eye as he vainly attempts to remember the words to Salt of the Earth.

Also quite poignant is seeing Mick at the shows close, stealing Marianne Faithfull's hat and forcing her into shot, as she giggles nervously.

But folks you should purchase this for one reason only: - the arresting sight of the 5 Stones standing on a cramped stage, looking cooler than a roomfull of Fridge Freezers, laying down solid, funky versions of Jumping Jack Flash and You Can't Always Get What You Want.

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