Lee Eisenberg
"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.
shierfilm
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...
James L.
The bands:The Rolling Stones,the Dirty Mac,Jethro Tull,The Who,Taj Mahal,Marianne Faithfull,Yoko Ono accompanying The Dirty MacComments and Side-notes:Hosted by Stone's members dressed as ringleaders,it also has a circus-designed stage,set,costumes for the audience,and one or two circus acts,this is mostly a blues-rock festival;The dirty Mac was a band of music stars who were assembled exclusively for the concert and gave their one performance there;this concert was performed right after The Beatle's "The white album"was released and this was Lennon's first public Non-Beatle performance,the who and tull give fascinating performances but the material is'nt great ,Taj Mahal and the Dirty Mac are pretty good,Yoko is an embarrassment,Marianne does'nt fit in but the song is good but fluffy,The Stones give a varied,rousing ,classic,charismatic song cycle,culminating with a fantastic "Sympathy of the Devil".
bilbo-21
This is a great treat for any rock fan, with performances from Tull to Taj Mahal, and the once-in-a-lifetime combo of John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and I think Charlie Watts on drums. All in one band. The finale is a phenomenal version of "Sympathy for the Devil". Great music, well-directed.
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