Description
Label Review.
1968 show remixed and remastered. With all the original performances plus never before released performances by Taj Mahal and two newly discovered audio performances by The Dirty Mac band (John Lennon & Yoko Ono). Also available on 3LP, and deluxe box set.
Our Overview.
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus was originally conceived as a BBC-TV special and recorded in Decmeber 1968. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, it centers on the original line up of The Rolling Stones -- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman (with Nicky Hopkins and Rocky Dijon) -- who serve as both the show’s hosts and featured attraction performing six tracks including four from their then just released new album ‘Beggar’s Banquet’, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” their big hit from earlier that year and a new song: “You Can’t Always Get What you Want” which wouldn’t be released until their next album ‘Let It Bleed’.
The program also includes extraordinary performances by The Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, Yoko Ono, and The Dirty Mac. A ‘supergroup’ before the term had even been coined, the Dirty Mac was comprised of Eric Clapton (lead guitar), Keith Richards (bass), Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (drums), John Lennon on guitar and vocals plus Yoko Ono (vocals) and Ivry Gitlis (violin).
For various reasons, the film never saw the light of the day, the most popular story being that the Stones felt that The Who upstaged them seeing as the hosts had been off the stage for a couple of years whilst The Who were road hot. The subsequent sacking and death of Brian Jones, finally put the project on the shelf. It eventually got released in 1996 on CD and video.
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus soundtrack has now been expanded to 28 tracks, including material by the late concert pianist Julius Katchen, three additional songs by Taj Mahal and never before heard recordings of The Dirty Mac performing The Beatles classic, “Revolution” and the aptly titled track “Warmup Jam.”