The Rolling Stones - Rock 'n' Roll Circus [DVD]

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

The Songs: 1. Song For Jeffrey - Jethro Tull 2. (A Quick One) While He's Away - The Who 3. Ain't That A Lot Of Love - Taj Mahal 4. Something Better - Marianne Faithfull 5. Yer Blues - The Dirty Mac 6. Whole Lotta Yoko - Yoko Ono & Ivry Gitlis With The Dirty Mac 7. Jumping Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones 8. Parachute Woman - The Rolling Stones 9. No Expectations - The Rolling Stones 10. Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones 11. Salt Of The Earth - The Rolling Stones

The Show: 1. Dalton Prolouge 2. Parade 3. Song For Jeffrey 4. (A Quick One) While He's Away 5. Trapeze Artists 6. Ain't That A Lot Of Love 7. Something Better 8. Fire Eater & Luna 9. Mick Jagger & John Lennon 10. Yer Blues 11. Whole Lotta Yoko 12. Jumping Jack Flash 13. Parachute Woman 14. No Expectations 15. You Can't Always Get What You Want 16. Sympathy For The Devil 17. Salt Of The Earth 18. End Credits

Unseen Footage: 1. Checkin' Up On My Baby - Taj Mahal 2. Corrina - Taj Mahal 3. Leavin' Truck - Taj Mahal 4. The Clowns 5. Luna & Tiger 6. Mick & Tiger 7. Ritual Fire Dance - Julius Katchen 8. Sonata In C, First Movement - Julius Katchen 9. Yer Blues TK Quad Split - Dirty Mac 10. Backstage Footage/Close But No Cigar - Mick Jagger, John Lennon & Yoko Ono 11. Sympathy for The Devil (Fat Boy Slim Remix) 12. Pete Townsend Interview

- Audio Commentary By Director & Cinematographer - Audio Commentary By Mick Jagger, Ian Anderson, Taj Mahal, Yoko Ono, Bill Wyman & Keith Richards - Audio Commentary By Marianne Faithfull, David Dalton & David Starck - Pete Townsend Interview - Sympathy For The Devil - Fatboy Slim Remix Video & TV Footage - 3 Never Seen Before Extra Tracks By Taj Mahal: Checkin' Up On My Baby, Corrina, Leavin' Truck - 2 Never Seen Before Extra Tracks By Julius Katchen: Ritual Fire Dance, Sonata In C, First Movement - Never Seen Before Extra Track By Dirty Mac: Yer Blues - Backstage Footage/Close But No Cigar - Mick Jagger, John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Extra Circus Footage - The Clowns, Luna & Tiger, Mick & Tiger