Hailed by one music reviewer as "the grooviest, wildest, slickest hit ever to pound the screen," "The T.A.M.I. Show" is an unrelenting rock spectacular starring some of the greatest pop performers of the 60s. These top recording idols – representing the musical moods of London, Liverpool, Hollywood and Detroit – packed the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium with 2,600 screaming fans and virtually brought down the house. This is the cinematic record of that electrifying event.
Similar titles
Reviews
Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
Don't listen to the negative reviews
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
1964's The T.A.M.I. Show (T.A.M.I. is short for Teenage Awards Music International) was the very first live-concert movie of the rock era. And, believe me, this long-unavailable, landmark film is a real groovy treat for any ardent fan of early pop music.Featuring a bevy of over-zealous go-go dancers and hysterically screaming fans, The T.A.M.I. Show proficiently showcased the budding talent of early-1960's pop music sensations from both sides of the Atlantic.Filmed in b&w, at Santa Monica's Civic Auditorium (a 3000-seat venue), The T.A.M.I. Show's biggest highlights were The Beach Boys (performing "Surfer Girl"), The Supremes (performing "Baby Love"), and The Rolling Stones (performing "Time Is On My Side").Directed by Steve Binder - This 2-hour music extravaganza also featured the singing talents of James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Lesley Gore, to name but a few of the 14+ performers.
Just watched on my DVR this edited version of The T.A.M.I. Show that aired on my PBS station, WLPB, a few weeks ago. Whenever a pledge break interrupted the program, Dean Torrance of the host duo of Jan & Dean provided many anecdotes of working with James Brown, and especially The Beach Boys. Despite some numbers and musical acts missing, I highly enjoyed this concert document of the big Top 40 stars of the time which, besides the ones I've already mentioned, included Chuck Berry, who was awesome as he segued from his version of "Maybelline" to that of Gerry & the Pacemakers who then performed "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying". Also nice to see Marvin Gaye performing "Can I Get a Witness" and The Miracles doing "You Really Got a Hold on Me". How about The Supremes' number of "Baby Love" with a really large closeup of lead singer Diana Ross? (Or was it "Where Did Our Love Go?" My mind is a bit scrambled concerning that one.) Or Lesley Gore combining "It's My Party" with its sequel song "Judy's Turn to Cry"? How cool was it seeing the hosts singing their surf hit "Little Old Lady from Pasedena" before introducing The Beach Boys as they went from "Surfin' USA" to "Surfer Girl" to "I Get Around" to "Dance, Dance, Dance"? The final two acts, though, really stole the show with James Brown doing what would become his legendary jumps and having a cape put on him before shaking it off seconds later and then, having Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones closing out with many blues songs with "Time Is on My Side" really getting the audiences' attention as evidenced by the camera showing a mostly white teenage female audience really screaming their heads off as they did during most of the show! Oh, and Mick and James really were impressive with their jumping here. I think I've said enough though I'd also like to mention that Toni Basil, best known for her video of "Hey, Mickey", is the assistant choreographer here and many of the moves done by the mostly female dancers look like something she'd have done at the time. Anyway, watching this for the first time on the public station really makes me want to watch the rest of it on DVD so if I ever get my hands on that, I may add some comments. So on that note, The T.A.M.I Show definitely comes highly recommended.
I first encountered this gem sometime back in the early 80's,when it was screened as part of a rock & roll film/dance party at one of my local art galleries. I was but a mere babe in arms when this film was first released. Long before Martin Scorsce filmed 'The Last Waltz',with The Band (which for it's time was the penultimate concert film,until Jonathan Demme's 'Stop Making Sense' a few short years later), The T.A.M.I. Show was packing 'em in the local cinemas,with The Rolling Stones,James Brown, Eric Burdon & The Animals,etc. This was originally shot on video for T.V.,but was rejected,due to it's length (rock & roll was kept between thirty to sixty minutes). Fortunately,the producers of this film/video did a re-edit & aimed it for cinemas. Anybody who is interested in the history of rock & roll should seek this one out (I still wonder to this day why there isn't a soundtrack record/CD to it that is available)
I'm going to my 40th high school reunion this year. Wouldn't it be great to have this showing on a big screen during the evening. I remember seeing it at a drive-in theater in Pensacola, Florida. Before too long we were all out of cars dancing on rooftops, hoods and on the ground. Keith Richards was so cool. Go-go dancers were dancing all around him and he was chewing gum acting as if he was oblivious to the whole thing. I had never seen James Brown before. His "Please, please, please" was unforgettable. The capes and the whole act with the band and all were more than I could asked for. And of course we were all in love with Leslie Gore. I wonder if she is the reason so many of my friends girls are named Leslie? The whole production was a statement of what music was all about in 1965. Will we ever see it again? Dick Clark, "Let us have it"