In the mid-60's, highschoolers were released early with free tickets to Teenage Awards Music International (TAMI) – a showcase of artists & culture teens were purported to be into at the time. A year later, the same was done for the Big TNT (Tune & Talent) show. Both got it right, to an extent.
Could this pair of music concerts from your library's collection of 232 be the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)? Sting on one of 'em: "James Brown on TAMI show / same tape I've had for years." When the World is Running Down, The Police. Sting turned to Brown's performance with good reason. Music's restorative. To the soul. What's more restorative than soul music? Who did soul better than the godfather? Did JB ever do it better than on 1964's TAMI show? Brown's 17:52 with His Famous Flames is enrapturing, expansive, extraordinary. Ignore the screaming fans (kids – this ain't "bug music!") as Brown erupts out-of-gate with stomper "Out of Sight," feet swiveling, then, easing into one of his best early ballads, "Prisoner of Love," smugly downshifts, showcasing the emotional wallop just as easily emoting under that pompadour. Screamle-mania flavors James' many breakdowns during "Please, Please, Please," his pantomime legendary. Shameless. Perfect. His vamp "PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE…" while running in place. Breaking down, SO HEARTSICK, led away in a robe; then, "fighting back" to a cathartic sped-up "Night Train" workout, alternating bounce splits, till, having filled everyone's soul-tank, superhumanly struts off, having delivered a performance he'd previously vowed impossible to follow. Rolling Stones do their best. Brian Jones' VOX Teardrop guitar. Mick dancing like James. He always has. Keef playing like Chuck Berry. Ditto. 1 Earlier on, Berry (rock's architect) commands "Johnny B. Goode," eyebrows raised in then-HD ("Electronovision") while go-go dancers (including future stars Toni Basil & Teri Garr) "go go...GO!" behind him. Also on TAMI! Marvin Gaye introduced by hosts Jan & Dean; caviar with potato chip appetizer, anyone? Smokey! Supremes! Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me!!" Indisputable GOAT studio band The Wrecking Crew backing the great Gore, most others. Notable exception: pre-Pet Sounds Beach Boys delivering an airtight set due to their ruthless manager-dad's exploitation, ironically, presenting sun 'n' fun in a way Jan & Dean palely imitated.
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Mick Jagger with James Brown backstage at the filming of the 1964 concert film "T.A.M.I. Show." Credit: Bob Bonis/2269 Productions, via Not Fade Away Gallery
Intended as sequel to TAMI, 1965's Big TNT (Tune & Talent) Show is a VERY fun watch, but a mixed bag. Scottish actor, musician, and star of the moment David McCallum hosts. Of the audience's 3000 freely-entering teens are Ron & Russell Mael (later of Sparks) and Frank Zappa. As society turns toward protests, a bit of folk rock replaces TAMI's electrifying beat & soul. Joan Baez and early Donovan figure heavily, especially Joan (also surreally duetting "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" with Phil Spector, who penned TNT's theme song.) Ike & Tina Turner encapsulate TAMI's sweet Supremes AND fiery JB in one incendiary package! "It's Gonna Work out Fine," preaches Tina on a blazing, boogie-down performance of their best songs. Handy homage to Brown AND TAMI, they then cover "Please, Please, Please!" Also good for the soul: performances by Byrds (Gene Clark still with 'em!), country music luminary/speed-freak Roger Miller's "Dang Me!," Ronettes, and especially Ray Charles and his Raelettes electrifying set! Brother Ray, perhaps the true architect of soul, gives them what they want with "Georgia on my Mind;" rewarding us soon with a blazing "What'd I Say!" Zappa looks SO Zappa in the crowd right before Ray starts a tune that swelled from improvisation at a set's end a few years back to become soul's most spirited, unsubtle rave-up about human coupling. Georgia and What: a true study in contrasts, and real indication of the high, low, and in between of TAMI & TNT, a thrilling watch certain to sustain any soul. Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T?) Depends on your P.O.V! There's a lot of that here: James, Ray, Byrds, Margie Hendrix (a stronger-voiced Raelette than Marilyn McCoo), the list goes on. Forget Woodstock, TAMI (and TNT to an extent) defines this generation's music, making Woodstock possible: pioneering music films, and modern music videos.2 TAMI's importance cannot be overstated and awaits discovery at your library!
~ posted by Alan J.
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