Simply put, The T.A.M.I. SHOW is one of the greatest rock concert films of all time. Criminally out of print for over 40 years, this wonderful concert FINALLY gets a legitimate release on DVD. Filmed in 1964 for theatrical release (old man Rick saw it in Muncie's Rivoli Theatre), and just eight months after the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan, The T.A.M.I. (Teenage Awards Music International) Show was conceived as a yearly awards show that would feature the finest performers from across the spectrum of rock and roll. Although this turned out to be the only T.A.M.I. show ever staged, it more than fulfilled its promise, with musicians spanning the gamut from garage rock to funk to soul to Motown to surf to girl groups to British Invasion to classic (fifties) rock. The performances were all live (no lip-syncing), with amazing go-go dancers strutting their stuff, and the musical arrangements were handled by Jack Nitzchke, right-hand man to Phil Spector at the time. After an introduction from hosts Jan and Dean, the movie opens appropriately enough with Chuck Berry. Although arguably past his prime, he is still wildly entertaining. Berry then alternates numbers with British Invasion stalwarts Gerry & The Pacemakers, doing their own material as well as, strangely enough, a Chuck Berry cover (which, of course, can't hold a candle to the man, himself). Then we have dynamite performances from Smokey Robinson, a smooth-as-silk Marvin Gaye, and the Supremes (a superlative version of Baby Love, among three others). The Beach Boys do their thing for four songs (a performance whose licensing rights were apparently a prime bone of contention in getting this DVD out), followed by Boston garage-rockers the Barbarians (with their one-handed drummer). Lesser performances are also on tap from Jan and Dean, as well as Lesley Gore and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas (lame, but managed by Beatles' man Brian Epstein). The highlights of the show, however, unquestionably unfold over the final two acts. James Brown and his Famous Flames comes on for four songs and, as is almost universally acknowledged, this is his finest performance ever captured on film. Let me say again: THIS IS JAMES BROWN'S FINEST FILMED PERFORMANCE!! Moving his legs like they were made out of Jell-o, falling to his knees while "pleading," being escorted off the stage and then "fighting" his way back on, Brown pulls out all the stops and drives the (mostly white) audience into hysterics (and the backing musicians also-watch as they literally stop playing and applaud the master!). So how can anybody follow this? Well, the Rolling Stones pull it off in all their VERY early glory. Mick Jagger, already known for his shimmying across stages, seemingly knew that such stage moves would look rather weak in comparison to what James Brown just put out. So, instead, he stands stark still throughout much of the performance, slowly smoldering and staring straight into the camera. A little leg twitch here, a bemused scowl there, a slow-motion shuffle from one side of the stage to the other, and an occasional "violent" kick or jump, this is unlike any other Stones performance on film, and it is one of their best. After watching these two ensembles, any rock and roll aficionado will be completely satisfied. So, if you haven't seen The T.A.M.I. Show before, or if all you have are poor quality bootlegs (me!), or if you're just into the sounds of the sixties, you must get this. My highest recommendation, 5 stars, 10 out of 10, however you want to put it, this ranks right at the top of filmed performances of the rock era.