The Big T.N.T. Show

Last updated
The Big T.N.T. Show
Genre Blues
Rock
Folk
Country
Directed by Larry Peerce
Starring David McCallum
Ray Charles
Petula Clark
The Lovin' Spoonful
Bo Diddley
Joan Baez
The Ronettes
Roger Miller
The Byrds
Donovan
Ike and Tina Turner
Country of origin United States
Production
Executive producers Samuel Z. Arkoff
James H. Nicholson
Henry G. Saperstein
Producer Phil Spector
Production locations Los Angeles, California, United States
CinematographyBob Boatman
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time93 minutes
Original release
ReleaseDecember 1965 (1965-12)
Related
The T.A.M.I Show

The Big T.N.T. Show is a 1965 concert film featuring performances by numerous popular rock and roll and R&B musicians from the United States and the United Kingdom. [1]

Contents

A sequel to the T.A.M.I. Show (1964), the film was directed by Larry Peerce and produced by Phil Spector. It was distributed by American International Pictures. [2]

Filming

The film was shot before a live audience at the Moulin Rouge club at 6230 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles on November 29 and November 30, 1965. [1]

The Big T.N.T. Show was aimed at the teenage demographic and featured 3,000 teenagers in the audience. [3] "T.N.T." was an acronym for Tune 'n' Talent. [2] The film was a follow-up to the T.A.M.I. Show, which was released a year prior. "T.A.M.I." was an acronym for "Teenage Awards Music International." [2]

The concert was shot on videotape and transferred to 35-millimeter film. [4] [5] Director Larry Peerce used four television cameras to record the performances. Record producer Phil Spector was the producer and musical director. [1]

According to executive producer Henry G. Saperstein, 140 minutes of footage was shot, [1] but the film was cut down to 90 minutes for the theatrical release. [6] Each of the acts performed their set three times. [1]

Its pre-release title was This Could Be the Night—The Big T.N.T Show. [7] The film's theme song, "This Could Be the Night", was written by Harry Nilsson, produced by Phil Spector, and performed by the Modern Folk Quartet. [8]

Notable appearances

During the opening sequence of audience shots, Ron Mael and Russell Mael, who would later form the band Sparks can be seen at 4:44 and Sky Saxon, singer and frontman for The Seeds can be seen at 5:21. Frank Zappa appears very briefly in the movie at 6:30 as an audience member and can also be seen in the movie's trailer. Marilyn McCoo of the Fifth Dimension also appears as one of the backing singers during Ray Charles' performance. [9]

Release and reception

The Big T.N.T Show premiered in theaters in late December 1965. [10] [11] [12] [13] A general release date was initially planned for January 26, 1966. [1]

UPI Hollywood columnist Vernon Scott wrote that the "film is aimed solely at kids who buy recoding of the performers in the cast. It's a musical orgy for pubescent swingers." [2]

List of performers

The Lovin' Spoonful performing on stage for The Big T.N.T Show. From left to right: Steve Boone, Zal Yanovsky, Joe Butler, John Sebastian. The Lovin' Spoonful.png
The Lovin' Spoonful performing on stage for The Big T.N.T Show. From left to right: Steve Boone, Zal Yanovsky, Joe Butler, John Sebastian.
The Byrds performing on stage for The Big T.N.T Show. From left to right: Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Michael Clarke, Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn. The Byrds.png
The Byrds performing on stage for The Big T.N.T Show. From left to right: Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Michael Clarke, Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn.

In order of appearance in the film:

ArtistSong Title
David McCallum "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (instrumental)
Ray Charles "What'd I Say"
Petula Clark "Downtown"
The Lovin' Spoonful "Do You Believe in Magic",
"You Didn't Have to Be So Nice"
Bo Diddley "Hey Bo Diddley"
"Bo Diddley"
Joan Baez "500 Miles"
"There but for Fortune"
Ray Charles (reprise)"Georgia on My Mind"
"Let the Good Times Roll"
Joan Baez (reprise)"You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
The Ronettes "Be My Baby"
"Shout"
Roger Miller "Dang Me"
"Engine Engine #9"
"King of the Road"
"England Swings"
The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)"
"The Bells of Rhymney"
"Mr. Tambourine Man"
Petula Clark (reprise)"You're the One"
"My Love"
Donovan "Universal Soldier"
"Summer Day Reflection Songs"
"Bert's Blues"
"Sweet Joy"
Ike & Tina Turner "Shake"
"A Fool In Love"
"It's Gonna Work Out Fine"
"Please, Please, Please"
"Goodbye, So Long"
"Tell the Truth"
David McCallum (reprise)"1-2-3" (instrumental)

Home video

Some footage from the concert film was reused in the film That Was Rock [5] a.k.a. The T.A.M.I. / T.N.T. Show (1984). [14] The Shout! Factory released it on DVD and Blu-ray in 2016. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Righteous Brothers</span> American singing duo

The Righteous Brothers are an American musical duo originally formed by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield but now comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group with Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Los Angeles area as part of a five-member group called the Paramours, and adopted the name The Righteous Brothers when they became a duo. Their most active recording period was in the 1960s and '70s, and, after several years inactive as a duo, Hatfield and Medley reunited in 1981 and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003. The music they performed is sometimes dubbed "blue-eyed soul".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ronettes</span> American girl group

The Ronettes were an American girl group from Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett, her older sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. They had sung together since they were teenagers, then known as "The Darling Sisters". Signed first by Colpix Records in 1961, they moved to Phil Spector's Philles Records in March 1963 and changed their name to "The Ronettes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike & Tina Turner</span> American musical duo

Ike & Tina Turner were an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists called the Ikettes. The Ike & Tina Turner Revue was regarded as "one of the most potent live acts on the R&B circuit."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darlene Love</span> American singer and actress (born 1941)

Darlene Wright, known professionally as Darlene Love, is an American singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group the Blossoms and she also recorded as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Hatfield</span> American singer (1940–2003)

Robert Lee Hatfield was an American singer. He and Bill Medley were the Righteous Brothers. He sang the tenor part for the duo, and sang solo on the group's 1965 recording of "Unchained Melody".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparks (band)</span> American rock and pop band

Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals) in Los Angeles. The duo is noted for their quirky approach to songwriting; their music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics—often about women, and sometimes containing literary or cinematic references—and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified by the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. Russell Mael has a distinctive wide-ranging voice, while Ron Mael plays keyboards in an intricate and rhythmic style. Their frequently changing styles and visual presentations have kept the band at the forefront of modern, artful pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Spector</span> American singer (1943–2022)

Veronica Yvette Greenfield was an American singer who co-founded and fronted the girl group the Ronettes. She is sometimes referred to as the original "bad girl of rock and roll".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Deep – Mountain High</span> 1966 single by Ike & Tina Turner

"River Deep – Mountain High" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released on Philles Records as the title track to their 1966 studio album. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Rolling Stone ranked "River Deep – Mountain High" No. 33 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. NME ranked it No. 37 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added it to the list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Medley</span> American singer (born 1940)

William Thomas Medley is an American singer best known as one-half of The Righteous Brothers. He is noted for his bass-baritone voice, exemplified in songs such as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". Medley produced a number of the duo's songs, including "Unchained Melody" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration".

<i>AC/DC: Let There Be Rock</i> 1980 AC/DC concert film

AC/DC: Let There Be Rock is a 1980 concert film featuring the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released theatrically in September 1980 and on videotape the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concert film</span> Audiovisual recording of a concert performance

A concert film or concert movie is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician or a stand-up comedian.

As an icon of counterculture and underground rock the American rock musician and composer Frank Zappa has been featured and referenced in various different media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern Folk Quartet</span> American folk music group

The Modern Folk Quartet was an American folk music revival group that formed in the early 1960s. Originally emphasizing acoustic instruments and group harmonies, they performed extensively and recorded two albums. In 1965, as the Modern Folk Quintet, they ventured into electric folk rock and recorded with producers Phil Spector and Jack Nitzsche. Although MFQ received a fair amount of exposure, their rock-oriented recordings failed to capture their sound or generate enough interest and they disbanded in 1966. Subsequently, MFQ re-formed several times and made further recordings.

<i>T.A.M.I. Show</i> 1964 American film

T.A.M.I. Show is a 1964 concert film released by American International Pictures. It includes performances by numerous popular rock and roll and R&B musicians from the United States and England. The concert was held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 28 and 29, 1964. Free tickets were distributed to local high school students. The acronym "T.A.M.I." was used inconsistently in the show's publicity to mean both "Teenage Awards Music International" and "Teen Age Music International".

Lawrence "Larry" Peerce is an American film and TV director whose work includes the theatrical feature Goodbye, Columbus (1969), the early rock and roll concert film The Big T.N.T. Show (1965), One Potato, Two Potato (1964), The Other Side of the Mountain (1975) and Two-Minute Warning (1976).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Spector</span> American record producer (1939–2021)

Harvey Phillip Spector was an American record producer and songwriter, best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed, decades later, by his two trials and conviction for murder in the 2000s. Spector developed the Wall of Sound, a production style that is characterized for its diffusion of tone colors and dense orchestral sound, which he described as a "Wagnerian" approach to rock and roll. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history and one of the most successful producers of the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Carroll Theatre (Los Angeles)</span> Former theater and TV studio in Hollywood, California

The Earl Carroll Theatre was a historic stage facility located at 6230 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built by showman Earl Carroll and designed in the Streamline Moderne style by architect Gordon Kaufmann in 1938. The theatre has been known by a number of names since, including Moulin Rouge from 1953 to 1964 and the Aquarius Theater in the 1960s and 1970s. From 1997 to 2017, it was officially known as Nickelodeon on Sunset, housing the West Coast production of live-action original series produced for the Nickelodeon cable channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Hoh</span> American drummer (1944–2015)

Edward Hoh was an American rock drummer who was active in the 1960s. Although primarily a studio session and touring drummer, Hoh exhibited a degree of originality and showmanship that set him apart and several of his contributions have been singled out for acknowledgment by music critics.

"This Could Be the Night" is a song recorded by the American band Modern Folk Quartet (MFQ) in 1965. The lyrics describe a couple on the verge of conquering their inhibitions. Written in tribute to the Beach Boys' leader Brian Wilson, the song is one of three that are credited jointly to Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector, although Nilsson submitted that he was the sole writer on a 1966 copyright form.

The TNT Boys is a Filipino boy band made up of three of the pre-to-early teen finalists of the 2017 television competition Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids. The members are Keifer Sanchez, Mackie Empuerto, and Francis Concepcion. In 2018, TNT Boys won as the grand winner in the second season of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids. TNT Boys are the first Filipino act to perform in the four franchises of the talent show Little Big Shots in the Philippines, United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scott, John. L (1965-12-01). "Performers Rock, Audience Roll at Pop-Folk Concert". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Part V 21. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Scott, Vernon (1965-12-05). "'Way Out' Move Set For Youths". Sunday Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. pp. E-5. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  3. "'Big TNT Show' Has Many Music Stars". Irving News Texan. December 30, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  4. "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 9 April 2019 via NYTimes.com.
  5. 1 2 Leonard Maltin's Film & Video Guide, multiple editions
  6. "The Bible in Rock 'n' Roll". The San Francisco Examiner. June 13, 1966. p. 23.
  7. Turner Classic Movies: "Notes for The Big T.N.T. Show (1966)"
  8. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p24606
  9. FZ Videography: The Big T.N.T. Show
  10. "Trail Drive-In Theater - Tonight at 7:00, 1st Run! VA. Premiere - The Big "TNT" Show (Advertisement)". Roanoke World-News. December 22, 1965. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  11. "The B-I-G "TNT" Show Starts Friday - Dec. 24 (Advertisement)". The Danville Register. December 22, 1965. pp. 4-D. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  12. "Now Playing at Hometown Theaters - The Big T.N.T. Show (Advertisement)". The Charlotte Observer. December 25, 1965. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  13. "The Big TNT Show - Gala New Year's Eve Big Midnight Show! - Lyric & Park-Vu (Advertisement)". Deseret News. December 30, 1965. pp. B3. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  14. FZ Videography: The T.A.M.I./T.N.T. Show (That Was Rock) (a.k.a. Born To Rock: The T.A.M.I./T.N.T. Show)
  15. "T.A.M.I. Show/The Big T.N.T. Show: Collector's Edition Blu-ray Review". Home Media Magazine. 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2023-11-18.