For entertainment value alone, which era of rock ‘n roll do you feel is most likely to deliver the goods? For instance, if I’m blindfolded and reach my hand into a bag of unmarked rock ‘n roll performances from a given era, the bag of early 1970s rock is likely to turn up a gem—strictly from an overall entertainment value, not necessarily a musical one—such as this 1971 performance by Atomic Rooster.

I get no musical satisfaction out of this clip, yet I’m happy as a clam to watch these prog-blooz hippies hunker down in their suede, fringe, and headbands and manufacture what are, to my ears, exciting tones, regardless of the music that emanates from those tones.

Musically, like so many geeks around here, I’m more easily satisfied by records from 1966 and 1967, but perhaps because some of the music I most love is from that period I get thrown for a loop when confronted with a random selection that offends my aesthetic sensibilities, like this:

Seriously, is there anything at all wrong with this video? Or is it utterly perfect? For my money, it’s flawless — from the drummer’s flaming sticks to the careful attention to costuming detail. (Notice that the only Gap member band without horizontal tinsel bands on his silver cowboy leggings is the ever-so-slightly portly keyboard player, who’s been fitted with vertical tinsel piping for a slimming effect. These things matter!)

Come on, admit it: this video can’t be beaten. It’s truly excellent.

HVB