The great Stones songs that stand out were the ones with the great Jagger/Richards harmonies. It's time for a change in producers, that is, if there will be any new recordings in the future.

It's a sad reminder of how it should be, simple, basic, Keith and Ronnie backing Mick, jamming without extra fluff.
When I see Mick getting Keith and Ron to back up sing with him from the past it makes me wish for the past, but it will never come.
Keith backing Mick is the Stone's true sound to me anyway.

Oh well at least they are still rockin'!

That is such a sore spot here for the entire board; that that is probably the reason one never sees a thread about it. They actually sing together on ABB on a couple songs but it's not the same anymore. They might just both be part of a stack of BU vox.
I know what you're talking about: those beautiful passages of Jagger drawling in medium range and Keith with the high voice just adding his flavor and harmony whenever it feels right. Dead Flowers, Torn and Frayed, Casino Boogie, Sweet Black Angel, Loving Cup,You Gotta Move, Connection, Silver Train, Bye Bye Johnnyone of my favorite moments in any Stonessong at the end of the album "Got Live" during "Satisfaction" Jagger is repeating "I can't get no" at the end, thne there is a breakdown and some noise, the beat picks back up, you can hear the band getting it back in sync, Keith gets up to the mike and starts going "I cna't get no" in that high voice, then Jagger starts answering "Satisfaction" in between. Perfect!

"...no longer shall you trudge 'cross my peaceful mind."

I agree - these are the most fun Stones songs - I miss them

Yes. The best Who songs are the ones where Roger and Pete sing together, too.

Sorry to say:

Keith's heavy drinking / drug using ruined quite much of Stones music, amongst them Keith's singing ability and therefore also the harmonies

Keith's singing beautifully.
Keith's *and* Mick's singing voices have changed over the years, and sure, that might be part of why they do less harmonizing together.
if that's "ruining" the music for you, then (a) blame both of them; and (b) i sure am glad i don't have your ears.
(maybe you could try performing a four-part harmony with another vocalist, a pedal steel and a clarinet, and be sure to let us know how it comes out ...)


"What do you want - what?!"
- Keith

Some people here on the board think it is cool to drink and use drugs all their life, and that it doesn't affect your body and brain.....

Lot's of musicians have kept a beuatiful voice even if they have passed their 50'ies and 60'ies..... Keith hasn't.... Mick has, because he stopped in time....

I'm just realistic and true Stones fan, that admits Keiths's problems and how it has affected his musical abilities......

"maybe you could try performing a four-part harmony with another vocalist, a pedal steel and a clarinet, and be sure to let us know how it comes out ...)"

This last sentece comes out of nowhere.... makes no sense.....

It's obviously a struggle for Keith, but I personally still listen for and love it when Keith tried the high notes on 19th Nervous Breakdown, and The Last Time during the BTB tour. I also listen for and love it when he tries during performances of Dead Flowers and Wild Horses [the Dave Mathews version has nice Keith harmony, for example].

"make up your mind, 'cause I gotta go"

>> This last sentence comes out of nowhere ... makes no sense ... <<

smile: sure it makes sense, if you're listening. but that's okay.

country honk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry to say:
>
> Keith's heavy drinking / drug using ruined quite
> much of Stones music, amongst them Keith's singing
> ability and therefore also the harmonies


I'm just listening to This Place Is Empty + Infamy and reading your post is more than wrong!


BTW, chelsea - what on earth rode you to have that signature???

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> country honk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sorry to say:
> >
> > Keith's heavy drinking / drug using ruined
> quite
> > much of Stones music, amongst them Keith's
> singing
> > ability and therefore also the harmonies
>
>
> I'm just listening to This Place Is Empty + Infamy
> and reading your post is more than wrong!
>
Agreed....keith`s singing today is much better than it was in the past...but I am not a proff singer maybe I do not get it all...but sound, or better say voicewise keith is on TOP these days....

his voice is like wine:

the older...the better.

"Coming Down Again" was Keith in his prime. A GREAT song and hidden gem. I'd faint if I had a chance to hear it performed live.

Sweet Black Angel!

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> country honk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sorry to say:
> >
> > Keith's heavy drinking / drug using ruined
> quite
> > much of Stones music, amongst them Keith's
> singing
> > ability and therefore also the harmonies
>
>
> I'm just listening to This Place Is Empty + Infamy
> and reading your post is more than wrong!
>
>
> BTW, chelsea - what on earth rode you to have that
> signature???

Open-G,

I cannot follow you on this. Those 2 songs from Keith are the low times of ABB.
I do not foresee any inspiration at all. He seems to mimick himself. " Before they make me run ", "thru and Thru" and "Slipping away" were of another caliber, to my point of view.

Ruby Tuesday can sound pretty weak at times.

I would love to hear Keith singing w/Mick on Honky Tonk Women, but I agree that he probably can't pull it off any more.

I don't know where that discussion about "Keith sings better/worse than ever" can lead.

It's pretty obvious that Keith's voice has changed a lot since the day of the early seventies and the backing harmony vocals. He cannot reach the proper high pitch voice on "Casino Boogie", for example, anymore.

If you like his today's voice better or worse is what you are discussing here, but the fact that years of substance abuse have affected his capability of doing the high pitch voices on harmony vocals is beyond any kind of discussion, IMO.

[There'll be no wedding today...]

Yes I really miss it much to,And Keith doesnt do ''The Worst''alone anymore!Now it really is the worst and I hate to say it.

Ronnie have to help Keith out,with his hurten voice,this two together will form one Keith.

I am with you Chelsea Drugstore ,the ending on Satisfaction from "Got live.." is the essence of the Rolling Stones ,the essence of RnR.I have always liked this version with Mick hammering "satisfaction" like a frustrated kid while Keith keeps the song alive in repeating I can't get no on a high pitch note!.
With Hawai 66 version this is to me the best rendition of the song that I have ever heard.

phd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> open-g Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------

> > I'm just listening to This Place Is Empty +
> Infamy
> > and reading your post is more than wrong!

>
> Open-G,
>
> I cannot follow you on this. Those 2 songs from
> Keith are the low times of ABB.
> I do not foresee any inspiration at all. He seems
> to mimick himself. " Before they make me run ",
> "thru and Thru" and "Slipping away" were of
> another caliber, to my point of view.


Ok, those 2 songs aren't the best of Keith's renditions, but they still are sung in a goosebumpin' way - I like it. I was actually hearing them whilst reading this thread.
I would also rate the songs you mentioned higher, than those 2.

Like salar said:
>his voice is like wine:
the older...the better.

His voice is much deeper now with lots of overtones and he dosn't bark anymore like some live versions of Happy

I don't think they try very hard to write something the really like as well, despite of what they say. A new album is an exuse to tour again. There is where the big money is. I really like ABB but I think they can make many albums like that.

ChelseaDrugstore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That is such a sore spot here for the entire
> board; that that is probably the reason one never
> sees a thread about it. They actually sing
> together on ABB on a couple songs but it's not the
> same anymore. They might just both be part of a
> stack of BU vox.
> I know what you're talking about: those beautiful
> passages of Jagger drawling in medium range and
> Keith with the high voice just adding his flavor
> and harmony whenever it feels right. Dead Flowers,
> Torn and Frayed, Casino Boogie, Sweet Black Angel,
> Loving Cup,You Gotta Move, Connection, Silver
> Train, Bye Bye Johnnyone of my favorite moments in
> any Stonessong at the end of the album "Got Live"
> during "Satisfaction" Jagger is repeating "I can't
> get no" at the end, thne there is a breakdown and
> some noise, the beat picks back up, you can hear
> the band getting it back in sync, Keith gets up to
> the mike and starts going "I cna't get no" in
> that high voice, then Jagger starts answering
> "Satisfaction" in between. Perfect!
>
> "Wake me up before you go-go
> I'm not planning on goin solo
> Wake me up before you go-go
> Don't leave me hanging on like a Yo-Yo"


One more reason why nobody should ever knock Still Life or the '81 tour. That was the last time they went out without a small army of extra musicians. Mick and Keith are the singers.

The thing about Keith's voice is the same thing about him playing the guitar. Timing and heart. In my opinion, he still has it.

It really is sad. I think I started noticing this around the Voodoo Lounge tour.
At the time, I had just started noticing the when Keith used to do Happy, Mick was always right there, and they did it together. Now Keith's time is basically Mick's little break to catch his breath and change outfits.

I would so rather see him sit in one spot and not have to leave the stage at all. Something about his break always feels as though I am at a Broadway show, which is not Rock and Roll at all to me, like it's intermission. Aside from his presence being missed, it is also a reminder that the shows half over.

I love seeing them like this, just sharing a mike and getting into it.



It seems like they really liked each other, and now it just doesn't feel the same and makes me sad.

Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

Last great hamonies may where :
Blinded by love, Sweet hearts together and Blinded by rainbows...............
Perry

Yeah, but even those aren't like the old days. Those are ballad-like songs. I miss them singing the the harder rock songs together.

Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

country honk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry to say:
>
> Keith's heavy drinking / drug using ruined quite
> much of Stones music, amongst them Keith's singing
> ability and therefore also the harmonies

Well this seems partially true... not that Keith's boozing has screwed up his guitar, but certainly his voice, especially from the smoking ain't so great...

AND, secondly, that's what the back-up singers are for. Who needs keith when you have Lisa, etc.




"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

BornOnTheBayou Wrote:


AND, secondly, that's what the back-up singers are
for. Who needs keith when you have Lisa, etc.


I DO!!!! I just don't love her voice. I know she's got a GREAT voice, but it's almost too clean for me.


Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

CindyC, nice post above (with the photo). I think mick and keith's friendship may have been strained even while they sang together onstage, but it sure would be nice to see them do it again. And it is somewhat disconcerting when mick takes his mid-show hiatus.