Lots of sidepeople who have appeared with the Rolling Stones both in the studio and onstage, everyone from Gene Pitney to "Amyl Nitrate." Of those, who made the most valuable contributions?

I'd go with Nicky Hopkins. His piano lines brought an elegance to their work and generally elevated everything on which he appeared. Chuck Leavell WISHES he were Nicky Hopkins.

nicky hopkins +1

NICKY HOPKINS!! Hands down!! He was essential in so many tracks, and played on over 50 song's!!

btw Hopkin's and Leavell shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath!

2nd I'd say Bobby Key's

"Well my heavy throbbers itchin' just to lay a solid rhythm down"

nicky hopkins

OK, other than Nicky Hopkins and Bobby Keys, who? Some of the cameos have been exquisite: Sonny Rollins's sax on two tracks on Tattoo You, Ry Cooder on "Sister Morphine" and "Love in Vain;" Ian McLagan on "Miss You," Bill Plummer's upright bass on a few tracks on Exile, a few Billy Preston contributions (e.g., "Shine a Light," before 1975 he became too much a part of the proceedings), etc. Any love for anyone in the latter day expanded lineup?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-03-15 01:37 by baxlap.

The expanded lineup of post 89 is not in the creative department. They are there to enhance the live sound; in the studio for convenience sake. Nothing against Bernard, Lisa and Blondie - all good in their own right, and in their own setting probably most creative. But they, and most of the horns are on stage so the synth banks don't have to be.
Up until Leavell the Stones have always done well with the keyboard men.
It is just another one of the ingredients on Exile that went totally right - the side people, added session musicians. From Clydie King and Vanetta Fields to Bill Plummer, Dr John; they all fit perfectly.
I always liked Jim Price. Didn't he write the horn charts?

Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys & Jimmy Miller. Can't choose.

Thanks Blue Ranger

My list...............

Jimmy Miller
Bobby Keys/Nicky Hopkins
Ian Stewart

__________________________

Blondie Chaplin

don't think of stu as a sideman, he was a stone.

gimme nicky and billy p, who gets bashed way too much. he added a "fab" element to the act....

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Blueranger
Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys & Jimmy Miller. Can't choose.

i like your list but mine would cross out bobby and insert jack 'nitchse' (truly sorry for the abominable spelling i should know better but can't remember...)
his piano and production savvy really helped the stones enormously when they started to record here in states...

Jack Nitzsche ........ Yeah and was the brains behind Phil.....



ROCKMAN

Bileeboy it does't matter it's Jack Nitzsche

__________________________

Ian Stewart
Nicky Hopkins
Jimmy Miller
Bobby Keys
Jack Nitzsce
Jim Price
Jim Horn
Bill Plummer

Billy Preston
Pascal
Rebop
Sugar Blue

Those more recent people all rank below, IMO.

In terms of most valuable - Chuck wins easily. He has far more input than any of the earlier session players ever had.

Nicky Hopkins

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Richard from Canada
In terms of most valuable - Chuck wins easily. He has far more input than any of the earlier session players ever had.

I thought by "value" it meant musical value. Having lots of "input" can be good or bad. Billy Preston had a lot of "input" on "Melody". Not sure if that made it "valuable".

Keith Richards
...he once said himself that he was just a sideman for Mick

Max Romeo
Bobby Womack
...........
...............
Among others

Ian Stu + N. Hopkins + B. Keys............these are the most valuables and constant RS side person

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StonesTod
don't think of stu as a sideman, he was a stone.

Agreed 100%. So that being said - I vote for Nicky.

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

Jimmy Miller
Nicky Hopkins
Anita Pallenburg (yeah a chick!)

The Jew, Wasp, and Moroccan on Some Girls

Mick Taylor... ><

- Doxa

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Doxa
Mick Taylor... ><

- Doxa

damn i didn´t have the courage to write this ...

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whitem8
Jimmy Miller
Nicky Hopkins
Anita Pallenburg (yeah a chick!)

yeah!

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StonesTod
don't think of stu as a sideman, he was a stone.

gimme nicky and billy p, who gets bashed way too much. he added a "fab" element to the act....

i BOW to your superior intelect !

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The Greek

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StonesTod
don't think of stu as a sideman, he was a stone.

gimme nicky and billy p, who gets bashed way too much. he added a "fab" element to the act....

i BOW to your superior intelect !

don't stroke ST's ego - he don't need it. by "fab" he was prolly just referring to billy's stint as the "fab four's fifth."

Dave - the roadie

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T&A

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The Greek

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StonesTod
don't think of stu as a sideman, he was a stone.

gimme nicky and billy p, who gets bashed way too much. he added a "fab" element to the act....

i BOW to your superior intelect !

don't stroke ST's ego - he don't need it. by "fab" he was prolly just referring to billy's stint as the "fab four's fifth."

then how about your ego ?

Billy Preston all the way, especially for his organ work on "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile." Preston brought a truckload of soul to the Stones recordings he played on.

Yes, I know the old story about Keith Richards thinking that Preston overshadowed the band, but so what? He did great work and the band always needs overshadowing by great musicians to keep it in top form.

I hope, in time, that Ry Cooder will put aside whatever ill feelings he has toward the Stones and play with them again. His slide work on "Sister Morphine" turned a third-rate song into a masterpiece.