This is one of my favorites on Tattoo You. I love the interplay between Keith and Ronnie, Mick's singing, the harp playing by Mick, the slow funky style, and pretty much everything about it. This is a live version and is fine but the studio version is perfect.

Taylor was a great guitar player but rarely have I heard such chemistry between Keith and Ronnie. When you can't tell who is playing, then the Stones are cooking. I am surprised no one has mentioned this song. I would love to hear it at the next concert, maybe on the B-Stage.

one of the best latter-day blues tracks written by the Stones!
and it's Ronnies. :-)

I had to check, indeed Mick played harp on it. I thought it was Sugar Blue.

it worked great live and you need to check out Ronnie solo version.

Hats off to Ronnie not just for his weaving but his authorship as well.

My fave version is the rock 'n rollified one from Four Flicks.

JumpingKentFlash

On four flicks?
Which disc?

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

i like the album version best - and always loved the Hampton '81 too, but still studio version kicks balls

I thought Ronnie played harp on Black Limousine. Whoever played it, the harp playing on that song is TERRIBLE, some of the most inept harp playing ever released on a major label record! All high-end squeaks for no apparent purpose.

As a harp player of 37 years, I hear the harp playing on Black Limousine and think that it's no wonder people think a harmonica is a glorified kazoo. Urgh!

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Marhsall
On four flicks?
Which disc?

Disc 12. Don't you have the DeLuxe version?

I was thinking about Neighbours.
Fave version of Black Limo would be the b-side from Stripped.

JumpingKentFlash

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baxlap
I thought Ronnie played harp on Black Limousine. Whoever played it, the harp playing on that song is TERRIBLE, some of the most inept harp playing ever released on a major label record! All high-end squeaks for no apparent purpose.

As a harp player of 37 years, I hear the harp playing on Black Limousine and think that it's no wonder people think a harmonica is a glorified kazoo. Urgh!

whereas i think it's brilliant - fits the vibe of the song perfectly, imo. and assuming it's mick, you realize he's considered to be an expert harp player, stated by many musicians over time.

Damn deluxe versions!!! lol
Yeah, Agree Neighbors does catch a fire!

Black Limo is outstanding track!

How far does the track go back..didn't Mick write it about Marianne?

I still think they can write very top notch blues songs...

Black Limo

Down in the Hole

The Storm

Back of My Hand

Fancyman Blues

and those are "recent" ones!

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

There's no way that's Jagger on the harmonica on Black Limosine. That harp line sounds exactly like Wood's atrocious harp playing on the New Barbarians tour (I forget which song off the top of my head).

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baxlap
There's no way that's Jagger on the harmonica on Black Limosine. That harp line sounds exactly like Wood's atrocious harp playing on the New Barbarians tour (I forget which song off the top of my head).

The official site lists it as Mick:
[www.rollingstones.com]

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LeonidP

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baxlap
There's no way that's Jagger on the harmonica on Black Limosine. That harp line sounds exactly like Wood's atrocious harp playing on the New Barbarians tour (I forget which song off the top of my head).

The official site lists it as Mick:
[www.rollingstones.com]

That may explain why no one receives no instrumental credits on the actual album packaging. Then again, given the shoddy, inaccurate instrumental credits on the recent Exile, there's no reason to believe that any of the credits on the official website are entirely accurate. Some secretary must have typed in Jagger's name as the harp player by default because he/she/them/it didn't realize that any other living member of the Stones had ever played one.

I'm telling ya: check out the New Barbarians 5/5/79 show from Landover/Largo, MD and tell me Ron's harp playing on Love in Vain or whatever song it was doesn't sound like it's the same person who's playing on Black Limousine. It doesn't sound like any harp line that Jagger ever played. He had become far too good a harp player to be wallowing in that shite in 1979-80.

I'm certain that when the album first came out, I read in interview that Ronnie played harp on Black Limousine (which may explain why Jagger didn't play harp on it when they played it live in '81 and '82).

all due respect to a player, baxlap, but I like the harmonica on this cut--the high pitch brings out the ghostliness of the lyrics. That and all the reverb (which may have been added to cover up weaknesses in the playing, but it's effective). The lyrics to this songs are actually pretty dark.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-11 07:31 by cc.

Great blues tune, perfect guitar work, Stones at their best!

Seattle, right?

Everything is great about this track - except the harmonica.
I agree with baxlap that is sounds terrible, I always thought is was Ronnie too.

baxlap sorry but I also disagree. I am a harp player and love Mick's harp on BL! Simple, yet stylish and the high end fits well. I don't think it sound like Ronnie at all, but classic Mick high notes. More folk style that is a nice mix with the blues. Sounds good to me!

The lyrics are quite obviously about Mick and Bianca ...

I love that track, also the live versions I know. It's the Stones on their own field, rhythm and blues as hot and cooking as can be!

Agree with ya flimflam, a great tune. I think it would work well live on the next tour too....maybe with a legendary blues guest to extend the guitar parts. Any suggestions folks?

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baxlap
I thought Ronnie played harp on Black Limousine. Whoever played it, the harp playing on that song is TERRIBLE, some of the most inept harp playing ever released on a major label record! All high-end squeaks for no apparent purpose.

As a harp player of 37 years, I hear the harp playing on Black Limousine and think that it's no wonder people think a harmonica is a glorified kazoo. Urgh!

No respect for Sugar Blue ? I think his playing is great and very original , much more interesting than typical so-called blues playing.

yeah, but after all it's not him.
and Ronnie's a good harp player ;-)

Bad harp playing on Black Limousine?? IMO, it suits the song brilliantly. And it sure sounds like Mick playing. He has used than thin harp sound on other songs as well, Feel On Baby comes to mind.

Black Limousine is an amazing song. Really wonderful.

I always get the chills when I hear mick shout, "those dreams is gone, baby... they're LOCKED AWAY!! and never seeeeeeen."

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LeonidP

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baxlap
I thought Ronnie played harp on Black Limousine. Whoever played it, the harp playing on that song is TERRIBLE, some of the most inept harp playing ever released on a major label record! All high-end squeaks for no apparent purpose.

As a harp player of 37 years, I hear the harp playing on Black Limousine and think that it's no wonder people think a harmonica is a glorified kazoo. Urgh!

whereas i think it's brilliant - fits the vibe of the song perfectly, imo. and assuming it's mick, you realize he's considered to be an expert harp player, stated by many musicians over time.

he's a decent harp player - nothing more or less. and it's clearly him on limo, aping jimmy reed



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-11 20:05 by StonesTod.

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StonesTod

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LeonidP

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baxlap
I thought Ronnie played harp on Black Limousine. Whoever played it, the harp playing on that song is TERRIBLE, some of the most inept harp playing ever released on a major label record! All high-end squeaks for no apparent purpose.

As a harp player of 37 years, I hear the harp playing on Black Limousine and think that it's no wonder people think a harmonica is a glorified kazoo. Urgh!

whereas i think it's brilliant - fits the vibe of the song perfectly, imo. and assuming it's mick, you realize he's considered to be an expert harp player, stated by many musicians over time.

he's a decent harp player - nothing more or less. and it's clearly him on limo, aping jimmy reed

Perhaps ... I don't know enough to judge between harp players, but by stating that he's 'considered to be an expert harp player' I was talking about how he's judged by his peers.

For example:

[www.timeisonourside.com]

"He's one of the best harp players in the world. "

- Keith Richards, 2009

And I know I've read similar comments from a famous blues musician (can't remember if it was BB King, Bo Diddley or someone else, but it was in reference to Mick appearing on that particular artist's album) that stated that Mick plays harp as well as anyone.

well, he's not any world-class blues harp player - that's just folks being kind. brian jones was a much better player than mick. mick is serviceable within the context of what the stones do - much like his band-mates. that's not a criticism, either...and, it really applies to all the stones....

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Marhsall
Damn deluxe versions!!! lol
Yeah, Agree Neighbors does catch a fire!

Black Limo is outstanding track!

How far does the track go back..didn't Mick write it about Marianne?

I still think they can write very top notch blues songs...

Black Limo

Down in the Hole

The Storm

Back of My Hand

Fancyman Blues

and those are "recent" ones!

And now you can add I'm Not Signifying to the list!

Black Limo is a dreadfull copy of Muddy Waters, Now, look what you done, that was copied by Stones in the 60's as well...