What do you think of Moonlight Mile live? It's too bad they didn't play it back closer to when it come out in 1971 with Mick Taylor. It's also a really hard song for Mick to sing.

Great song but not a live song for '71

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I have a version from about 1997 I think. I would love to hear them do it again some day.

I don't think it really works live.

Yeah several of the versions I heard Mick really struggled to start the song in tune. Got better, but then the cheesy keys at the end trying to replicate the strings didn't work too well.

They could have done it on the 71 UK tour for example when they played the marquee. replace the string parts with keith and have Taylor do a gorgeous, subtle and tasteful solo on an extended outro. Mick maybe can't sing it now or couldnt ten years ago, but maybe back then.

I thought - to my surprise - that it worked well on the No Security Tour.

I liked it on the No Security tour - I have a couple of takes, Mick struggled early becasue I think he had the flu.

MLM is one of the songs in my day-dream fantasy show. It's a completely different show than the formula that the band has used over the decades. In any event, it is one of three songs that quietly ends with an almost fade out effect. I hear Jagger on the harmonica at the end, but cannot figure exactly what it sounds like. Needless to say, Taylor's on stage. And the venue is not a stadium where subtlety is less appreciated.

Beautiful beautiful song. Doesn't work live. But the recorded version is a gem.

A big part of the majesty of MM and Sway was Taylor's parts. Take that away from the live renditions and we are missing too many essential components. I was thrilled that they attempted MM, though, and give them an "A" for effort...Some songs are perfect studio creations that don't benefit from being played live, and that's totally ok.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-20 23:03 by 71Tele.

Absolutely perfect song. Would really love to hear it live!!

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71Tele
A big part of the majesty of MM and Sway was Taylor's parts. Take that away from the live renditions and we are missing too many essential components. I was thrilled that they attempted MM, though, and give them an "A" for effort...Some songs are perfect studio creations that don't benefit from being played live, and that's totally ok.

Tele, I don't take anything away from Mick T, but as with Sway, I find the vocals on the live versions are a bigger problem than the guitars-- on Sticky Fingers, both Sway and Moonlight Mile build to a pretty high level of emotional intensity, and the saving-the-voice vocal stylings (which I understand are probably necessary to protect the ability to sing in subsequent shows) just don't work. On balance, I think Mick is still functioning at a high level, but we do find him backing down from straining, which leaves him unable to convey the emotional engagement he did on the studio tracks.

one of their best...

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texas fan

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71Tele
A big part of the majesty of MM and Sway was Taylor's parts. Take that away from the live renditions and we are missing too many essential components. I was thrilled that they attempted MM, though, and give them an "A" for effort...Some songs are perfect studio creations that don't benefit from being played live, and that's totally ok.

Tele, I don't take anything away from Mick T, but as with Sway, I find the vocals on the live versions are a bigger problem than the guitars-- on Sticky Fingers, both Sway and Moonlight Mile build to a pretty high level of emotional intensity, and the saving-the-voice vocal stylings (which I understand are probably necessary to protect the ability to sing in subsequent shows) just don't work. On balance, I think Mick is still functioning at a high level, but we do find him backing down from straining, which leaves him unable to convey the emotional engagement he did on the studio tracks.

You're absolutely the right. The fact that Mick can no longer push himself to those vocal heights taskes much away from the potential of those two songs.

I think the live vers. is cool from bridges, but they could have done better if they would have played it on an earlier tour i feel.

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

I'm having flash backs just thinking about that tune. Really great song.