I was watching/listening to Ladies and Gentlemen the Rolling Stones last night, and I heard two guitars playing the intro to Sweet Virginia. I could see Keith playing his part, but Mick Taylor's hands and fingers weren't moving. No one was shown playing it, which was the more complex, fingering part, as Keith strummed along. Was it pre-recorded? If not, who among the other musicians would have done that part, live? Or did they dub it in later to the film soundtrack?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-05-05 06:17 by 24FPS.

That's because Taylor is so good he can play without moving his hands or fingers.

That has baffled me for a while as well. Taylor plays it, and it's beautiful. The pictures are mixed from different shows, though, so it's probably just bad editing.

The performance of L&G is great. Unfortunately the camera was on Mick Jagger's backside for 75% of the film, so you can rarely see what the Stones are playing. I would love to have all the raw footage and re-edit this.

The guitar part in question definitely sounds like the actual studio recording version from Exile, but Taylor's hands and fingers do nothing as its being played, although Keith is doing his part. (Or at least miming it). I'm beginning to think they added it later in post. It's so obvious though. And why wouldn't Mick Taylor play his part live? It's not that incredibly complex. Did someone else play it on the record?

I just went back and watched it again. There's nothing live sounding about it until Jagger starts to sing. Very odd. I wonder what the actual audience heard? Could they have played a tape, live? That seems so unlikely. But what would be the explanation for one guitarist playing (Keith), while the other one sits (Taylor) there, doing nothing? It's definitely a two guitar job.

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24FPS
The guitar part in question definitely sounds like the actual studio recording version from Exile, but Taylor's hands and fingers do nothing as its being played, although Keith is doing his part. (Or at least miming it). I'm beginning to think they added it later in post. It's so obvious though. And why wouldn't Mick Taylor play his part live? It's not that incredibly complex. Did someone else play it on the record?

I just went back and watched it again. There's nothing live sounding about it until Jagger starts to sing. Very odd. I wonder what the actual audience heard? Could they have played a tape, live? That seems so unlikely. But what would be the explanation for one guitarist playing (Keith), while the other one sits (Taylor) there, doing nothing? It's definitely a two guitar job.

My guess is that it had something to do with the fact that acoustics were difficult to get right in a live setting in those days. The mix on them might not have been strong enough from the performance.

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71Tele

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24FPS
The guitar part in question definitely sounds like the actual studio recording version from Exile, but Taylor's hands and fingers do nothing as its being played, although Keith is doing his part. (Or at least miming it). I'm beginning to think they added it later in post. It's so obvious though. And why wouldn't Mick Taylor play his part live? It's not that incredibly complex. Did someone else play it on the record?

I just went back and watched it again. There's nothing live sounding about it until Jagger starts to sing. Very odd. I wonder what the actual audience heard? Could they have played a tape, live? That seems so unlikely. But what would be the explanation for one guitarist playing (Keith), while the other one sits (Taylor) there, doing nothing? It's definitely a two guitar job.

My guess is that it had something to do with the fact that acoustics were difficult to get right in a live setting in those days. The mix on them might not have been strong enough from the performance.

That's possible, though they did do Prodigal Son in '69, and the acoustics would have been the same, or worse. From the video all you would have heard in the arena was Keith's part, since Mick Taylor did nothing. Which makes me suspicious that either Taylor didn't do the studio version and they actually piped it into the arena, or/and it only had Keith playing and it sounded too thin on the soundtrack.

Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic? I never think of his acoustic fingering, and in the Sweet Virginia video they never show Taylor again after the intro. (Where he doesn't play).

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24FPS

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71Tele

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24FPS
The guitar part in question definitely sounds like the actual studio recording version from Exile, but Taylor's hands and fingers do nothing as its being played, although Keith is doing his part. (Or at least miming it). I'm beginning to think they added it later in post. It's so obvious though. And why wouldn't Mick Taylor play his part live? It's not that incredibly complex. Did someone else play it on the record?

I just went back and watched it again. There's nothing live sounding about it until Jagger starts to sing. Very odd. I wonder what the actual audience heard? Could they have played a tape, live? That seems so unlikely. But what would be the explanation for one guitarist playing (Keith), while the other one sits (Taylor) there, doing nothing? It's definitely a two guitar job.

My guess is that it had something to do with the fact that acoustics were difficult to get right in a live setting in those days. The mix on them might not have been strong enough from the performance.

That's possible, though they did do Prodigal Son in '69, and the acoustics would have been the same, or worse. From the video all you would have heard in the arena was Keith's part, since Mick Taylor did nothing. Which makes me suspicious that either Taylor didn't do the studio version and they actually piped it into the arena, or/and it only had Keith playing and it sounded too thin on the soundtrack.

Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic? I never think of his acoustic fingering, and in the Sweet Virginia video they never show Taylor again after the intro. (Where he doesn't play).

Yes, he is on acoustic on Wild Horses, Til The Next Goodbye and many others, and his solo album has some nice acoustic work. Maybe he forgot to play his line or (more likely) the mix of acoustics vs. the rest of the band wasn't very good. Prodigal Son did not have to compete with other instruments, other than a bit of Charlie.

L&G




Philadelphia




New York

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

Taylors part is NOT the same as the studio version.

My guess it was overdubbed for the film later.

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71Tele
The performance of L&G is great. Unfortunately the camera was on Mick Jagger's backside for 75% of the film, so you can rarely see what the Stones are playing. I would love to have all the raw footage and re-edit this.

Awwww, yeah! My only complaint about L&G--too much Jagger!

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MingSubu
L&G




Philadelphia




New York

From these comparisons it sounds like what people got live was Keith playing his part, while Taylor stayed silent. And that yes, they dubbed in the second guitar part for the film soundtrack.

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

It's the same poor mix as 'Happy' where the soundtrack voices don't fit the movie, bad editing

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24FPS
Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic? I never think of his acoustic fingering, and in the Sweet Virginia video they never show Taylor again after the intro. (Where he doesn't play).

It's not what he's known for, but yes, he is a fine acoustic player, as these relatively recent recordings from Kleermaker's YouTube channel demonstrate:

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

Why is it "pling plong"? Sounds great to me, and essential to the song.

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71Tele

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

Why is it "pling plong"? Sounds great to me, and essential to the song.

I agree totally! I was merely trying to explain which guitar Taylor played, in case he thought it was the other acoustic.

In fairness, it has a pingy sound

Have a listen to the rendition of SV in Vienna 1973 Sept. 1
It seems clear to me that Taylor is playing those 'fast' notes in the beginning of the song. They're at least very well audible.

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DandelionPowderman

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71Tele

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

Why is it "pling plong"? Sounds great to me, and essential to the song.

I agree totally! I was merely trying to explain which guitar Taylor played, in case he thought it was the other acoustic.

In fairness, it has a pingy sound

ok

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

"Hardly normal" is what makes it a great track, it is pure genius from engineers to composers, in fact I dare you to find a track anywhere that compares to Taylor's part and the way the guitars are mixed. I remember reading a fly on the wall account of SF and what stuck was this nashville part did not come easy and was constructed over many long hours. As with any musician Taylor can only play as well as the material provided so this was a perfect senario . In his tenure the songs were fantastic as was everything everyone contributed that's why we still love it today.

I read somewhere in an contemporary interview (Rolling Stone?) that during the 1972 tour Jagger never played the harmonica on Sweet Virginia live because it would have been too difficult for him so he mimed it to a tape. This coul dexplain why the intro was overdubbed.

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DoomandGloom

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

"Hardly normal" is what makes it a great track, it is pure genius from engineers to composers, in fact I dare you to find a track anywhere that compares to Taylor's part and the way the guitars are mixed. I remember reading a fly on the wall account of SF and what stuck was this nashville part did not come easy and was constructed over many long hours. As with any musician Taylor can only play as well as the material provided so this was a perfect senario . In his tenure the songs were fantastic as was everything everyone contributed that's why we still love it today.

Absolutely!

But it's hard to judge his acoustic abilities by that track, let's agree on that

Alabama on his first solo album shows some good acoustic playing, though.

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saltoftheearth
I read somewhere in an contemporary interview (Rolling Stone?) that during the 1972 tour Jagger never played the harmonica on Sweet Virginia live because it would have been too difficult for him so he mimed it to a tape. This coul dexplain why the intro was overdubbed.

Jagger always had played the harmonica part live.

Mathijs

No playback, of course, the harp sounds different everytime...

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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DandelionPowderman

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DoomandGloom

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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24FPS


Do we have instances of Taylor being really good on acoustic?

...Satisfaction live '50&Counting'!! >< (Sorry; I couldn't resist it.)

WH from SF

That's the "pling plong" Nashville-strummed guitar. It's great, but hardly a normal acoustic guitar track

"Hardly normal" is what makes it a great track, it is pure genius from engineers to composers, in fact I dare you to find a track anywhere that compares to Taylor's part and the way the guitars are mixed. I remember reading a fly on the wall account of SF and what stuck was this nashville part did not come easy and was constructed over many long hours. As with any musician Taylor can only play as well as the material provided so this was a perfect senario . In his tenure the songs were fantastic as was everything everyone contributed that's why we still love it today.

Absolutely!

But it's hard to judge his acoustic abilities by that track, let's agree on that

Alabama on his first solo album shows some good acoustic playing, though.

Didn't you listen to those acoustic videos Stonesburst posted up here? Some great acoustic playing by Taylor.

I have heard them all before, kleerie. Never doubted Taylor's acoustic skills - or his skills in general, for that matter.

My post was directed at Doom And Gloom, because of him using WH as an example of whether Taylor was a good acoustic player or not

I also like how bill sounds on this one. And charlie too. Its a group effort.

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Mathijs

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saltoftheearth
I read somewhere in an contemporary interview (Rolling Stone?) that during the 1972 tour Jagger never played the harmonica on Sweet Virginia live because it would have been too difficult for him so he mimed it to a tape. This coul dexplain why the intro was overdubbed.

Jagger always had played the harmonica part live.

Mathijs

Can anyone imagine the 1972 Stones being able to play to something pre-recorded?