Another great thing about this song is that it encapsulates why Exile is so epic and timeless. It's wonders never cease. It literally took me years to get this song, to hear it. The song always had, as you said Whitem, a mystical quality....it was an anomaly in the Stones catalogue.
But I had to 'grow up' to understand what Mick, to me, was singing about.
When you've never been in love, it doesn't make sense. But later, it was like....
'Ahh, I get it.'

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Mathijs
Thing is that Jimmy Miller has stated that they recorded this track, Loving Cup, Turd on the Run, Torn and Frayed and Just Wanna See His Face completely in LA, where taylor wasn't present.Mathijs

Where kind I find this quote from Miller?

Thanks!

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theanchorman

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Mathijs
Thing is that Jimmy Miller has stated that they recorded this track, Loving Cup, Turd on the Run, Torn and Frayed and Just Wanna See His Face completely in LA, where taylor wasn't present.Mathijs

Where kind I find this quote from Miller?

Thanks!

The great "Miller Quote Book" ...................thanks for asking theanchorman I'm curious too

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fabulous track; an Exile highlight. Jagger's singing is emotional and direct. the tone of the song is masterful. it's actually bitonal. the song is used to great effect in the film 'Beyond The Sea' (Bobby Darin story starring Kevin Spacey) at the point where Darin is having problems with his wife, Sandra Dee. i think its a fairly complex Stones song, which seems to exist in 2 keys; G and D; even though it only has 4 or 5 chords. the vibe is restless; chords rarely if ever stay put for an entire bar, before changing, giving that restless feel. Keith's aprgeggio's (as opposed to strumming) nail down that restlessness vibe, too. and I love that Leslie sound. but the real star here are Jagger's vocals, for me. i mean, the vocals are INCREDIBLE. a Jagger peak. you can actually FEEL his pain. when he comes out of the bridge you witness the song's bitonality; Jagger begins that part of the vocal on the A instead of the D. it's so subtle as to be masterful. a favorite Stones track.

Such an amazing song, can't add much to what's already been said ... one thing though, this seems to be the one track that no one can come on and bash for any reason! Looks to be universally loved!

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pinkfloydthebarber
fabulous track; an Exile highlight. Jagger's singing is emotional and direct. the tone of the song is masterful. it's actually bitonal. the song is used to great effect in the film 'Beyond The Sea' (Bobby Darin story starring Kevin Spacey) at the point where Darin is having problems with his wife, Sandra Dee. i think its a fairly complex Stones song, which seems to exist in 2 keys; G and D; even though it only has 4 or 5 chords. the vibe is restless; chords rarely if ever stay put for an entire bar, before changing, giving that restless feel. Keith's aprgeggio's (as opposed to strumming) nail down that restlessness vibe, too. and I love that Leslie sound. but the real star here are Jagger's vocals, for me. i mean, the vocals are INCREDIBLE. a Jagger peak. you can actually FEEL his pain. when he comes out of the bridge you witness the song's bitonality; Jagger begins that part of the vocal on the A instead of the D. it's so subtle as to be masterful. a favorite Stones track.

Great breakdown of the musical elements. The structure is so complex, like Keith was just meandering all over the place, looping in and out..... and yet, Jagger finds the heart of the song somehow.
The song has all kinds of peaks and valleys....


I love how he opens the song gently and then comes back in the second verse and wails,
'She delivers right on tiiiime...'
Its my friend's favorite Stones moment of all time.
I wish we could isolate Jagger's vocal - STP 72 comes close.

This is the best explanation I've ever seen of Mick and Keith's musical interplay - from Don Was:

"Normally the rhythm guitar player plays in the holes, where the singer isn’t singing. In their case, however, the rhythm guitar player is doing what the lead guitar player normally does, and he’s playing the melody that the singer is singing, simultaneously. However, there’s a little disparity in where they feel the phrasing. Mick is more or less a rhythmically straight, up-and-down singer. He’s in the grid, whereas Keith has a more languid approach. That’s how Keith sings, as well. The place where they clash—where it gets a little messy, and they don’t land on the melody at the same time—is what the Rolling Stones’ sound is all about. It’s not messy. Basically it’s a duet—a duet of the melody, by Keith and Mick. And if you don’t have that, you don’t have a Rolling Stones record."



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-14 18:31 by stupidguy2.

One of the best tracks of all time from this band. Another Jimmy Miller mixed masterpiece that remains a moving listening experience. One of MJ's best vocal efforts on a song that is a signature Stones number. This is knockout punch closer track where they really nail it. I still prefer the original vinyl sound at volume for the full effect. A+

One of their greatest recordings and certainly Jagger's greatest vocal performance. He brilliantly does what the lyrics suggest and completely let's himself loose with the most vulnerable and hearfelt performance of his entire career. Like all great Stones songs, every element of Let It Loose contributes to its overall effect. The ending of the song is postively ethereal, coming as it does after Jagger's plea to 'keep those tears hid out of sight.' Seldom has the complete despair that one can experience when losing a lover ever been captured as poignantly as was in this song. The backing gospel singers are used to great effect and show how good their instincts were for adding just the right touches. A true true masterpiece, Let It Loose is about as intimate as a song can possibly be.

A brilliant ending to side three and the perfect set-up for the opening of side four's All Down the Line.

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gimmelittledrink
One of their greatest recordings and certainly Jagger's greatest vocal performance. He brilliantly does what the lyrics suggest and completely let's himself loose with the most vulnerable and hearfelt performance of his entire career. Like all great Stones songs, every element of Let It Loose contributes to its overall effect. The ending of the song is postively ethereal, coming as it does after Jagger's plea to 'keep those tears hid out of sight.' Seldom has the complete despair that one can experience when losing a lover ever been captured as poignantly as was in this song. The backing gospel singers are used to great effect and show how good their instincts were for adding just the right touches. A true true masterpiece, Let It Loose is about as intimate as a song can possibly be.

A brilliant ending to side three and the perfect set-up for the opening of side four's All Down the Line.

And that last chord sequence....where Keith just puts the song to sleep - and one of the singers' voices hangs on at the end....Chills.
Although to me its about finding a lover, not losing one. This sounds like the beginning of something, or a plea for a beginning... not an ending....of finally letting yourself go, losing yourself in love.' Hence, the fear and insecurity.
'Let it all come down tonight...won't you let it.'
The song to me is uplifting, not sad and that's its dichotomy, its paradox.
Has anyone every done a cover of this song?



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-14 19:21 by stupidguy2.

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DandelionPowderman

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whitem8
Without a doubt one of the best songs on Exile. And one of Jagger's best vocal performances. In this song he sings from his heart in a way that belies his age, and sounds more like an elder sage of love, that has been haunted by his life. Just listen to his anguished plea "Oh, oh, oh yeah, yeah, in the bar you're getting drunk, oh yeah, yeah
I ain't in love, I ain't in luck, oh no, no, no". This is pure from his heart and is a culmination of years of schooling on the road, and his doctoral dissertation on the blues. Just those few anguished lines give you one of the purist and rare glimpse into who Mick is, or was as a man. The way he starts with a gurgling call then he uses his diaphragm to push his voice forward to a strong sustained plea of perfect pitch and harmony. Let it Loose is one of those songs that so deeply captivates you, that when it ends, those few seconds of secret hope that it will suddenly continue personifies its mystic power. Time and again I listen to Let it Loose and am awed by how perfectly the Stones had assimilated the American music they loved. Its murky swamp gospel groove starts so simple but draws and draws you in until you can feel the Spanish Moss ticking your face like the lingering memory of a lost love that hardened your heart with the realization you would never love like that again. Yet that same love is who you are with every day as if you are circling each other lost in your own memories of what it was like to feel each other souls and will never be touched like that again. Let it Loose is pure. It is epic in its pain and humanity. And it is truly an Exile.

I agree. However, the 2010 remaster sort of undresses Mick's performance a bit, imo. Something happened with the perfect "integrated into the music-vocal mix", and all of a sudden we hear technical things with Mick's singing which aren't that cool - separated from the music - which is exactly what's happening with these modern re-masterings.

So, as with a lot of the Stones's songs, it's the joint efforts that create the magic.

Right DP, the mix of this song deserves kudos as well. Had this song not been presented the right way, we could have ended up with a repetitive guitar figure going round and round, Jagger yelling his head off, a choir going "ooh ooh" all of the sudden, just a very busy mash.
As is it is a tour e force. Very dynamic. One of Jagger's best career vocal performances. So much better than "Following The River".
I have always thought that the mixing of Exile is genius ingredient. The mix of "Tumbling Dice" >? whew.

PS I agree that the remasterings, esp. of "Let it Loose" are not very good. The horns on LIL end up shrill and flat.

A strange song. It's overlooked and not thought of because it sits amongst the greateness of Exile. But it fits perfectly and grows in stature over time. It's beautiful, and as others have pointed out, there's a haunting quality to Jagger's vocals, a vulnerability that would soon be covered in a jaded shell.

Does anyone know how to play this song. I used to think it was an organ through a leslie...

epic...one of their best ever.

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stupidguy2
Does anyone know how to play this song. I used to think it was an organ through a leslie...

I play this song every day on my acoustic and it sounds as good whether played electric, acoustic, through a leslie...it's just a wonderful piece of music. It's actually fairly easy to play start with a D shape with a capo on the third fret - lots of hammer ons and double stops but not too tricky and with a bit of patience you'll have it nailed and it's beautiful to play. If I could type up the tab I would !

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crumbling_mice

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stupidguy2
Does anyone know how to play this song. I used to think it was an organ through a leslie...

I play this song every day on my acoustic and it sounds as good whether played electric, acoustic, through a leslie...it's just a wonderful piece of music. It's actually fairly easy to play start with a D shape with a capo on the third fret - lots of hammer ons and double stops but not too tricky and with a bit of patience you'll have it nailed and it's beautiful to play. If I could type up the tab I would !

I freind of mine learned it similarly....I get lost in the chorus and the verse because Keith doesn't follow any traditional form...he just plays, repeats, goes into the bridge part or whatever....its amazing that Jagger was able to find a melody. A perfect example of what Don Was suggested.
And I love playing that last chord sequence....

the apex song on the stones penultimate release. a sublime song of subtle genius.

This is the Stones song that brought me back into the fold. It was almost a SHOCK to hear it after 10 years or more hiatus...like "How the frock did I miss this one the first time around?" So many elements come together to make this one so sweet, and each one of them could have made the song spectacular on their own.

Firstly, the guitar motif is spectacular almost piano-esque and dreamy, circular, simple and perfect.

The vocals...damn Mick why don't you go back to singing like this? Just an amazing vocal performance by Sir Mick and reading Rene's track info I see one of the reasons why. The list of backup singers is staggering for a Stones song of that era and Mick was going to show them how it was done. He did.

I am forever grateful for the way he cuts loose at the end. I guess that's another reason, as a vocalist he's trying to get into character for the song and to Let it Loose is just the way he approached it.

Nicky Hopkins piano and mellotron playing is just beautiful. Very much the style and riff that has produced many hits ala Gladrags and Handbags, Mona Lisas and Mad Hatter's and a few more.

Listening to the outatkes on youtube of this tune were educational but nothing touches the released mix. Alot of time probably went into the mixing and editing for this song too, gotta give the engineers, Mick Jagger and J Miller a nod for that. Keith "I'm goin up to put Marlon to bed , lemme 'ere it when it's done then mates". Little things like slide guitar patched in for the build and layering of the instruments to the build.

I tried to do a version of it in my home studio but decided to take an approach which wouldn't even try to do what Mick did with the vocal, can't touch it. I've already posted it on this board but it is a tribute to my favorite band so here it is again.

Not sure what the tune is about, Letting it Loose; maybe crying, heavy emoting grief, one of those scary emotions that takes prompting to get out of most men.

Hey thanks Green Lady I just saw you included it in the index to Rene's Track talk thread. I didn't need to post it here too. BUt it does get better after a couple listens, but more as a parking lot warm up in context with the original. lol That was very kindly of you my dear. peace







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-14 22:50 by Naturalust.

Great version NL. I keep meaning to record a version of it but as I can't sing, it would be seriously an instrumental. Nice tribute.

thx, cmice...I'm sure yours would be great as such, as pointed out by folks like Green Lady , how she loved the instrumental versions from the Exile era. Go for it, it'll recharge you. What is a better tribute to the Rolling Stones? Better than a whole lotta words ...I'd love to hear it. Thanks in advance His Majesty! peace



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-15 00:48 by Naturalust.

Naturalust! That's a mighty fine cover of Let It Loose!

I'm floored by the quality of the posts in this thread; it makes me proud to be a Stones fan to read these!

I'm also noticing that I'm the only one (so far, at least) who does not adore this track. My loss, I suppose; I blame my maker.

Drew

Haunting, riveting, masterful melodic-melancholia...a great song.

I remember when Exile came out - lying in my room with my girlfriend smokin - listening to this track again and again. Loved it.
Still do . .

I still do remember lying with my smokin' girlfriend , again and again, listening to Exile, then I came out. (sorry couldn't resist) peace

1) I'd always assumed it was Mick Taylor on the Leslie guitar. Was so pleasantly surprised to find it was Keith. Definitely one of his greatest performances and compositions. It's over five minutes of brilliant guitar and not a single power chord or hint of a solo, just variations on the arpeggiated riff, these wonderful fills and one of the best closing riffs by anyone.

2) Maybe Mick Jagger's greatest performance. "Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger, some face I'll never see no more" is taken straight from the traditional country song Man of Constant Sorrow. Just shows how totally steeped they both were in American music. I mean, they were scholars. And Jagger just delivers the performance of his life; the part that starts with "in the bar you're getting drunk" is by far my favorite Stones lyric to sing along with in the car at full volume.

Who plays the slide guitar on the instrumental?

Keith's backing vocals on this are killer too.
He's just screaming at the end of one of those "hide the switch and shut the light" lines towards the end...

Beautiful version Naturalist. I wasn't able to listen to it at work due to an audio problem, but listening to it at home. Love what sounds like a mandolin...and it has a mournful, sadly beautiful sort of rustic country tinge to it, like a Paul Westerberg ballad.
Sounds like you're not trying to sound like the Stones, just doing the song justice. Excellent.

Naturalist. Wow. I am in awe with your version of it. Fantastic. Is that you singing? Very soulful voice with lots of character. Nice backing vocals too. This is very well done! Thanks for sharing.

Sublime song indeed, but it took a while for me to appreciate it. I didn't come to grips with it until I was maybe in my mid-20s. I bought Exile when I was 12-13 years old. Kind of a sophisticated song for a kid that age to get into. Loving Cup and Shine Light were the same way; I didn't appreciate them till much later. I think that's true for a lot of songs, Stones or anybody else.

yeah stupidguy2 and whitem8 it's me singing and playing a mandolin on the high string parts you hear. Pretty much just playing the leslie guitar part that Keith plays on the original as a foundation. . Of course I didn't try to touch the whole letting it loose part that Mick vocalizes at the end of it, who could?

Cool story about the tune for me, I got a personal email from Chuck friggin Leavell saying he very much liked the version, especially the mandolin part. Said he has been trying to learn the instrument in his spare time. I'm still high from that, what a superb man to take the time out to make my day in that way. Whoo Hoo!! Thanks for listening. Check out the Dead Flowers cover I did, you may like it too. peace