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Doxa
Good Sunday everybody!
To salute the almost 51 years old band of ours, on-going tour and use the sources of our media here, I decided to have fun with something like this.
The deal is to find some peak Rolling Stones performances from each era. That is, to show that kind of live performances that are not just awesome but also peculiar to that era. Here is mine with some notes.
1. Brian Jones Era: "I'm Alright" from NME 1964 Concert
What is striking in this clip is the raw wilderness, the over-whelming energy and that five boys from London/Cheltenham conquering the world together. The sheer joy these guys are having together. The group feeling. Fresh and naive, but powerful. Jagger's non-controlled natural performance, as Keith's as well. Brian Jones's role is still integral to band, almost a second frontman. That the tune is a cover is peculiar to this era. The blues had a baby and they name it rock and roll. And the girls scream.
2. Mick Taylor Era: "All Down The Line" from Texas 1972.
The greatest rock and roll band in the world in the height of their peak no. 2 - they were challenged, and they showed all the "hard rock" bands of the era that the rock and roll stage is their reign. The signature Open G is there keeping that rhythmn down-down, while Taylor brings us unmatchable lead virtuosity with his masterful sharp use of slide. Jagger, the biggest rock star of the day, is, you know, moving like Jagger... Watts and Wyman, the straightest rhythm section of the world. The track is a typical (strong) rocker from greatest rock and roll album ever. There is no way rock and roll could sound and look better.
3. Ronnie Wood Era: "When the Whip Comes Down" from Hampton 1981.
The live peak era vol 3 - after showing everybody who is who by usual standards, the band has discovered a groove unmatchable to any rock band ever. The band is a living organ, always on the edge, but each guy reflecting what's going on, and taking his on share of responsibilities while trusting other's contribution. The golden moment of "ancient art of weaving", and Wyman's unique bass work taking freedoms not seen before - or since. Has a rock band ever sounded like a jazz band by their own means? And oh yeah, Jagger is still Jagger, now, while having biggest balls as ever, taking part to "three guitar attack". A typical (strong) rocker from their "come back" album, and probably their last huge album.
4. Vegas Era: "Gimme Shelter" from Amsterdam 1995.
After 1989 the band - on order to cope with the times - readjusted their sound, and learned a new professionalism in their doings (which also meant some of the old danger kicked out). This captures about the greatest moment when the new elements show their best side. The idea is to recapture the old magic of the original studio versions (of the songs released decades ago), and here it does. Wyman is gone, but the band is loaded with professional side musicians, such as Leavell, Fisher and Jones, who had a big role in the outcome here. But Keith the Pirate sounds majestic, and Peter Pan Jagger has found the secrets of eternal youth. Watts' role imagewise is bigger than ever. The result sounds simply stunning.
Comments? Own Suggestions?!
- Doxa
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Edward Twining
I love this live version of 'Little Red Rooster', possibly more than any of the other Stones live performances on the Ed Sullivan Show, and especially the later ones which were mimed aside from Jagger's live vocal. I think musically this version is extremely fresh sounding with Brian supplying that wonderfully effective slide guitar. Rumour has it that Brian's slide playing on the studio version was overdubbed after the rest of the Stones had finished their parts. However, for me, this live version is my favourite take on this song. The Stones could be really quite subtle when the mood took them, and this relatively uncommercial blues cover was quite a dare for them to release as a single, especially after their previous record 'Its All Over Now' had made the UK no1. The Stones early takes on the blues were rarely truly convincing, because the Stones could never find a way of quite making those songs their own, and standing outside the shadows of the more authentic sounding originals. 'Little Red Rooster', though, proved a wonderful exception, and earned them their second UK no1.
'19th Nervous Breakdown', is perhaps my favourite Stones single. It may not have such a strong riff as many of the other singles they released from this period, but i just love the raw energy of it. It still amazes me how the Stones managed to keep it all together, as it strikes me on several occasions that the song may be just about to veer out of control. I love the slight rockabilly rhythm and Mick and Keith singing in unison on parts of the chorus. I can recall Keith comparing the song to the Everly Brothers, and i think he was especially referring to those joint vocals, between him and Mick. Like 'Paint It Black', 'Mothers Little Helper' etc. i enjoy also the way the Stones reflected a little of what was happening around them too within the song's lyrics. They were a long long way from becoming cliched either, lyrically, or musically, despite a similar raw edge contained within many of their single releases. I love the clip contained in this link too, because there is a rare segment of the Stones performing the song on Top Of The Pops - and badly mimed at that i may add!!
Another one of my all time favourite Stones song. What i loved about the Stones from this period, and what made me such an enormous fan, was the diversity within their music. 'Lady Jane' in a sense was of its time, because the sixties was very much a period when so many of the artists were experimenting with different musical flavourings - almost nothing was off limits. I love the sitar on 'Paint It Black' the marimbas on 'Under My Thumb' and the harpsicord and dulcimer on this song. It's great the way Jagger embraces those olde England references, and how despite a more placid musical palate than many of the Stones more uptempo numbers, there is still that element of menace.