Taylor wrote some good songs, like this one, but the production isn't very good, imo.

[youtu.be]

To make it as a solo artist/front man you need charisma, something he lacked completely.

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Big Al
The problem with Mick Taylor is that, if you strip away the Stones association, there really isn’t very much there, other than a very good guitarist; and there’s plenty of those to choose from. Aside from the obvious allure he presents to Stones fanatics, who else would pay to see him? I’d go as far as to say that, outside of the ‘classic rock’ circle, he’s relatively obscure. At least Jeff Beck had ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’

He was a great guitarist in his time with his Stones.

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Taylor1

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Big Al
The problem with Mick Taylor is that, if you strip away the Stones association, there really isn’t very much there, other than a very good guitarist; and there’s plenty of those to choose from. Aside from the obvious allure he presents to Stones fanatics, who else would pay to see him? I’d go as far as to say that, outside of the ‘classic rock’ circle, he’s relatively obscure. At least Jeff Beck had ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’

He was a great guitarist in his time with his Stones.

He absolutely was. I still remember, for the first time, listening to Get Yer Ya'Ya's Out, and being absolutely spellbound by his soloing on Sympathy For the Devil. A short while later, I heard Brussels Affair: suffice to say, the meltdown was complete.

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DandelionPowderman
Taylor wrote some good songs, like this one, but the production isn't very good, imo.

[youtu.be]

To make it as a solo artist/front man you need charisma, something he lacked completely.

Ah, I believe there is a digital electric piano and/or Rhodes all over this record played by the late great Max Middleton. Excellent playing and I agree an excellent tune. An older rocker I knew couldn’t get past the piano sound on this album.

There is a time and a place for a Rhodes and it’s usually hip-hop or R&B unless you overdrive it. Clean it can sound cheap when juxtaposed against more natural instrumentation.

I think Twisted Sister and Blind Willie McTell sounds fantastic. The opening track and Blue in the Morning are also great. Taylor’s guitar and tone are impeccable on this record.

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DandelionPowderman

To make it as a solo artist/front man you need charisma, something he lacked completely.

I'm afraid you're right. It's a mad business.
I only judge a musician/artist/frontman by my ears.

I think we are a bit to harsh on him now. The music genre which he was in, white blues and progressive blues/rock kind of vanished in the late 70s. Punk, reggae and further on, synth came in.
If he had been blessed with a couple of radio friendly pop/rock hits the outcome could have been different. But I don't think he had the fabric of a solo artist. He was more of a band guitarist.

Like almost all bands, its a perfect combination of certain people at the right time. Sometimes it is just one person and a bunch of randos, but usually its a group of people. The Stones were and have been like that, many times over. Mick, Keith, Brian, Charlie, Bill, Ian, Nicky, Taylor, Ronnie. Sure Mick and Keith wrote the songs, but you don't get what we got without everyone.

Sure, for monetary purposes Taylor could have done some different things post The Rolling Stones, but I'm not even really sure I'd want him to be a Frampton type, no knock to Frampton.

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan

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Mathijs
Taylor is incredibly talented, and he amazes me to this day, after 40 years of listening daily to his playing.

But he lacked one talent to become a successful star or name on his own: he lacked songwriting capabilities. If he had 2 or 3 'hit songs' he still would be touring the circuits.

Mathijs

I disagree.

His songs are fine. He doesn’t however have a unique singing voice to stand out. It’s decent, better than Keith and Ronnie’s—especially concerning pitch. It would be interesting to hear him before his septum issue.

Bu the world doesn't agree with your statement that his songs are fine: he didn't sell, not albums nor live gigs. He just doesn't have any interesting material. I do like Keith's and Ronnie's voice, but more importantly: they have written some great solo material over the years, that really stood their own. They played some Stones songs, but the main body of their live work was their own solo material.

Mathijs

I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever. They also have major labels and publishing pushing their work out there. Taylor had Columbia which didn’t even support a tour because he took too long. His fault, but apples to oranges comparison.

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Big Al
The problem with Mick Taylor is that, if you strip away the Stones association, there really isn’t very much there, other than a very good guitarist; and there’s plenty of those to choose from. Aside from the obvious allure he presents to Stones fanatics, who else would pay to see him? I’d go as far as to say that, outside of the ‘classic rock’ circle, he’s relatively obscure. At least Jeff Beck had ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’

Bluesbreakers, Bob Dylan, and guest appearances with Joan Jett, Dickey Betts, the Grateful Dead, Alvin Lee etc is more than enough to define a career. I mean cmon now.

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TravelinMan

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DandelionPowderman
Taylor wrote some good songs, like this one, but the production isn't very good, imo.

[youtu.be]

To make it as a solo artist/front man you need charisma, something he lacked completely.

Ah, I believe there is a digital electric piano and/or Rhodes all over this record played by the late great Max Middleton. Excellent playing and I agree an excellent tune. An older rocker I knew couldn’t get past the piano sound on this album.

There is a time and a place for a Rhodes and it’s usually hip-hop or R&B unless you overdrive it. Clean it can sound cheap when juxtaposed against more natural instrumentation.

I think Twisted Sister and Blind Willie McTell sounds fantastic. The opening track and Blue in the Morning are also great. Taylor’s guitar and tone are impeccable on this record.

IMHO "A Stones Throw" is arguably in the top 6 solo records of all Stones members along with Talk Is Cheap, Crosseyed Heart, I've Got My Own Album, Now Look and Gimme Some Neck. Great album. Taylor's main issue why he didnae become a bigger star is indeed his lack of charisma (though I find him proper Rock n Roll cool) along with minor backup from Columbia.

I wonder what he would have sounded like playing on an album of Paul McCartney in the 1970s .



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-07-24 02:21 by Taylor1.

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MadMax

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TravelinMan

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DandelionPowderman
Taylor wrote some good songs, like this one, but the production isn't very good, imo.

[youtu.be]

To make it as a solo artist/front man you need charisma, something he lacked completely.

Ah, I believe there is a digital electric piano and/or Rhodes all over this record played by the late great Max Middleton. Excellent playing and I agree an excellent tune. An older rocker I knew couldn’t get past the piano sound on this album.

There is a time and a place for a Rhodes and it’s usually hip-hop or R&B unless you overdrive it. Clean it can sound cheap when juxtaposed against more natural instrumentation.

I think Twisted Sister and Blind Willie McTell sounds fantastic. The opening track and Blue in the Morning are also great. Taylor’s guitar and tone are impeccable on this record.

IMHO "A Stones Throw" is arguably in the top 6 solo records of all Stones members along with Talk Is Cheap, Crosseyed Heart, I've Got My Own Album, Now Look and Gimme Some Neck. Great album. Taylor's main issue why he didnae become a bigger star is indeed his lack of charisma (though I find him proper Rock n Roll cool) along with minor backup from Columbia.

I agree, it’s a fantastic album. It was actually the first Taylor solo album I ever heard and I remember when it came out. Great memories. I heard he was awesome on that tour, but once again, no record company support to get it out there.

I read he has an entire album in the can from those sessions. I’d love for him to release it, even if it’s straight to streaming. It’s too bad he couldn’t get distribution through his old mates…

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TravelinMan

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MadMax

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TravelinMan

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DandelionPowderman
Taylor wrote some good songs, like this one, but the production isn't very good, imo.

[youtu.be]

To make it as a solo artist/front man you need charisma, something he lacked completely.

Ah, I believe there is a digital electric piano and/or Rhodes all over this record played by the late great Max Middleton. Excellent playing and I agree an excellent tune. An older rocker I knew couldn’t get past the piano sound on this album.

There is a time and a place for a Rhodes and it’s usually hip-hop or R&B unless you overdrive it. Clean it can sound cheap when juxtaposed against more natural instrumentation.

I think Twisted Sister and Blind Willie McTell sounds fantastic. The opening track and Blue in the Morning are also great. Taylor’s guitar and tone are impeccable on this record.

IMHO "A Stones Throw" is arguably in the top 6 solo records of all Stones members along with Talk Is Cheap, Crosseyed Heart, I've Got My Own Album, Now Look and Gimme Some Neck. Great album. Taylor's main issue why he didnae become a bigger star is indeed his lack of charisma (though I find him proper Rock n Roll cool) along with minor backup from Columbia.

I agree, it’s a fantastic album. It was actually the first Taylor solo album I ever heard and I remember when it came out. Great memories. I heard he was awesome on that tour, but once again, no record company support to get it out there.

I read he has an entire album in the can from those sessions. I’d love for him to release it, even if it’s straight to streaming. It’s too bad he couldn’t get distribution through his old mates…

I took my grandfather (his first and last Rock n Roll gig ever) to Mick's tour in the autumn of '99 and he (Taylor) was marvellous. He played among other stuff Stop Breaking Down, Hoochie Coochie Man and of course You Gotta Move. I bought the album soon after and it blew my mind. Never Fall In Love Again is genius and the Les Paul drenched Late At Night is the bollox as is the Jerry Williams cover of Here Comes The Rain. Sure the production could be better but it is an album I never grow tired of

It'd be amazing if he could get that canned record out!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-07-24 10:05 by MadMax.

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

Are there any Gimme Shelters or Tumbling Dices on those albums?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-07-24 12:16 by Taylor1.

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Taylor1

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

Are there any Gimme Shelters or Tumbling Dices on those albums?

No, of course not; but there's also nothing as ghastly as Back to Zero or Too Rude. All three of Keith's solo albums are solid efforts; not masterpieces by any means, but certainly solid efforts. I haven't listened to any of Ronnie's solo work, so cannot comment, there.

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Taylor1

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

Are there any Gimme Shelters or Tumbling Dices on those albums?

Are these on any of the Stones albums after 1973?

Keith's first has Make No Mistake, perhaps his finest soul ballad ever, challenged by the fantastic Hate It When You Leave or Lover's Plea. Or You Don't Move Me, with perhaps his best twin guitar approach outside the Stones, and one of his finest lead guitars ever. Struggle is one of his best open G riffs since Exile.

His singing on especially Talk is Cheap is great. If there is anything to moan about it is the placement in the mix of the the snare drum, and there's a few tracks on his solo work that remained jams and not fully worked out songs (It Means a Lot), or some are too lightweight and would have benefitted from a great hook, like Eileen.

Mathijs



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-07-25 12:50 by Mathijs.

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

Then have Jagger sing it. Keith’s last great vocal performance was Coming Down Again.


And no it’s no “ignorant”, it’s taste. I don’t like their voices. I’ve tried it. Not for me and if it wasn’t pushed by absolute record industry machines like the Stones camp, nobody would know about it.

I understand there is good music there, especially on Keith's records when the Stones were on hiatus. It's just not for me.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-07-24 15:58 by TravelinMan.

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Big Al

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Taylor1

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

Are there any Gimme Shelters or Tumbling Dices on those albums?

No, of course not; but there's also nothing as ghastly as Back to Zero or Too Rude. All three of Keith's solo albums are solid efforts; not masterpieces by any means, but certainly solid efforts. I haven't listened to any of Ronnie's solo work, so cannot comment, there.

Wow Al then you're in for a treat! His first three solo records are ace! Come To Realize is for me the best solo tune of all the Stones combined. Pure joy!

(And while you're at it, listen to Ian MacLagan's debut solo album, Little Troublemaker. I listen to it EVERY day on my way to the beach and then back for the night's partying. GREAT stuff! )



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025-07-24 17:41 by MadMax.

Is it true that Mick lives in the Netherlands these days? Does he do any interviews or similar anymore or is he just living quietly?

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Big Al

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Taylor1

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Mathijs

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TravelinMan


I honestly don’t know any of their solo work because I don’t find their vocals enjoyable whatsoever.

That's just really ignorant. Both of Keith's solo album have material on it that is on par with what he did with the Stones, even adding Memphis soul that the Stones never had.

Mathijs

Are there any Gimme Shelters or Tumbling Dices on those albums?

No, of course not; but there's also nothing as ghastly as Back to Zero or Too Rude. All three of Keith's solo albums are solid efforts; not masterpieces by any means, but certainly solid efforts. I haven't listened to any of Ronnie's solo work, so cannot comment, there.

i agree with you on keith's solo efforts in fact i'd put talk is cheap above every album they did after tattoo you

but you really should give ronnie's solo stuff a listen

at least i've got my own album to do which is very good

i'm mean it's got keith playing and singing all over it

plus mick jagger and mick taylor

Short but beautiful.

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TheflyingDutchman
Short but beautiful.

Yes, I've stumbled across this clip a few times; flawless soloing. He could undoubtedly still play extremely well back then.

Sure, but if you watch the whole clip (I don't think it's there anymore) you will notice that it's The Roots who sets things up for him.
His solo is nice, of course, but it's the arrangement that is brilliant. The Roots is a really good band.

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TheflyingDutchman
Short but beautiful.

Thanks, I remember watching this live. Such a wonderful time full if excitement with the reunion.

I was all set to go see them in Chicago, but I figured I would be able to catch them w/Taylor the next summer in Nashville instead. HUGE REGRET!

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Stoneage
Sure, but if you watch the whole clip (I don't think it's there anymore) you will notice that it's The Roots who sets things up for him.
His solo is nice, of course, but it's the arrangement that is brilliant. The Roots is a really good band.

Yeah the Roots is a good band, but the solo truly is fantastic. And it came as a surprise, as he hadn't played and sounded so good in 20 years or so.

Mathijs

Here the audio.Very soulful. The footage has gone..

The solo is great but the band during the solo is too busy for my taste.

[youtu.be]

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RobertJohnson
[youtu.be]

Thank you Sir. With John Mayall, Taylor felt "most at home".