its my fav stones song. its my fav song in the world..
it was written at his peak of his powers. i cant go a day without listening to it on various live shows.
its my desert Island disk. what's yours ??

I don't believe it's the best song in the world, but I love it.

it certainly is one of the best Stones songs.

the original is hard to beat.

the live versions are really different, but that's OK.

simple yet moving

love is just a kiss away
war is just a shot away

that's some philosophical shit

will never get bored of the studio version; like most people on here, I have never really cared for the live versions post '72

It's up there with RT, JJF and SFM, imo. What a row of songs!

when they play it live lately i love the way the guitars weave and build to a crescendo at the end. i think the gig they did at the Hague in 95' i think it was, was the best live version. but the original is a masterpiece. i don't think it can be topped. although they try to top that every time they play it..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-24 00:36 by keefriffhards.

Don't laugh but the Grand Funk Railroad played excellent version of GS in concert...

It was great to begin with, but when Merry Clayton added her vocals - damn. Quite possibly the greatest song in rock. It wasn't even a single, but it has really aged well. It is still used regularly in movies, television, games.

Like the best Stones' tracks - it just doesn't sound dated at all. Unlike other 60's music (ahem, Sgt Pepper . . . . ), the music doesn't conjure up images of the 60's, just images of danger, blood, sweat, dread, decay. Amazing.







Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-24 00:46 by drbryant.

I listen to several different GS daily. As usual the last one I listened to is always my favorite. I can always find some part of the song very moving. No matter how bad a recording may be.

I do love Gimme Shelter, but cant say its the best song in the world, but I would not argue against it.

Mad bull done lost its way...War children

Thanks.

Tim

I think Keith has written many better songs,
although Gimme Shelter is one of the best tracks The Rolling Stones ever recorded.
It's nothing sensational about it, if you think about chord structures etc.
Gimme Shelter is all about the dark sound, mood and atmosphere - and that incredible groove.
That isn't something you can write down, plan ahead or copy. That's why it's pure magic.
Everything clicked when they recorded this one.
It would have sounded different if they had recorded it any other day (or night, in this case).
Marry Clayton's contribution would perhaps never have been there.

It's got tension man...tension!!!!



ROCKMAN

Quote
dcba
Don't laugh but the Grand Funk Railroad played excellent version of GS in concert...

Too late... I did laugh.

It's my fav too

certainly not my favorite song, but a song I always admired.(some kind of explanation: the first statement is a matter of personal taste; the second a critical judgement)

Best song in the world? No. No song is, as it's subjective.
But surely among the greatest Stones tracks and a high-point in classic rock overall.

I agree with you that Gimme Shelter is the Stones'greatest work and the greatest single rock song in history, however subjective that is.

The legend is that the guitar work was created by Keith, layer by layer, in the studio as Mick filmed Performance, which included making love to Anita (in the film). The song was Keith's way of letting off steam.

Mick must have done the lyrics, though, no?

Maybe not the best song in the world but along with You Can't Always Get What You Want, quite possibly the best opening and closing of a album ever. Both of them goose bump recordings.

Gimme Shelter is a classic no doubt. A song that has stood the test of time. Keith has written some beautiful songs.

yes, of course. this is why we are all here, isn't it?

Quite simply one of the greatest songs ever.

Nate



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-24 02:29 by Nate.

This song got it all ...as Rockman mentioned ....it's the tension ....nothing will beat this one.........................

GS

Please don't show this one to your kids..................

__________________________

Not the best in the world but possibly Keith's finest work. Noting beats the original which as drbryant points out has aged remarkably well. I've never tired of the original and that's amazing considering how much I've heard it.

But..the tremelo was an important part of that intro, sadly missing from live renditions. For me, when they perform it these days, it's missing so many of the elements that truly made it great that I would prefer they replaced it...plenty of other great stuff to choose from.

Love that....I thought for a while it would make a great encore/last song - best rock song ever...I dunno about that but definitely in the top something or other......

Sympathy for the Devil is also pretty good.

I love the intro - both the haunting guitar notes and Jagger's vocal. Then the crashing guitar chords. Really sets the mood.

Pretty darn close!

One of their best, masterpiece. But we should also credit miller jagger and clayton. Keiths guitars are among the best ever, by anyone. The solo is amazing. Simple bb king/berry but with a keithy touch and tone. Sublime.

Took me a while to get it (first heard it as a kid on Rolled Gold) but yeah it's got it all even now, so when it first came out and rock'n'roll still "meant" something...

As a side note it's great to see Keith playing it well again these days after the shambolic versions of 2012/2013 and even 2014. Not at the level of 97 of course but as close as we'll get and we don't take it for granted anymore that he can nail it with his eyes closed.

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IORR Links : Essential Studio Outtakes CDs : Audio - History of Rarest Outtakes : Audio

they have chosen to leave out the harmonica, in all versions after the original.

that harmonica is ace, in the original..

(to quote another IORRian )

Keith conjured up Under My Thumb when he came up with the seductive splash of white voodoo on the intro.

I am not sure if he wrote all the lyrics.

play the guitar boy