Comments, input and alterations are very welcome!
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Wild Horses

Composers: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Recording date: 17th February 1970
Recording location: Olympic Sound Studios, London, England
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Chief engineers: Glyn Johns & Andy Johns
First released: Sticky Fingers (LP)
Release date: 23 April 1971 Rolling Stones Records COC 59100

__________________________________Wild Horses Sessions____________________________

4th December 1969:
Location: Florence, Alabama, Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Sound engineer: Jimmy Johnson.
- Wild Horses I (MJ/KR) -with Jim Dickinson on tack piano, given as demo to Gram Parsons

9th, 10th & 18th December 1969
Location: London, Olympic Sound Studios
Producer: Jimmy Miller.
Sound engineer: Glyn Johns.
- Wild Horses II (MJ/KR) -remixed version I, released on Hot Rocks (by mistake on 1st pressings only!)
- Wild Horses III (MJ/KR) -version II without piano
- Wild Horses IV (MJ/KR) -Acoustic Version; version II with different second guitar; Sticky Fingers Deluxe-version

17th February 1970:
Location: London, Olympic Sound Studios
Producer: Jimmy Miller.
Sound engineers: Glyn & Andy Johns
Final sessions for Wild Horses.
- Wild Horses VI (MJ/KR) -shortened; included in Gimme Shelter-movie
- Wild Horses VII (MJ/KR) -Billy Preston on organ
- Wild Horses VIII (MJ/KR) -Sticky Fingers-version
- Wild Horses IX (MJ/KR) -7" promo-edit

__________________________________Wild Horses Sessions_________________________

Line-up:
Lead vocal: Mick Jagger
Electric guitar: Keith Richards
12-string acoustic guitar: Keith Richards
Acoustic guitar (Nashville tuning): Mick Taylor
Bass: Bill Wyman
Drums: Charlie Watts
Background vocals: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Tack piano: Jim Dickinson
Percussion: Mick Jagger


Wild Horses

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady, you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away

I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let's do some living after we die

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday


Note: Info taken from TIOMS, NZentgraf and the WW-Internet



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2016-04-25 10:58 by NICOS.

It's a good song of course, but it never moved me much.

It was recorded in Muscle Shoals in 1969, surely (save the vocals and perhaps the electric guitar).

A stunning track. One of my definite favourites by the Stones. Mick, Keith and Charlie at their best, with nice contributions also from the rest of the band/session players.

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DandelionPowderman
It was recorded in Muscle Shoals in 1969, surely (save the vocals and perhaps the electric guitar).

A stunning track. One of my definite favourites by the Stones. Mick, Keith and Charlie at their best, with nice contributions also from the rest of the band/session players.

Stunning indeed. This is one of Keith’s finest moments on record. His plaintiff guitar on this track is even more affecting than Jagger’s strong vocal performance. That ‘high’ note just before the last refrain of Wild Horses continues to bring me joy.

Ha Ha one of the best songs ever written...absolutely on Stones Top 5 - list...

2 1 2 0

Simply one of the greatest songs the Stones ever wrote.

Wild Horses is an epic ballad, perhaps one of the greatest love songs of the 20th century. It's a song that transcends musical eras and styles as evidenced by that middle of the road version from the appalling Susan Boyle, that recently got in the UK top 10.

There are at least 4 versions in existence and while the original album version is truly magnificent is it the best? There's that wonderful 'pinched harmonics' version with supposedly Gram Parsons on it that is also wonderful.

And legend has it there are other versions in the can of Keith and Gram working on the song back in 69.

Mick, in 95, said it's not about Marianne but maybe time has blurred his memory (we all know that he couldn't remember enough to write his autobiography!).

Written in 69 around the time the pair were breaking up it certainly evokes that particular relationship. But really only Mick or Keith would know the truth and they've never put it down to any one person - just "about the usual thing of not wanting to be on the road, being a million miles from where you want to be", as Keith said in 95.

Wild Horses is also one of the best examples of a Stones' masterclass in musicianship, with those finely picked and strummed acoustics and those exotic Nashville tunings.

And let's not forget that beautiful piano from the late Jim Dickinson, one of the Muscles Shoals alumni who made the track even greater. 10 out of 10.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016-04-18 14:24 by Silver Dagger.

I don't know if this analysis of the lyrics is accurate, but it does resonate with me somehow:
Lyrics interpretation

I remember I was really touched when Mick sang it in Stade de France in 2014, only a
few months after L'Wren passed away. But that was only just my interpretation (running
away with me). I don't know if he saw that connection himself.

Just as long as the guitar plays, let it steal your heart away

10 out of 10 indeed.

And Nicos sweetie please add Muscle Shoals December 1969 to the recordings dates/times -
it's on film; they can't deny it

Achingly beautiful. Too bad rock radio stations play it to death.

Drew



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-04-23 04:52 by drewmaster.

Quote
DandelionPowderman
It was recorded in Muscle Shoals in 1969, surely (save the vocals and perhaps the electric guitar).

A stunning track. One of my definite favourites by the Stones. Mick, Keith and Charlie at their best, with nice contributions also from the rest of the band/session players.

Yup.




"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Superb track, of course!

I wish they had released the version with organ and pedal steel on the Sticky Fingers bonus disc.
[www.youtube.com]

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rootsman
Superb track, of course!

I wish they had released the version with organ and pedal steel on the Sticky Fingers bonus disc.
[www.youtube.com]

That's supposedly the one with Gram Parsons on it.

It's not Gram, it's Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Gram's bandmate from the Burritos).

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Silver Dagger

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rootsman
Superb track, of course!

I wish they had released the version with organ and pedal steel on the Sticky Fingers bonus disc.
[www.youtube.com]

That's supposedly the one with Gram Parsons on it.

700100A early 1970: Los Angeles, unidentified studio. Overdubs, supervised by Denny
Cordell, on a tape sent to L.A. by the Stones via London:
- Wild Horses V (MJ/KR) -Sneaky Pete Kleinow on pedal steel, Leon Russell on
organ; recorded on version I


This information comes from a 1970 interview with Gram Parsons. He is not on it himself.

Mathijs

One of their all time greatest songs, simply perfect.

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Mathijs

Quote
Silver Dagger

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rootsman
Superb track, of course!

I wish they had released the version with organ and pedal steel on the Sticky Fingers bonus disc.
[www.youtube.com]

That's supposedly the one with Gram Parsons on it.

700100A early 1970: Los Angeles, unidentified studio. Overdubs, supervised by Denny
Cordell, on a tape sent to L.A. by the Stones via London:
- Wild Horses V (MJ/KR) -Sneaky Pete Kleinow on pedal steel, Leon Russell on
organ; recorded on version I


This information comes from a 1970 interview with Gram Parsons. He is not on it himself.

Mathijs

So no known versions with Gram on in that case. At least outside of private trading circles?

I think Keith confirmed (somewhere) that they never recorded WH together.

Gram heard the Stones's embryo version (either from Keith or from the tape that Mick sent to the US for Kleinow to overdub), liked it and eventually got to record and release it better the Stones released their version.

Superb indeed! All versions are great, but still, the official Sticky Fingers version is far superior than any other. The guitars mixed throughout are nothing short of phenomenal, i especially love the solo!

i´ve been listening to the LA Friday (audio) version, flangered and ragged and just heart-breaking.

Quote
DandelionPowderman
I think Keith confirmed (somewhere) that they never recorded WH together.

Gram heard the Stones's embryo version (either from Keith or from the tape that Mick sent to the US for Kleinow to overdub), liked it and eventually got to record and release it better the Stones released their version.

Gram heard the Stones' full version which was in the can in December 1969. The Flying Burrito Brothers recorded it shortly afterwards and it came out on the Burrito Deluxe album in April 1970 - a year before the Stones' got their version out.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-04-18 18:28 by Silver Dagger.

Easily the Stones' greatest ballad, and all around top 20.
The memories it conjures up are plenty.

_____________________________________________________________
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

Holding out for the debut live performance to appear! Newcastle '71!

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Silver Dagger

Quote
DandelionPowderman
I think Keith confirmed (somewhere) that they never recorded WH together.

Gram heard the Stones's embryo version (either from Keith or from the tape that Mick sent to the US for Kleinow to overdub), liked it and eventually got to record and release it better the Stones released their version.

Gram heard the Stones' full version which was in the can in December 1969. The Flying Burrito Brothers recorded it shortly afterwards and it came out on the Burrito Deluxe album in April 1970 - a year before the Stones' got their version out.

I don't think the full Stones version was completed before the Burritos version was out.

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Hairball
Easily the Stones' greatest ballad....

Hard to argue with that so I won't, but I will say that No Expectations is right up there with it!

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LeonidP

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Hairball
Easily the Stones' greatest ballad....

Hard to argue with that so I won't, but I will say that No Expectations is right up there with it!

With Back Street Girl right behind...

Love the live version from Sticky Fingers live of 2015.
Fantastic live album. I hope they will release it soon!

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DandelionPowderman

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
Hairball
Easily the Stones' greatest ballad....

Hard to argue with that so I won't, but I will say that No Expectations is right up there with it!

With Back Street Girl right behind...

Love Back Street Girl ... but can't rank it up there w/ Wild Horses/No Expectations, I would put that in similar rank w/ Lady Jane (another great one!)

** edit ** and see you also said 'right behind' so yes, i would agree w/ that

** further edit ** Might put Love In Vain above all of them, but that is not a Stones original ... still their all time best ballad, if you call it that



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016-04-18 20:49 by LeonidP.

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pepganzo
Love the live version from Sticky Fingers live of 2015.
Fantastic live album. I hope they will release it soon!

They have. Or do you mean on vinyl?

[itunes.apple.com]

Wild Horses and Brown Sugar at Muscle Shoals -- best recording session ever? The band at their absolute peak?
Those records sound great. I remember reading that Charlie wanted to take the drum microphones with him.

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DandelionPowderman

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Silver Dagger

Quote
DandelionPowderman
I think Keith confirmed (somewhere) that they never recorded WH together.

Gram heard the Stones's embryo version (either from Keith or from the tape that Mick sent to the US for Kleinow to overdub), liked it and eventually got to record and release it better the Stones released their version.

Gram heard the Stones' full version which was in the can in December 1969. The Flying Burrito Brothers recorded it shortly afterwards and it came out on the Burrito Deluxe album in April 1970 - a year before the Stones' got their version out.

I don't think the full Stones version was completed before the Burritos version was out.

The Stones' recording sessions for Wild Horses took place at Muscle Shoals in December 1969 and at Olympic in Feb 1970. The Burritos version came out in April 1970.