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DandelionPowderman
I think Hoodoo Blues is up there with Prodigal Son, You Gotta Move and Parachute Woman - for me those are some of the best blues tracks they ever did. Performance-wise and sound-wise, HB is just as good, imo.

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DandelionPowderman
Remember that the original "blues feel" was about other things than guitar solos.

It was about, er, feel. Hoodoo Blues, as a song, has plenty of that. I really can't see need for any improvement on that one.

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DandelionPowderman
I think Hoodoo Blues is up there with Prodigal Son, You Gotta Move and Parachute Woman - for me those are some of the best blues tracks they ever did. Performance-wise and sound-wise, HB is just as good, imo.

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Hairball
Lol - like I said I respect your opinion.


*edit: But my tongue-in-cheek reply was not relating to what you think of the Stones version vs. the original.
It was your claim that it's "up there with Prodigal Son, You Gotta Move and Parachute Woman", but it's your right to think so, and your opinion is respected.
Didn't intend to ruffle your feathers or offend.

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Hairball
Truth be told, I was never a huge fan of the Stones' version of You Gotta Move - it's a bit contrived, and is a shadow of the Mississippi Fred McDowell version IMO...

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LeonidP

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Hairball
Truth be told, I was never a huge fan of the Stones' version of You Gotta Move - it's a bit contrived, and is a shadow of the Mississippi Fred McDowell version IMO...

"truth be told"? ... so you were really listening much to the original before you heard the Stones version? ... c'mon, now, tell the 'truth'.

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Hairball

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DandelionPowderman
I think Hoodoo Blues is up there with Prodigal Son, You Gotta Move and Parachute Woman - for me those are some of the best blues tracks they ever did. Performance-wise and sound-wise, HB is just as good, imo.

Shouldn't this be posted in the 'Musical confessions' thread?
I had to do a double take and re-read it, but then realized you're being serious and I'll respect your opinion.



Truth be told, I was never a huge fan of the Stones' version of You Gotta Move - it's a bit contrived, and is a shadow of the Mississippi Fred McDowell version IMO.
But the Stones' cover of Prodigal Son is essential in it's minimalist bare-bones acoustic attack, as is their original Parachute Woman which chugs along with perfection.
The production on both is of the highest quality, bringing out the best of the performances and putting you right there in the room with them. Hoodoo Blues..................no comment.

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matxil

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Hairball

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DandelionPowderman
I think Hoodoo Blues is up there with Prodigal Son, You Gotta Move and Parachute Woman - for me those are some of the best blues tracks they ever did. Performance-wise and sound-wise, HB is just as good, imo.

Shouldn't this be posted in the 'Musical confessions' thread?
I had to do a double take and re-read it, but then realized you're being serious and I'll respect your opinion.



Truth be told, I was never a huge fan of the Stones' version of You Gotta Move - it's a bit contrived, and is a shadow of the Mississippi Fred McDowell version IMO.
But the Stones' cover of Prodigal Son is essential in it's minimalist bare-bones acoustic attack, as is their original Parachute Woman which chugs along with perfection.
The production on both is of the highest quality, bringing out the best of the performances and putting you right there in the room with them. Hoodoo Blues..................no comment.

I agree with you. There is a live version of You Gotta Move though, from somwehere in the 70s, with an extended intro by Keith, which is much better.

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JJHMick
No matter how fascinating your dialogue is, You Gotta Move should be at Track Talk.

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matxil

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GasLightStreet

[...]
The failure to grasp the level of BLUE AND LONESOME amongst their discography is yours. In years to come it will be viewed as a very important album.
[...]

I might be dim too, but I am also curious: in what way do you think Blue&Lonesome will be viewed as a very important album? (Except for the case when it's their last.) You think in 50 years the album will still be mentioned by anyone?

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kowalski
Main page updated with Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) with Buddy Guy.

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Doxa
Okay, here we ago again... Back in the 'real' business. Took some time but I finally hade enough time and interest to re-listen the album that is the most critically acclaimed of any Jagger solo efforts. So ladies and gents, please welcome...

WANDERING SPIRIT

"Wired All Night". Jagger starts with an energetic, but a bit generic rocker, as he had done in the previous albums, and the mpression is not that different either from starting STEEL WHEELS with "Sad Sad Sad". Anyway, the deal of the album is introduced here: the synths and all that latest studio gimmicks of PRIMITIVE COOL are gone, and 'back to the good old production ideals', to the very pleasure of his potential listeners. As far as good rocking goes, the result actually - and surprisingly now and then - sounds better and more tight than anything the Stones had done in STEEL WHEELS.

"Sweet Thing": aah, a funky dance tune, that's solo Jagger at his best we get to know in SHE'S THE BOSS and PRIMITIVE COOL. What is typical with this kind of 'make your ass move' music that it doesn't allow any kind of sloppiness or "wobble" (now matter how enjoyable the latter is in some other contexts); the groove must be tight and hell and each musician in the same synch. That's why Jagger succeeds here better than ever with the Stones. Sorry Charlie.

"Out of Focus": a melodic dance tune, with full of funny and interesting musical decisions structurewise, most of them working mighty fine and naturally. A joyful piece. Always been one of my favourites, and still is.

"Don't Tear Me Up": a Stones type melodic piece. building up the tension, not far from the landscapes of "Worried About You" (hmm.. I almost was waiting a Taylor/Perkins type of solo to arrive in a certain place). Jagger's freshness, in delivery, once again, is notable. There are, though, some Jaggerish cliches in the musical structure, including the key phrase (but it could be that they weren't such explicit still at the time this was released but due his later doings).

"You Put Me on the Trash": jeez... back to the 70's bubble gum boogie glam rock.. Totally forgettable stuff, but such a joy to listen as far as it lasts. Jagger really can make a fun party going on.

"Use Me": basically there is nothing wrong with this funky cover track, but for some reason it doesn't work for me. Lenny's voice sounds good, and perhaps more in place, but Jagger tries a bit too much (and finally ends up repeating that mid-80's banal over-yelling). A bit of filler.

"Evening Gown". Oh my god, this is a real gem. Had been released under the brand of the Stones, this would have been a modern classic and a warhorse. Not that the Stones could have made it any better, it is perfect as it is here. Jagger's voice shines in its total glory. Don't give a shit what the people in Nashville might think, but to my ears that cold and distant but rich English voice full of wit and irony is just a killer.

"Mother of Man": Another Stonesian semi-speed riff-guided blues-based rocker, relying on a strong groove. Nothing wrong here, but probably this is one of those rare instances in the album that the shadow of glory past of the Stones comes through, and one starts to miss Jagger's other band... Always nice to hear Jagger playing blues harp.

"Think": here Jagger doesn't even try to copy the Stones, but lets the band rock as hard as it can by its means and fortes. Those faster than shit 80's type of hard rock guitar licks sound funnily freshing, but let's say, this unique presentation is enough for me...

"Wandering Spirit": a cool track; starts nakedly, a bit like the blues number in STEEL WHEELS, but builds up to achieve Exilean kind of messy gospelian spheres. I didn't like so much of it initially 'back then', but now I think it as one of album's highlights. I didn't recall how good it is.

"Hang On Me Tonight": "My cards are on the table" haha... nicely written pop ballad, but probably a bit too obvious - still sounding better and fresher than any of his attempts in the genre ever since. I am not a producer, but would it have been a bit more effective if the tempo had been a bit slower? A bit over-produced.

"I've Been Lonely For So Long": second cover here, but like with "Ain't Too proud To Beg" already ages earlier, asks a bit 'what's the point to release if there is much to add'? Yeah, Jagger's voice makes the difference, but could any of the Red Devils blues tracks worked better here? So a filler. A good song though.

"Angel In My Heart": oh gosh... The baroque pop of "Lady Jane" is back, Jagger trying to forget all he had learned from the devil music, and the old dirty bastard trying to behave his best as an innocent school boy stemming up from the civic European cultural background ("No sex, we are English")... We didn't see this coming at the time, did we?). Funny as hell, but still a bit artificial, though. And yeah, Jagger goes a bit too much over the top...

"Handsome Molly". Another total surprise (and a third cover) The "Wild Colonial Boy" is back? Like with "Angel In My eart" the aim for Monty Pythonian difference is more important the actual quality. Even though I like very much the idea of both of these tunes, if put my hand on the bible, could I really listen to these two more than a couple of times?

Some over-all impressions:

WANDERING SPIRIT is over-all a pretty light-hearted album. Jagger sounds relaxed, and as I recalled, not so much trying as he did in his previous albums. But probably due that attitude, some of the ambition, especially of PRIMITIVE COOL, is missing, and in the long run, I think this album is not so interesting as the previous ones. This especially applies to the lyrical content, and Jagger does not sound interested in disclosing of any his 'inner self' he at least to an extent tried in PRIMITIVE COOL. Relying surprisingly much (for Jagger) on 'retro', it is more like a statement of showing his abilities and competence in whatever. That he still 'got it'. It offers stylistical difference a lot, even ecclectism, but instead of presenting something actually novel, the impression is more like: 'wow, Jagger hasn't done that for ages'. (He would continue that 'going back and re-doing 'good ole genres' in VOODOO LOUNGE but I think with much less inspired results.)

As a singer and interpreter Jagger doesn't add anything he had offered in PRIMITIVE COOL, but here he more like applies to different contexts that achieved and trained voice effectively thorough the album. A sad note: he probably would never sound so strong again as he does here.

One thing I especially like about the album is that Mick is much more on the same page with his 'backing band' as he was in his previous albums. The over-all impression is tight and coherent in each track. Probably the choice of the musicians not being 'all star' people and big names, but just compenent studio hacks doing what is needed and suited, has something to do with it. Of course, the rather conservative and 'hold your horses a bit' production policy, like the 80s' had never happened, serves the impression as well. Even the difference to STEEL WHEELS is a huge one.

Compared generally to the Stones albums at the time, especially STEEL WHEELS and VOODOO LOUNGE, of which is not so distant musicwise, it manages, me thinks, clearly better. As known, WANDERING SPIRIT is pretty close to standard Stones, Mick just using different musicians, but I think that exactly is the strenght and point of this album. I've been thinking how on earth is that possible - Jagger being able to make better sounding Stones music by his own than with the Stones. A theory I came up with is: especially in VOODOO LOUNGE (but that started already in STEEL WHEELS, and has continued ever since), the Stones production policy and sound relies too much on their distinctive trademark sound - Keith needs to be sound so signature Keith as possible, Charlie as Charlie as possible, then Ronnie adding so typical Stones-sounding licks, etc. etc. This emphasis on 'trademark/signature sound' goes beyond the songs themselves, it is more important than the over-all impression of music, or, at worst, is the over-all impression of the whole thing. The effect to critical listeners as me is The Stones caricature-like aping themselves, The Stones making damn sure that it every damn listener noticing damn sure that it is the Stones - Mick, Keith, Charlie, Ronnie - there (as I have subtitled especially VOODOO LOUNGE: "Stones For Dummies"). In WANDERING SPIRIT the band, and their specific features and distinctive, signature sounds, is not more important the songs, the music itself. Everything in musicianhip is done to suit the songs best. I think it would take for the Stones until BLUE & LONESOME to come up with such coherence, the song-goes-first-attitude, again.

Yeah, I agree with general 'truth' that WANDERING SPIRIT is over-all Jagger's best solo album (and probably even with Keith's TALK IS CHEAP the best Stones-related album since UNDERCOVER), but I don't think with such a big marginal as it is many times evaluated. I think it is a bit too ecclectic album, especially the last couple of tracks lost the focus a bit, no matter how surprising and interesting an sich they are. But even though there are some problems with the 'flow' - the songs being so different in genre doesn't support each other sometimes too well, and the choice of certain cuts, especially of the covers, is a bit questionable - it is an album, and most probably due its very ecclectism, that doesn't bore me at all, for sure.

- Doxa

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Witness

I have wondered. No comments to the quoted post. Everybody in agreement to everything?

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Witness

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Doxa
[...]
WANDERING SPIRIT
[...]

I have wondered. No comments to the quoted post. Everybody in agreement to everything?

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DandelionPowderman
I think it's an excellent album, apart from the pedestrian standard Mother Of A Man, the Hang Fire-pastiche Put Me In The Trash and the boring Hang On To Me Tonight.

However, it is the slower stuff that really excites me on Wandering Spirit + the excellent single, Sweet Thing (The best solo track from a Stone ever. Paradoxiacally enough, Mick succeeded with that with a «contemporary-sounding» tune ).

To be a little critical: The album doesn't sound like a «band album». It's all over the place with different musical styles and production compromises (a hint of what to come on B2B ). I think they try to sound as Stonesy as they can on the rockers, without really succeeding. It's nice and enjoyable, but not Stonesy enough for this listener. The best rockers are Wandering Spirit and Wired All Night, imo, especially the former.

Favourites:

Sweet Thing
Don't Tear Me Up
Evening Gown
Angel In My Heart
Handsome Molly

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matxil

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Witness

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Doxa
[...]
WANDERING SPIRIT
[...]

I have wondered. No comments to the quoted post. Everybody in agreement to everything?

I wouldn't know so I can't comment on it either. I cannot listen to the damn thing. I tried a couple of times, after reading the positive reviews here on the forum but I never made it through the entire album.

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Hairball

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matxil

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Witness

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Doxa
[...]
WANDERING SPIRIT
[...]

I have wondered. No comments to the quoted post. Everybody in agreement to everything?

I wouldn't know so I can't comment on it either. I cannot listen to the damn thing. I tried a couple of times, after reading the positive reviews here on the forum but I never made it through the entire album.

Other than the fact that it's Mick Jagger on vocals, there's no reason why I would ever listen to this album ever again. There's simply no real redeeming qualities to any of it. Life's too short to force yourself into liking something when it clearly leads to a dead end. Dare I say, his bits on Superheavy might be better than anything on Wandering Spirit? That being said, I respect the opinions of those who do like it - or just some of it.

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matxil

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Hairball

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matxil

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Witness

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Doxa
[...]
WANDERING SPIRIT
[...]

I have wondered. No comments to the quoted post. Everybody in agreement to everything?

I wouldn't know so I can't comment on it either. I cannot listen to the damn thing. I tried a couple of times, after reading the positive reviews here on the forum but I never made it through the entire album.

Other than the fact that it's Mick Jagger on vocals, there's no reason why I would ever listen to this album ever again. There's simply no real redeeming qualities to any of it. Life's too short to force yourself into liking something when it clearly leads to a dead end. Dare I say, his bits on Superheavy might be better than anything on Wandering Spirit? That being said, I respect the opinions of those who do like it - or just some of it.

I couldn't make it through the Superheavy album either, but the song "Mysterious Man" (or something like that, "Magician Man" maybe?) indeed I like better than anything on Wandering Spirit with the possible exception of "Sweet Thing" which isn't so bad either. Pop-rock-pop, that's a genre I really don't like.