This may have come up before, but I don't remember any answer that really makes sense.

Why did the Stones change IORR from key of E in the studio, to B when played live?

I LOVE the studio version, and feel like the live version is only so-so. Lacks the groove of the original.

It's an easy key to play and riff on guitar, Mick sings it well in E. (He did it in E with the Foo Fighters on SNL a few years back and it sounded very good.)

I once heard Keith say something to the effect that when they went to play it live, they realized they recorded it in the wrong key. WTF? This is a nonsensical explanation IMO.

So, what gives?

They have also played it in other keys than E and B (1975 and 1976).

They play it instead of the CB numbers as (their) CB number nowadays. If broadcasted/ released it brings more money. That's why they played IORR instead of Little Queenie in Bremen 98.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018-02-07 12:20 by Monsoon Ragoon.

In 75/6 Keith played it in open G tuning. Playing it in E would require a capo at the 9th fret, a little too high up the neck. I think they played it in B in '75 and switched to G in '76. Which is a little odd since it worked so much better in B imho.

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z
In 75/6 Keith played it in open G tuning. Playing it in E would require a capo at the 9th fret, a little too high up the neck. I think they played it in B in '75 and switched to G in '76. Which is a little odd since it worked so much better in B imho.

He could have played it in open E

B key is more voice friendly to sing it live. When you sing it in E key, it´s too low for verse and too high for chorus. B is optimal in between.

It's well known that It's Only Rock 'N Roll was written (and had its main rhythm tracks) recorded at Ronnie Woods house without Keith Richards present. Given the band decided to keep the original backing recordings to finish off and produce the final album version, the song key was decided by those who took part in that original session.

As to why they have played it in other keys live, in my best guess opinion (as a guitarist that's played in bands) when rehearsing the song prior to the 75 tour they might have thought the guitar parts sounded not quite right in this setting (remember the studio version has at least two rhythm tracks throughout, an acoustic and an electric, plus also the lead guitar parts), I can imagine that playing the rhythm guitar in the open E position might sound quite muddy live with the bass guitar blending in with it.

It could also be Keith simply wanted to change the key for some other reason (which he had not decided upon for the studio album by not being there for the initial tracks), one advantage of shifting it to B is it's the perfect key for those Chuck Berry riffs (in E you're forced to play the some of the favourite licks an octave higher, if you're playing them in the traditional fashion at least). I highly doubt the key change has anything to do with the vocals.

Why did they change SFTD live? To allow Keith play his demon riffs. There are none on iorr but I guess that was the idea.

Best live (!) version? You got it.
This here is some bad ass guitars, drums (pay attention to Charlie in the beginning), bass, piano and vocals as well as back up vocals. Recorded 1975 (To-rron-tooah) - 1977 (New York).

video: [youtu.be]

Iorr is not really a stones song
It was made by Jagger , Wood and a couple of friends, Kenny jones remained on drums, the stones did a jew overdubs later.
I guess, charlie and keith did´nt get the groove, so they did their own thing for the live performances. some chuck berry riffs, 4/4 beat and the key - who cares, take some more cocain, a few drinks and ---- finished!

Version on LYL is great

There's something down home sleazy and dirty about the studio versions sound and overall vibe that's definitely missing from all live versions.
Maybe if Ronnie played a 12 string and they played it at the proper tempo and key, it wouldn't come across as run of the mill Chuck Berry style song.
I used to love it when played live (and there are a few live versions I really like), but it became ploddingly monotonous to the point it sounds almost phony.

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

It's best in B. It sounds better. That's the only reason they needed.

Except it's probably more so that since Ronnie had a hand in it, the only way Keith could make it his own was to... change the key and Chuck Berry it.

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deardoctor
Iorr is not really a stones song
It was made by Jagger , Wood and a couple of friends, Kenny jones remained on drums, the stones did a jew overdubs later.
I guess, charlie and keith did´nt get the groove, so they did their own thing for the live performances. some chuck berry riffs, 4/4 beat and the key - who cares, take some more cocain, a few drinks and ---- finished!

It does sound more like a Faces number, doesn't it?

I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

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stonehearted
It does sound more like a Faces number, doesn't it?

Not to my ears, but I always thought the main guitar riff to Can't You Hear Me Knocking sounded more like the Faces than the Stones.

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stonehearted

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deardoctor
Iorr is not really a stones song
It was made by Jagger , Wood and a couple of friends, Kenny jones remained on drums, the stones did a jew overdubs later.
I guess, charlie and keith did´nt get the groove, so they did their own thing for the live performances. some chuck berry riffs, 4/4 beat and the key - who cares, take some more cocain, a few drinks and ---- finished!

It does sound more like a Faces number, doesn't it?

It does indeed. Before Keith comes in, that is

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

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Monsoon Ragoon

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

Which they also used in 1975/76...

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

Which they also used in 1975/76...

Wasn't the early live version quite a lot slower than 1989 onwards?

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Monsoon Ragoon

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

Which they also used in 1975/76...

Wasn't the early live version quite a lot slower than 1989 onwards?

More like particularly fast in 1989, I think.

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

Which they also used in 1975/76...

Wasn't the early live version quite a lot slower than 1989 onwards?

More like particularly fast in 1989, I think.

It way somewhat slower in 1975/76, not Chuck Berry-like. That was okay, more authentic. Thing is the studio version is great, but you can't do it like this on stage, maybe in a theatre.

Studio version is typical "T- Rex" style.
Live versions are typical "Chuck Berry" style.

I really enjoy both styles.

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Monsoon Ragoon

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

Which they also used in 1975/76...

Wasn't the early live version quite a lot slower than 1989 onwards?

More like particularly fast in 1989, I think.

It way somewhat slower in 1975/76, not Chuck Berry-like. That was okay, more authentic. Thing is the studio version is great, but you can't do it like this on stage, maybe in a theatre.

The version on LOVE YOU LIVE is not slow and it's certainly Chuck Berryed.

Maybe it's time they change some other songs up.

SFTD - that could use the biggest change of all. Key of B or F#. Just screw everything up.


Did they play Star Star in the same key as the studio? Or have they, anyway, over the years, kept it the same? It's one I've never checked on.


They changed Paint It Black.


Keith changed Happy to A on his first tour. Which sounded great, really, except for the guitar break.
Happy - Live 1988

^^^ Star changed from F to E.

They changed BOB to D on SAL 78, because of Mick’s cold.

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DandelionPowderman
They changed BOB to D on SAL 78, because of Mick’s cold.

Dropping a step due to a singing problem makes total sense. Now I have to give it a re-listen to see how noticeable it is.

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GasLightStreet

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Monsoon Ragoon

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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DandelionPowderman

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Monsoon Ragoon

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jazzbass

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GasLightStreet

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jazzbass
I'm sorry but none of these answers are acceptable to me. CHANGE IT BACK!

Change it back to what? It never was in E live!

I guess, I mean, play it like the IORR album!

Wouldn't work in stadium. They have to play their idiotic sing-along bla bla 1989 live arrangement.

Which they also used in 1975/76...

Wasn't the early live version quite a lot slower than 1989 onwards?

More like particularly fast in 1989, I think.

It way somewhat slower in 1975/76, not Chuck Berry-like. That was okay, more authentic. Thing is the studio version is great, but you can't do it like this on stage, maybe in a theatre.

The version on LOVE YOU LIVE is not slow and it's certainly Chuck Berryed.

Not slow, but slower than in the Vegas-era for my ears.