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wonderboyQuote
GasLightStreet
Regardless of which one was better, something bizarre happened after the 1973 tour: they gave up.
With Exile and those tours they peaked in several ways. Artistically they had melded Americana styles of music and filtered it through their own style and experiences, then taken it on the road and killed. In the pop culture, they were the world's greatest rock and roll band.
Where do you go from there? Especially when you have seen the down side of youthful, '60s idealism that they were going to change the world. They just decided, It's Only Rock and Roll, after all.
They were always cynical, but now their idealism disappeared. And with Taylor leaving, they lost his professionalism and artistry and didn't challenge themselves as much. Didn't Nicky Hopkins also fade away after the 1972 tour?
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JordyLicks96
I think he performed with them during the "Winter Tour" in '73 but never performed with them on stage again after that, just did studio stuff with them.
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Pietro
A matter of taste, of course, but I prefer the 1973 tour because Billy Preston played keyboards, not Nicky Hopkins. Hopkins could tickle the keys but Preston could really work them. Also Preston played organ as well as piano. Listen to the weight he brings to "Midnight Rambler" with his organ playing.
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powerage78
All I know is that those 2 tours are better than all the ones who will follow...
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filstan
I was able to see the Stones play on both tours. Chicago and Denver in 72 and one of the Essen shows in 73 while I was traveling around Europe. The band was in terrific form for all three concerts musically. The differences were the welcome inclusion of some GHS songs in Europe, while the 72 tour was more focused on the EOMS album. The US concerts I attended were reserved seating where Essen was cool as a general admission event which I happen to like. The Chicago show at the Amphitheater was a very high energy affair. Fans really into it, while Denver was more laid back in comparison. Big crowd surge down the aisles towards the stage in Chicago when they launched into Brown Sugar. Not so in Denver. Since it was general admission in Essen people were happy to hold their ground and there wasn't any pushing or shoving to get closer to the stage. I loved Stevie Wonder as the opener in 72. Really warmed up the crowds. I recall Billy Preston and Mick Taylor playing in the Essen opener. Was it Kracker? The boys were hitting on all cylinders for both tours, but the arrangements a bit more refined for Essen compared with the 72 concerts imho.