This is just one gem after another. I'm four songs in -- love some of the playing on Dreams to Remember, for example. It sounds like a song that, if given editing and some focused love could have been the next Far Away Eyes.

T@3

Why would ya bother with any other band ...



ROCKMAN

Quote
HopeYouGuessMyName
CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE? AFTER THE EXTRA BONUS CD'S OF RECENT YEARS... How can such 'new' amazing stuff still be available? and in pristine condition! How is this possible? Do you realize that the bottom of the barrel of any Stones recording session is still great? Of course you do! We all do! Why did not the Stones simply release this to us? why? why? why? THEORIES?

Mick looked at our new album thread, and saw how desperate we are... 'need to give something for those guys to stop complaining...'

But feels like a kid in a candy shop. Time to reflect and talk about the tracks later (lots to do that!). Now just listen, listen, listen....

- Doxa

Quote
Doxa
But feels like a kid in a candy shop.

This isn't an exaggeration. I'm kind of stunned sitting here listening to this. It feels like listening to a new Stones album. I can't wait to really dig into reviewing it and hearing everyone's thoughts.

Has "Covered In Bruises" ever been available on bootleg before?

Quote
JordyLicks96

Listening to the exuberant amount of material they recorded for UNDERCOVER, it's a shame the final product wasn't that great. Just my opinion, but they had a great batch of songs that could have made the album.

I feel like even a stronger case could be claimed for DIRTY WORK (there'd been some other hidden gems circulating from those sessions already).

But generally I think the Stones were in a much better form during the 80's than their released official output tells. Probably it was the times - bloody 80's - that messed up the minds (how they records should sound like and all that)... Another way to put it is that even at their 'worst' the Stones were a brilliant band. Musically - and as musicians - they were in top form, sounding like they could do anything. So much potential wasted... I think some of that hotness and edge was lost by the 90's when the sonic atmosphere of contempory music was more on their side again (and I don't think the bootleg tracks have much to add for the released stuff in VOODOO LOUNGE or BRIDGES TO BABYLON, etc).

- Doxa



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2021-03-05 06:46 by Doxa.

Quote
MelBelli
I'm loving these B2B-era Keith vocal tracks. They remind me of Love Is Strong, YGMR, Sparks -- gives you a sense of how Mick can takes cues from Keith on melody and lyrics. They're not really 50/50. More like 85% Keith, in these cases.

You’re right. The best songs on VL and BtB are Keef songs with unfinished lyrics.
Love is Strong, Sparks Will Fly, YGMR, Flip the Switch, Low Down, Too Toght...
Then Jagger put the lyrics...some time good, some time really bad.

Quote
KRiffhard

Quote
MelBelli
I'm loving these B2B-era Keith vocal tracks. They remind me of Love Is Strong, YGMR, Sparks -- gives you a sense of how Mick can takes cues from Keith on melody and lyrics. They're not really 50/50. More like 85% Keith, in these cases.

You’re right. The best songs on VL and BtB are Keef songs with unfinished lyrics.
Love is Strong, Sparks Will Fly, YGMR, Flip the Switch, Low Down, Too Toght...
Then Jagger put the lyrics...some time good, some time really bad.

Yeah, Low Down or Too Tight with Keith on lead vocals could have been major hits, so who really needs this Jagger guy anyway?

Deep Love was a snooze with Keith on vocals. Jagger brought the song to life. The same is true of Love is Strong, Keith version of Soul Survivor was a waffly mess. Jagger provides melody and focus.

Quote
KRiffhard

Quote
MelBelli
I'm loving these B2B-era Keith vocal tracks. They remind me of Love Is Strong, YGMR, Sparks -- gives you a sense of how Mick can takes cues from Keith on melody and lyrics. They're not really 50/50. More like 85% Keith, in these cases.

You’re right. The best songs on VL and BtB are Keef songs with unfinished lyrics.
Love is Strong, Sparks Will Fly, YGMR, Flip the Switch, Low Down, Too Toght...
Then Jagger put the lyrics...some time good, some time really bad.

It’s the classic Jagger/Richards songwriting partnership: Keith’s responsible for the music; Mick adds some lyrics. It’s exactly how it worked before Mick learnt a few chords.

Quote
bakersfield
Deep Love was a snooze with Keith on vocals. Jagger brought the song to life. The same is true of Love is Strong, Keith version of Soul Survivor was a waffly mess. Jagger provides melody and focus.

That's what happens when you embellish songs and finish them

Thought Joe Meek had come back
ta help out on start ah Flip Da Switch ....



ROCKMAN

Quote
retired_dog

Quote
KRiffhard

Quote
MelBelli
I'm loving these B2B-era Keith vocal tracks. They remind me of Love Is Strong, YGMR, Sparks -- gives you a sense of how Mick can takes cues from Keith on melody and lyrics. They're not really 50/50. More like 85% Keith, in these cases.

You’re right. The best songs on VL and BtB are Keef songs with unfinished lyrics.
Love is Strong, Sparks Will Fly, YGMR, Flip the Switch, Low Down, Too Toght...
Then Jagger put the lyrics...some time good, some time really bad.

Yeah, Low Down or Too Tight with Keith on lead vocals could have been major hits, so who really needs this Jagger guy anyway?

I was just listening 'Keith on vocals' songs... They sound to me more like Winos than Stones songs. In a way it is a Keith style to write: not really work out the melodies and finish up the lyrics but leave them more like unfinished business. Makes me wonder how much Keith's proper song-writing has 'suffered' from or 'being spoiled' by Jagger/Richards team-work: he provides the riffs and the structure of the songs, but does not pay any more attention to finishing up the songs, since that's been Mick's task for ages (first it was work totally or just finish up the lyrics, but later finish up or write the melodies as well). I guess that's partly what Keith means by 'any song' he writes is 'made for Mick to sing' (or what he said while promoting CROSSEYED HEART) - the singing part involving writing the proper melody from Keith's cues as well. I also recall Mick saying of TALK IS CHEAP or MAIN OFFENDER that the songs sound like demos Keith offers him to finish up.

I guess it is a question of taste what one prefers - the songs as Keith sketches or finished up Jagger-Richards deals. There is certain charm in Keith's latter-day free-going, lazy melodies and lyrics presented by his idiosyncratic, soulful way to interpret them (and sometimes, especially in ballads, they work damn well), but still, as a Rolling Stones fan, it makes me feel that if people prefer those over Jagger ones, people actually like different band than I do.

However, there are also in this collection of hidden gems songs that provide Mick just fooling around with melodies and words - like capturing the moment when he is in the process of creating them with trial and error. But I think what is noteworty how determinate he sounds being there - like being awere of that it is his task to nail the thing there - to give the song a final form. The way he uses his voice like an instrument to be tuned up rightly and efficiently there was one thing that stood out by the first listening of the whole lot. It's powerful and distinctive - I really can't think of the Rolling Stones sound without that instrument.

- Doxa



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2021-03-05 10:40 by Doxa.

Quote
Rockman
Thought Joe Meek had come back
ta help out on start ah Flip Da Switch ....

m

Yes!

Listening loudly through headphones, it was a tad unsettling!

Couldn’t someone have erased it??

Might As Well Get Juiced is great! So much interesting going on there.

Covered In Bruises became a Ronnie-tune later on, but I can't recall which one? I think it's on 1234.

Yes, a part of it anyway: "Baaaby, don´t you want my love..." On the title track 1234. Comes after a few verses.

I really don’t get it why there’s been so few studio releases in recent years while all this was lying around. Many songs finished and a whole lot just waiting for fully finished lyrics and finalized vocals. We could’ve gotten four to five albums since ABB.
But super cool we got this now

In the early seventies I started to become a Stonesfan. Especially when Black and Blue came out when I was in High School. Bought some bootleg lp's in Amsterdam on the Waterlooplein and in the early ninetees I bought bootleg cd's from the same guy who had a shop in Utrecht. Amongst other "dealers". At a certain point you have collected all that you wanted and searched for. Very happy when the Deluxe version of Goat Heads's Soup from last year had the unknown piano version of 100 Years Ago. Mick's voice....great!! And now this 3-cd suddenly came out of heaven. Now I know why i became a Stones-fan in the first place. The variation in their songs and yes Mick's insane voice on Dreams To Remember. If it's true that ther will be a 100 songs to come, well that's way more than that we could ever hoped for. Isn't it?! Can ya? Can ya? Well, for now this 61 aged guy feels like a kid in Luilekkerland met een strakke plasser and enjoys his Friday off listening to the Stones on a bright sunshiny day in Holland!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-03-05 13:23 by Freebird1959.

The more songs I listen to the more amazing it gets; such a variety in musical styles and beats. Putty in your hands; fvckinggreat!
Rockanroll,
Mops

Quote
Freebird1959
In the early seventies I started to become a Stonesfan. Especially when Black and Blue came out when I was in High School. Bought some bootleg lp's in Amsterdam on the Waterlooplein and in the early ninetees I bought bootleg cd's from the same guy who had a shop in Utrecht. Amongst other "dealers". At a certain point you have collected all that you wanted and searched for. Very happy when the Deluxe version of Goat Heads's Soup from last year had the unknown piano version of 100 Years Ago. Mick's voice....great!! And now this 3-cd suddenly came out of heaven. Now I know why i became a Stones-fan in the first place. The variation in their songs and yes Mick's insane voice on Dreams To Remember. If it's true that ther will be a 100 songs to come, well that's way more than that we could ever hoped for. Isn't it?! Can ya? Can ya? Well, for now this 61 aged guy feels like a kid in Luilekkerland met een strakke plasser and enjoys his Friday off listening to the Stones on a bright sunshiny day in Holland!!

Actually feel the same, just not in sunny Holland... Greetings from the neighborhood!

Quote
Freebird1959
Well, for now this 61 aged guy feels like a kid in Luilekkerland met een strakke plasser and enjoys his Friday off listening to the Stones on a bright sunshiny day in Holland!!

Lekker man

Quote
Doxa

Quote
retired_dog

Quote
KRiffhard

Quote
MelBelli
I'm loving these B2B-era Keith vocal tracks. They remind me of Love Is Strong, YGMR, Sparks -- gives you a sense of how Mick can takes cues from Keith on melody and lyrics. They're not really 50/50. More like 85% Keith, in these cases.

You’re right. The best songs on VL and BtB are Keef songs with unfinished lyrics.
Love is Strong, Sparks Will Fly, YGMR, Flip the Switch, Low Down, Too Toght...
Then Jagger put the lyrics...some time good, some time really bad.

Yeah, Low Down or Too Tight with Keith on lead vocals could have been major hits, so who really needs this Jagger guy anyway?

I was just listening 'Keith on vocals' songs... They sound to me more like Winos than Stones songs. In a way it is a Keith style to write: not really work out the melodies and finish up the lyrics but leave them more like unfinished business. Makes me wonder how much Keith's proper song-writing has 'suffered' from or 'being spoiled' by Jagger/Richards team-work: he provides the riffs and the structure of the songs, but does not pay any more attention to finishing up the songs, since that's been Mick's task for ages (first it was work totally or just finish up the lyrics, but later finish up or write the melodies as well). I guess that's partly what Keith means by 'any song' he writes is 'made for Mick to sing' (or what he said while promoting CROSSEYED HEART) - the singing part involving writing the proper melody from Keith's cues as well. I also recall Mick saying of TALK IS CHEAP or MAIN OFFENDER that the songs sound like demos Keith offers him to finish up.

I guess it is a question of taste what one prefers - the songs as Keith sketches or finished up Jagger-Richards deals. There is certain charm in Keith's latter-day free-going, lazy melodies and lyrics presented by his idiosyncratic, soulful way to interpret them (and sometimes, especially in ballads, they work damn well), but still, as a Rolling Stones fan, it makes me feel that if people prefer those over Jagger ones, people actually like different band than I do.

However, there are also in this collection of hidden gems songs that provide Mick just fooling around with melodies and words - like capturing the moment when he is in the process of creating them with trial and error. But I think what is noteworty how determinate he sounds being there - like being awere of that it is his task to nail the thing there - to give the song a final form. The way he uses his voice like an instrument to be tuned up rightly and efficiently there was one thing that stood out by the first listening of the whole lot. It's powerful and distinctive - I really can't think of the Rolling Stones sound without that instrument.

- Doxa

Doxa, please don't tell me that you took my above remark at face value...!

Yes, as I've already said elsewhere, this collection will give us food for thought for many months to come... And there's supposedly 2 more sets on the way!

Somebody must have hacked Jagger's digital collection of work-in-progress over the years - or is it an early 60th Anniversary present?

Anyway, even on tracks that can't quite cut the mustard (like his vocal tryout on Potted Shrimp - Tell Her How It Is) it's interesting to hear how he tries, even struggles, to find a vocal angle that works - and fails in the end.

But what do we know if these versions are really the last word, a lot of this could be work-in-progress that may appear officially and TRULY fully finished on 60th Anniversary and years to come releases...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-03-05 14:00 by retired_dog.

What a discovery, enough material for a Tattoo You Two - 40-year anniversary edition... Missed opportunity?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-03-05 14:08 by JoT839.

Quote
Taylor1
Is Mick Taylor on any of the tracks which were are new

Good question.

Amazing stuff!

And two more sets to come?!

Desperate Man, wow!

"Sanctuary" is a true surprise. Something completely differend. Some distant echoes of Arthur Brown (the organ).

Maybe the Stones could do a kind of collected bootleg songs like Dylan

EVen better is the fact that just about all known tracks appear here in different version that what we know -Fast Talking, Living in the Heart, all those tracks.

Built That Way is fantastic -GHS or IORR outtake, but that doesn't sound like Taylor on lead guitar...

Mathijs

Quote
rollmops
Built that Way: really great. The lead guitar doesn't sound like Keith or Ron. An american player maybe?
Rockandroll,
Mops

I thought the same...that's not Taylor, but somebody wailing away on a Telecaster. It sounds reminiscent of Mick Ronson's style. Nico Zentgraf lists it as from the Rotterdam 1975 sessions.

Mathijs

Quote
Mathijs
Living in the Heart, Built That Way
Mathijs

They're both in open G right?
And (imo) like the late'72/early'73 outtake "Windmill" they display Keith at the apex of his mastery of this tuning. The songs themselves might not be as good as stuff from 69-71 but the way Keef commands the guitar tuned to open G is imo stupendous.
I mean it's like sonic architecture with 5 strings!