Which was has more impact and which is better live, I prefer Gimme Shelter live....

"It's Good To Be Here, It's Good To Be Anywhere"-Keith Richards

"Halloween Is Every Night Of My Life"-Keith Richards

"I Got The Sticky Fingers, For Some Girls"

On the last couple of tours, Gimmie Shelter has been the superior. I did'nt like the into to it from the B-stage on the Licks shows, but for me, it's one song the Stones nearly always (didn't Keith mess up at Wembley '99?) get right. I recently watched the Radio City '06 rendition and thought it was fabulous. On the other hand, I find Sympathy to be pretty tierd sounding these days. I think it's atmespheric, but Keiths solos really bring it down for me. It's just the same old licks over and over again and he does;'nt pull it off nearly half as convincingly as he once did.

Terrific question. Do you prefer Let It Bleed or Beggars Banquet. Sympathy : one of the greatest Stones achievement as a group ( re- recently rereleased One + One), unique piece of music. Gimme Shelter : the artist who wrote this intro is a genius, so totally different from what he ever issued : fluidity, with a musical climax never reached afterwards underlined by a magnificent simple solo ( 12 notes or so).

The genius artist you are refering is Keith, right?

1975: SFTD although I love their 75 take on Gimmie Shelter and consider tha to be the best one. The intro worked fine in 1972 but the 1975 version is a different liveversion of the studiosong, a different approach. NOwadays Gimmie Shelter is boring and so is SFTD.

Two of my favorite songs. I must say, however, that Sympathy has sounded pretty bad in each of the shows I have seen this tour. I wish they would get more into it (the Twickenham version from FOur Flicks is wonderful) rather than leave it to the flame-throwers to dazzle the crowd.

Raoul Duke Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Two of my favorite songs. I must say, however,
> that Sympathy has sounded pretty bad in each of
> the shows I have seen this tour. I wish they would
> get more into it (the Twickenham version from FOur
> Flicks is wonderful) rather than leave it to the
> flame-throwers to dazzle the crowd.

It's funny you mention the Twickenham version of Sympathy, because the HBO version (Of course, left off from the MSG Four Flicks) is probably the WORST performance of the song I've ever heard. Keith doesn't seem to know what he's doing at all.

In all truthfullness, I don't think they've done the song justice since the Bridges To Babylon tour.

I agree PHD. A much tougher question than it seems. I was thinking about this after the LIB v BB thread last week.
At first consideration SFTD seems superior. Incredible lyrics, solo, great studio and live versions. Definitely a 10.
GS is not so clearly a 10, maybe only a 9+. But the haunting melody, that incredible guitar sound that is so different, great lyrics, incredible vocals make it an accomplishment that stands alone.
At one point last week I had myself convinced that GS is the better song. But at the moment I am leaning toward SFTD.
Which is better live in recent years is another discussion really. SFTD is good but will always be over shadowed by the YaYas like versions. GS vocals are as good or better than ever, and it is hard to say that early versions were much better. So I lean toward GS on which current version is better

phd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gimme Shelter : the artist who wrote this intro is
> a genius, so totally different from what he ever
> issued : fluidity, with a musical climax never
> reached afterwards underlined by a magnificent
> simple solo ( 12 notes or so).

The intro is loosely based on the intro from Under My Thumb. So not completely different. This actually has been discussed here a few weeks ago.

Love 'em both (duh, I'm a Stones fan), but GS blows Sympathy out of the water these days. I've got no sympathy for the cheesy drum/piano mix that opens the song - where's the menace?! This is a song about the devil, for crying out loud, not some new-age yogic meditation tune. Either get rid of the overlays or get rid of the damn song!

I may get thrown off of here for this, but I've never really dug SFTD. Shelter, on the other hand , is a personal favorite.

Koen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> phd Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> The intro is loosely based on the intro from Under
> My Thumb. So not completely different. This
> actually has been discussed here a few weeks ago.

Missed the thread, sorry. But the similarity, if any, has never ever occured to me. One could say that if there are discussions mean it is not so obvious. The only thing I would concede is that the tempo is the same, mid-tempo. Otherwise, I don't agree. Anyway, the genius wrote 2 "grandiose" openings for albums that belong atop Stones Legacy.

Here's the thread, started by yours truly.


[iorr.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-05-11 19:27 by Elmo Lewis.

Elmo,

Can't get it. I ain't that keen with PC.

Me neither! Just search "shelter under" and it will pop up.

Have yet to heard ANY versions that can touch the Ya's Ya's version of: SFTD

or the Wembley 1973 version of: Gimme Shelter!!!

thost two are: MASTERPIECES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and will go down as the BEST of the BEST!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!

IMO

MLC

phd Wrote:

> The only thing I would concede is that
> the tempo is the same, mid-tempo. Otherwise, I
> don't agree.

Also, there are similarities between the descending one-tone interval chord progression.

> Anyway, the genius wrote 2
> "grandiose" openings for albums that belong atop
> Stones Legacy.

Absolutely!

Thr Paradiso version is great. Guitars turned up loud. I like it, like it, yes I do.

Koen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> phd Wrote:
>
> > The only thing I would concede is that
> > the tempo is the same, mid-tempo. Otherwise, I
> > don't agree.
>
> Also, there are similarities between the
> descending one-tone interval chord progression.

Koen, just played them on piano. You're right.

I couldn't find that other thread, but IIRC it mentioned that actually Keith as said that he derived the GS riff from the UMT one.

Gimme Shelter because it sounds great whether you're paying attention to the lyrics or not.

It's like comparing "La Dolce Vita" with "8 1/2" or "Citizen Kane" with "Touch Of Evil", an impossible task.

Gimme Shelter is powerful rock n roll while Sympathy got very good lyrics and two sticky solos....

Gimme!

2 1 2 0

There are so many different versions and eras of both. My answer is the same as always...

The one I'm listening to now.

Two fantastic songs, do we have to choose?
Sympathy maybe suffers of being played live so much the last decades.

For guitar, I prefer Sympathy. But just all around, probably Gimme Shelter. Does Keith do a Sympathy solo anymore?
Edit- never mind, answered my own question by going on youtube. I found a 2013 performance. His solos still rock! Man he is a legend



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-05-19 21:11 by stones2000.

Quote
Elmo Lewis
Thr Paradiso version is great. Guitars turned up loud. I like it, like it, yes I do.

peace

Quote
MCDDTLC
Have yet to heard ANY versions that can touch the Ya's Ya's version of: SFTD

or the Wembley 1973 version of: Gimme Shelter!!!

thost two are: MASTERPIECES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and will go down as the BEST of the BEST!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!

IMO

MLC

I think GS was awful live until the 1990s. The live versions in the 70s were so much weaker then the recorder version that I can't believe anyone actually thinks it was good.

Quote
stanlove

Quote
MCDDTLC
Have yet to heard ANY versions that can touch the Ya's Ya's version of: SFTD

or the Wembley 1973 version of: Gimme Shelter!!!

thost two are: MASTERPIECES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and will go down as the BEST of the BEST!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!

IMO

MLC

I think GS was awful live until the 1990s. The live versions in the 70s were so much weaker then the recorder version that I can't believe anyone actually thinks it was good.

Actually every live version is weaker than the recorded version, imo. That's true of many, many Stones tunes, imo. It's a testament to how good they were in the studio and how much work they poured into it more than any statement about their live work.

peace

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
stanlove

Quote
MCDDTLC
Have yet to heard ANY versions that can touch the Ya's Ya's version of: SFTD

or the Wembley 1973 version of: Gimme Shelter!!!

thost two are: MASTERPIECES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and will go down as the BEST of the BEST!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!

IMO

MLC

I think GS was awful live until the 1990s. The live versions in the 70s were so much weaker then the recorder version that I can't believe anyone actually thinks it was good.

Actually every live version is weaker than the recorded version, imo. That's true of many, many Stones tunes, imo. It's a testament to how good they were in the studio and how much work they poured into it more than any statement about their live work.

peace

i agree! when played live neither song achieves the atmosphere or goose-bumpiness of the studio version.