they have played this song hunderds if not thousands of times and sometimes it is outstanding, and sometimes it kind of sucks

yes.

maybe not the best one, but i love always the versions from the 81/82 tour,
cause at that time the song was very fresh.

I like the versions from Licks, from the west coast. That one from Edison Field is a monster...all syncopated, Keith was WAY in the groove.

jmho,

JR

Altamont

Although it's a little too slick a film, the IMAX opening with Start Me Up, with the explosions, and the boys charging the stage on a 3-story tall screen, kicks ass. But I must say that my favorite version was the opening at MCI Center in DC last October. I have no idea whether it was very good or not, but it was my first concert in over 2-1/2 years, and I was so excited I almost krapped my pants!

I wish they'd do the reggae version live; never heard it....

The last MSG had a great version because it was on the small stage... small stage is the way to go for SMU, much tighter, just rocked!

"You'll be studying history and you'll be down the gym. And I'll be down the pub, probably playing pool and drinking."

The worst is easy - Boston 1999 - I could have swore Jagger threw in the line "Beep,beep who's got the keys to the jeep?" Who says they don't get bored with these songs?
Back to the topic : The best are the one from the August Children cd,the one from this past January 15th,and the one from the press conference.

Altamont.That's a good one although,I would have expected that to be Edward Twining's post.

thats easy, 89-90 versions are by far the best, no contest imho

melillo Wrote:
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> thats easy, 89-90 versions are by far the best, no
> contest imho

I agree with melillo. One particular version that stands out is the Atlantic City one in 1989. Damn good if you ask me.

The opening from the Chicago, April 1998 show was the best...pure Keith improvising before actually hitting the SMU riff, yelling while he did it...

Wasn't it played towards the end of that show?I don't think they ever opened with Start Me Up from after the last 1990 show up until 2002.

I like the 1990 version from the Tokyo Dome boot.

theif, if you were referring to my post, yes, it was the second from last, I belive,before the encore. In fact, I think it was right after Honky Tonk Women...were you there?

No.I thought you might have been talking about the opening of the concert which,as we know,was Satisfaction.I went to the October 20th show that tour.

Best "Start Me Up" is far and away Olympia 2003 (Four Flicks Theatre). Also, Baltimore 2006 rocked the joint!

mickjagger1009 Wrote:
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> The last MSG had a great version because it was on
> the small stage... small stage is the way to go
> for SMU, much tighter, just rocked!


Fair enough, but SMU is NOT a song that should be played on the B stage.

Anyway, I like the '81 version the best. Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle they played it too fast.

Beleive it or not, I like the 2005/2006 versions.

The Live Licks version (derived from MSG HBO which didn't make FF) is a good one.

superbowl version is best

For me is from the Steel Wheels official dvd.It can't become better.

glimmer twin 81 Wrote:
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> superbowl version is best

Yeah, that was very good. In '81 it kind of missed that solo.

olympia 03 / ff version imho

I think the song is terrible live. It's the ultimate Stones auto pilot tune and that riff (like Honky Ton Woman) kind of entices laziness. I LOVE the record and I like the versions from the 81-82 tour because the song was fresh at the time, but it sounds so tired to me these days.

I don't like 81/82 versions: to me the song was a bit frivolous then, live. And Mick often was singing out of tune. I like much more the versions since 1989.

July 1990, Wembley.

Atlantic City 89.
I thought it sounded very tired in 94-99. Improved on Licks, some really great versions, especially when played as opening song at theatre shows. Some decent versions on the current tour as well.

I always thought the version on Flashpoint sounded great.