I think too many folks around here have let themselves fall for the popular myth that Keith was never a very good guitarist unless he was playing souped up Chuck Berry riffs. That's bollocks.

I think it is maybe true to say that he has become more lazy as a guitar player as the years have passed...and a little too relient on the "five strings, two fingers and one a**hole" stuff.

[But when you can be one of the most effective and mesmerising guitarists in the world simply by hitting two exquisite chords through an old Fender Twin...it's probably excusable ;^) ]



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-31 10:47 by Spud.

LieB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyway, if we assume it was Keith it's probably
> his finest virtuoso moment. I can't believe he got
> those fast runs and bites and bends and never
> recreated anything like it since. The solo on
> Ya-Ya's is nothing like it, although there are
> some more similar moments on Beggars Banquet (i.e.
> Stray Cat Blues).

Not really true - he plays very much like it on the version of SFTD on Rock n Roll Ciscus. After that he didn't play it the same

sjs12 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> he plays very much like it on
> the version of SFTD on Rock n Roll Ciscus. After
> that he didn't play it the same

You're right ... forgot about that.


Also agreed with everything Spud just said. Keith can be great, but he's lazy too much of the time, and yes, to relient on the 5-string thing and the "weaving". The weaving is a great idea, but your carpet will have too many large holes in it if you do it like Keith does it these days....

he's not too lazy, but simply cannot move his fingers anymore !
Probably since 1989...and more likely since 1968....when drugs and alcohol took over.
Check out some of Keith's solo's in the early/mid 60's...excellent.

BTW - definately Keith on SFTD studio.

Its Keith.It has Keith's trade mark style,playing in spurts,for lack of a better term.Kind of choppy,if that makes any sense.

Pleased to meet you......

farawayeyes2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> as his majesties said, if you see sympathy for the
> devil documentary, with keith playing all those
> similar fast licks, you won't have a doubt about
> it!


Exactly, case closed

that is pure keef, my man...

Whoever it was, it's definitely not Clapton.

Koen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whoever it was, it's definitely not Clapton.


Yes, because it was Keith!

Could it be Jimmie Miller?? Doesn't Mick say "Get Down Jimmie" right before the solo? The first time I heard SFTD I though Mick was calling out to Hendrix, but that was when I was 16 & didn't know any better.

"It's Only R&R but ..................I LOVE IT!"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-01 06:18 by czr.

Could it be Jimmie Miller?? Doesn't "Mick say Get Down Jimmie" right before the solo? The first time I heard SFTD I though Mick was calling out to Hendrix, but that was when I was 16 & didn't know any better.

"It's Only R&R but ..................I LOVE IT!"

I always thought Mick said "get down shimmy".

Jimmy Miller was a percussionist (and a real good one).

I love the Stones but to I must be missing something cause Keith's playing while great for and perfect for the band imo is not "mesmerizing". Umm, not by a long shot. My goodness............

Rumour has it that the guitarsolo in Sympathy was play by Milli Vanilli

>> Doesn't "Mick say Get Down Jimmie" right before the solo? <<

more like "get down at it".
i reckon "mesmerizing" is as good a subjective description as any for the solo;
it's not flamboyantly complex, but it sure rivets my attention.
some guitar magazine wrote recently that virtually everyone who listens to popular music
can hum at least part of this solo. it's been tattooed on our collective psyche. and of course it's Keith.

>> Doesn't "Mick say Get Down Jimmie" right before the solo? <<

"Get down with it" - Mick has been saying this since the early 60s. Come on - the solo is pure Keith.

It's 100 % Keith playing the solo on the studio track. Now, everyone knows that Keith can copy other players, so it is entirely possible that he didn't write the solo, but instead played one that is similar.

I remember hearing a rumor that Dave Mason from Traffic was hanging around during this time and the chord structure of Sympathy is very similar to Dr. Mr. Fantasy, The solo sounds remotely similar as well with the high octane treble.

Because Keef is known for his great riff writing (and copying), he doesn't get the respect for his solos. Granted, with Taylor in the lineup, he didn't need to do any solos- but he still did.

You can't compare Keith of 2007 to Keith of the 68-71 period for his guitar playing.

On a side note- I've always wondered why Keith could never duplicate the original opening of Jumping Jack Flash. Did he write it? Did he actually play it on the studio track, or was it Brian? I'll never know. Maybe it was Bill :-)

Here´s what Keith himself says, but there´s obviously some people who knows better...

Sympathy for the Devil started as sort of a folk song with acoustics, and ended up as a kind of mad samba, with me playing bass and overdubbing the guitar later. That's why I don't like to go into the studio with all the songs worked out and planned beforehand.

- Keith Richards, 1977

>> why Keith could never duplicate the original opening of Jumping Jack Flash. <<

what makes you think he "couldn't"?
that they didn't play it that way in concert isn't an indication of what anyone could/couldn't do;
it's how they arranged the number for concerts.

I'm sure he could duplicate the beginning of JJF. I don't understand why he never has since the studio version. Even on R & R Circus. I've listened to every tour waiting to hear the sweet sounds of the intro to always be disappointed.

Other arrangements... why not have Ronnie open IORR with an acoustic and Keith come in later?

I do like that they do not duplicate note for note their studio recordings, like The Eagles and some other bands do. I like that they try different takes.

I could probably start a thread- name a song the Stones do live that they duplicate the studio version of...

Come to think of it- I will

czr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Could it be Jimmie Miller?? Doesn't "Mick say Get
> Down Jimmie" right before the solo? The first time
> I heard SFTD I though Mick was calling out to
> Hendrix, but that was when I was 16 & didn't know
> any better.


Doesn't he say "Get Down Milli" (Vanilli)

Keith does play the studio style intro in some live recordings. He often played that opening riff to JJF at the 1989 shows. I think Toronto 89 is one example I am sure people can point out some others as well.

x



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-02 15:23 by His Majesty.

Of course the solo on "Beggars" is Keith.
By the way: all the Hendrix records - all Keith!
All Hendrix concerts: Playbacks - done by Keith.

Eddie van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, E. C....

It was all Keith.

czr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Could it be Jimmie Miller?? Doesn't "Mick say Get
> Down Jimmie" right before the solo?

In that case I would be more leaning towards Jimmy Page.

My opinion on why he doesn't play the intro to Jack Flash is because in the studio recording, he put a capo on the thrid fret JUST for one little cord. And I never seen him play it with a capo on the third fret live ever (even though he still uses the same chords..like in Rock and Roll Circus). Maybe hitting that one little chord isn't possible without the capo. Otherwise, it ain't required.

And in my humble opinion Keith's best solo is in Slave. Try and convince me otherwise.

La Mano Nera Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My opinion on why he doesn't play the intro to
> Jack Flash is because in the studio recording, he
> put a capo on the thrid fret JUST for one little
> cord. And I never seen him play it with a capo on
> the third fret live ever (even though he still
> uses the same chords..like in Rock and Roll
> Circus). Maybe hitting that one little chord isn't
> possible without the capo. Otherwise, it ain't
> required.
>
> And in my humble opinion Keith's best solo is in
> Slave. Try and convince me otherwise.

Keith's best solo is in Slave. Rumour has it George Thorogood, was hangin around then, and it maybe Thorogood.. HA.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-05 08:19 by stonesfrk.

>> in that case I would be more leaning towards Jimmy Page <<

that notion was an active urban legend for a while there, but
[a] he doesn't say "Jimmy" and Page denied it.

it's so weird that this question keeps coming back -
there's nothing "unKeithlike" about that solo.

with sssoul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >> in that case I would be more leaning towards
> Jimmy Page <<
>
> that notion was an active urban legend for a while
> there, but
> he doesn't say "Jimmy" and Page denied it.
>
> it's so weird that this question keeps coming back
> -
> there's nothing "unKeithlike" about that solo.

Plus page was no longer a studio musician at that time,not only that he was way to busy doing other thing'sconcerning himself.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-05 09:28 by stonesfrk.

oh gosh, i have never doubted that was keith; i'm no mathijs certainly...but that snaky, high treble thing seems so 100% keith to me...and lord he's played variations on that a zillion times live...

(slightly OT: i think keith's lead, (and also rick raylor's) but talkin' keith, think sftd on ya-ya's one of his finest recorded moments ever...)
was it dubbed? anyway, the two of them trading solos on that just kills me...
really that is pretty amazing.

funny, about mick's extemporaneous comment...for decades i've been sure he said
"get down IN it" which i thought was great...lol, now, after reading my bros and sistaahs here, i don't know what the hell he said.!!
:-O