Makes total sense, Spud!

Spud Wrote:
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> It's not the music that lacks anyting on GHS, It's
> more the production and vibe.
> It's almost as though the music is behind the same
> veils in the cover art.
> It's like it's behind a mist and you can't quite
> see through it.

> This just doesn't happen with GHS...despite the
> many excellent songs on it.

Well put!!

Barn Owl Wrote:
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> I'd like to be able to argue that GHS is perhaps
> the Stones' greatest album, but alas, poor
> production (in parts) won't allow me to.
>
> Dancing With Mr D and Heartbreaker both suffer
> from too much of Billy Preston's influence (and
> Bill Wyman's absence), and these shortcomings are
> highlighted by the contrasting brilliance of their
> live performances, where MT is allowed to shine.
> The same could also be said of Angie, where even
> the promo cuts of this single were far superior to
> that which made it on to the album.
>
> Perhaps the biggest culprit of all however is
> Starf**ker, with it's dreadful vocal and timid,
> weedy sound. Always a live show-stopper but
> nothing short of an embarassment here. More time
> could also have been spent on fattening up Silver
> Train, a great track that is well-worthy of a
> ball-busting, uncompromising production.
>
> However, any album that has Winter (their greatest
> ever track?), Coming Down Again and 100 Years Ago
> deserves to be right up there with the best of
> them.
>
> My own personal gripe is that with more effort, it
> could have been at the very top.
>
> ...shoulda, woulda, coulda.



Good points. When you listen to how electrifying Mr D/Heartbreaker were on the tour that followed it, the difference is like night and day. In its released form, Mr D is a contender for weakest opening cut on any Stones album. As one reviewer put it, "it wouldnt frighten a four year old".'Silver Train' is almost a gem too (listen to that harmonica!).

'Coming Down again' has been criminally overlooked partly down to the fact Keith's never performed it, I feel. 'Winter' is a song that it literally took me a couple of decades to fully appreciate. Now its up there with the best half dozen songs theyve ever released. Taylor's finest moment, a gorgeous vocal and lyric by Jagger - topped off by that majestic string arrangement. Perfect.

I'd also agree that the Mickboy remaster blows away the released album. It certainly gave me a better appreciation of the record.

I'm a fan of GHS

What is it missing?
-first album without a country song after the big four
-first album without a country blues cover after the big four



WMiller Wrote:
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> I've always thought that the artwork on the cover
> of GHS portrays a crotch. There's a bellybutton
> just above Mick's head
Thanks for explaining the top red blob. What do you think that red fish on the torso is?

...the folds in the material
> covering his face form the outline of legs meeting
> at the pelvis....I've not yet been able to figure
> out why Micks's open mouth is so clearly portrayed
> as a vagina.
I see it more as Mick's being birthed though the vagina symbolism is obvious. For more on this and other tales of symbolic genitalia, see [en.wikipedia.org].

Gazza Wrote:
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> I'd also agree that the Mickboy remaster blows
> away the released album. It certainly gave me a
> better appreciation of the record.

has anyone ever gotten info on what Mickboy's methods were (are?)? After all, he didn't have access to the tapes.

I don't agree that the sound quality is the real issue. It's mainly the songs. Mr D is too slow, Silver Train is too generic, Hide Your Love is underdeveloped and repetitive (though I love it), Can You Hear the Music is just campy...

But I agree with cc that the production in the wider sense -- including arrangement, composition, concept, etc. -- does play a big part in Goats being worse than Exile in many ways. Probably Jimmy Miller used to control the band in that regard, while Andy Johns, Ian Stewart and Mick and Keith may have turned the knobs on the consoles.

I'm also surprised that no one has mentioned Tops and Through The Lonely Nights. They would have made Goats several notches better, though certainly not any less mellow or slick.

travelling man, waiting on a friend, going down could have been on there too
through the lonely nights is one of mine all time favs. 73 for me is the best year studio and live.

Jochem Wrote:
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> travelling man, waiting on a friend, going down
> could have been on there too
> through the lonely nights is one of mine all time
> favs. 73 for me is the best year studio and live.

Don't forget Criss Cross Man and Separately.

I honestly do not know Separately. Please tell more!!!

Hear it for yourself!

Here's the link:

Separately
[www.sendspace.com]

It's a beautiful instrumental ballad inspired by Mick Taylor. It was recorded in late '72 and features Taylor on guitar and Nicky Hopkins on piano. It has been on several boots but the one I'm posting is from the LP Nasty Habits. One of the best sounding version in my opinion.

Mick Taylor finished the track years later by himself with vocals. It came out on a Japanese only CD single.

do not have my cc around will try tomorrow thanx anyways!!