This is not a Steve vs. Charlie thread, and it’s not meant to say “these songs are better than they ever were with Charlie, but say in the last 5-10 years of Charlie’s time with the band when he and the rest of the band slowed down slightly, are there any songs brought some new life too?

I think there a couple that stand out.

Rocks Off
- this song DRAGGED after about 2014 or so. The 2017 Barcelona version was an absolute disaster, and the two 2019 versions were similarly comatose. Fast-forward to Los Angeles Night 1 in 2021, and they ripped off a fantastic version that zips with lightning speed:

[youtu.be]

Subsequent versions haven’t been quite as fast, but the song is back to cruising speed and has a steady groove that gives it momentum.

19th Nervous Breakdown
- the easy choice, since they never attempted it with Charlie at the original pace aside from the ragged 1966 versions. The 1998 versions just sort of shuffled along and the 2005 rearrangement was just awful. That they pulled off faithful versions in their late 70s’ is pretty damn impressive.

[www.youtube.com]

All Down the Line
- the Havana Moon version is an awful performance, much like Rocks Off it just crawled along aimlessly after 2013. There have only been two versions with him and they have been terrific, especially night 2 in Los Angeles in 2021.

[youtu.be]

The Berlin 2022 version is also hot. [youtu.be]

Jumping Jack Flash
- again, Steve ramping up the tempo propelled it to heights it had not reached in a long time. Now that is played as the last song in the set, they’re able to drag it out more and really let Keith and Ronnie rip.

I know I keep using Los Angeles ‘21 as an example, but this version is just AWESOME. Breakneck tempo, extended outro, AND the only double ending since 1978. One of the best live versions ever.

[youtu.be]

Sympathy for the Devil
- not sure how much is due to Steve (though I appreciate the actually plays real drums instead of canned music for the intro) so much as it’s Keith actually playing real solos again instead of random chords every 10 seconds, but it’s back in my good graces again.

[youtu.be]

Emotional Rescue
- only played once with Steve, so maybe not a fair assessment, but to my ears he brings back the original groove and it sounds great. I hope it gets a few more airings.

[youtu.be]

Start Me Up
- the 2021 versions, specifically. Steve played it a little slower and the groove seemed closer to the studio take, which is still the definitive version. I wonder if it being played unusually in the early part of the set helped it.

[youtu.be]

Paint It Black
- Steve brings back the frantic drama of the original.

[youtu.be]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2024-06-11 15:57 by SoulSurvivor1990.

This was supposed to go in Tell Me. Hope it’s okay I posted here.

Great rundown, thanks.

Thank you.
But 19th nervous is Paint it black

Quote
Broesel2404
Thank you.
But 19th nervous is Paint it black

Fixed the link, thank you.

Thank you for the fixed link

I will add : LSTNT on the right tempo

I've noticed that Steve plays fairly hard during the piano solo on "Honky Tonk Women," Charlie used to sort of take that verse "off" and play it lightly, kind of a shuffle thing, during the latter years. I actually liked the way Charlie played it, because it made the piano solo seem kinda dreamlike and ethereal. But it's fine the way Steve plays it, too. It's a country rock anthem and Steve plays it as such.

I think Steve plays "Tumbling Dice" very well, but the fill he does in the outro is always exactly the same, whereas with Charlie there were often surprises when they get to the part where the full band would come back in.

In the beginning, Steve's "Start Me Up" sounded too much like the record to my ears, but as time goes on it's gotten more into the familiar live groove that it's had for years as a live warhorse.

Not to take anything away from Steve, but in later years the "slow songs" or ballads sounded absolutely great with Charlie giving a jazzy, trad jazz feel to the grooves that we all knew so well -- You Got The Silver was great, with Charlie laying down that New Orleans-style lazy beat behind the rhythm guitars. "Wild Horses" was great with Charlie, as were "Fool To Cry" and "Beast Of Burden" whenever they got played. Paradoxically, I think the ballads and softer/slower songs were a bit better with Charlie, had more feel and more swing, but the rockers have benefitted with Steve's presence, for sure.

All in all, there's no question that Steve Jordan has brought new energy and new life to the songs. I like it, I don't even really think too much about comparing it to Charlie. Which is a good thing!

They sound great. Steve is an amazing drummer. I saw him play recently in a pick-up band with New Orleans pianist Davell Crawford, on a one-off gig, and he was fantastic there as well.

Great post!
Agree wirh almost everything! I add IORR .
The 2 nights in LA 2021 are amazing (a reference with Steve).
Buti think Start me up should be on another list : "Songs better with Charlie"
On SMU Charlie is missing
other exemple :
- CYHMK
- Out of Control
- YCAGWYW
- Satisfaction
- BOB

Street Fighting Man

that said Steve is only copying what Charlie did on the record.

Shattered is also a good Steve track

personally I believe that you cannot compare Charlie with Steve - Charlie was the only drummer that was the centerpiece of the band without you noticing it - Steve is a good / excellent drummer but to heavy on the drums as well as many others - when playing live he was unique and everybody was behind him - even Darrill - now Darill tries to emulate Steve and goes down heavy - nothing against them But Charlie and Bill where the silent duo that emphasized the Ronnie and Keith guitars and the center stage was all for Mick

I am sure that many of you do not agree but this is what a Sones fan since Hyde Park 69 thinks
Ciao from Italy

Quote
TurningToGold2
I've noticed that Steve plays fairly hard during the piano solo on "Honky Tonk Women," Charlie used to sort of take that verse "off" and play it lightly, kind of a shuffle thing, during the latter years. I actually liked the way Charlie played it, because it made the piano solo seem kinda dreamlike and ethereal. But it's fine the way Steve plays it, too. It's a country rock anthem and Steve plays it as such.

I think Steve plays "Tumbling Dice" very well, but the fill he does in the outro is always exactly the same, whereas with Charlie there were often surprises when they get to the part where the full band would come back in.

In the beginning, Steve's "Start Me Up" sounded too much like the record to my ears, but as time goes on it's gotten more into the familiar live groove that it's had for years as a live warhorse.

Not to take anything away from Steve, but in later years the "slow songs" or ballads sounded absolutely great with Charlie giving a jazzy, trad jazz feel to the grooves that we all knew so well -- You Got The Silver was great, with Charlie laying down that New Orleans-style lazy beat behind the rhythm guitars. "Wild Horses" was great with Charlie, as were "Fool To Cry" and "Beast Of Burden" whenever they got played. Paradoxically, I think the ballads and softer/slower songs were a bit better with Charlie, had more feel and more swing, but the rockers have benefitted with Steve's presence, for sure.

All in all, there's no question that Steve Jordan has brought new energy and new life to the songs. I like it, I don't even really think too much about comparing it to Charlie. Which is a good thing!

They sound great. Steve is an amazing drummer. I saw him play recently in a pick-up band with New Orleans pianist Davell Crawford, on a one-off gig, and he was fantastic there as well.

It's funny you mention Beast of Burden, since I feel the 2021 version in Los Angeles was the most captivating version of the song since maybe Boston in 2013.

I also can't believe I forgot to mention Shattered. That one's gotten a HUGE resurgence whenever it's been played. MetLife 1 this year may be the most successful live version they've ever played.