Posted on 05/13/2009 12:53:12 PM PDT by pissant
It was in the Sixties that the Rolling Stones first found global fame – but a magnificent new clutch of re-releases from the Seventies confirms it was then that Mick, Keef and the boys struck artistic gold.
Universal Music recently announced the imminent release of "14 remastered classic albums" from the Rolling Stones. It is a laughable claim. They may well be The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World (a title they conferred upon themselves when introducing live shows in the late Sixties), but I don't know if anyone but the most rabid fan could name more than a handful of Stones albums still worth listening to in their entirety, particularly when the list of the latest reissues excludes their Sixties heyday.
Yet, the imminent first batch of re-releases from the Seventies (Sticky Fingers, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock N Roll and Black and Blue) serve as a potent reminder of exactly why the Stones have endured. For a golden period, they released a series of albums almost untouchable in the pop pantheon as examples of free-flowing, high-spirited, elegantly extemporised blues, country and rock and roll. And, it was the replacement of the increasingly dysfunctional multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones with lyrical, technically audacious, young guitarist Mick Taylor (19 when he joined) that resulted in that golden period.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I can’t claim to have been a fan my entire life. I think it was really those “gangster” movies like Goodfellas and Casino that really turned me on to the Stones. They’ve got some excellent music to get “whacked” to.
Actually, that churning riff belongs to Richards, but otherwise, point taken.
“Gimme Shelter” was off “Let it Bleed” -1969.
I agree with several here. For me, I remember Elton John ruling the airwaves.
The Who could DEFINITELY blow the doors off ANYBODY period.
And... The golden age for the Stones (IMHO) was 1968 thru 1973.
Mick Taylor REALLY upped the Stones game. It’s a shame things didn’t go well with him there.
The Stones never impressed me in the Seventies or earlier/later ... prog rock fan here: Yes and Genesis (Gabriel era) owned the '70s as far as I'm concerned.
The longer and more complex the compositions the better ... I never got punk or any of the so-called 'rock critics' who screamed 'pretentious' at any band that really knew how to play their instruments.
If you think that it's pretentious...you'll be taken for a ride....
(Rael Lives!)
I also feel that the Stones best three albums are Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, and Sticky Fingers with Exile On Main Street getting honorable mention.
There are some great professionally done videos of the concert with original live footage on youtube:
Dear Mr. Fantasy
I think the Stones were at their very best when they went deeply into the old style electric blues. They could have showcased Chicago, Memphis or Texas blues in grand collaboration with the greatest living blues artists from the 1970s on and redirected music history, making them accessible to new generations.
As it was, there has been a disconnection between rock ‘n’ roll and blues, that leaves the former shallow, if innovative, and the latter somewhat stagnant.
The next collection produced for the Stones should be their complete history, by singles, not albums.
If you've never rented the digitally remastered "Last Waltz" I recommend it highly.
Or K.C and The Sunshine Band
The Stones with Gallagher would have been awesome!
Summer 1969 on “Let It Bleed”
There's a scene or two about that in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, I believe.
definitely. they had a good run. most rock bands don’t really have more than a few years of putting out top level material.
The Beatles went from the early 60s to the late 60s. They played Ed Sullivan in Feb of 64, 5 years later they were finished.
Led Zeppelin 1 came out in 1969, 4 was 1971, even Physical Grafitti was 75.
The Stones really flourished from the mid to late 60s to the early 70s. Haven’t really had a memorable song since Start Me Up in 1981.
Look at Van Halen, AC/DC, the Eagles, The Who, Pink Floyd, etc... the same 5-10 yr span.
It’s very rare a band goes more than a decade putting out good material.
U2 is sort of an exception. They had great albums from 83-90. Then sucked the entire 90s, and have had some decent stuff since this decade, but their last album was nothing special. Even the Vertigo album wasn’t that great.
If you can put out 3 great albums and a few good songs every now and then that’s pretty good.
But Mick even at 65 or whatever he is, is still the best front man in rock bar none. No one puts more into a show, owns the stage, and just exemplifies rock like Mick, even now. He still tears it up.
Oh, now there is some more great music!
They definitely did rock. When Roger would start twirling that microphone and Pete would start with the windmills...nothing like it.
It’s kind of sad now when it’s just the two of them. Pete still rocks, but Roger’s lost a few steps.
I’m not a huge fan of Traffic, though I was at one time and did buy a couple of their albums. I do appreciate Stevie Winwood as being quite talented though.
I’ve kinda drifted away from alot of the 60s and 70s pot smoking music, which I include Traffic and the Dead as part of. I now much prefer the kick butt R&R from that era. Stones, early ZZ Top, Allman Bros., Rory Gallagher, Jethro Tull; as well as my constant faves Dylan and Van the man.
I’ve been in several classic rock bands. The stones stuff is always the easiest to play and, to me, the most boring stuff. I never liked their music. That’s not to say they may not be able to put on a “show”, but the music itself? Meh.
Even The Who was better, at least to me. It is a LOT harder for me to emulate Entwhistle, I might add.
Well the guy is in his mid 60s. But when it was Pete-Roger-Ox and Moonie, those guys were all at the top of the game at their instrument. As the last "Who" (they haven't been the Who since 77), tours have shown, you just could not replace any one of those guys and have it be the same. Nobody drummed like Moon, nobody played bass like Ox, nobody plays guitar like Pete...and Roger's vocals also very unique.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.