Why the Rolling Stones ruled the Seventies

Telegraph UK ^ | 5/13/09 | Neil McCormick

[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.

[pissant]

When it comes to R&R, however simple is often better. I’ll listen to the Honkey Tonk Woman all day long before spinning a Rush CD

[calcowgirl]

Jethro Tull wasn’t pot smoking music? ;-)

j/k... I like most on your list, also.

[Revolting cat!]

Unauthorized Rolling Stones. One kickass of a band doing faithful covers of the early RS.

[pissant]

Yet, van Morrison and Dylan have put out stellar material over the span of 4 decades. That’s why they are so rare.

[Revolting cat!]

Exactly. Some grow, some don’t Another example is Michael nesmith of... of... of the Monkees, who’s put our several superb solo albums that nobody’s ever heard.

[RobRoy]

I admit that simpler can be better, and I also agree with you on Rush, and I REALLY tried to like Rush.

I feel that the rolling stones stuff, though relies only partly on music and mustly on attitude. I just need more music and a bit less attitude, proportionally speaking.

I am a huge fan of concert DVD’s. It was the Austrailia Eagles concert that caused me to really appreciate that band. Last year I saw i rolling stones concert (Bill clinton introduced them in the video) and was completely non-plussed - unless you really like Mick Jaggar prancing around on stage. Musically it was pedestrian.

[pissant]

Locomotive Breath played live scared the stoners off. ;o)

[Revolting cat!]

Musically it was pedestrian.

Ron Wood.

[dfwgator]

I would put Steely Dan from 72-77 in that category, all great albums (Can’t By a Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, The Royal Scam, Aja), that was a heck of a run.

[sushiman]

Sticky Fingers was the last Stones album I bought . Coinicidentally , for whatever reason , just yesterday I was thinking how much more I dug the earlier Rolling Stones music .

[pissant]

Goucho is also quite excellent

[pissant]

He’s have stolen the show from Mick.

[dennisw]

Brian Jones and Mick Taylor did great jobs. The Stones really went down hill after Ron Wood joined. Some Girls was their last good album with Shattered and some other memorable cuts
Mick Taylor left due to being gypped out of royalties. Blame Jagger and Richards for pushing him out due to greed and jealousy. Richards was zonked out a lot back then

Here is some primo Mick Taylor live with Stones (youtube)
Jagger plays second banana here to Mick's blistering guitar
Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter Philadelphia Shows Mick Taylor

With Dylan
Mick Taylor with Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler - License to kill

THE ROLLING STONES IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA, September 1st 1973
That's Mick Taylor in the bottom photo. I saw him once with John Mayall and once with Stones on the tour where M Jagger was wearing his stupid Omega suit which was a dumbass allusion to "Sympathy for the Devil" Some mild Satan worship going on. Drugs will do that to you

Omega get up

 
.
http://www.stones.at/stones/Vienna_1973/vienna_1973.htm
All photos were taken at 15,00 o´clock, Saturday 1 sept. 1973

[a fool in paradise]

There already was a boxed set of singles.

Their recording library is split among 2 labels.

[a fool in paradise]

Omega logo? I thought that was Jackie Kennedy's hairstyle...

[dennisw]

Thanks a lot for those Traffic links.
Their first album made a very big impact in the music world. I made a CD of their greatest tunes and listen to it a lot. Their music was mostly sunny psychedelic and was positive. “Heaven is in your mind” is very nice too

[a fool in paradise]

[rockrr]

Yea, OK...that would have been a blast too (messy but fun ;’}

[calcowgirl]

You're welcome.

I have yet to put together my own collection of favorite songs. But I really enjoy watching them. I'm totally void of musical ability so I'm in awe of musicians and I really like watching them perform extended versions or when they go off on jam sessions. I actually bought the Traffic DVD with those videos -- kind of nostalgic for me. I was just cruising youtube, listening to Roy Orbison's "Black and White Night" performance. It's pretty cool to watch the dueling guitars of Orbison, Springsteen and James Burton (second half of song), along with other notables playing/singing. Those kind of performances just makes me smile. I got the same feeling watching a series of videos (no longer on youtube) of the Traveling Wilburys. Great stuff.

[x]

The Stones were okay in the 1970s, but as time went you could be forgiven for wishing they'd hang it up and step aside.

There was a reason why the 70s spawned a movie and television series about a world where people's lives ended at 30.