You are nowhere near alone.....Mick Taylor is universally recognized as bringing out the best in Keith Richards and many, many, me included, feel he was better to much better than “Keefe.” The Taylor years correspond precisely with the golden years of the Stones. I’ve never heard of anyone but Carlie Watts given credit for playing drums on Sympathy. Taylor wasn’t with the band when this was recorded, but the best versions were live and featured leads by Richards followed by Taylor’s lead. Two geniuses leading back to back. Shelter live best versions are generally credited to Taylor’s leads.Look around YouTube, they’re easy to find.
See post above. Other than a few cymbal crashes, Sympathy was bongos, congas, and other percussion instruments. Listen closely and you won’t hear a high-hat, snare, tom, floor tom or bass drum. That arrangement and the lyrics were pure genius.