Keno's ROLLING STONES Web Site
STONES FANS BOOTLEG SONG & ALBUM REVIEWS
Below is bootleg songs, plus released songs that didn't make it on to any studio LPs, and bootleg albums reviewed by fellow Rolling Stones fans. If you would like to join in here and write your own review go to the "Other Recordings Form".
Note: The "Overall Average Tongue Rating" is determined by what all the reviewers submitted with their reviews.
Travellin' Man
by Travellin' Man
March 2, 2008
Rating:
Recorded October 1970, there are several compilation bootlegs out there with this
"gem of a jam", on the tracklist. The quality of the recordings found of this
song vary considerably. The very best recording of this uptempo, bluesy rocker, which
"tastes" like 'Southern Rock' and fine, Kentucky Whiskey, is found on 'Alternate
Stones'. The 'Alternate Stones' version has Mick Taylor's crunchy/fuzzy guitar, up front
and center, highlighted clear and full. It is young Taylor's versatile guitar playing,
which is the outstanding contribution on this track, though Jagger sings his adlib,
"vowel movement" lines with true enthusiasm, and both Charlie Watts and Nicky
Hopkins, shine throughout the six minute song, respectively.
Under The Radar
by Jack Flash
December 12, 2005
Rating:
It makes absolutely no sense that this effortelessly spirited tune did not
make the final cut on A Bigger Bang and was relegated to the bonus DVD. Maybe
because it sounds a bit like "Child Of The Moon," but IMO "Under The
Radar" is better. It isn't perfect- the bridge is predictable Mick-by-the-numbers and
the mix isn't quite right (the vocals are too loud and the guitars not loud enough)- but
it's hypnotic and addictive nonetheless. A nice jangling Keith riff with Mick really
stretching out the vocals to give off a sneering, powerful vibe. This would have fit
perfectly on A Bigger Bang. either right after "Rough Justice" as the
second track or as the album closer. If you can't find this song elsewhere, buy the bonus
DVD- it's worth it for this one alone!
Criss Cross Mind
by Preaty Beat Up
May 4, 2005
Rating:
OOH I got alot of knots in my Haaair! 'Criss Cross Mind' is easily the coolest Stones tune
never released. Well to the main stream public anyway. It was recorded during the Goats
Head Soup sessions, but never made it on the album. Although it was given to a
Japanese movie called Metamorphosis in the mid 70's. It would have been great on Goats
Head. Actually, this would have been a fantastic song to put on Tattoo You,
would have fit great beside 'Waiting On Friend' since they come from the same time period.
The song has that classic 70's Stones feel to it. Start with a cool guitar riff, then a
cow bell. Then the band comes in with Jagger not far behind, sinigin' "Saave
Maae" (Save Me) with that classic Jagger drawl. The song also features song funky
keyboard lines that really set that the feel. All Stones fans should track this one down!
Stoned
By Kevin
April 4, 2005
Rating:
B-side to the Rolling Stone's second single "I Wanna Be Your Man". It's
definitely influenced by Booker T. & The MGS "Green Onions". This a good jam
session song with each of the Stones showing their prowess. Great guitar and piano
on this song with Mick occassionally mumbling words. Definitely a rare song to find.
I listened this on The Singles Collection: London Years.
No Spare Parts
By FW
December 17, 2003
Rating:
This is maybe the best country song that the Stones have ever recorded. It is up there
with Dead flowers and Far away eyes. It's a mystery to me why they haven't put this song
on Some Girls or even on Tattoo You! It has some great playing by Woody,
and Mick makes the song really come alive. All in all one of the greatest country songs
ever to be recorded by the Stones or any other artist!
Jah Is Not Dead
By FW
December 17, 2003
Rating:
The Stones have tried many times to make a reagge number only one time they succeed:
this is real reagge. Better than any of that "Feel on Baby" or "Cherry Oh
Baby" stuff. This is the real deal. Only a little sloppy sound quality. But some
great lyrics by Mick Jagger "If wou want to do coke do it in the other room" or
"Jah is not so wonderful but Jah is not dead"
Not The Way To Go
By Tony Silber
October 10, 2003
Rating:
There are two reasons this song does not get a 10 rating. The first is that it is not
mixed, and it is not edited. It's a muddy track, and nine-plus minutes long.
The second is that it has a weak bridge verse that JUST Barely misses fitting in with the
main part of the song.
That said, this is a Stones classic.
But I listen to it again and again, on airplanes, and in the car and anywhere else. For
some unexplainable reason it was never finished and released. It should be now. It is a
beautiful, high-energy song recorded during the Some Girls era, that's purely a guess,
based on guitar and drum sound preferred during those sessions and on Charlie Watts'
fills, and especially on energy and attitude. It's terrific. Amazing. A fast-paced
screed--sort of like 'Respectable' in that regard--about friends and girlfriends of Mick
screwing him over by betraying private stuff and capitalizing on his fame in TV
commercials, etc. As the song says, it's Not the Way to Go.
The pace is slightly slower than 'Rip This Joint'. The vocal is extraordinary, even in its
unmixed state. Nothing affected, with brilliant timing and sincere emotion. There is also
a great, understated guitar solo (the style is Keith's, but I don't know for certain) that
comes in at exactly the right time, and continues through the usual bar break where solos
fade back to the next vocal verse...................A gem.
Losing My Touch
By Brian Mack
April 21, 2003
Rating:
'Losing My Touch', one of four new songs on 40 Licks, isn't bad, but is far from
being the best Stones song. It's sung by Richards, which I hate to say, is part of the
problem. Now, before anyone eats me alive, I have to say that Keith is my favorite Stone,
and that contributed to how I rated the song, but he has sounded better on other tracks.
'Happy' and 'I Wanna Hold You' are some examples. Maybe if I heard a live version of this
song, I'd give it a higher rating, but as it stands with the studio cut, I can't describe
it as anything better than average. That being said, besides 'Don't Stop', this is the new
song that I listen to the most, thanks to Keith's turn on the mic, and it will grow on
you, just as it had with me. Regardless, new tracks like this are a testament to the
Stones' longevity, and may they continue rocking and rolling in the years to come.
Jivin Sister Fanny
By Tim
June 19, 2002
Rating:
From On the Rocks, an outtake CD. Not what was released on Metamorphous
or The London Years. It can barely be heard as the quality is poor - so turn it
up. It is a more ratty version featuring different lyrics, more keyboards and a distant
sounding guitar. Awesome.
Stewed and Keef (Brian's Blues)
By Honest Man
May 2, 2002
Rating:
Unreleased song found on several boots, has to be their best unreleased instrumental. A real nice blues guitar played by Keith, an equally great piano supplied by Stu and nice jazzy drums from Charlie. Bill adds the bass, I'm not sure if Brian is on here, one story goes he missed the session because of illness and that's where the song's sub-title comes from. Mick ain't on here either, but this song has a nice even blues feel to it that will put anyone at ease. Talk about a lost gem!
It's Funny
By Soul Survivor
February 23, 2002
Rating:
Let's all be honest, Keith's songs on Voodoo Lounge were not his best. "It's
Funny" is a Keith leftover from the Voodoo sessions and if you have heard
the song, you know it's better than Keith's "Thru and Thru". I question myself
often why this wasnt put on the album but the Glimmer Twins no better than I.........
Miss You
By Crazy Ivan
February 14, 2002
Rating :
There is a version of "Miss You" floating around that is 1 minute longer. If you
listen closely to the two versions, you can hear the cuts where they removed parts of this
longer version to make the version we are all familiar with. The mp3 I found said it was
off an 8 track, and the tape hiss is audible at some points. All the copies I found skip
in the beginning (I think that’s a digital skip in the mp3) and it sounds, well, like
it’s recorded off a tape. This extended version includes more solos, a longer intro
and more breaks with the “Aaah aaah aaah”s. There are even additional lyrics
after “Hey, let's go mess and fool around/You know, like we used to.” I like
this better than the usual version. It’s just more of a great song.
Jah Wonderful
By StonesFan
December 1, 2001
Rating:
The Stones tackle reggae successfully on this extended workout featuring Boz Scaggs
joining Jagger several minutes into this 10 minute jam. The bassline winds up in
"Emotional Rescue" a couple of years later. But they should've put this one an
official release. It smokes! Love Jagger's, "if you wanna do coke, do it in the other
room" line!
Fiji Jim (aka Fiji Gin)
By StonesFan
December 1, 2001
Rating: None given
Another lost gem from those days in late 70s when the Stone recorded several albums worth
of material in case Keith wound up with a long stay in the slammer. Sassy, greasy, full of
Jagger swagger and Richards grit and spit. Emotional Resuce could've used this
one or even Tattoo You. Recorded during Some Girls sessions in France.
Dance III
By StonesFan
December 1, 2001
Rating:
This became the abyssmal "Dance Pt.1"? Why ho why didn't they just leave well
enough alone. Instead of adding overdubs, smoothing out the melody and burying the guitars
they should've kept it gritty and mean like this wonderful outtake from Emotional
Rescue sessions. Whatta groove! Great funky weaves from Keef & Woody! and nice
Charlie roll and crash at the end!
Baby What's Wrong
By Anthony
September 22, 2001
Rating:
From the disc Bright Lights Big City and many others. Recorded in the very early
60's.It features brilliant interplay between Brian and Keith on guitars. Almost dual Lead
guitars. The Slide in between the singing is very catchy. Why it never ended up on an
official release is beyond me. The whole session includes many Blues gems with the Stones
at their best. also present are "Meet Me In The Bottom, "Tell Me Baby What's
Wrong", How Many More Times","Roadrunner", "Hi Heeled
Sneakers", "Bright Lights Big City" and "Diddley Daddy, which really
deserves it's own special mention. Even with it's initial speed problems it is one of the
catchiest minor key grooves the Stones have ever recorded. The harmonies are actually
flawless. The Stones were not known for their great harmonies in the early days, e.g. the
'organ' version of "Time Is On My Side" and "Tell Me".
Looking Tired
By Anthony
September 22, 2001
Rating:
Great guitar work by Keith on an outtake from the Between The Buttons sessions.
For such a bluesy tune (reminds me of "Hip Shake" for some reason) the lyrics
are odd, mentioning Chaucer and Steinbeck. Remember it was recorded during the most
British of all their discs BTB. Also Jagger was brushing up on his reading, which
can be attributed to Marianne's influence on him.
Misty Roads
By Brother Morphine
July 7, 2001
Rating:
Another great Stones song that never made it to an album. Keith's wicked guitar fuels the
song along with some tremendous piano work (Sounds like Stu). Mick's smooth delivery of
the lyrics is accompanied with his falsetto sound effects to give the song a mellow feel.
The sound of the song leads me to believe that it is from the late Seventies. Misty Roads
is a must for any Stone fan.
Brown Sugar [Birthday Version]
By L Sherwood
April 5, 2001
Rating: None given
One of the GREAT, fun Stones' outtakes! Recorded at an impromptu birthday party for Keith on December 19,1970 at Olympic Studios; this features the slide guitar of Mr. Eric Clapton, with perhaps Mick Taylor on bass.Slightly out of tune, it sounds like everyone is having a blast with this; Keith's vocals are mixed [or NON-mixed] WAY up, Stu is pounding the piano REAL hard, and some really neat riffs from E.C. The spontaneous feeling on this track is so good,that this ALMOST became the released version of "Brown Sugar"! Another track just BEGGING for the light of public release.....
I Can See It
By Richard Blaine
January 3, 2001
Rating:
A brilliant unreleased track circa late '66, early '67. Also known as 'Get Yourself
Together', it starts with a nice Richard's fuzz riff, and continue's apace with a great
Jagger vocal, a bubbling bass line and some spare but exceptional lead work, presumably
from Keith.
Why this gem missed a place on Aftermath or Between the Buttons is
beyond me.
We Love You
By Manuel
September 28, 2000
Rating:
"We Love You" is another great song which never appeared on a studio album. It
was released on August, 18th 1967 with "Dandelion" on the B-Side, to thank
the public and especially the fans for supporting the band during Micks and Keith' trials.
It starts with Stus great keyboard solo. Mick voice sounds great and John Lennon and Paul
McCartney put on great background vocals.
Claudine (a.k.a. Accidents Will
Happen...)
By Dr.Stones
August 16, 1999
Rating:
Another great unreleased track from Compass Point 1979; this was actually going to be the
opening track for Emotional Rescue-until Claudine Longets lawyers threatened to
sue.. A great barrelhouse rocker; all about a girl named Claudine who tried to shoot her
skier boyfriend, a got away with simple assault by telling the judge it was an 'accident'
Mick lays on the sarcasm thick and heavy, as Keith picks his way thru the song, Ronnie
adding licks in-between and Charlie and Bill rolling the song thru...never really fades
out, more fades UP and out...GREAT!
Do You Think (I Really Care?)
By Dr.Stones
August 16, 1999
Rating:
Stones dipping their toes into country waters again....with typically great results. A
close cousin musically to 'Dead Flowers' (although Ronnies slide is much more fluid than
Mick T's) Lyrically, its another nice slice of Micks fantasy life in NYC, looking for his
girl on the A train...at the Giants game...etc. His singing on it is great,going from
sardonic to truly touching as he goes from 'girl' to'woman' at the end....the only
question is- is that Stu or Mac on the piano?
TRAVELLING MAN
By Tim Dunlevie
April 28, 1999
Rating:
On the Time Trip cd.
Up tempo rock song from 1969 sessions with Mick Taylor on lead guitar.Mick Taylor gets
right into this one and the Nicky Hopkins's piano playing is also worth a listen. Widely
available on other various boots too.
Recorded during the session when Brian Jones died, I think at electra studio.
Honky Tonk Women
(Deep South Version)
By Lord Voodoo
February 20, 1999
Rating:
Not much different from the orginal, but its a different better take. Mick sings with this
smug wistle mouth (you know when someone wistles everytime they say the letter
"s"). Real nice. I have heard there is a full version with the Jackson verse,
this is not that version. This version is available on Mad Shadows and probably a
few other things. It has record backgound
noise, which is actually a plus! The whole effect is dark and different from the original.
Brown Sugar
(Mellow)
By Lord Voodoo
February 20,1999
Rating:
This is the exact same song as the original, except it is an outtake with a different
Taylor part. Instead of the strong, get up in there guitar from the original, Taylor lays
down a very mellow track which contrasts nicely to the Keith part. Available on all sorts
of things, including Dartford Renegades and Tricute to Chuch and Bo.
Cops and Robbers
By Matt Neylon
February. 15,1999
Rating:
This is off the bootleg cd with the same name, with three other radio broadcasts. I love
this song, its the only version I know of. A nice unorthodox blues song with great vocals
by Mick and harmonica by Brian. For those who have never heard this song, the lyrics
during the verses are delivered in almost spoken, storytelling fashion. The song is a
Muddy Waters cover, I may be wrong. The other nice thing about this song is its about five
minutes, not the usual length for the Stones in 1963. The drum sound for Charlie on the
song is classic also.
Do You Think I Care
(aka When the rain falls, aka Saw her on the subway)
By Mr. Voodoo
January 20, 1999
Rating:
This is another late seventies outtake from the Some Girls sessions. This song is
basically keith and the band screwing around and sounding a whole lot like the Flying
Burrito Brothers. "Think" is a bit country with a bounce. Lots of pedal slide
and a bounding bass line that makes you want to drive through a corn field at high speed.
Of course there are no corn felids
in the city. I like this song, the version I have is incomplete, it just ends abruptly. It
might have been a good song if it were ever worked out and pehaps reworded so that it
actually said something. If there exists a perfect quality copy that doesn't suddenly end
and is a little more produced, it is worth seeking out.
Lonely at the Top
By Mr. Voodoo
January 18, 1999
Rating:
To be honest I have no idea of the history behind this song. It is a late seventies song,
I could get the date it was recorded, if I were at home. The song is one of those early
slowish punk Jagger songs. Mick mumbles through most of the song, with one of those
intense, hypnotic keith/ronnie endless backgorunds. I love this one. Then again I love the
Stones. It is available on "Lonely at the Top", from the same people who gave us
"Static in the Attic". I have never seen this song on any other album. If you
can find it, and you enjoyed the emotional rescue/somegirls sessions/recordings, pick it
up.
Brown Sugar
(Slide Version)
By Mr. Voodoo
January 18, 1999
Rating:
It depends who you ask as far as I know. There are people who are sure that it is Eric
Clapton on slide guitar and people who say that it is Taylor. I don't know, if you do, and
you actually have proof, tell me. This is basically a slightly quicker version of 'Brown
Sugar' with someone on Slide. Real Yummy. Quality could be better, but not much. Its
pretty widely available, can be found on many outtakes. I have it on "Shot of
Salvation" which incidentally is an incredable album. This version is different than
the studio version, it sounds more like a live version. I can't recall when it was
recorded.
Loving Cup
(aka Gimme a Little Drink, 1969)
By Mr. Voodoo
January 18, 1999
Rating:
Available on Dartford Renegades. This is a perfect cut of the slow, early vesrion
of 'Gimme a Little Drink', later renamed 'Loving Cup'. Take away the pianos, cut the tempo
in half and add a scathing solo guitar ala Keith. This is the version of the song that the
attempted (I say attempted because it was not done particularly well) to play at the Hyde
Park Memorial concert
for Brian. The track was supposed to have ended up on thier upcomign album Let it
Bleed, but basically it didn't fit, so it was held off. Then of course it was
reworked and was eventually released on exile, along with everything else that has been
incomplete from 1969.
Gangster Maul
By Mr. Voodoo
January 18, 1999
Rating:
Available on Lonely at the Top. This song is extremely slow and almost
irritatingly so. It is an outake from the Some Girls sessions. It could easily
have been placed onto emotional rescue as one of the slow songs. Jagger sort of slurrs
through the vocals, adding to the effect that the band had no idea what was going on when
they recorded this one. However, it
isn't a bad song by any means and is a valuable time peice to see the direction that the
band was heading towards.
Act Together
By Mr. Voodoo
January 18, 1999
Rating:
There are many different versions of this Jagger/Richards song. The most obvious can be
found on Now I've Got My Own Album by Ron Wood, or was it Gimme Some Neck?
Whatever. There is a better, perfect quality all instrumental jam of this song available
on Static in the Attic. There is also a garbled version available on plais
pigalli 6. Its a nice sort of outside
your barbqing song. Again to understand what this song sounds like, think late seventies,
synthesized organ, accoustic, slow jam.
We Had It All
By Mr. Voodoo
January18, 1999
Rating:
Keith Richards Cover that would have been a gem on any album, even the Taylor era albums.
A slow Keith love/reminscing ballad. This song always brings to mind "All About
You". However, I prefer 'We had it All'.
Memo From Turner
(slow Funky Version never released)
By Mr. Voodoo
January 14,1999
Rating:
There are three versions of this song. Originally, the song was written by Keith Richards
and used by Mick Jagger for the movie Performance. It originally appears on the Performance
soundtrack. The original version is a very bumpy version. The second version of the song
was recorded by Mick Jagger with another band, which included Ry Cooder, among others. It
was released as a Mick Jagger single. This second version is very heavy with slide guitar.
This version is the most common version and can be found on the London Years
singles collection. The third and final version, and in my opinion the best version is
slow and very funky. This unfortunately is not as easy to find. It can be found on many
outtake cds, such as RSVP or On The Rocks.
Voodoo Brew disc 2 - Keith Plays His Favorites
by devilsadvocate
August 15, 2010
Rating:
I am not a fan of Keith Richards. In fact, I am often both perplexed and irritated by the
unquestioning admiration so many fans seem to have for him. To me, his unending diatribes
about Brian Jones make him look both bitter and vindictive. But this highly unusual little
bootleg recorded during the Voodoo Lounge sessions show the man in an entirely different
light. Here you get to meet Keith the blues lover in an unguarded moment.
If you're looking for explosive electric guitars, the pounding of the bass and the rhythm
of the drums, this bootleg is not for you. There is only Keith, his acoustic guitar…
and whoever happens to walk by and stop to talk to him at any moment. There are lots
of stops and starts here. Keith will start playing and then stop to comment, or to talk or
listen to someone walking by. Yet there are some musical gems here, the highlights of
which are a couple of renditions of Blind Gary Davis' "Cocaine Blues". I
must say that this song is among the best things I've ever heard from Keith.
The blues genre is well represented here (and Keith's damaged voice is perfectly suited
for it), but there are others as well. Towards the end, Keith even does a very slow
"Please Please Me". He then stops and announces: "Horrible Beatles
bridge, I'm not gonna do it", before proceeding to do just so… sort of.
I'm finding it very difficult to give a rating to this bootleg, precisely because it is so
different. On the one hand I love the intimate portrait of Keith but on the other I
would like to hear more of this wonderful music. My 7.5 rating is therefore a sort of
compromise.
Rocks Off! (aka Perth '73)
by Travellin' Man
March 2, 2008
Rating:
A stellar "in you face" Soundboard of the Perth, Australia, 2/24/73 show.
(Though I have heard some tracks are from Sydney, a few days later.) It seems everyone's
amp was turned up high, (Bill Wyman's Bass sounds maxed!) for this high energy, hard
rocking, 1973 Live show(s). From Jagger's opening, "OHEE YEA!", and Keith's fist
slamming riffs to begin, 'Brown Sugar', the listener knows the Stones were chomping at the
bit to get this show underway, and everyone, including the listener, is going on an
adrenaline pumping ride for nearly 70 minutes! Fans of the famous Brussels boots will be
struck by just how different this one sounds from the classic Brussels recorded 8 months
later. Both boots deserve a 10, and ,'Rocks Off', contains songs not on Brussels: 'Bitch',
'Love In Vain', Sweet Virginia, and 'Little Queenie'. All great versions too. It is a
"must have" boot for any Rolling Stones fan's collection.
HBO Madison Square Garden Broadcast
By Anthony Nasti
April 1, 2003
Rating:
This is a CD of the January 18th, 2003 Rolling Stones concert special broadcasted on HBO.
I attended this concert and it was great. The band was just amazing.
Kicking off with a high-energy "Street Fighting Man", this album never fails to
disappoint. "Don't Stop" is a hundred times better than the album version, while
"Monkey Man" is brilliant. The Stones do a surprisingly sincere version of
"Angie" and "Let It Bleed" is great. There is also the greatest live
version of "Midnight Rambler" ever. Mick's harp is amazing, but it's Keith's
lead guitar that makes this the ultimate version. His slow blues solo in the middle is
great, but the way he just lightspeeds through the finale is a gasser. Keith's solo set is
great. "Thru & Thru" is very heartfelt, but it's "Happy" that does
it. This is due in part to Ronnie's brilliant great pedal-steel slide guitar. Then Mick
comes back out, and the 1-2-3 of "Gimme Shelter", "You Got Me Rocking"
and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" slams hard. Lisa Fischer shines on
"Shelter", "Rocking" blows the joint's roof off, and Ronnie blasts his
way through "Knocking". Then, Sheryl Crow comes out for "Honky Tonk
Women", and her and Mick are an inspired pairing. "Satisfaction" kicks
major crap, but it's what follows that is great. This is the B-stage set. They really rip
through "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll", give it all up with a blistering "When
The Whip Comes Down", and blow everything out of proportion with a maniacal
"Brown Sugar". Then there's the encore. "Sympathy For The Devil"
features a killer solo by Keith (great axe interplay between him & Woody), but
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" is furiously done. Ronnie is the real star here,
as his lead guitar steals the show.
The Satanic Sessions
By Corey
December 19, 2002
Rating:
Wow! This was a shocker. Admittedly, TSMR is one of my least favorite Stones
albums from the Abkco years. However, this boot seriously forced me to reassess my opinion
of that record. This bootleg has no vocals whatsoever...which in this case is a good
thing. Without Jagger's vocals, the music seems to come alive. It's like one of those 3d
art pictures where if you stare long enough, something pops out at you. In this case,
there are some crazy guitar riffs that were buried beneath the vocals on the released
album. This boot basically traces the making of TSMR, adding some blues jams and
other odds and sods from the period. The band seem to be in surprisingly good form despite
all their legal troubles and the gradual deterioration of Brian Jones. A real treat if you
can find it!
The Complete Woodstock Tapes
By RICHIE
March 23, 2002
Rating:
Rehearsals for the 1978 US tour, recorded in New York State's Bearsville Studios.
If, like me, you possess a few '78 live boots then you may be surprised to hear the Stones
actually rehearsed at all! Nevertheless this box set documents the Stones, Stu & Sugar
Blue getting most of the 'Some Girls' into shape, as well as a few inspired blues jams,
some covers, and most tantalisingly, some choons that never made it into the setlists,
like "Tell Me","Memory Motel", and best of all, a stunning electric
"CocksuckerBlues".
Bear in mind these are rehearsals, so some songs aren't complete, some are just
instrumental, ans some are interminable in length, but it's fascinating insight into the
band, and one of the few places to hear a Charlie Watts drum solo.
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
By Zack Taylor
November 21, 2001
Rating:
This one-CD "complete show" (according to the label) on Home Records documents a
June 28, 1978 concert at the Midsouth Coliseum in Memphis, TN. The Stones were clearly
giddy playing in Elvis' home town, putting 'Honky Tonk Women' near the top of the set,
Mick talking about how much of a "treat" it is to play there considering how
important the town is "as far as music is concerned," beckoning the crowed to
emit a Rebel Yell, and even throwing in a rip-roaring version of 'Hound Dog' to please the
locals. After a warmup of 'Let it Rock' and 'All Down the Line' comes the heart of the
show, the then-new Some Girls material. The first thing one notices about these
performances (in stellar sound) is the fact that Ronnie's substance intake' hadn't yet got
the better of him as in the 80s: his playing is stellar throughout. 'Miss You' never drags
despite its 7:48 length,' a rare Imagination is a treat (strangely Mick sings "all
the girls in Detroit"- maybe "all the girls in Memphis" goes too trippingly
' off the tongue; Keith's liquid groove on 'Shattered' is superb, and a 1-2-3 of
'Respectable', 'Beast', and 'Whip Comes Down' delights. Another surprise: 'Love in Vain',
the old showcase for little Mick, remains! Ronnie makes it his own with his patented
bottleneck on that dobro-type twangy guitar. The show finished with a stomp through the
standards, 'Tumbling Dice', 'Happy', 'Brown Sugar', and a furious, 6:30 'Jumping Jack
Flash'. Whew! The Stones are a Mean Machine on this one. The show is available from other
sources, and may have been a radio broadcast, I'm not sure, but a keeper in any case.
Great for a party!
Get Your Leeds Lungs Out
By Zack Taylor
November 9, 2001
Rating:
This a BBC recording of a show at Leeds University March 13, 1971, part of their short
"farewell tour" of England before the group went to France to escape the taxman
and record Exile. With Hopkins, Keys, and Price in tow, the band was as in sync
as a unit as it ever would be, and coupled with the stellar sound thanks to the radio
gear, this is arguably the best Stones concert ever (one could also make a case for Brussels
Affair.) Unlike that show, however, Mick T never overplays, delivering his best 'Love
in Vain' solo ever. The set contains "new" songs 'Dead Flowers' and 'Bitch',
'Stray Cat' has speeded up from the 69 version, 'Midnight Rambler' has a new intro, and
most special, there's a complete rearrangement of 'Satisfaction', which remains
unidentifiable for 45 seconds. The two Chuck Berry covers just smoke. The excellence of
these shows foreshadowed the amazing work that was to come out of Keith's basement a few
months later. An absolute must for all live Stones fans. The Who is famous for smoking at
Leeds, but the Stones did too!
BEDSPRING SYMPHONY REVISITED
By Andrew Maguire
October 5, 2000
Rating:
I thought I had the Stones' best live album when I bought Very Ancient, Thank You
Kindly (the legendary American tour of 1972) but this album topped even that. It
would have to be my favorite live album, alongside Lou Reed's Take No Prisoners
and Neil Young's Weld.
The recordings were made during the 1973 European Tour in Newcastle, London and Brussels.
The sound quality is impeccable and the performances are electric. On this album are by
far the best live performances I have heard of "Gimme Shelter",
"Happy", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Midnight
Rambler" and "Tumbling Dice". Mick Taylor shines throughout the album and
his guitar solos in "Street Fighting Man", "You Can't Always..." and
"Gimme Shelter" (a song that had previously seemed to me to lose its qualities
when performed live) are truly sensational. It is his lead guitar on "Midnight
Rambler" that makes this definitive version of the song. Also, "Dancing with Mr.
D" and "Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" are better than the studio recordings.
Keith and Mick's vocals are excellent throughout, particularly when they combine on
"Happy". "Rip This Joint", "Jumping Jack Flash",
"Starfucker" and "Street Fighting Man" are all very strong and Keith's
guitar work is excellent on all, particularly "Gimme Shelter", "Street
Fighting Man" and "Rip This Joint". Bill and Charlie are very good as well,
but Taylor steals the show with his stupendous lead guitar, proving that he is probably
the best British lead guitarist behind Jimmy Page (Yes, better than Clapton). I do have
deep sympathies for those of you who do not own this gem - and I bargained an astonishing
9% off the asking price!
Live'R Than You'll Ever Be
By Steve Cronen
April 7, 2000
Rating:
Makes Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! look like a third-rate piece of garbage. I felt like the
luckiest person in the world when I found a copy of this vinyl at a record show in August,
'99. The performances on this album, done at the Oakland Coliseum on November 9, 1969, are
all excellent. Unfortunately, while the actual show showcased about 17 songs, the original
LP only contains 10 songs. Not to worry, though, they're still top-notch. "Jumping
Jack Flash" and "Stray Cat Blues" are gone; "Gimme Shelter" and
"I'm Free" are in. Being the "I'm Free" devotee I am, this was a
welcome replacement. The version of the song on this album beats all others, including he
studio version (nice, but crappy solo) and Stripped version (ugh...). Mick starts the
proceedings with, "Can ya hear that?... Keep playing, man," which leads directly
into "Carol." "Gimme Shelter" steals the show... for now. Merry
Clayton adds that sheer breath of power on the studio version, but this one doesn't
disappoint. Mick screams, "Rape! Moi-da! It's just a shot away!" As always,
"Sympathy" is great, and "I'm Free" steals the spotlight once again.
"Live with Me" is wonderful as always, though Mick's, "I think we got a
problem, I think we got a problem..." rant gets tired.
The second side opens with, "As you may have imagined... we're gonna do another blues
for ya." "Love in Vain" is great, and it leads in to a good rendition of
"Little Queenie." "Midnight Rambler" is one of the only songs which I
can honestly say I like the Ya-Ya's version better. It just has more power and vigor. But
"Honky Tonk Women" is great, and Mick and Charlie go crazy beforehand.
"Street Fighting Man" is the other aforementioned "I like the Ya-Ya's
version better" track. But it's still great, nonetheless. A while ago, I made a CD-R
version of this album, and added a couple of bonus tracks that I felt should have been
included on the original: "Satisfaction" from Madison Square Garden, and
"Under My Thumb" from Altamont. Great versions of those songs are on the film
Gimme Shelter! Oh, and who couldn't love that White Album-esque album sleeve?
Bright Lights, Big City
(Dandelion DL 099/100)
By 2000 Man
January 7, 2000
Rating:
Why such a high rating for a Stones boot with no new source material on
it? Because this fifty song, two cd set contains pretty much every loose end of Brain
Jones era Stones in best available quality all in one really nice package. The discs fit
in a slipcase, like the Rock And Roll Circus set, with a nice full color
thirty-two page booklet. The cover is the same as the book From Mason’s Yard To
Primrose Hill, and the discs themselves are silk screened with the same picture. To
get every track on this set, I think you would need at least five cd’s, and I think
you’d still need to find the Officially released (on vinyl) ep, Got Live If You
Want It. The discs are organized by studio recordings and then live recordings, all
in chronological order.
The set begins with studio outs and demos. Dandelion starts right
at the beginning with the five IBC demos. If you’ve read that the Stones didn’t
sound too confident at these sessions, figure that person was smoking crack. The
Stones are pulling these off with no overdubs, and these sparse blues songs still sound
fresh today, thirty-seven years after they were recorded. You won’t find cleaner
versions anywhere else. “Road Runner” and “I Want To Be Loved” are the
best of these sessions.
From there we get the Chess Studios 1964 tracks that didn’t
get released. Of these, “Stewed and Keefed (Brian’s Blues)” and “Down
In The Bottom” are the best. Brian was sick when they recorded “Stewed And
Keefed,” so he isn’t on this slow blues. Even though the Stones were very young
and very British, they understood the blues, and at Chess they really learned how to play
the blues with the subtlety of their American idols. “Looking Tired” from RCA
studios, 1965 is the last studio cut on the set.
The live material is from several sources. All the Stones’
Ed Sullivan appearances are here in terrific quality. Both NME Pollwinner’s concerts
are here. Don’t expect the same type of sound quality as the Sullivan or studio
material. I’ve never heard pristine recordings of these events. The performances are
inspired, and provide further evidence of how much energy the early Stones unleashed in
their live shows. We also get the TAMI show, Ready, Steady, Go! and Sunday
Night at the London Palladium material. It’s not the rarest stuff, but it’s
all right here in one really great package.
For me though, I think my favorite part of the set is the
official Got Live If You Want It ep. I don’t have it on cd from any other
source, and Dandelion used great care getting this important Stones performance onto this
set. My nomination for the next ABKCO project is to release the first ep, Five By Five,
and the Got Live If You Want It ep’s all on one disc. But until then, if you
have Invasion Unlimited’s Beat Beat Beat At The Beeb and this set,
you’ve got just about every well recorded live document with Brian Jones available.
The fine artwork that comes with this set makes it a real collector’s item. For the
new collector this would be an almost perfect purchase. For the long time collector it
might not seem that special at first glance, but having all these tracks in one place with
the really great picture booklet will make it a favorite before long.
Jamming With Edward
By The Midnight Rambler
December 31, 1999
Rating:
Well, this album is not a boot 'cause it was released by Rolling Stones Records
in 1972, but it isn't an ordinary album...
Jamming With Edward was recorded in 1969, during the Let It Bleed
sessions, when Mick, Charlie, Bill, Ry Cooder & N. Hopkins were waiting for Mr.
Riffchards. The album is very short, about 25 min., and it only has 6 tracks: The 1st
track ( "The Boudoir Stomp" ) is the worst of the set, but then we find "
It Hurts Me Too", the gem of the album. I think this song would have fitted in Let It
Bleed perfectly. Then we have "Edwrd's Thrump Up" and "Blow with Ry"
(where Ry shines). After that you have "Interlude A La El Hopo"/ "The
Loveliest Nigth Of The Year" ( where Mick shines singing like a woman) and, last but
not least, the other gem: "Highland Fling", where Nicky shows us how he can play
the piano. If you like Nicky Hopkins you must get this album 'cause this is a more Nicky's
album than Stones'. However, if ya are a Stones fan, get it , 'cuz it's very, very funny.
Rolling Stones Live In Ft. Worth June 24, 1972 (2nd Show)
Ft. Worth Special (Boss Hawg)
Ft. Worth Express (Turd On The Run)
Ahmet Ertegun, Thank You Kindly (Coast2Coast C2C 01)
A Few Hearts Broken, A Few Strings Busted (Scorpio SCRO 010/011)
By 2000 Man
September 4, 1999
Rating:
That’s a lot of titles for a concert, and I can throw in one more label that I
don’t have.(Vinyl Gang released Ft. Worth Express)
The Ft. Worth material has been available in truncated form, usually with the Philly show
from 72 for years. These shows were filmed for the Stones’ movie, Ladies And
Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones. Who knows how security got so good on these
recordings, and why we haven’t had much in terms of these concerts leak out over the
past 27 years.
Boss Hawg was a CDR bootleg label that was a real flash in the pan. I think they only made
four releases, and I only have two of them. This show, Ft. Worth Special absolutely blew
my mind! It’s a soundboard from the Ft. Worth show, and although incomplete (all the
single CD releases are incomplete and are missing part of 'Brown Sugar' and all of 'Happy'
and 'All Down The Line') this is one of the best Stones concerts ever captured. Boss Hawg
made the original release of this show (some tapers probably had it already), and
generated a huge buzz about this show. The soundboard recording has some hiss, and is a
little lacking in high end, but the drums are crisp, the band hot and the performance is a
killer! Charlie is mixed right up front and Keith and Mick T. are on equal footing in the
mix. 'Rocks Off' and 'You Can’t Always Get What You Want' really do it for me.
I’d say they’re the definitive versions. Mick T. plays beautifully on the
latter, while Keith and Charlie dominate Rocks Off.
While the problems on FW Special were minor, and certainly not annoying, when you get a
show that’s as good as Brussels 73, the inevitable upgrade search begins. The first
one I found was Turd On The Run’s Ft. Worth Express. I liked the way they
did the 78 tour rehearsals, and kind of hoped that they’d get the complete show. Turd
cleaned up some of the hiss, but Turd seemed to make the bass a little mushier, and there
still was a problem with the highs. Turd used a CDR on this release, but the artwork is
great. The back cover is a nod to Boss Hawg’s original, but the front cover is glossy
and inside the foldout are better reproductions of the pics on the back of FW Special and
lots more. A nice upgrade, and one I’d be happy with.
But that would only be if I hadn’t heard Coast2Coast’s Ahmet Ertegun, Thank You
Kindly. C2C made a great cover, and theirs has the cover shot from Turd’s
release on their inside front cover. These guys really did this show right. Someone that
has access to studio equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it cleaned this show up
from a DAT clone. Bobby Keys comes blasting through, the bass isn’t mushy at all, and
the guitars just bite through the mix. Mick T. may get a little more room in this mix, but
it’s not by much. 'Don’t Lie To Me' is the most familiar track from this show,
and it just jumps right out at you on this recording. This is just one of the best Stones
bootlegs ever. The previous releases are excellent, but this one just has
the tender loving care this old tape needed. Hat’s off to C2C!
Scorpio released a 2 CD set from the Ft. Worth shows recently (1999). While I didn’t
expect an upgrade of Ahmet Ertegun, I hoped maybe the show would be complete. I was half
right – the first and second shows are complete, (at least song wise – I
didn’t compare between songs, and I’m not gonna) but these are very good
audience recordings. So these are probably copied from one of the Japanese 4 CD sets, so
you save some money there. Also, the first show has Sweet Black Angel in it, so it’s
great to hear. If you can find the C2C release, grab it, but if not, don’t hesitate
to get Vinyl Gang’s Ft. Worth Express or Turd On The Run’s Ft.
Worth Express. These are the best documents of the 72 tour available, and that’s
saying a lot.
Unplugged – Invasion Unlimited
IU
9542-1
By:2000 Man
April 14,1999
Rating:
This one’s so damn good it was copied about five minutes after it was released!
It’s also available as Acoustic Motherfuckers on Kobra KRCR 04, with a few
extra tracks from Voodoo Brew that don’t add to the listening experience of this cd.
Try and find the original, it’s put together like an album.
We’re looking at the plainest cover without a rubber stamp that I’ve seen in
quite some time, but it does evoke the original Beggar’s Banquet, and this
has some Beggar’s Banquet era tracks on it, so it works for me. Invasion
Unlimited bills this collection of outs from 68 – 73 as "“blah, blah, blah
Together they make up for a superb “Unplugged” cd (with the occasional
electric guitar here and there) recorded long before the days of MTV.” They’re
right, it is a superb little collection of mostly acoustic songs. The best thing is that
it doesn’t drown in a sea of “mellow” like so many acoustic records by the
MTV generation can.
Unplugged fires up with 'Dear Doctor' (take 1), which is widely available, and usually in
high quality. This release is certainly no exception, and the quality of this recording
sets the tone for the others on this release. There aren’t any speed problems to be
found, and if there’s a crackle, you’re missing the point – listen to the
music and you just aren’t going to hear technical imperfections on this CD. It sounds
as good as ABKCO CD’s of the same period, and I doubt these guys had “original
master recordings” to work from, so I’m impressed with the results.
If you’ve got a large collection you’re sure to have most of these songs by now.
Some tracks, like the terrific 'No Expectations' out, and the long, very different version
of one of my favorites, 'Sister Morphine', were available on Scorpio’s Time
Trip Vol. 4. Both are spectacular looks at what should be considered the Stones at
their best. 'Family' and 'Blood Red Wine' are commonly called Trident Demos, and
don’t sound like vinyl sources here to me. The acoustic version of 'All Down
The Line' from the NME flexi-disc also appears here, with wide dynamic range and a nice
rich sound.
One of the wish list songs of the No Security Tour shows up also. 'You Got The Silver'
appears with the officially released backing track, but Mick takes the vocals on this
version. Keith adds some charm of his own to the official track, but Mick seems to have
laid a guide vocal for Keith on this one that Keith followed to the best of his ability.
Mick doesn’t have the sincerity that Keith does, but he adds a bit of a chiseled
heart to the feel of the song. It works; it just works differently
.
Several other tracks sound great, like 'You Can’t Always Get What You Want' without
the stupid choir, 'Blood Red Wine', and an interesting version of 'Country Honk' without
the car horn. Unplugged would make a good official album. Considering that Stripped
has been released officially, this makes a nice look at what a similar idea would sound
like twenty-five years earlier.
Piece of Gold
By: 2000 Man
April 14,1999
Rating:
Technically the first show of the Bridges To Babylon tour, the 9 - 23 - 97 Chicago show is
brilliantly (though incompletely) captured on Phoenix’ Piece of Gold. The CD
itself is gold, and the overall theme of the packaging is gold. A gold tongue adorns the
cover and there are a few nice pictures over a gold background inside. A major deal is
made of the gold CD on
the front and back covers. A gold disc usually is a sign that the sound quality is
something special, and Phoenix has gotten their hands on a very high quality tape, indeed!
The sound is really rich and full, with great separation on the guitars and no boominess
in the vocals. Charlie’s drums are crisp and well defined and the bass doesn’t
sound at all mushy. Whoever mastered this one gets credit for letting things stay like
they were at the show. Piece of Gold is a very professional release.
Sound quality aside, the show is very good. It was windy in Chicago this first night of
the tour and a lot of the initial reviews said the wind carried a lot of the music right
out of the stadium. It’s too bad, because the show was very well played. 'Out of
Control' already was better than the version on the Bridges to Babylon album,
with the muted trumpet lingering eerily in the background throughout this performance.
Bernard Fowler supports Mick very well, and is never intrusive .Mick seems in good
spirits, blurting “Chicago - da Bulls, da Bears and now da Stones.” The audience
eats it up, but they sound far away. Mick also has fun with the web choice, and overall
his vocals are very strong. Keith and Ronnie sound great, with a nice weave going through
most songs. Their highlights are definitely on the B- stage material, where they really
rip through 'Little Queenie', give up the goods with an exceptional 'Let It Bleed', and
blow the proverbial roof off the joint with 'The Last Time'. The sound on the B stage is
every bit as top notch as the main stage. The only bad thing is that the show is
incomplete. At least we get everything through the B stage, and what we are left with is a
very engaging document of the Stones at their best; hitting the mark on familiar tracks
like 'Satisfaction', and flexing their muscle on new material like 'Out of Control'. I
highly recommend this one!
Hampton 81
By Mr. Voodoo
April 1, 1999
Rating:
This album is a double live bootleg release of the pay-per-view special in from the 1981
tour. Because of this, the sound quality is great. For starters, it has a wonderfully full
crowd noise throughout the show. You really feel that there is a concert going on, but it
doesn't get in the way of the music. This is the last tour (excluding the following
European tour in 1982) in which the stones played most of their most recent album.
However, it can be argued that they were actually touring two albums at the time, Emotional
Rescue and Tattoo You, and that the band for the most part ignored Emotional
Rescue on this tour. But none of that matters. They play basically half of the Some
Girls Album and most of Tattoo You, and one or two songs from ER.
What this does (much like the tours from 75 and 78) is give a very distinct feeling to the
tour. The tours from 69 - 73 were basically in support of what has been since then the
encore and opening of all shows. That's great but the feeling of, "wow, they played
all of 'album x'" just isn't there.
Having collected bootlegs and actually amassed quite a large number of them I can
confidently say that this is one concert that is a must. Perect quality of a very
energetic tour.
Welcome To Australia
By Mr. Voodoo
February 4, 1999
Rating:
This bootleg concert album is from February 27, 1973. Recorded during the Rolling
Stones 1973 Winter Tour of the Pacific. It is live from Sydney. This is a standard 1973
Winter Tour show. Very good. However, what makes this particular disk special is that it
was the first complete Mick Taylor era Sound Board show ever to surface. The show is good,
the recording is pretty
good, not great. The setlist is standard 1972 pre Goat's Head Soup fare. This is
a must have for all of you 1972 - 1973 tour fans. Personally, my favorite tour was the
1973 Winter Tour of Hawaii and Down Under. On the whole it was a very laid back tour, with
some great shows!
Cocaine on a Dentist Chair
By Mr. Voodoo
February 4, 1999
Rating:
This is a 2 CD set. 11/15/69 champaign 1st show and 11/8/69 LA 2nd show. As far as I know
both shows are complete. It is a fairly good quality audience recording for the time. Not
the best that I have heard. The two concerts are both pretty good, I prefer the LA show,
and I actually have most of it available on Street Hassel in LA, which I think is
a better recording. The nice thing bout these two disks is that it basically shows you
what all 1969 shows were like. There were rocking but the Ya Ya's disk, as great as it is,
does not include the four slower songs that were played at most shows, 'Under my Thumb',
'I'm Free', 'Prodigal Son', and 'You Gotta Move'. In my opinion, and ihe 1969 tour, but I
think that all You really need is a copy of Ya Ya's, one clear copy of 'Prodigal
Son', 'You Gotta Move', 'I'm Free', 'Under My Thumb', 'Gimme Shelter', and 'Satisfaction',
and you have all you need for 1969. I wish that someone would just put out a disk set that
has SBs of all of those songs in 10.0 quality (not necessarily from the same show). Then
we would all be able to sleep better at night.
All Meat Music : Winter Tour 1973
By Mr. Voodoo
February 4, 1999
Rating:
This is live January 18, 1973 from Inglewood, CA. The Nicaraguan Relief Concert. This is
absolutely my favorite show that I have ever heard. However, I wonder what it would sound
like if it was a SB. The quality on this set is pretty bad. Its listenable, and at times
pretty good, but it is never great. That is why it doesn't have an 11.0 rating ("but
these go to 11!"). The show is a mix of songs that include the 1972 standard fare,
but also a large amount of other rarely played songs including "No
Expectations", "Route 66", "It's all over now", "Dead
Flowers" and "Live with Me". Rumors abound that they also played 'Moonlight
Mile' at this show, but I have never heard for sure. Dr. Riff stated that there was a
newer better release of this
show, but I have not seen it. If so, it is about time. MT plays some of the best and
mellowest solos I have ever heard. The concert was extremely laid back. Everyone sounds
great, and it is a full 2cd set. If you can stand mediocre audience recordings, it is well
worth buying
A Brussles Affair
By Matt
January 14,1999
Rating:
This is the best live album ever. Unfortunately, it is basically a bootleg. But that
doesn't matter. It was recorded from the second show in Brussels, I can't remember the
date, on the 1973 Euro tour. Perfect soundboard quality. Best versions anywhere ever (and
trust me, I know) of 'Midnight Rambler', 'Brown Sugar', 'DO DO DO DO DO', 'Happy',
'Can't Always get what you Want', and the best 73 version of 'Gimme Shelter'. If you can
find this album, I suggest you buy it!
Leed Guitars...TV Stars
By Matt
January 14, 1999
Rating:
This is the a great live album. It too is basically a bootleg. But that doesn't matter. It
was recorded from one of the Leeds University shows in 70. Perfect soundboard quality.
Nice and mellow live. One of a kind 'Satisfaction'. Great 'Dead Flowers'. 'Let It Rock'
kicks so much ass. If you can find this album, I suggest you buy it!
STONES FANS ALBUM REVIEWS | "A FEW OTHERS"