The Rolling Stones are indeed the world's greatest rock and roll band. When the blues numbers come on , though, I skip to the next track. In that regard they've always been less than compelling. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
The Rolling Stones unplugged album from -95 (it was called "Stripped" I think) was such a letdown when it came to them playing blues tunes form their earlier repertoire that it´s hard to get any hopes up for this band. They haven´t done anything particularly interesting in quite a long while. But I would certainly like them to surprise me.
I don't think the harmonica community has much to complain about when one of the top producers in the world makes a blues record with one of the biggest rock bands ever, whose lead singer has played harmonica for decades. This will get more people interested in both the blues and harmonica. Try to be happy.
It was a trend not long ago for established rockers--Pat Benatar, Rod Steward, Linda Rondstadt--to record songs from the "Great American Songbook" when had gotten to a certain age; the novelty of iconic pop stars singing the songs of Sinatra, Cloony, Fitzgerald, Vaughn and the like yielded mixed results. It also treated these songs , classics all and some of them truly sublime, as conduits of a cynical marketing gimmick. It was disheartening to see these tunes performed indifferently from artists with no real commitment or connection to the music. Similar, though to a lesser degree, with older white rockers doing their tributes to the blues. I give Clapton a pass for "From the Cradle" because his blues playing goes back decades, but items like Aerosmith's "Honkin' on BoBo" or Cyndi Lauper's"Memphis Blues" , dispite moments of real pleasure here and there, seem more like savvy career moves than anything else. I imagine its genuine for the Stones--Richards especially has always spoken reverentially about his mentors, Chuck Berry, Muddy et al. The Stones, though, have never been an especially interesting blues band, the basic problem being Jagger's singing which, on blues standards, cannot seem to sound like a parody of black blues singers. It sounds awful. "Love in Vain", though, does transcend his vocal limitations; it is a revelatory performance he hasn't repeated since. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
I feel the same about Clapton , after watching a few years worth of the PBS broadcasts of the Crossroads guitar festivals which he hosts. It seems he's boiled down his style to a hand full of licks and positions and offered up basically the same chops with whoever he happened to sit in with. Clapton has health problems , though, that apparently effects his ability to play. I understand how that would dampen your enthusiasm. The last inspired bit of guitar playing I heard him do was on the live Stevie Winwood collaboration "Live at Madsion Square Garden" from 2009. The man positively smokes on this 2 disc set. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
I think that's KW on the harp for the Goin away Baby cut above... But it was hearing that song coming from record stores all over town which made me go check out what the record was, and subsequently purchase it. I didn't know who KW was before that, or probably Jimmy Rogers actually. And Lowell Fulson, Carey Bell. So it was Jagger's voice that led me there.
The Rolling Stones were clearly inspired by the blues and began playing covers of some famous blues songs before finding their own voice. They don't ever miss the oportunity to pay homage to the ones who pioneered the blues, like muddy, howlin wolf and little walter. That's one of the things i like about the stones, they respect and admire some of the originators.
Last Edited by blueswannabe on Oct 04, 2016 5:47 PM
It will be interesting to hear this album, which I read today is coming out on Oct 6th. Even if it is mediocre, the quality of the songwriting means it'll be better than the crap they've put out since Some Girls. They seem to have lost their songwriting fastball after that. Here's a mocked up reponse by Mick to Keith's book, and it explains where it all went wrong - worth a read. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/low_concept/2010/11/please_allow_me_to_correct_a_few_things.html
Having brushed this news off, I will say that "Prodigal Son" is not only my favorite RS song but one of my all time favorite songs period. I am all over it on harp. And this was true long before I had the musical moment of my life that centered around it. Thanks for jogging this memory, 1847.
It happened one evening several years ago. I had been invited to a dinner party along with Phil Wiggins and the Good Reverend John Wilkins who had finished their main stage act at the Telluride Brews and Blues Festival earlier that day.
After dinner the musical instruments came out and long story short, I had the incredible good fortune to play "Prodigal Son" along with ~the~ Prodigal Son. It turns out that Reverend John Wilkins' father was Reverend Robert Wilkins who wrote and first recorded the song in 1964. As the music was winding down I boldly asked Rev. Wilkins if he'd honor me by allowing me to accompany him on the song. To my amazement, he agreed!
Here's a picture commemorating the occasion. I hesitate to share it because, well, please be kind about the deer-in-headlights look on my face. WTH, life's short and I'm not getting any younger.
It was one of the peak musical moments of my life!
And now I am excited about a new Rolling Stone blues album.
Michelle
---------- SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
Last Edited by mlefree on Oct 05, 2016 8:17 PM
"Savvy career moves"? By doing an album of a dying genre? Did it help Cyndi? Aerosmith was still peaking. If they were going to get savvy, it would have been before MTV saved them.
Granted, Mick and the boys may be trying to follow Aerosmith, but they have a strong blues background.
Guitarist Ron Wood talked about the recording sessions in April.
"We went in to cut some new songs, which we did," Wood said. "But we got on a blues streak. We cut 11 blues in two days. They are extremely great cover versions of Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter, among other blues people. But they really sound authentic… When we heard them back after not hearing them for a couple of months, we were, 'Who's that? It's you.' It sounded so authentic."
On 2 December 2016, The Rolling Stones will release Blue & Lonesome, their first studio album in over a decade. The band’s return to the blues took just three days to record but it’s been over fifty years in the making. ‘Blue & Lonesome’ takes the band back to their roots and their passion for the blues, which has always been at the heart and soul of The Rolling Stones.
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The album was recorded in December last year at British Grove Studios in West London, close to where it all began for the band at The Ealing Club and Richmond’s Crawdaddy.
Their approach to the album was that it should be spontaneous and played live in the studio without overdubs. Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie were joined by their long time touring sidemen Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (keyboards) and Matt Clifford (keyboards) and, for two of the twelve tracks, by old friend Eric Clapton, who happened to be in the next studio making his own album.
Blue & Lonesome sees the Rolling Stones tipping their hats to their early days as a blues band when they played the music of Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon, Eddie Taylor, Little Walter and Howlin’ Wolf - artists whose songs are featured on this album.
Keith has long said that he wants ‘He passed it on’ written on his gravestone. Well, Blue & Lonesome does just that; it’s an album for the 21st century, one that’s bathed in the blues, but one that has a modernity about it. The Rolling Stones are the embodiment of modern day blues, with heartfelt intensity they attest to why this music is timeless.
“This album is manifest testament to the purity of their love for making music, and the blues is, for the Stones, the fountainhead of everything they do.” Don Was, Co-Producer of ‘Blue & Lonesome’
Produced by Don Was and The Glimmer Twins, ‘Blue & Lonesome’ will be available in various formats CD Digital Download Double heavyweight vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with album download card Deluxe edition including CD album, 75-page mini-book about the making of the album and band postcard prints. It is available for pre-order worldwide.
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1. Just Your Fool (Walter Jacobs) The original was written and recorded by Little Walter in December 1960 and released on the Checker label, a subsidiary of Chess Records. It was not a hit on the Billboard R & B charts 2. Commit A Crime (Chester Burnett) The original was written and recorded by Howlin’ Wolf on 11 April 1966. It was essentially a new version of a song called, ‘I’m Leaving You’ that was first recorded in September 1958 and released as Chess Records. Neither track was a hit on the Billboard R & B charts 3. Blue And Lonesome (Walter Jacobs) The original was written and recorded by Little Walter on 12 August 1959. Released on Checker Records, coupled with ‘Mean Ol Frisco’. It was not a hit on the Billboard R & B charts 4. All Of Your Love (Samuel Maghett) The original was written and recorded by Magic Sam in Chicago in 1967 and released on the album, West Side Soul on the Delmark label. Magic Sam originally recorded a version of the song in 1957 as ‘All Your Love’ for the Cobra label. It was not a hit on the Billboard R & B charts 5. I Gotta Go (Walter Jacobs) Written and recorded by Little Walter on 28 April 1955, it was released as the b-side of a Checker single, coupled with ‘Roller Coaster’. The a-side made the Billboard R&B chart on 9 July 1955 and peaked at No.6 6. Everybody Knows About My Good Thing (Miles Grayson & Lermon Horton) Recorded by Little Johnny Taylor in 1971 it made No.9 on the Billboard R & B chart and No.60 on the Hot 100 at the end of the same year. It became the title track of Little Johnny Taylor’s 1972 album on Ronn Records. 7. Ride ‘Em On Down (Eddie Taylor) Written and recorded by Eddie Taylor’s in Chicago on 5 December 1955 for the Vee-Jay label. It was not a hit on the Billboard R & B charts 8. Hate To See You Go (Walter Jacobs) Witten and recorded on 12 August 1955 by Little Walter and His Jukes for the Checker label as the b-side of ‘Too Late’. It was not a hit on the Billboard R & B chart. 9. Hoo Doo Blues (Otis Hicks & Jerry West) Recorded by Lightnin’ Slim in Crowley, Louisiana 1958 for the Excello label it was not a hit on the Billboard charts 10. Little Rain (Ewart. G.Abner Jr. and Jimmy Reed) Jimmy Reed recorded this on 9 January 1957 in Chicago for the Vee-Jay label. It wa the a-side of a single with ‘Honey Where You Going’ on the flip side. ‘Little Rain made No.7 on the Billboard R&B charts in April 1957. 11. Just Like I Treat You (Willie Dixon) Written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin’ Wolf in December 1961, it was released on Chess Records coupled with ‘I Ain’t Superstitious’ in April 1962. It failed to make the Billboard R & B chart. 12. I Can’t Quit You Baby (Willie Dixon) Written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Otis Rush at his very first session in Chicago in 1956 for the Cobra label. It made No.6 on the Billboard R & B chart in October 1956.
Have seen videos/movies of the Stones - shots of Keith Richards sitting in a chair playing acoustic...before the shows, just hanging out on the stage. I'm sure he was just killing time jamming.
His blues playing sounded just fine to me. ---------- The Iceman
I am a Stones and Keef fan. But watch his Netflix bio= his acoustic playing is pretty mediocre for a guy who has been playing full time for 50 years. Of course he also appeared to be muy borracho
For a piece of creative writing simultaneously fulfilling a few roles it's not bad. I dunno if Mick would actually be so magnanimous.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Oct 06, 2016 2:48 PM
They dont have to be better My issue is their creative well has run dry They paid homage early in their careers and it was fine, Once you have an original sound and go back to the well -you are probably not adding much to the oeuvre
Chuck Berry isnt out there playing stones covers nor was BB King til they day he died--They did their OWN music
Stuff like 2120 s michigan ave was very cool back in the day when they were finding their sound
Now " interpretations" just seem the lazy way out.
What -they spent all of 3 days in the studio- c'mon now
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Oct 06, 2016 2:41 PM
"By doing an album of a dying genre?" You think blues is a dying genre? Sorry you feel that way, but to my thinking there are new and upcoming blues artists emerging all the time. Where I live there are several bars that have strong live blues policies.There are dozens of blues festivals all over the country and the world It might be a small part of the music business comparatively speaking, but it's hardly "dying" as I see it. "Savvy career moves.Did it help Cyndi"? Yes and yes. The blues album, "Memphis Blues" brught the spotlight light back on her, got her back on the radio, on national television, the internet, got her her interviewed, got her back on a national and international tour people and showed up for. The record sold well,being the largest selling blues album in Billboard magazine's history,ranking number one on their blues charts and number 26 on their Billboard 200 chart. It was a smart career move, it was a savvy move. Information courtesty Wikipedia.
On "Just Your Fool," anybody on this forum can hear that Jagger is, at best, a mediocre player. Not bad, certainly not great.
His vocals, though, surprise me. I've always thought of him as an atrociously bad blues singer--a ham, a burlesque artist, somebody incapable of actually honoring the form. But here he does a pretty good job, IMHO.
More importantly, this album, and the fact that it puts harmonica up front, will be good for the instrument in the long run. People who might not otherwise even know who LW is will hear this song, and a few of them might even decide to pick up a harp and learn how to play.
Ted- I meant did it help her in the long run. She did a year of touring, not nearly as successfully as she did in her prime, and, last I heard, she is on the casino circuit. I never heard her on Detroit stations, interviews don't pay the bills (I think the national television, like the Today Show, should either be counted as interview or playing, but not both and should actually be considered advertising), and even I got stuff on the internet! But, I'll concede your points if you can tell me what's she doing now. I wouldn't be surprised if she is doing gospel or country.
(You realize we are debating just the degree of success, don't you?)
And, as you prove, the state of the genre could be debated either way.
Last Edited by eharp on Oct 06, 2016 9:02 PM
eharp: i answered the question you asked with some facts drawn from the wikipedia entry on "memphis blues". the upshot of that is that recording a blues album was, and remains, a savvy move for Lauper. i am not sure what your actual point is .
'The long run' is probably a redundant concept for the career considerations of cyndi Lauper and the Rolling Stones now. Or maybe not for the stones. I expect this will be a bookend and it's probably the best idea they were likely to have for that. I really doubt they're winning new fans in significant numbers these days, but at least my classic rockfan jamming buddies might be more interested in jamming some little Walter tunes for a while
The single "Just your fool" is now available on iTunes. Give it a listen back to back with Little Walter's original- Mick's harp not as sharp, but overall The Stones give a pretty damn good effort. Vocal & guitars are spot on IMHO.
Last Edited by Sundancer on Oct 07, 2016 12:10 AM
Facts from wikipedia? I didn't notice you were using such a reliable source. LOL It made her some extra coin by having a different style to sell to her old fans and probably grabbed the attention of a few Blues fans. But, the question is where is she now? IMO, a "savvy" move is a long term, successful move. I think SuberBee summed it up.
Like I said, I think we are discussing just the degree of success.
I have to laugh about this discussion of success. Mick and the boys are pretty comfortable financially. In this brave new world of the way music is purchased,they are never going to attain sales like they did during the heyday of album sales.The market is geared to people under 30.Who's going to buy their music? Baby boomers like me and a smattering of younger people who appreciate the old rock and roll guys. I'm glad they are doing it.Hope it's a labor of love.I haven't liked an entire album by them since "Sticky Fingers".
For a bunch of world famous best rock & roll band in the world, what's wrong with them having some personal fun in the studio?
I'm sure they are financially secure and perhaps do not overly concern themselves if what they produce will once again change the world. ---------- The Iceman
Read the wikipedia entry, eharp. in my view, long term success can be viewed as a series of savvy decisions, using the qualities of " acumen, acuity, intelligence, wit, canniness, common sense, discernment, insight, understanding, penetration, perception, perceptiveness, perspicacity, knowledge, sagacity" (terms courtesy from a google searched definition) to make decisions in order to sustain a long career. recording her blues ablum was a savvy move in a career full of savvy moves, i suspect. where is she now. very much with us. she was in san diego on the third this month, and continues to tour, and has a new album out and she continues to record. she is hardly a where-are-they-now. it's my feeling that she works exactly as much as she chooses to.
I paid good money to hear the rolllng stones performing generation defining rock and roll; that is where their genius lies and it is what them all incredibly rich. however, i have an aversion to giving these guys money to do medicore, borderline atrocious versions of songs by blues masters. the example above is dreadful, dead on arrival, and jagger is , as he always has been, a terrible harmonica player. meh and a half and an extra meh for seasoning. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
"Just Your Fool" sounds alright to me. Not great, but not terrible either. If it gets some radio play it might bring more people to harp and/or the original version.