Black & Blue Review

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(More customer reviews)This often overlooked album in the Stones' oeuvre shines with good to great songs and contains some brilliant reggae. It kicks off with the funky Hot Stuff, followed by the passionate Hand Of Fate which is vintage Stones. Cherry O Baby is a lovely slice of reggae with intriguing organ lines and brilliant vocalizing, while the road epic Memory Motel is a moving story song. Hey Negrita is a wailing bluesy number and Melody soulfully ambles along with lovely guitar, sax, piano and Mick's falsetto voice. Fool To Cry starts as a gentle ballad but gets pretty raucous eventually, while Crazy Mama is the Stones at their rocking best, a powerful conclusion to this great album. It may not be amongst the Rolling Stones' top ten albums, but Black And Blue contains some strong songs with great melodies and playing throughout and no dud tracks. Rediscovering it was a great pleasure.

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Bigger Bang (Spec) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'd actually rate this 3.5 stars..
Having already bought the album (which, by the way, I rated 4 stars) when it was released, I wasn't sure if this package was worth my money. But, being a big Stones fan, I had to shell out the money. Everything is exactly the same as the original release except for the inclusion of another disc which contains bonus material.
Its contents include:
EPK - This is a 10 minute mini documentary explaining the creation of the Bigger Bang album. Features interviews with each band member as well as studio footage. Interesting, but could have been much longer and more detailed. One thing that was sort of a letdown was that I had already seen this on TV (so you may have too) and the internet multiple times, so I wasnt really seeing anything new here. Nice for what it is though and even nicer if you have yet to see it.
Under The Radar - This is the first of two "new" songs leftover from the Bigger Bang sessions. Suprisingly, it is excellent. I can not figure out why this was left off of the actual album. It can be described as a cross of "Child Of The Moon" and "I Go Wild". Tight, dreary groove with hard rock sensibilities. Great, memorable melody. Worth the price of the set alone.
Don't Wanna Go Home - Second of the two leftover songs. This one is not as good as 'Radar'. It's a fun rocker but it actually sounds like a throw-away track (whereas the other one doesnt). Nice chorus though; especially towards the end when Mick sings "We don't wanna go home, we just wanna get stoned!".
Rain Fall Down (Remix) - Interesting, but I'm not a big fan of remixes. In fact, I'm not a big fan of the song either. It's a groover, though, in the same vein as something like "Hot Stuff" or "Anybody Seen My Baby?". Worth a listen (or more if you like it) though.
Streets Of Love Video - Eh, not my favorite song. It's too sappy! But, yeah, this is the video. Not my favorite video, either. It's one of those videos that has "scenes". It follows a guy who is down and out through the streets of his city in sadness as he looks for his woman. Oh yeah, and there's footage of the band performing the song in a club every now and then for good measure. Director commentary also included.
Streets Of Love & Rough Justice Television Performance Videos - Essentially, just the band miming the song's in front of blue screens. Worth viewing cuz you get to see the Stones (and because Rough Justice rocks!).
You also get an onscreen lyrics section (no lyrics for the new songs included)and photos (a slideshow plays as you listen to the new songs).
All in all, this is a nice set and even better if you have yet to buy the album. It does make a good gift for someone who has yet to own the album as well. My only gripes, the only reasons why this thing wasn't rated higher, are the marketing and the amount of content. I think it's a bit of a rip off for the fans to have this album be released in September and then have this special edition come out in November. Why not just include the new songs and actual album on disc 1 and include the bonus material on disc 2...when the album was originally released. This package, albeit with a little tweaking, could have been what was released in September! It would have been cool! I also feel the bonus content could have been stronger. For example, the Rain Fall Down remix to me is unnecessary. But oh well, can't please everyone I guess.

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This Special Edition contains the full length CD of "A Bigger Bang" plus a Bonus DVD with 3 extra songs plus 4 videos.DVD tracklist:1. Introduction to A Bigger Bang (Video) 2. Streets Of Love (Video) 3. Streets Of Love (TV Performance) 4. Rough Justice (TV Performance) 5. We Don’t Wanna Go Home (Audio) 6. Under The Radar (Audio) 7. Rain Fall Down (Ashley Beedle's "Heavy Disco" Vocal Re-Edit - Audio)

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Dirty Work Review

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(More customer reviews)Dirty Work was originally released March 25, 1986, it was the first studio album in *17 years* that did not go to #1 in either the UK or the US. This one broke an unparalleled string of 10 #1 albums in a row, dating from the release of Let It Bleed in 1969. Dirty Work only made it to #3 in the UK and #4 in the US, making it the lowest charting for a studio album since the US release of The Rolling Stones, Now! only went to #5 in 1965.
The album includes the single hits Harlem Shuffle and One Hit (To The Body). Most people know the music, so in my reviews I try to give you data on the sessions and interesting facts connected with the songs and the album. Here we go:
Interesting notes include:
.....the working title for the album was 19 Stitches
.....the final cut (Sleep Tonight) is followed by a boogie-woogie piano fadeout memorial to Ian Steward, the real 6th Rolling Stone, who died Dec 12, 1985, just before the album was released and dedicated to him
.....Mick brought essentially nothing to the sessions because he had used all his latest ideas for his first solo album She's The Boss (Keith had threatened to "slit his......throat" if he toured with another band), so Keith took over the sessions and ran the band when Mick left to promote his album. When Mick returned, he used a different studio and worked at times when he would not be in the building with Keith.....If you watch the videos for One Hit and Fight you can actually see the (real) anger between them....they made up when the Stones played a memorial gig for Ian Steward Feb 28, 1986 at the 100 Club in Oxford St, London....They were billed as Rocket 86....(If you don't know rock history, that's the 1st rock and roll record, Ike Turner's Rocket 88, minus Brian and Ian).
.....things were so bad with the band that when a reporter asked Charlie what he thought of the album he said he didn't know it was out and asked if it was any good
The Dirty Work sessions occurred in early 1985 in Paris. Final mixing was done in New York at RPM Studios (Jul 16 - Aug 17 & Sep 10 - Oct 15, 1985) and at Right Track Studios (Nov 15 - Dec 5, 1985).
Jan 23 - Mar 2, 1985 at Pathe Marconi/EMI Studios in Paris
.....One Hit (To The Body)
.....Fight
.....Harlem Shuffle
.....Hold Back
.....Too Rude
.....Winning Ugly
.....Back To Zero
.....Dirty Work
.....Had It With You
.....Sleep Tonight
The Paris Dirty Work sessions produced a number of unreleased tracks, including What Am I Supposed To Do, Baby You're Too Much, Deep Love, Sending Out An Invitation, Some Of Us Are On Our Knees, For Your Precious Love, Strictly Memphis, What Are You Goin' To Do With My Love.
This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection, with some of the notes from Davis' "Old Gods Almost Dead." Both books are available from amazon.com.

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Digitally remastered reissue of the veteran British Rock band's 1986 album.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Live Licks (bikini cover) Review

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(More customer reviews)So far, the reviews seem to divide between people angry about Live Licks, and people angry about the people who don't like it. Let's try to reason together, folks.
What do people want from a 21st Century live Rolling Stones CD? Some folks want the Stones to dig into their treasure trove of back catalog for great songs that haven't been released live before. Some want the Stones to dig into their R&B roots for the old blues and soul songs that they started their career covering. Some will not be satisfied without hearing Stones classics. Of course, we all want the geezers to defy all odds and continue to care. Despite the whining from some quarters, all of the above goals are addressed.
In a solid programming decision, there is one 11-song disc of all classics (or overdone warhorses, depending on your viewpoint) - and a second 13-song disc devoid of same, with lots of really well-chosen stuff we've never heard the Stones do live. If you do want the classics, they are well-performed and recorded here. For those who can't believe that they are recording these songs again, you can buy Live Licks for $12 if you try (I got mine at a retail store for $11.99, and some Amazon vendors are also selling it around that price) - even if only one of these two discs appeals to you, is $12 out of line for well-recorded, energetic performances of music this good?OK, I understand the feeling behind "Jeez, do we really need another version of Honky Tonk Woman?" So toss disc 1 if you feel that way, and you still have disc 2 which starts out with terrific performances of "Neighbors," "Monkey Man," "Rocks Off," and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." I didn't ever expect to hear "Knocking" from a post-Mick Taylor Stones - and they absolutely nail it. "Monkey Man" sounds like it was cut circa Let It Bleed.. Despite the hand-wringing about a seamless 2-second edit in "Rocks Off," you have a great bunch of Stones nuggets never before released live. There are terrific versions of beloved R&B covers the Stones did before they hit their stride as songwriters: "That's How Strong My Love Is" and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" - the latter with a blast-furnace soul shouting cameo from Solomon Burke.
Can we all agree that Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out is the definitive Stones live disc without banning them from releasing any more live performances? I mean, come on, there are 24 tracks here, and only three repeat songs from Ya-Ya's It's only the second time for "Gimme Shelter," and the only other time was on the not-particularly-beloved "No Security." The way Lisa Fischer wails on it, and the way the Stones still play, no apologies are needed.
OK, so how do the old folks sound this time? There are no words for the unchangeable greatness of Charlie Watts, so I won't even try. Mick & Keith defy all odds by sounding as though they still love their jobs. We are now way beyond any precedent for rock & roll bands playing into their 5th decade, and they still play "Street Fighting Man" as though crucial to Western Civilization. The playing is crisp throughout, the recording quality is excellent. By all rights, the Stones should have gotten too bored to carry on, oh, about 20 years ago. Come to think of it, they were bored 20 years ago. This is their 2d wind..
OK, there are a few edits and if you know the songs well, you will notice. But the edits are technically seamless, and not jarring. Since the Stones have had total artistic control over their releases for over 20 years, I'll just sorta presume that they had good reasons to release it the way they did. Since neither of the two discs are pushing time limitations for the media, the edits were not done to squeeze more songs in. The edits are not that big a deal unless you are a fuss-budget.
Incidentally, I am not a Stones apologist or a newbie who doesn't know any better. I`ve been a Stones fan since the mid-60's, and I'd agree that their last really solid LP was Exile On Main Street (as far as I'm concerned, even Some Girls is a mixed bag). The only live discs that worked for me were Ya-Ya's and Flashpoint. But this one's a keeper.


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Japanese pressing features a bonus track on disc two, 'If You Can't Rock Me'. Also included for the first pressing only is a bonus Rolling Stones sticker for the first pressing only. Recorded on their mammoth 2002/2003 Licks world tour, the Rolling Stones’ latest live album is a testament to the band’s incredible staying power. After some 40 years in the business, the Stones are still drawing huge crowds all over the world with the promise of an inimitable live experience. And on 1st November, the release of the new double album, Live Licks, looks set to capture on CD the charisma and talent that has led to the Stones’ putting on the top three most successful world tours of all time. Recorded on the recent Licks world tour, the double album was recorded in venues right across the globe and features performances of some of the best-loved tracks from the Stones’ sterling back catalogue. In addition, you’ll also find their lesser-known songs and inspired cover versions that also made up part of the fantastic Licks set. 25 tracks in total. Virgin. 2004.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Voodoo Lounge (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a video document of a performance, Voodoo Lounge beats Bridges To Babylon, or Live At The Max. Despite not being in 5.1, the DVD captures the raw excitement and swagger of the Stones in Concert and is better paced than the other two. Plus, you get Bo Diddley in the bargain. I own all three and attended a Bridges concert, but the Voodoo Lounge DVD is the one I return to.

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Rolling Stones: The Biggest Bang (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)This box set boast two concerts and lots of bonus footage from concerts in Japan,China,Argentina etc. There are some good documentaries,cool bonus duets and a whole lot for under $30.00 on four DVDs. One of the best things about this set is that they perform Sway live. I will say that the Austin show is the best and the transfer looks fantastic! The sound is very good dispite what I have read from some other reviewers. I can hear Keith just fine.....when he's playing.Look,I love these guys,but lets face it...they are geting old. Keith plays he signature licks and rest his mummified fingers every chance he gets. It is still a pretty good set and I'm glad I own it. If your a fan your gonna buy it and if your not......what are you reading this for?

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Emotional Rescue Review

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(More customer reviews)The 1980's opened for the Rolling Stones with their Emotional Rescue album, released three days after my 12th birthday. To say that Emotional Rescue is Some Girls leftovers warmed over is somewhat harsh. Now granted, the two albums have a similar sound, rock with some disco leanings, and Some Girls is a much better album than its successor, but ER isn't an album to be totally dismissed because it pales alongside its parent album.
Far from it, this was better than expected, although I will make references to songs from Some Girls.
"Dance (Pt. 1)" opens with the funky disco beats that coloured "Miss You", but with a harder-edged sound-call it Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" meets Led Zeppelin's "Trampled Underfoot." A strong opener good for dancing and jamming to.
The reggae-flavoured "Send It To Me" seems to be a sequel to "Some Girls." Where the latter described what different kind of girls were like based on ethnicity and skin colour, the other song is kind of like a dating service. There's some humour at the end, when Mick sings "she could be Romanian, she could be Bulgarian, she could be Albanian, she could be Hungarian, she could be Ukrainian, .... she could be the Alien, send her to me." OK, Mick, you can have the Alien, I'll take the Romanian girl.
A rumbling guitar opens the rocker "Let Me Go," which is this album's "Respectable" about a girl who doesn't seem to understand the words, "it's over between us." "Indian Girl" is this album's "Beast of Burden" with some country inflections and some horns, though with the sober topic, nothing singleworthy. It's a portrait of the hardships inflicted on the indigenous population of Latin America by soldiers: " Lesson number one that you learn while you're young/Life just goes on and on getting harder and harder."
The most engaging track is the hard-driving "Where The Boys Go," which is this album's "Lies" with a chanting harmony refrain. This macho guilty pleasure gets raunchy towards the end, where the refrain goes "a little piece of..." Then it's cooling off time with some slow blues of "Down in The Hole" of hard life in the American zone (of Berlin I presume).
The title track, which reached #3, is the analogue of "Miss You," featuring some disco beats and Mick's falsetto, and is arguably one of the two best tracks. The other one, the rocker "She's So Cold," is this album's "Shattered," with the same quick-paced drums and drums. "I'm so hot for you and you're so cold," comparing her to an ice cream cone, and lines of his hand freezing when he touches her are featured in this ice queen song. This bettered "Shattered" by peaking at #26.
Emotional Rescue has been reviled alongside Black And Blue, Undercover, and It's Only Rock And Roll as one of the Stones' weakest albums, but maybe that's because it is repeatedly compared with Some Girls or Tattoo You, the albums it is chronologically sandwiched inbetween. With songs like the two singles, "Dance," and "Where The Boys Go," such is not the case. Major reevaluation required.

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No Security Review

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(More customer reviews)1. Do I like the Rolling Stones?
2. Do I think the Rolling Stones lost it after (fill in the blanks with either "Some Girls" or "Tattoo You.")?
3. Do I think the Rolling Stones are too old to be doing this?
4. Do I like their older, "classic" material, but don't care to hear new versions?
5. Am I afraid that if someone sees this record in my collection, I'll be mocked for buying a "tour souvenir" with no musical merit?
If you answered yes to the first question and no to all the others, then there's no reason why you shouldn't spend your hard earned $15 on this very enjoyable disk.
This one in particular fills a couple of niches for me. I don't automatically dismiss any of their late work--in fact I like most of it, including the new one, "A Bigger Bang." But "Bridges to Babylon" was admittedly pretty weak. Well, this disk gives you a chance to hear the handful of good songs from that the record, and these versions are preferable. In particular, "Out of Control," a lengthy piece with a lot of dynamic changes, comes off great here. Other recent songs like "Saint of Me," "You Got Me Rocking," "Flip the Switch" and "Thief in the Night" come off better here than in their studio incarnations. Of the older material, the versions of "Gimme Shelter," "Memory Motel," "Waiting on a Friend" and "The Last Time," are spectacular.
Reactions to the Stones are rather predictable and annoying. You're supposed to be annoyed with all their post-tour live albums, and see them as "just cashing in." This just isn't true. The live disks are a chance for them to re-address older material in versions that take advantage of their improved musicianship and matured perspective. On "Flashpoint," for example, you can hear fantastic versions of "Paint it Black" and "Ruby Tuesday," played with great passion and inventiveness. "Stripped" has many highlights, including a wonderful version of the very early tunes "I'm Free," and "Spider and the Fly," and a jolly take on "Let it Bleed."
If you want to let late-night comedians and jaded rock reviewers guide your choices, then you probably aren't going to want to risk the "uncool" label they would surely apply to anyone who bought "No Security." But I enjoy it, I play it all the time, and my hat's off to the Stones for risking ridicule by putting it out.

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Rarities 1971-2003 Review

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(More customer reviews)The Good News: This is pretty fun to listen to and gives us crystal-clear, remastered quality, versions of a couple of nifty vinyl B-Sides from the '70's.
The Bad News: The songs collected here are not particularly "Rare" (a few songs would be better described as "Common") and this set could have easily been a thousand times better. There is nothing here from "The Vault"; all songs collected on Rarities have been previously released as B-Sides, Album Tracks, Singles or on a DVD. Even operating within that constraint, they bypassed many quality B-Sides (not to mention widely bootlegged outtakes) that would have been a better fit than some of the selections.
The Really Bad News: The liner notes in the booklet are embarrassingly bad, riddled with errors. The clown who wrote them just does not know his Stones and nobody connected with the band evidently cared enough to proofread.
The Songs:
1. Fancy Man Blues- A great latter day blues issued as a CD Single B-Side from the 1989 Steel Wheels record. It was amusing to see so many reviewers get themselves worked up over the inclusion of Back of My Hand on the Bigger Bang record. That song is the type of thing they have been relegating to B-Side status for years and in my opinion, inferior to Fancy Man Blues.
2. Tumbling Dice- A B-Side from the Wild Horses (unplugged) CD-Single from '96 (which the liner notes author fails to note) is a pretty nifty version but butchered in the liner notes. This is a Stripped album outtake and begins with a lo-fi rehearsal version of the song featuring only piano, handclaps and Mick's vocal for the first verse. This bit was then spliced onto a hi-fi live version from the Voodoo Lounge tour and thus seems to bloom or burst into Technicolor sound. Nice trick but the dude in the liner notes insinuates that it is a single take which makes you wonder if he listened to the song all the way through.
3. Wild Horses- This is the exact unplugged version available on Stripped and therefore is not rare. The liner notes guy says that it was recorded before a live audience in a studio in Tokyo. If it was, they are a pretty darn quiet (silent) audience.
4. Beast of Burden- This terrific live version was recorded in Chicago (not LA) on the 1981 tour and released as the flip to the Going to a Go-Go single in '82. It was re-released on a limited edition CD called Rolling Stones Collectibles in conjunction with the 1990 Flashpoint live album. This live version was not included on Sucking in the 70's (which was released before this was recorded) as the liner notes state. The Some Girls studio version of Beast of Burden was used on Sucking in the 70's.
5. Any Way You Look At It- This gentle Mick and Keith ballad duet was issued as a Bridges to Babylon B-Side and is a pleasurable tune of its era. The only person who would mistake it for a mid-60's psychedelic pop tune is the liner notes author.
6. If I Was A Dancer (Dance Pt.2)- This disco groover was first released on Sucking in the 70's which makes it common, not rare. It would have been more appropriate to replace this with a Licks tour live version of Dance Pt. 1, which they played at several club shows and can be found on the Four Flicks DVD. The liner notes incorrectly state that this was Ron Wood's first songwriting credit with the band. Not so, he got partial credit for Everything Is Turning to Gold, the great, disco B-Side to the Shattered single, later collected on Sucking In The '70's. Don't even get me started on It's Only Rock and Roll.
7. Miss You (Dance Version) - This is the extended dance version released as a vinyl 12" single in 1978. Sort of interesting but it won't change your life.
8. Wish I'd Never Met You- Another great blues put out as a Steel Wheels B-Side. The joker in the liner notes reports that it is "Rarely Played Live..." Uh, how about never.
9. I Just Want To Make Love To You (Live)*Misspelled as Wanna on Rarities. Great bluesy, slowed-down version that the band was playing in 1990 on the Steel Wheels tour. Originally released in '91 as a B-Side on the Highwire CD single not on the 1998 No Security live album as stated in the liner notes.
10. Mixed Emotions (12" Version) - A CD-Single B-Side remix of the pretty lame Steel Wheels tune (it doesn't get any better as a dance mix). Our favorite liner notes author reports that Mixed Emotions "...wasn't a massive hit upon release." In fact, it was their last Top Ten hit, reaching #5 on the US singles chart and featured a video that received heavy rotation on MTV.
11. Through The Lonely Nights- A It's Only Rock and Roll B-Side, this pleasant track is nice to hear in pristine form but is not a lost classic.
12. Live with Me (Live) - Good rocking' live version originally put out as a Voodoo Lounge B-Side. The liner notes incorrectly state that it was pulled from the No Security live album. Out of all the nuggets they have resurrected on the last few tours, why include this one?
13. Let It Rock- Great live Chuck Berry cover from 1971 originally issued as the B-Side to Brown Sugar, this is the best track on Rarities. Bozo writing the liner notes says it was played "Occasionally" on the Some Girls tour. Uh, let me guess, you missed that tour, right (it was the opener at every USA show)?
14. Harlem Shuffle (NY Mix) - This is the 12" vinyl dance single remix released in '86 in order to promote the terrible Dirty Work album. Not only is this the weakest hit single the band ever put out, but I have news for you boys: There is not a single Stones fan on earth that ever gave two shakes for a dance mix of any Stones song. Finally, Mr. Goofus from the liner notes reports that Harlem Shuffle was the first cover song the band had released as a single since 1964. Not so, Going to a Go-Go is a Smokey Robinson cover that the band released as a single in 1982 from the Still Life live album. Time is on My Side b/w Twenty Flight Rock was a double cover single also released to promote Still Life but received less attention than Go-Go.
15. Mannish Boy (Live) - Boy, is this one not rare, having previously appeared on both the Love You Live album and the Sucking in the 70's collection. Not even a very good version to boot.
16. Thu and Thru (Live)- This oddly compelling Keith song starts very slow and picks up some steam midway through. This version was previously released on the Four Flicks DVD.
So there you have it, many of these songs are worth listening to but do not be fooled by the title. For whatever reason, Mr. Jagger is not interested in opening the vaults at this time so continue to keep your fingers crossed (don't worry, we will see a true previously-unreleased-material box set someday, Bob Dylan and the Beatles have made too much money for Jagger to not take the bait eventually). Moreover, even though I am a self-professed Monster Stones Fan, all of the information offered here is easily available with a few Google searches and there really is no excuse for the inaccuracies printed in the booklet. One last jab: They chose a performance picture for the cover dating to circa '78 with Bill Wyman airbrushed out? How petty is that?


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The Rolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon Tour '97-98 (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I am not a 'wild nut' type of Stones fan I saw this concert at the Orange Bowl, in Miami, and Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, et. al. are THE consumate professional showmen giving the audience more than their money's worth performance. Even though Mick may be getting a little long in the tooth for rock concerts (aren't we all) and rumours have it that Keith Richards is really dead, you could see and feel that this band loves performing, and would put together a 5 hour show if they could.
The band shows up on time, (something very unusual now a days for rock star wanna be's) and rocks your socks from beginning to end, non-stop.
The DVD brought back memories of that performace and did not fall short in any respects. The video is crystal clear, sound is exact and sharp, and the editing absolutely fabulous. The director seemed to know where one would be looking during the concert and it made me feel as if I was back there again.... some of the editors of concert videos that I have seen had no clue as to where and when to focus attention during the concert .....
Although I would give 'Voodoo Lounge' concert DVD a slight edge, (I mean a very very slight edge) over Babylon, trust me, this is a must have DVD that will, like Voodoo, go out of print and you'll be buying the DVD for 50.00 bucks just to have it in your collection......

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Biggest Bang (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoy the Stones and ANY DVD of them is worth owing and watching. For 2007, the 5.1 audio is good but not as good as compared to the 2009 digital remaster of "Live at the Max"). The filming was great, high quality, The Stones as usual played great engergetic shows, no complaints. I just wish using 6 speakers they would have re-mixed the songs for better separation, it sounds almost like a straight to video sound board recording, but is still good to listen too.

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The Biggest Bang, now available for the first time ever on high definition Blu-Ray, offers fans an all access pass including a behind-the-scenes look from the Rolling Stones' recent tour, A Bigger Bang - the biggest selling concert tour of all time.The Blu-ray will consist of the Austin, TX concert and Austin Mini Doc which are on the first disc of the DVD box, plus the feature length "Salt Of The Earth..." Tour Documentary from disc four of the DVD box and three bonus songs from Saitama, Japan from disc three of the DVD box."Four Flicks was great, but practice makes perfect and The Biggest Bang is even better - it's got all the right stuff," said tour promoter Michael Cohl.HIGHLIGHTS -The Stones' 2005/2006 Legendary Concert Film available in High Definition Blu-Ray For The First Time! -Includes Two Documentaries and 3 Bonus Performances -Features classic Stones' songs "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Brown Sugar" in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround -Over three hours of Rolling Stones content!

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Let's Spend the Night Together Review

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(More customer reviews)Anyone who has been to a Rolling Stones concert in the last 15 years, will watch this document of the Stones 1981 tour and probably claim that this wasn't their finest moment. But I, who prefer bands when they are raw and slightly imperfect live, absolutely love this release. I've actually never seen a DVD of this, and I just recently came across a used version on VHS. I hadn't seen it since it aired on television in late 1982, and it still is as good now as it was then.
What you get here is the Stones without 5 backup singers and a dozen guys on horns. Backup vocals are actually still being sung by Keith, and to a lesser extent, Ron Wood, and the difference from say, watching 4 Flicks (another excellent product) is that you really feel like you're just watching the band play, and not listening to some engineer at a mixing board. Keith looks haggered and obviously is not completely past his drug days, but he rocks relentlessly, and we get a smoking version of one of his best tunes, "Little T n' A". Mick runs around the stage like a wildman, and his vocals are all Mick. No echo, no, ahem, enhancement, that many artists these days use in concert. There's obviously not been any overdubs in the studio for this film. You have wonderfully stripped down versions of "Under My Thumb", "Shattered", "Beast of Burden", among many of their classics. You have songs from the early 80's era, that are overlooked in concert today- "Black Limosine", "Waiting on a Friend", "Hang Fire" and one of their best tunes from those days, "She's So Cold".
Yes, the playing is a bit sloppy. But, they play with passion and grit, and they seem to be having fun, despite the fact that Mick and Keith weren't getting along particularly well at the time. I highly recommend this little piece of early 80's rock and cinema!

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Imported from Brazil. Dolby stereo. 26 tracks including 'Under My Thumb', 'Beast Of Burden', 'Satisfaction' & 'Jumping Jack Flash'. Region Free/All Code.

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Flashpoint (Reis) Review

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(More customer reviews)Flashpoint was released Feb 2, 1991. It was recorded on the Steel Wheels (American) and Urban Jungle (European) tours during 1989-90. It was their 6th live album (the most recent had been 10 years earlier - Still Life). The tracks on the album were actually recorded as follows:
.....11-25-89 Jacksonville
.....11-26-89 Clemson SC
.....12-19-89 Atlantic City
.....2-26/27-90 Toyko
.....6-14-90 Barcelona
.....7-6-90 Wembley (also filmed for the IMAX film and their 1st DVD release)
There was a special quad gatefold edition of the album (which is now out of print) that included a 2nd disc (titled Collectibles) of rare, extended version, or dance mix tracks previously released only on 12" vinyl singles or as B sides.
Many reviewers consider this either their best live album or the 2nd best (after the 1970 release Get Your Ya Ya's Out). The album includes the UK single Highwire and the US single Sex Drive, both of which are studio tracks added to the live tracks from the tour. In addition it has the live version of Ruby Tuesday that was released as a CD single in the UK along with Play With Fire, You Can't Always Get What You Want, and Undercover Of The Night (all live versions from the album). Flashpoint also includes what many people think is the best version they ever did of Little Red Rooster (it features Eric Clapton on lead). Most people know the music, so in my reviews I try to give you data on the sessions and interesting facts connected with the songs and the album. Here we go:
Interesting notes include:
.....the 115th show of the combined Steel Wheels and Urban Jungle tours at Wembly Stadium in London was the last live performance with Bill Wyman (it was filmed on IMAX cameras and is available as the DVD The Rolling Stones Live at the MAX)
.....the Steel Wheels tour set a new American attendance record of 3.4 million, they sold out 10 shows in Tokyo, and the Urban Jungle tour included their 1st shows in East Germany and Czechoslovakia where a ticket was recognized as a one day passport for Hungarians and Poles...the combined tours grossed $200 million
.....the first show of the tour (at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia) was loud enough they blew a generator (causing 3 minutes of silence in the middle of Shattered)....they dropped the song from the setlist for the remainder of the tour
.....this was the first gargantuan stage tour....Steel Wheels featured blow up bimbos (named Angie and Ruby) during Honky Tonk Women and a diversionary lightning effect while Mick rode an elevator 8 stories up to a high stage where he sang Sympathy in a hellishly lighted cloud of smoke (because there were already so many live versions of these two songs on other albums, neither made it to the CD releases)....Urban Jungle featured two rabid canines (with erections) to go with the recently released single Terrifying.
This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection, with some of the notes from Davis' "Old Gods Almost Dead." Both books are available from amazon.com.

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Shine a Light - O.S.T. (Dlx) (Ocrd) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Rolling Stones seem to have recorded a score of live albums over time, some of which are terrific to listen to (think "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" or the intriguing "Four Flicks") and others of which are merely adequate. This, the sound track from Martin Scorsese's concert film, "Shine a Light," is in the former category. It is hard to believe that the Stones are in their 60s. This CD shows them with great energy, although time's effects are apparent as, for instance, in hearing how limited Mick Jagger's vocal range has become. Nonetheless, this is a great amount of fun to listen to! 22 cuts (some not in the documentary, but added later on).
It begins with one of the great rock and roll riffs of all time, in "Jumping Jack Flash." And then it hits you--this song was a hit 40 years ago. How can guys as old as the Stones are still make this work? A great start to the CD. "Shattered" follows quickly. Again, the thought. This is a 30 year old song--and still performed with gusto and spirit.
On the first CD is a little treasure. Buddy Guy, legendary bluesman, joins the band in a Muddy Waters' song, "Champagne and Reefer." The first couple lines give one a sense of the song:
"Bring me champagne when I'm thirsty,
Bring me reefer when I want to get high."
Guy adds his great blues voice and some smoking guitar work. Jagger and Guy alternate singing the lines, and Guy's blues singing is a wonder to listen to. When all the guitars are playing, one almost gets a sense of a wall of sound from those guitars--with Charlie Watts' steady drumming providing a rock solid rhythm foundation.
The second CD provides some more rich music. This side begins with the creepy "Sympathy for the Devil," again well played and sung. A couple songs later, "Start Me Up." Another wall of guitar sound from Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, underlain by the rhythm section, Watts and Darryl Jones. Watts' drumming is primal and creates a powerful base for vocals and guitars. The chunky guitar work of Wood and Richards is compelling. Then, "Brown Sugar." This was a hit well over 30 years ago, but it still has life as played by the band and its "friends," such as Bobby Keys. The audience sing along toward the end provides a sense of spontaneity. A classic Rolling Stones' moment. Then, the third in the trio of songs in this section of the concert--"Satisfaction." As soon as one hears the fuzz tone, the toes start tapping. Jagger's voice is not as agile as it used to be, but he nonetheless puts some life into this over 40 year old song.
Some rarities show up in this concert, songs not often played by the Stones on their tours over the past couple decades, such as "Shine a Light," "You Got the Silver," and "Loving Cup." And one song worth mentioning, since it is another golden oldie--"I'm Free." This goes back to the early days of the Rolling Stones (originally released in 1965). A terrific blues rock song.
"I'm free to sing my song,
Even though it's out of time."
Anyhow, one of their finest live recordings. Age has had some impact. Jagger's voice isn't as agile as it used to be. But, nonetheless, this works and works well as a concert CD.

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THE ROLLING STONES `Shine A Light' is the soundtrack to director MARTIN SCORSESE'S film of the same name, which documents The Rolling Stones' performances at New York's Beacon Theatre on October 29 and November 1, 2006. With special guests BUDDY GUY, White Stripes' JACK WHITE III and CHRISTINA AGUILERA joining the Stones onstage, the Oscar-winning director captures an extraordinary performance from the band. DELUXE VERSION - 2 disc set, featuring 22 tracks with expanded packaging. Includes every track from the film, plus four bonus tracks from the shows that were not included in the film- "Paint It Black", "Little T&A", "Shine A Light" and "I'm Free"
Shine A Light Photos

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Sticky Fingers Review

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(More customer reviews)Along with Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed and Exile On Main Street, this is arguably the greatest album ever by the world's greatest rock 'n roll band. This is the post-60's peace and love, nasty early 70's hard core drug inspired kick ass Stones at their pinnacle. Played out classics include "Brown Sugar," "Bitch" and "Wild Horses," but this album's deeper cuts are the true gems.
I dare you to keep the hair on your head from standing on end as you hear the opening chords to the epic "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" at full volume. Forget heavy metal - it just doesn't get any raunchier than this, or any better, as Keith and Mick Taylor go at it with a vengeance. Billy Preston guest stars with his classic afro organ sound on the bittersweet "I Got the Blues." Then hold on to your hats, turn down the lights and contemplate the mysteries of the Holy Trinity of "Sister Morphine," "Dead Flowers" and "Moonlight Mile," an incredible sequence of Mick, Keith, Mick Talyor and Ry Cooder genius that will leave you crying for more. Memorable and twisted lyrics, haunting guitars, classic Mick vocals and just pure greatness. These drug drenched masterpieces, not for the faint-hearted, could easily have provided an Abbey Road-like crescendo to the Stones' career. Fortunately for us, Keith somehow survived and the Stones went on to record "Exile," their last truly great album.
Warning: in a lame crowd, this is an instant party killer.
As a final note, the original vinyl album cover, designed by Andy Warhol, has a real zipper and is a collector's item.

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Steel Wheels Review

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(More customer reviews)After Mick Jagger's first solo album (she's the boss), after Dirty Work, the Stones got together and did a pretty good album.
Mixed Emotions and Rock and a Hard Place were the most immediate hits of that record. But they're not necessarily the best songs. Continental Drift is an expected piece from the Stones and one which testifies how broad they can be when they want to.
The best song in the album - recorded live in Stripped few years later and now a staple in most live performances by the Stones - is Slipping Away. It's a great great song. It's very basic and yet very intriguing. It's - possibly - a turning point in Keith Richards' songwriting. It opened a new line of songs -- Losing My Touch (in Forty Licks); The worst as well as thru and thru (voodoo lounge); thief in the night (bridges to babylon)--
that has expended the Stones'musical vocabulary.
It's a nice comeback.

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The release of Steel Wheels in 1989 followed the group's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and coincided with their eagerly-awaited return to the live arena. Recorded at Air Studios in Montserrat and Olympic in London, it made the Top 3 in Britain and in the States. It contains classic tracks like the US Top 5 single Mixed Emotions as well as Rock And A Hard Place, which boasts a trademark riff as infectious as any they've come up with. The incredibly atmospheric Almost Hear You Sigh also charted while Richards often reprises the ballad Slipping Away in concert.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Buried Alive: Live in Maryland Review

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(More customer reviews)it was 1979, when keith and ronnie put a band that was supposed to be called the barbarians. they found that that actually a band with that name already existed and decided to change the name into the new barbarians.
fans who were lucky enough to see this tour consistently said that they had rarely seen keith having so much fun as he had with the new barbarians.
the band, in addition to having keith and ronnie on guitar, featured a bunch of legenday musicians: bobby keys, ian maclagan and staley clarke on bass.
the concert was recorded in maryland on may 5, 1979 and was previously made available as a bootleg by, i believe, an italian record company.
the set is great. there are some tunes with ronnie as leading vocalist and keith singing back up vocalist and other sings that were sung by keith--the numbers that were sung by keith include worried life blues, apartment n. 9, let's go steady, and so on. it was also the first time keith and ronnie performed a live version of before they make me run--the great piece that keith had recorded with the stones for some girls (1978). ronnie sings instead tunes like seven days (by bob dylan) and i can feel the fire --that he had originally recorded with mick jagger and david bowie when the stones were recording it's only rock and roll. the comparison between this version of i can feel the fire and the one recorded by ronnie, sir mick and bowie shows quite clearly that keith is a genius. the way in which he sings his parts as backing vocalist (but all the stones record makes it clear that behind mick's voice, keith's performance as backing vocalist was giving the song a richer, wilder flavor) brings new life to the song and makes it infinitely more catchy than the studio version. this is a must have for everybody.
for those who do not have the bootleg, this live album is a great opportunity to appreciate what keith and ronnie were doing with their band. for those who already have the bootleg, this is a great chance to hear the songs (such as jumpin' jack flash) that were never put on the bootleg.
it's awesome

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Two CD set featuring the first official release of this legendary live performance, recorded in Maryland in 1979.The New Barbarians were a live-only band consisting of Rolling Stones members Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, Jazz great Stanley Clarke, former Faces/Small Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, Bobby Keys and Ziggaboo Modeliste.20 tracks including 'Sweet Little Rock 'N Roller', 'Love In Vain', 'Let's Go Steady', 'Before They Make Me Run', 'Jumping Jack Flash', 'Seven Days' and more.Includes an eight page full color booklet with extensive liner notes. Released on Ron Wood's Wooden Records label. 2006.

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