![]() Still, at its best, it’s a reasonable recap of their strengths kicked up a few notches for the small stage they hadn’t played in far too long with a tight band and generally stripped down (no horns, backing singers) lineup featuring then new guy Ron Wood. This doesn’t capture the Stones in full Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out throttle. A surprise performance of “Worried About You,” a tune that wouldn’t appear until 1981’s Tattoo You, finds Jagger going falsetto soulman to an unexpectedly impressive pre-Prince effect. ![]() ![]() Big Maceo’s “Worried Life Blues” is energized and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Little Red Rooster” gets a dark, totally credible reading, bringing the Stones back to that tough, scraggly, hungry blues outfit they were before the cash started rolling in. Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy” sizzles although not as much as Muddy and Johnny Winter’s live version. Thirteen titles not on Love You Live are included so Stones collectors should be elated to hear seldom played tracks from Black and Blue along with tough versions of “All Down the Line,” “Rip This Joint” and others in their 1977 glory.īut the half-hour or so of deeper blues is what makes this a keeper. The opening “Honky Tonk Women,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Brown Sugar” and the like get rollicking renditions and even trifles “Hot Stuff” (Preston’s piano is especially powerful) and “Star Star” are delivered with more energy than their studio versions which is what every live album should strive for. We get five of the better cuts from the middling Black and Blue along with a handful of ringers. The band was only 17 years into their career but had racked up a remarkable run of hits, most of which have not been topped since. Bill Wyman’s bass, typically under mixed both in the studio and live, is fully present, and Preston’s keyboards (and even synthesizer on a track) are highlighted. This double CD (also a four vinyl package) delivers 23 songs and nearly two hours of music, all remastered for striking crispness and clarity. But that only resulted in a handful of oldies (“Route 66,” Chuck Berry’s “Around and Around” along with blues chestnuts “Mannish Boy,” “Worried Life Blues,” “Little Red Rooster,” and Bo Diddley’s offbeat Caribbean “Crackin’ Up”) getting the nod, apparently to the consternation of Richards. Apparently, the initial concept was for the outfit, augmented by keyboardist/vocalist Billy Preston (his robust playing is featured throughout) and percussionist Ollie Brown, to revive material they played in clubs during their earliest years.
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