Palama wrote:Fun to listen to the development and musical maturity of one of, if not THE greatest rock n’ roll band. One of the first 45s I bought was “Paint it Black”, many, many moons ago.
Definitely one of the pillars holding up the roof of Rock N' Roll.
One of my faves as well and there's so much to delve in and find because their library is massive. Reading Keef and Mick's biographies are must reads for fans. The 2 bookends that make up the Glimmer Twins couldn't be more different yet can clash in the middle to deliver material that still makes them relevant. They were one of a handful of bands that I really wished had used the Covid Shutdown to make new music. I already have 3.11 gigs of it and am always looking for more.
The song you mentioned is in my Top 10 for them. It is a real dark brooding song of the times, but they were only telling the truth. Something that they're not afraid to do, have done and by touring...still do. I don't think I'll go to see them live anymore because the pinnacle was seeing them with 1,999 other fans for a very intimate show that was a warm up for the Steel Wheels tour in Lansing,MI. I won tickets to it on the radio.
Loved the early years with Brian and the psychedelic ending it ran from Blues covers to the early beginnings of Prog with him. The sweet spot for me are the Mick Taylor years. I love all of that. My personal fave is the gritty Bluesy tattle-tale song "Stray Cat Blues". To me, that defines them. I know Mick is singing from his perspective, but the old saying the Beatles were the band you brought home to mum and dad, but the Stones are who you were with on Friday and Saturday nights is captured in that one song. I can't recall a Beatles song that dared to tread where this cancel culture anthem goes. From the opening riff to the ending solo. Once Ronnie joined he enjoyed making them a touring band and they stayed on the road. Rumors of George Thorogood waiting in the wings because Ronnie was coked out and his playing diminishing quietly disappeared with the years after "Some Girls" through the debacle that was "Dirty Work". Oh, I can still find good stuff there too, but not great. The later releases "Steel Wheels" through "A Bigger Bang" were just putting material out there for the sake of it. I wish they had a "Let It Bleed" or "Some Girls" album in that era but they just don't have a full release where every song you want to hear. With the passing of Charlie it's impossible for them to do that as he was the anchor to that rudderless ship. The friends I talk music with are curious and clamoring for now get this...The Rolling Stones are missing their bassist (even though he's alive he wants NOTHING to do with them!) and their drummer...Sir Paul and Ringo are still out and about. Now THAT ticket...I would pay to see. Think of the material they could cover, especially when you have solo material to drag in as well.
