The Rolling Stones Album: “Live Licks [UK]”

While I agree with some of the criticim regarding the editing of this double disk, the sound is excellent and the performances are very solid. This CD is very representative of the Stones live sound and is a good listen. I've been a Stones fan all my life, I have every one of their albums, and I'm happy to add this CD to my collection. The first disk covers a lot of ground that's already been covered on other Stones live disks but the second disk especially will make a nice addition to any Stones/music collection.

Let me start by stating the obvious--I am a Rolling Stones fan. That being said, this CD is bad. I mean Jordan with the Wizards bad--Santo with the White Sox bad--Ron Wood with the Stones bad (just kidding...sort of). Yeah,ok there are some gems on disc two but was there a need for disc one? No, no, no and no. If that is the best they can come up with after a year-plus of touring, I must have not been paying attention the last three times I saw them, because I actually thought they sounded great. The four-DVD set (minus MSG)--outstanding. The live reviews--fantastic. WHAT HAPPENED?? Ronnie, put the cigarette down and play something--I mean something good. Keith, pick up said cigarette and stop yourself. I feel cheated after listening to this disc. What has the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World come to--putting out even worse versions of the tired retreads they have put out 10 times before. Ugh. Crank up Get Yer Ya Ya's Out and save yourself the heartache of hearing a great band jump the shark.

Love the music, BUT here's where I get really mad. By their own stats included in the CD booklet, the Stones played 116 shows and performed 2301 songs. Do the maths: an average of 4 mins per song and you have 9,204 minutes of recordings but, on 2 CDs that are capable of 150 mins of music, we get only 49 mins on CD1 and 60 minutes on CD2, a total of 109 minutes. Like the other reviewer, I reckon I feel cheated as well but for a totally different reason. I was so lucky to see a "Let It Bleed" show in Melbourne Australia which included a blistering "Midnight Rambler" and one of the best performances of "Tumbling Dice" I have ever seen or heard. Where are they? Where is "Jumping Jack Flash?" I cannot believe that out of all the performances, enough songs to fill 2 CD's could not be found......NOT GOOD ENOUGH, EMI/Virgin!!!! In an era when you are fighting off the downloaders and P2P sites around the world, you end up treating your legitimate long-standing purchasers (40 yrs of record & CD buying here) in such a cynical fashion. I still love the music, but call me greedy, I do believe you could have delivered more.

On the plus side, this rocks hard. The second cd with the rarities is great, a lot of fun. I have been playing the second cd turned way up while painting a bedroom and it definitely enhances the project.

On the minus side, just as you are really cranked up, grooving to Rocks Off, the stupid edit stops you dead in your tracks and ruins a superb version of this Exile classic. Also, they played several more great rarities on that tour and had plenty of room for them on these CD's, their omission is disappointing.

Lots of fun but flawed.

Why are we fighting? Why are we fighting? Sure, some of the edits are weird, but guys, this is a band and on this CD they are tight. Listen to "Live Licks" loud! To me the CDs sound JUST like the Stones sounded in Tokyo in 2003 -- loud and locked in with each other. No Stone stands out on any of these tracks. Everyone is good. Again, play it loud, dance to it, crank it up in another room or in your car, make it part of your daily life and it will grow on you. Don't be like "Rolling Stone" and pan it right out of the gate, like they did with "Exile". This band is the best -- as a rock band, and "Live Licks" captures them.