The Rolling Stones Album: “Love You Live [Remaster]”

The Stones always featured some great piano/keyboard work. In the early days Ian "Stew" Stewart played some great Otis Spann influenced Chicago blues. In addition Brian Jones, one of rock's most versatile instrumentalists, who played everything from flutes and harmonica to sitar and mirimba, as well as piano and organ. Then consider the great output of Nicky Hopkins aka "Edward" during the Begger's Banquet, Let It Bleed, and Exile recordings. Even today, when on tour, the band's in the more than capable hands of Chuck Leavall. That brings us to 1977's Love You Live. Who steps up to fill the slot, the inimitable, late great Billy Preston. Employing some brillant organ and soulful vocals, Billy spices up If You Can't Rock Me and Honky Tonk Woman. Nice job Billy!

But the real reason why I grab this CD and run out to my car for some good crusin' music is for the El Mocambo sides. Here we find the boys on familar turf; Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Ellis McDaniels, (shame on you if you didn't recognize Bo Diddly's real name). El Mocambo is surely the greatest recording capturing The Stones stripped down to the bone. Raw and unbridlled in a small Toronto Club, the band positively sizzles. For my money, they never sounded better!!!!!!!!!!!How can you not love 'em live!!!!!!

This is the best live Stones album since Get Yer Ya-Yas Out. Really enjoy it. Had it on 8-track "back in the day" and finally got the CD version. Band sounds terrific throughout, especially in the club setting. Like the Stones? You'll like this one.

Awesome live album, for a long time my favorite live album by any group. The version of Sympathy and Get what you want is spectacular. Only down part of this album is the recording mix, album needs to be remastered to clean up sound. This live album better than flashpoint or stripped as far as overall performances but be careful on high quality sounds systems if you are into true clean sound.

This live recording has some great music on it. Especially enjoyable is the small-house set of old blues numbers. However, all the songs are well-done, with great finesse and energy, and this is a very satisfying Rolling Stones live album. Four and a half stars.

To preface this review:

A. I am a self-professed Monster Stones Fan

B. I love all Stones era's (I do not believe the world stopped turning when Mick Taylor left the band)

C. I think Punk Rock was good for the Stones, it kicked them in the pants and helped to inspire Some Girls

D. I like Ron Wood (I even listen to his solo albums)

E. I do not have anything against Billy Preston in theory

As far as obligatory mid-70's Double-Live albums go, this is not horrible and the band deserves some extra credit by trying to do something different, filling up side three with a club show blues set. Unfortunately there are serious problems. First however, the highlights:

A. The Fanfare / Honky Tonk opening is cool

B. The If You Can't Rock me / Get Off My Cloud medley is a good idea

C. Happy and Starf@&#%*r rock out like nobody's business

D. Gotta give the band credit for doing the deep-funk Fingerprint File live (they ought to consider pulling this weird gem out of mothballs for the upcoming tour)

E. It's Only Rock and Roll, JJF, Sympathy, etc. are all fine

Where most other reviewers seem to disagree with me is the blues set: I have always thought it was wretched. In theory, I think the idea of the Stones ridding themselves of all but a few key sidemen and getting down with some blues standards in a sweaty, smokey bar is a gift from God. My problem with this El Mocambo set is the execution. Why is it crap?

A. Billy Preston's clavinet?

B. Mick Jagger's smarmy I'm a-Studio 54-jetset-superstar-playing-at-being-a-bluesman-while-drinking-champagne vocals?

C. Ronnie not yet integrated into the band well enough?

D. Keith phoning it in?

I cannot put my finger on it but I am pretty sure A and B are strongly contributing factors. Although Billy Preston is a very capable keyboardist, I have never understood the prominence the Stones allowed him in their band during this period. If you listen to the bootlegs from this tour, they were letting him sing not one but two of his own songs, something which they have never let Ronnie (or Bill Wyman for that matter)do. If anything, these songs need Ian Stuart's barrelhouse piano, not the ingratiating crapola Billy Preston is playing here. Finally, I think Mick just sinks this these songs with execrable insincerity.

So there.