The Rolling Stones Album: “Ladies And Gentlemen”

Pure dirty Exile-era Stones. Serious about the music. If you need to learn what all the fuss is about and have only witnessed later concert films (the inferior "We're the Stones You Should Love Us Just Because" vibe of "Let's Spend the Night Together"), this document sets the record straight.

The Stones are working hard at this show, looking as if they have something to prove. And prove it they do. It's 1972 and there is still an element of danger in the air for this band. They're deadly serious and are leaning into these numbers. Mick Taylor--the sequel to Brian Jones and the prequel to Ron Wood--stands stock still and delivers those chilling licks that made Exile on Main Street legendary. Heck, even good ole honorary Stone Nicky Hopkins is on board for some rollicking piano fills.

This show just builds and builds. By the time they crash head on into Midnight Rambler you feel as if there's no other rock 'n' roll band.

And there IS no other rock 'n' roll band. THIS is the Stones. You SHOULD love them. Because of THIS.

Many Rolling Stones fans, including myself, will agree, the Mick Taylor years were their best musically. For decades since their landmark 1972 North American Tour, Stones fans have anticipated the long awaited release of Ladies and Gentlemen The Rolling Stones. Historically, this concert footage is a must-have for any Stones fan. The years of waiting, however, may disappoint some die-hard Mick Taylor fans when it comes to the sound mix, but more on that below.

The first noticeable visual change, for those who remember the rare Drive-in Movie showings of this film is the elimination of the triple split-screen effect. Split screen was state-of-the-art in 1972, (recall the films Woodstock and Elvis On Tour) but, was always over-done to the point of being annoying. Eliminating it was a wise decision. By today's standards, the onstage camera work will appear almost primitive to the computer stabilized Skycam generation. Instead, onstage cameramen vied for position, and clamored for a dramatic shot only to be foiled by a seemingly motionless Bill Wyman, curly chord stretched to the max, who had an uncanny knack for getting in the way. Likewise, the stage lighting of the day was totally inadequate for filming, thus rendering more than its share of dark moments. If eliminating split-screen added to the continuity of the film, splicing segments from four performances certainly did not. Costume changes from one song to the next, even from an intro to the song itself are, at time more than just noticeable. Some may savor the concert filming of the day, and enjoy the aviance. Others may be reminded of the down side to releasing a 38 year old relic.

The sound mix on the non-Blue-Ray copy I viewed leaves a lot to be desired. First, the over-all volume is lower than expected. Viewed on my PC with the volume maxed-out left me wanting more. Most annoying is a noticeable stereo panning effect that permeates most of the DVD. Mick Jagger's vocals, for instance, pan from side to side then come to rest in the center, like someone was drunk and experimenting at the sound/re-mix board. It's amazing to think that this problem was not noticed and remedied. Most disheartening of all is that Mick Taylor's guitar is not mixed as loud as on some live bootlegs, most notable, the 1973 European Tour examples that dot the internet. Taylor's guitar is not terribly low, and his masterful playing can certainly be enjoyed, but it sure would have been better if he were turned up. On the plus side, bringing up Bill Wyman's bass, that was previously always muddied in the mix of live performances, reveals what many fans have known for years: Wyman is a good bass player after all. Likewise, Nicky Hopkins's piano is more prominent and will please those who remember this great musician. A high end home TV/audio system may remedy some of these defects, but the casual viewer may be left wanting.

Tour rehearsal clips previously posted on the internet, or included on the DVD Stones in Exile reduce the impact of those Bonus Features included here ("Shake Your Hips," "Tumbling Dice" and "Bluesberry Jam"). An Old Grey Whistle Stop interview with Jagger, inter-mixed with performance flashes from the DVD, and a recent 2010 interview provide a then & now perspective of Jagger's take on the whole thing.

As a long-time Stones fan, I had to have this DVD. The 1972 Stones Tour with Mick Taylor is what many consider the highpoint of their career. Taken for what it is, and the technology of the time, the overall performance is not bad. The sound problems on the DVD release, and perhaps a better selection of Bonus Features rate this as three-and-a-half stars.

This review is only on the Deluxe Edition, Iam not taking anything away from Ladies And Gentleman The Rolling Stones which I would give 5 Stars. My issue is with the Third Disc, which is the only reason I bought this Deluxe Edition. I feel that Eagle Rock could I have put a lot more effort into the 3rd disc which any Stones fan would feel ripped off.Eagle Rock should have watched the Bootleg copy from 4 Reel Produtions of ladies and Gentleman first to see what Stones fans may have wanted.Eagle Rock put (NO EFFORT INTO THE 3rd DISC). I was really looking forward to seeing the (whole) Dick Cavett show, Eagle Rock cut the backstage footage and on top of that they didnot include the footage of the opening song which was Brown Sugar and the closing song Street Fighting Man. They only showed the interviews with Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman, the live performances were cut out!!! I know there is plenty of outakes of live performances from the 1972 tour which should have been included with this deluxe edition.

Again am not taking anything away from Ladies and Gentleman, I dont want to see anyone waste there money on this Deluxe Edition!!!! (Just Buy The Single Disc)

I have seen this movie in various forms through the years - typically copies of copies of bootleg copies of bootlegs. Last night I saw the remastered film in the theater (it was released for a one-night-only showing), and it blew me away. The sound was as perfect as a 1972 concert can be, and the video was superb - FAR better than any version I've seen before. This is highly recommended for anybody who calls themselves Stones Fans, and is absolutely essential for anybody who was at any of the 1972 US shows.

No doubt I'm still somewhat euphoric after having just seen it in a theater, but this might be - MIGHT BE - the best rock and roll concert film every done. No fluff, no background info, no personality profiles - just one hell of a rock concert by a band at the absolute height of their powers. I've seen the Stones many times, and always felt this tour was by far the best. After last night, now I'm sure of it. A brief show by today's standards, on a small stage (the players are very close together), with period lighting, and the band starts with a bang and it only gets better from there. There's an incredible amount of energy on that stage, and more than a little bit of controlled chaos. God, it's freaking PERFECT!

It is pieced from four performances, so there's no clothing continuity at all, but who cares? Jagger has glitter on his face, Keith is playing unbelievable riffs, and Mick Taylor demonstrates why he's probably the most overlooked and underrated rock/blues guitarist who ever walked the planet. Wyman stands stock still (how does he do that), and Charlie Watts wears funny clothes and nails that backbeat like only he can.

Get this DVD. Don't even think about not getting it.

If there was ever any doubt in your mind that for a while (1969-1975) The Rolling Stones were truly "the greatest rock and roll band in the world", well here's your proof. Sure, the quality of the video is far from 2011 state-of-the-art, and the sound quality might not be up to a purist audiophile's standards.. but hey - it's only rock and roll. This video was complied from 4 different (2 early/late) shows from Texas during a couple of days of 1972 Exile on Main Street tour. The performances are just completely outstanding. The band is very tight, all the guitar parts are clear and distinct (in contrast to the most recent shows where Keith and Ronny's parts all sort of mush together), and the energy is very high.

The video runs an hour and 10 minutes but seems like longer because it starts out at warp 10 and then accelerates with no break. All the songs (well, except for Bye Bye Johnny) are part of the Stones' greatest hits oeurvre and are sequenced pretty much as they might be played during a single Stones concert was/is (starts out with Brown Sugar, and ends with JJ Flash and Street Fighting Man. The performances of Midnight Rambler and All Down the Line are especially good - the stuff of legend. There are also three additional songs recorded and filmed during rehearsals for the tour, but they are nothing special (except that Keith plays almost all the leads - en though he is playing a 5 stringed Tele presumably still tuned to open G), plus a couple of interviews with Jagger, one from 1972 and one from 2010. The Mick of 2010 is a bit scary, especially in contrast to the Mick of 1972, and I'm sort of sorry I watched it.

When Mick Taylor joined the band in 1969, the Rolling Stones live shows changed dramatically. Keith reverted back to playing mostly rhythm guitar (with some occasional leads) leaving Mick Taylor to play most of the leads and fills. The combination worked spectacularly well in concert, as seen in this video. Keith was able to play most of the time in (his relatively recent discovery of) open G, with 5 strings (removing the low E) and capo'ed at the 4th fret to get these amazing chops - half rhythm-half lead, that provide the trademark Stones sound on songs like Brown Sugar, Midnight Rambler, Street Fighting Man, Jack Flash and many, many more. On top of this, you get Mick Taylor, playing far and away the best lead guitar ever heard at any Rolling Stones concert,including some astounding slide guitar. Why he left the band is considered a great mystery by most but it seems pretty clear to me that in the studio Keith was free to play both his trademark rhythm as well as overdubbing the lead (which he often did), leaving Mick Taylor as pretty much a 5th wheel. It was only on stage that you could hear Taylor let loose and wow, is it ever hot as this video clearly demonstrates.

Mick, Keith, and Charlie are clearly having a great time, grinning, sweating and putting out. Bill Wyman, as usual, appears to be on haldol to look at him, but sounds great. And Mick Taylor - most of the time is standing stock still, completely expressionless, as his fingers fly over the fretboard and great lead riffs emerge. He is also the only one that looks reasonably buff and healthy, even though in 1972 all the others would also still have been in their late 20's or early 30's.

I think I have all of the live (and studio) Rolling Stones that has been released on CD, DVD or (gasp) tape, but this is far and away the very best live Rolling Stones video that there is. The sound is as good as that on "Get Your Ya-Ya's Out", previously the best live Stones available.

This may be too lo-fi for those who grew up on digital video and sound, but for old geezers like me, I barely noticed the flaws for the brilliance of the performances. This one is just too good to miss.

JMT