How do you feel about a lot of the songs made in the "Experimental Period" of the Stones--where they were all over the place musically and Brian seemed to be the driving force in the sound (at least from '65 to '67-not so much in '68)?

This is the era of songs like "Ruby Tuesday", "Let's Spend the Night Together", "Lady Jane", "Dandelion", "2,000 Light Years from Home", "Paint it Black", "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (Standing in the Shadows)" "She Smiled Sweetly", "Street Fighting Man", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Sympathy for the Devil"

Personally it's my favorite era of the band, tied with the '69-'74 period.

I think the Stones have three distinct periods which stand out:
The Brian Jones/Experimental Years ('65-'68)--The Stones playing all sorts of genres, exploring all sorts of instruments, really just throwing everything out there and trying everything. Not locked into a single style. Not simply a rock band, nor simply a pop band--A mix of everything.

The Taylor Era ('69-'74)--Back to their roots + the "guitar hero" sprawling epics of the 1970s, combined with the wild live shows, the beautiful Taylor ballads, and amazing guitar solos bringing their garage style rock to new heights, the time in which the Stones reigned supreme. A time where the Stones was a bit more democratic, with sidemen and extra players adding considerably to the Stones' sound. The height of the Stones IMO as a Rock N' Roll Band.

The Jagger Era ('77-'83)--Back to experimenting, led by Mick, an era full of experimentation with the new sounds of the era. Unlike in the 60s, though, the Stones weren't leading the charge musically--they were simply putting their take on new sounds, and it worked out great in many instances. The era where Mick Jagger arguably had the most control over the Stones.

Then you have of course the Early Days ('62-'65), The Transitional Period ('74-'77)*, WWIII (1984-1989), and The Present (1989-today), but IMO they aren't as noteworthy as the three periods above.

*= Transitional Period overlaps slightly with the Taylor Era because their sound was beginning to change in '74 and was becoming more diverse again, and Taylor was around for the era of the sidemen. The Stones entered a malaise of sorts in 1974--It's Only Rock N' Roll and Black & Moon are good records, but just average compared to the rest of the Stones discography. Some amazing gems here and there on both albums, but not consistently great albums. Also, the beginning of the experimental period was seen here in '74 with songs like Fingerprint File.

IT'S PROBABLY THEIR BEST SONGWRITING PERIOD.SUCH DIVERSE MATERIAL AND A TRUER PARTNERSHIP IN WRITING THAN IN LATER YEARS..ALSO,BEFORE THE HARD DRUGS SET IN.

Back in the day, this was known as the "Middle Period"; after the early days but before the Peak Period (Big 4).  It remains my favorite period and good evidence that psychedelics are a lot more interesting than booze and cocaine.
Brainy

I love the "experimental" era, it was all great, Brian giving that unique sound to Jagger-Richards songs. It is also the best period to initiate kids into the Stones

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 5:01pm:

I love the "experimental" era, it was all great, Brian giving that unique sound to Jagger-Richards songs. It is also the best period to initiate kids into the Stones

Lord knows my first true initiation with the Stones was getting "Through the Past, Darkly" on CD for my 8th birthday in November 1998. I'd fallen in love with Paint It, Black, after hearing it on the ending of The Devil's Advocate. I knew it word for word by August '98 and was singing it a lot, like on our home movies. My dad's CD of Flashpoint didn't suffice because I knew that the version on that album wasn't the same.

After that, my parents bought me a record player (for vinyl records) and I was given access to their record collection, and I was also given access to whatever else they had on CD. I remember they the Rolling Stones' Rock N' Roll Circus on CD at the time too, along with Voodoo Lounge. They had the 3 CD version of Woodstock and I fell in love with that too, around the same time--age 8 or 9.

Among their vinyl collection was Sticky Fingers, Their Satanic Majesties' Request, Tattoo You and some others were among my dad's vinyl records...A few others. My mother's included Simon & Garfunkel and Babes in Toyland and the like. And I heard a lot of The Grateful Dead, Jim Carroll, Patti Smith, Cat Stevens and The Cranberries growing up. And my sister had introduced me to stuff like Beck, Queen and Metallica before the age of 5.

I remember falling in love with the songs Dandelion and Ruby Tuesday after I got Through the Past, Darkly. This was '99, and all the other kids my age were listening to Blink 182, Green Day, Rap or Britney Spears crap, and here I'd be spending mornings and afternoons (on the way to and from school on the bus) listening to the Stones on my CD player. I shortly thereafter got High Tides and Green Grass, and the first volume of Hot Rocks.

By '01, I was a rock devotee, my sister introducing me to Guns n' Roses and my brother in law introducing me to Led Zeppelin that year.

StickyStones wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 6:18pm:

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Jan 17th, 2012 at 5:01pm: I love the "experimental" era, it was all great, Brian giving that unique sound to Jagger-Richards songs. It is also the best period to initiate kids into the Stones Lord knows my first true initiation with the Stones was getting "Through the Past, Darkly" on CD for my 8th birthday in November 1998. I'd fallen in love with Paint It, Black, after hearing it on the ending of The Devil's Advocate. I knew it word for word by August '98 and was singing it a lot, like on our home movies. My dad's CD of Flashpoint didn't suffice because I knew that the version on that album wasn't the same. After that, my parents bought me a record player (for vinyl records) and I was given access to their record collection, and I was also given access to whatever else they had on CD. I remember they the Rolling Stones' Rock N' Roll Circus on CD at the time too, along with Voodoo Lounge. They had the 3 CD version of Woodstock and I fell in love with that too, around the same time--age 8 or 9. Among their vinyl collection was Sticky Fingers, Their Satanic Majesties' Request, Tattoo You and some others were among my dad's vinyl records...A few others. My mother's included Simon & Garfunkel and Babes in Toyland and the like. And I heard a lot of The Grateful Dead, Jim Carroll, Patti Smith, Cat Stevens and The Cranberries growing up. And my sister had introduced me to stuff like Beck, Queen and Metallica before the age of 5. I remember falling in love with the song Dandelion after I got Through the Past, Darkly. This was '99, and all the other kids my age were listening to Blink 182, Green Day, Rap or Britney Spears crap, and here I'd be spending mornings and afternoons (on the way to and from school on the bus) listening to the Stones on my CD player. By '01, I was a rock devotee, my sister introducing me to Guns n' Roses and my brother in law introducing me to Led Zeppelin that year.

PRETTY COOL STORY,TOTALLY DIFFERENT GENERATION FROM MOST OF US.

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 5:01pm:

I love the "experimental" era, it was all great, Brian giving that unique sound to Jagger-Richards songs. It is also the best period to initiate kids into the Stones

Yes this experimental period is my favorite.  The many songs from this period were creative and great when I was thirteen in '66 and are still my faveorite Stones songs.  Paint It Black blew away Sgt pepper, and Ruby Tuesday, Lady Jane, Please Go Home, Baby Have You Seen Your Mother, We Love You, Citadel, Shes A Rainbow, 2000 Light Years were, and are still, pure delight to listen to..

The Stones were much more creative than the Beatles.

StickyStones wrote on Jan 17^th, 2012 at 6:18pm:

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Jan 17th, 2012 at 5:01pm: I love the "experimental" era, it was all great, Brian giving that unique sound to Jagger-Richards songs. It is also the best period to initiate kids into the Stones Lord knows my first true initiation with the Stones was getting "Through the Past, Darkly" on CD for my 8th birthday in November 1998. I'd fallen in love with Paint It, Black, after hearing it on the ending of The Devil's Advocate. I knew it word for word by August '98 and was singing it a lot, like on our home movies. My dad's CD of Flashpoint didn't suffice because I knew that the version on that album wasn't the same. After that, my parents bought me a record player (for vinyl records) and I was given access to their record collection, and I was also given access to whatever else they had on CD. I remember they the Rolling Stones' Rock N' Roll Circus on CD at the time too, along with Voodoo Lounge. They had the 3 CD version of Woodstock and I fell in love with that too, around the same time--age 8 or 9. Among their vinyl collection was Sticky Fingers, Their Satanic Majesties' Request, Tattoo You and some others were among my dad's vinyl records...A few others. My mother's included Simon & Garfunkel and Babes in Toyland and the like. And I heard a lot of The Grateful Dead, Jim Carroll, Patti Smith, Cat Stevens and The Cranberries growing up. And my sister had introduced me to stuff like Beck, Queen and Metallica before the age of 5. I remember falling in love with the songs Dandelion and Ruby Tuesday after I got Through the Past, Darkly. This was '99, and all the other kids my age were listening to Blink 182, Green Day, Rap or Britney Spears crap, and here I'd be spending mornings and afternoons (on the way to and from school on the bus) listening to the Stones on my CD player. I shortly thereafter got High Tides and Green Grass, and the first volume of Hot Rocks. By '01, I was a rock devotee, my sister introducing me to Guns n' Roses and my brother in law introducing me to Led Zeppelin that year.

I have almost the exact same story if you substitute older sisters for parents and take away anything produced in the last 30 years.  Remember vividly the Woodstock triple gatefold with the naked chick in the pond on the inside, All Things Must Pass box with George's amazing hair and beard and knee-high boots, the American Beauty rose, Springsteen's wood-finish Tele, Quadrophenia scooter in the water, Sticky Fingers zipper, pathetic hungry kid on Concert for Bangladesh cover (also a box), the old man with sticks on his back on Zeppelin IV, Banquet RSVP cover with Brian holding up the mug on the inside.  Spent hours gazing at these covers as I devoured the music.  

My favorite, and certainly the most interesting era of Stones history. Brian took the band, musically, in so many directions with all the instruments he introduced. What a time to have been alive!  ;D 8-)

Zack wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2012 at 8:13am:

[quote author=StonesFan1990 link=1326802657/0#4 I have almost the exact same story if you substitute older sisters for parents and take away anything produced in the last 30 years.  Remember vividly the Woodstock triple gatefold with the naked chick in the pond on the inside, All Things Must Pass box with George's amazing hair and beard and knee-high boots, the American Beauty rose, Springsteen's wood-finish Tele, Quadrophenia scooter in the water, Sticky Fingers zipper, pathetic hungry kid on Concert for Bangladesh cover (also a box), the old man with sticks on his back on Zeppelin IV, Banquet RSVP cover with Brian holding up the mug on the inside.  Spent hours gazing at these covers as I devoured the music.

Yes, the gatefold on the Woodstock CD haha. I remember listening to 'Coming into Los Angeles' a lot, and of course Country Joe and his "Fixin to Die Rag." I didn't get Hendrix at that age, it just seemed noise at 9 years old so I used to skip him. I remember loving Wooden Ships and stuff like that.

My father had American Beauty and a few other Dead albums on Vinyl I think. I know as a kid I heard a LOT of the Dead long before I ever heard the Stones. The song 'Touch of Grey' would be playing a lot, or Ripple, or Box of Rain, or Truckin. He'd always play that when we were driving. In fact, he had a black Ford Bronco II when I was a kid and when he first got it, he got a black bug deflector put on the hood which had "Touch of Grey" in script--It became the name of the car. That's how much of a Dead Head he was.

I too remember having fun with the Sticky Fingers zipper as a kid, it was like AWESOME to me, CDs didn't have this kind of interactive stuff.

I always found the cover of Through the Past, Darkly haunting but in an awesome way. I think that cover, with the shattered mirror, is from the Stones' last photo session with Brian just a few months before he was kicked out, am I wrong?

I LOVED the inner sleeve of Their Satanic Majesties' Request--the collage of utterly different images fascinated the Hell out of me, it was like amazing, like at 9, it was a picture of another world. It was pure art to me at that age. It spawned a short lived fascination with collages. I also loved the cover and front and back artwork. A little dirty, but I found the three nude bathing women in that inner sleeve quite interesting as well, being 9 and all.

But most of all, I loved the music. Through the Past, Darkly, had moments of pure beauty, moments of darkness and terror, and Dandelion I loved the most because it made me imagine that the Rolling Stones' time (whenever that was) must've been a time like the Medieval Age--especially given their costumes on the cover of Satanic Majesties'. I was convinced that the 60s was like a world shown only in books like the Lord of the Rings--a magical fantasy world, which is something I'd already loved. That was my conception of the Stones at 9: Amazing, wonderous, mysterious. That whole period is beautiful, darkly beautiful. I think it's the Stones' most original period, most unique really.

My brother in law introduced me to Zeppelin after I asked him in 2001 if there was any music that was like Lord of the Rings or that had to do with it--something like that. He brought me into their kitchen, got out LZ IV and put on Battle of Evermore. I was mesmerized. As I remember he let me keep the CD and I loved the cover--seemed so medieval to me somehow, so fantasy-esque, so mysterious--Giving me that same feeling the Stones did just two years prior.

Really I was born to love Rock music and the Stones. My dad was a guy who wore a denim jacket and jeans and wore his hair long for most of my childhood and for a good chunk of my childhood wore large roundish glasses like Jerry Garcia wore in the 90s, he was not of the Woodstock generation but younger (born in '54). On our home movies, some of the home music playing is Rock when I was an infant and kid. In fact, we have a tape from August '91 which has Factory Girl from the live album Flashpoint playing in the background--you could tell my dad bought it on CD not long after it came out. And I've always loved that version of the song.

This thread and the Stones music from '65-68 brings back a lot of happy memories for me.

recently I started listening to the Satanic Sessions (8 cd's!) and to my surprise it isn't only outtakes but there's also some amazing versions of the songs on it,

grt,
Albert
Holland

Sioux wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2012 at 1:32pm:

My favorite, and certainly the most interesting era of Stones history. Brian took the band, musically, in so many directions with all the instruments he introduced. What a time to have been alive!  ;D 8-)

I second that Sioux, it was a fantastic time to be alive, & I love all those songs from that era, a lot of the songs with Brian with different instruments were hits on the charts.

albert wrote on Jan 24^th, 2012 at 12:43pm:

recently I started listening to the Satanic Sessions (8 cd's!) and to my surprise it isn't only outtakes but there's also some amazing versions of the songs on it, grt, Albert Holland

It takes some patience, but in the end it's worth it.  EX sound quality too!

"Experimental Period" or "The Boys take their place as  The Greatest Rock n Roll Band in the World period".
This period best defined the Stones for me.
These songs are to me the definition of the Stones
"Ruby Tuesday", "Let's Spend the Night Together", "Lady Jane", "Dandelion",  "Paint it Black", "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (Standing in the Shadows)" "Street Fighting Man", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Sympathy for the Devil"
These songs, WERE, and are Stone Songs meaning IMO this is were they not only painted it black they painted it "Rolling Stone Black". They owned the color. They invented the color. This is were they were stating, Ok you liked us and now were going to slap you in the face and see how you like it. If you like it your going to love this next album........I liked it. ( was pissed that they Spent sometime  together on Ed's show, but I got over it)
 "Let's Spend the Night Together" was played at my wedding!
This Middle period The Greatest Rock n Roll band in the World earned, and took their tittle, IMO.
As a reference to the first part of this 2 part series, Rocks Off Reviews: The Rolling Stones debut (1964),  I would like to add that Their song "Tell Me" was a Hint of these songs from the  "Experimental Period"  to come. In other words IMO Tell Me works well or is a type of intro to "Ruby Tuesday", "Let's Spend the Night Together", "Lady Jane", "Dandelion",  "Paint it Black", "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (Standing in the Shadows)" "Street Fighting Man", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Sympathy for the Devil". This is because it 's their song and it shows their "pop writing skill" not using the word pop for any other reason, than to define their hit songs as their style and their style sold, and started to influence other songwriters and performers. This period is were most bands fail, The Stones  passed this Era with flying colors, a Rainbow of colors, even if their favorite color was Black. They Defined it IMO!
Thank you. Let The Beatings begin.  

Next...............
We've done the
Beginning
The Middle
__________? :blankfriggingstare1

recently 'discovered' a video clip of Child Of The Moon on Youtube. Didn't even know it excisted. Together with the clips of We Love You, 2000 Light years an Jumping jack Flash it makes a nice 'psychedelic' trip to watch......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSoLqjSxe7k

grt
Albert
Holland

Yes, that one has actually been out for quite a few years....but it's really interesting and...strange. :) LOVE any Stones footage from those prime 60's years... 8-)

Thanks for posting it here, albert! ;D

Anyone else think the song Dandelion is almost magical?

StickyStones wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 5:50pm:

Anyone else think the song Dandelion is almost magical?

Yes I do, and Magical, cause it's one of those songs that escapes me, than all of a sudden it comes back to me. It's not a song I carry with me, it kind of comes and goes.
So yes to me it magical. A tune I can't compare to another, easily. It's kind of all by itself!
By the way Who's That on Piano/Harpsicord.........Nicky Hopkins, like I said  9 out of 10.
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Lil-Brian wrote on Jan 24^th, 2012 at 2:21pm:

albert wrote on Jan 24th, 2012 at 12:43pm: recently I started listening to the Satanic Sessions (8 cd's!) and to my surprise it isn't only outtakes but there's also some amazing versions of the songs on it, grt, Albert Holland It takes some patience, but in the end it's worth it.  EX sound quality too!

Agree 100%!  Part of the problem with SMR is amateur (over) production.  Some of the early takes reveal some awesome material buried beneath the pyschedelic murk.  Putting (. . . . See What Happens) on the album might have been their biggest mistake ever.  Gomper served the purpose of the extended, droning Syd's-Floyd like freakout.   The end of side 1 is just boring.

Kilroy wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 11:52pm:

StickyStones wrote on Feb 25th, 2012 at 5:50pm: Anyone else think the song Dandelion is almost magical? Yes I do, and Magical, cause it's one of those songs that escapes me, than all of a sudden it comes back to me. It's not a song I carry with me, it kind of comes and goes. So yes to me it magical. A tune I can't compare to another, easily. It's kind of all by itself! By the way Who's That on Piano/Harpsicord.........Nicky Hopkins, like I said  9 out of 10.

It might be that Nicky doesn't play on Dandelion.

Philip wrote on Feb 26^th, 2012 at 8:43am:

Kilroy wrote on Feb 25th, 2012 at 11:52pm: StickyStones wrote on Feb 25th, 2012 at 5:50pm: Anyone else think the song Dandelion is almost magical? Yes I do, and Magical, cause it's one of those songs that escapes me, than all of a sudden it comes back to me. It's not a song I carry with me, it kind of comes and goes. So yes to me it magical. A tune I can't compare to another, easily. It's kind of all by itself! By the way Who's That on Piano/Harpsicord.........Nicky Hopkins, like I said  9 out of 10. It might be that Nicky doesn't play on Dandelion.

So..........my guess is......... I'm wrong?
that's the1 out 10. Damn Who get's the Credit?

I don't know whether he is or isn't because I haven't read any interviews by those who would know saying that he was. Nicky himself has said that We Love You was the first Rolling Stones release he played on, but he didn't specify whether that included Dandelion.

Philip wrote on Feb 26^th, 2012 at 4:23pm:

I don't know whether he is or isn't because I haven't read any interviews by those who would know saying that he was. Nicky himself has said that We Love You was the first Rolling Stones release he played on, but he didn't specify whether that included Dandelion.

Cool I cannot find any information about it Except
Wikipedia.........for what thats worth!
They have it as :
   * Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals
   * Keith Richards – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
   * Brian Jones – maracas, oboe, backing vocals
   * Charlie Watts – drums
   * Bill Wyman - bass guitar
   * Nicky Hopkins - harpsichord
   * Ian Stewart - Lowrey organ
I take that as..........can anyone verify that?
You know what I mean.
If not.........its still a question.

For what it's worth---and it might not be worth much, I don't know  ;)---but one RS website has Brian listed for harpsichord, sax, and oboe.... :-?

Sioux wrote on Feb 26^th, 2012 at 5:20pm:

For what it's worth---and it might not be worth much, I don't know  ;)---but one RS website has Brian listed for harpsichord, sax, and oboe.... :-?

To me it's worth more than the WIKI site, Thanks Sioux!
His Own Site Nicky's does not mention Dandelion..........
Wiki had Liz dead in 2003, got that corrected also, Next!

There's no oboe on Dandelion, Brian does play soprano saxophone on it though.

Wiki is wiki, pinches of salt are often needed, those Dandelion credits are such an occasion.   :smilebrian

Philip wrote on Feb 28^th, 2012 at 9:55am:

There's no oboe on Dandelion, Brian does play soprano saxophone on it though. Wiki is wiki, pinches of salt are often needed, those Dandelion credits are such an occasion.   :smilebrian

Agreed.........But do we here know a site thats got a "more Correct " who played what when? :forfucksake
I need that........for my own education on this band......
:boring
I'm a rookie really...been a fan for years but have not studied their craft until the last 5 years or so. :areyoufuckingserious
Yes Charlie I'm serious!
I also wanted to continue on discussions about their music...........Thank you! :smilestu
Willing to learn here in Mickville......I'm a grasshopper. Stones devotee wanna b :blankfriggingstare1
Happy Birthday to the guy that started it by the way. :smilebrian
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