I'm of the opinion that Mick Taylor is one of the most underrated guitarists ever and I honestly feel he's up there with the aforementioned guitarists in terms of talent. Anyone else agree?

He's a WAY better guitarist than Plant!

:nooslajaleisk

:willya
FPM wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 11:46am:

He's a WAY better guitarist than Plant! :nooslajaleisk

More fluid yes (Page's style was choppy but melodic) but better overall? I don't think so. I mean Page was the SOLE guitarist of Zeppelin and came up with just as many classic riffs as any Stones member ever did. And he played both lead and rhythm live--No small feat. I do wonder: If Taylor had been given more free reign as a Stone, what direction might their music have taken? We see little hints of what a Jagger/Taylor led Stones might've been like in Moonlight Mile, Sway, Time Waits for No One and other tracks. I know Keith and Mick were the founders, but they had a really, really talented guy with them and they should've given him more of a free hand in the studio. Live they did but studio no and I think had they given him as much freedom in the studio as live, he'd be as well remembered as the other guitarists I mentioned.

It's Page, not Plant

:nomames

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 12:38pm:

It's Page, not Plant :nomames

Yeah I know I realized the typo. I was still sleepy and feeling a little crappy.

He is not on the same continent as these three.

Technically he is a notch below these superstars but overall counting in their writing contributions etc I'm with Nellie......

gimmekeef wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 1:14pm:

Technically he is a notch below these superstars but overall counting in their writing contributions etc I'm with Nellie......

Well the thing is though is that when Mick/Keith let him shine in the studio, his work and solos and writing was as good as any of the other three. It's just they rarely gave him the freedom in the studio which they gave him live.

StickyStones wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 1:19pm:

gimmekeef wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 1:14pm: Technically he is a notch below these superstars but overall counting in their writing contributions etc I'm with Nellie...... Well the thing is though is that when Mick/Keith let him shine in the studio, his work and solos and writing was as good as any of the other three. It's just they rarely gave him the freedom in the studio which they gave him live.

Its only our opinions.....personally you picked 3 of the top 5 of alltime imho...I just dont have Taylor quite there.....

At the peak of his powers, he was as good a lead guitarist as those guys—no question. But as a composer/producer, Page is in a league of his own. Clapton doesn't even come close, either.

I do wonder what it would've sounded like if he had been allowed to compose more songs. I mean the songs he did compose like Moonlight Mile are among the best the Stones did and songs like Sway and Time Waits for No One have been sort of buried by the Stones. And on other songs in the studio, even while he's soloing, he's not as high in the mix as Keith. I mean listen to the way he soloed and what not in the '72 and '73 tours--He was up there with Page.

StickyStones wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 11:29am:

I'm of the opinion that Mick Taylor is one of the most underrated guitarists ever and I honestly feel he's up there with the aforementioned guitarists in terms of talent. Anyone else agree?

this term underated is BS IMO... unrecognized some are... but rating is opinion... and success doesn't eaqual talent... with that said, if Taylor was a guy who never had a shot in the limelight, he would be someone you would call as good as the so called greats, just not as succesful... Taylor doesn't have a few key components... He isn't a brilliant songwriter, he's not breaking new ground, and isn't a riff guy... and guys he just play alot of leads aren't really going to shine... so my answer is no... with all that said, he was great in Stones and is very good at what he can do!

Taylor was great but wasnt used to his full potential.

No where near those guys...they are all a distant 2nd...3rd...and 4th...

StickyStones wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 3:48pm:

I do wonder what it would've sounded like if he had been allowed to compose more songs. I mean the songs he did compose like Moonlight Mile are among the best the Stones did and songs like Sway and Time Waits for No One have been sort of buried by the Stones. And on other songs in the studio, even while he's soloing, he's not as high in the mix as Keith. I mean listen to the way he soloed and what not in the '72 and '73 tours--He was up there with Page.

Moire like if he had been CREDITED with more of his work...

uncleson wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 4:55pm:

Taylor was great but wasnt used to his full potential.

He was used to his full potential, he never did anything better before or after... his only reply should be thank you for the great oppurtunity...


Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 7:44pm:

No where near those guys...they are all a distant 2nd...3rd...and 4th...

:pukey

:forfucksake

:aimama


Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 7:46pm:

StickyStones wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 3:48pm: I do wonder what it would've sounded like if he had been allowed to compose more songs. I mean the songs he did compose like Moonlight Mile are among the best the Stones did and songs like Sway and Time Waits for No One have been sort of buried by the Stones. And on other songs in the studio, even while he's soloing, he's not as high in the mix as Keith. I mean listen to the way he soloed and what not in the '72 and '73 tours--He was up there with Page. Moire like if he had been CREDITED with more of his work...

playing lead guitar on songs is not songwriting... all the musicians brought their creative input into songs, that isn't the same as song writing... and Taylor wanted songwriting credit... Where's all the Taylor songs he wrote after leaving, where's his inspiration and creativity? He left bitter wanting more than he deserved, and he got what he earned... Funny how things turnout. And no question that Mick and Keith could be vampires, but they knew how to make it work out in the long run, and if you were blind to it, you missed a great chance to make good money and be famous and get laid... It's a job and too many forget that and think they are entitled to shit they didn't earn... Ronnie made a huge concession on his helping Mick write IORR... but in the long run, looks like it paid off, they gave him a credit later on a dif. song and the best job anyone might want... while Ronnie was playing stadiums and traveling the world Taylor was playing in front of 50 people for $5 a head... look at all the albums ronnie has released as well on his own, where are Taylors records? and Taylor was great in The Stones, but when it ended so did his greatness, not their's... nuff said!

Pdog wrote on Apr 6^th, 2012 at 8:37pm:

uncleson wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 4:55pm: Taylor was great but wasnt used to his full potential. He was used to his full potential, he never did anything better before or after... his only reply should be thank you for the great oppurtunity... Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 7:44pm: No where near those guys...they are all a distant 2nd...3rd...and 4th... :pukey :forfucksake :aimama Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 7:46pm: StickyStones wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 3:48pm: I do wonder what it would've sounded like if he had been allowed to compose more songs. I mean the songs he did compose like Moonlight Mile are among the best the Stones did and songs like Sway and Time Waits for No One have been sort of buried by the Stones. And on other songs in the studio, even while he's soloing, he's not as high in the mix as Keith. I mean listen to the way he soloed and what not in the '72 and '73 tours--He was up there with Page. Moire like if he had been CREDITED with more of his work... playing lead guitar on songs is not songwriting... all the musicians brought their creative input into songs, that isn't the same as song writing... and Taylor wanted songwriting credit... Where's all the Taylor songs he wrote after leaving, where's his inspiration and creativity? He left bitter wanting more than he deserved, and he got what he earned... Funny how things turnout. And no question that Mick and Keith could be vampires, but they knew how to make it work out in the long run, and if you were blind to it, you missed a great chance to make good money and be famous and get laid... It's a job and too many forget that and think they are entitled to shit they didn't earn... Ronnie made a huge concession on his helping Mick write IORR... but in the long run, looks like it paid off, they gave him a credit later on a dif. song and the best job anyone might want... while Ronnie was playing stadiums and traveling the world Taylor was playing in front of 50 people for $5 a head... look at all the albums ronnie has released as well on his own, where are Taylors records? and Taylor was great in The Stones, but when it ended so did his greatness, not their's... nuff said!

What he said.

Nellcote wrote on Apr 7^th, 2012 at 12:24am:

Pdog wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 8:37pm: uncleson wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 4:55pm: Taylor was great but wasnt used to his full potential. He was used to his full potential, he never did anything better before or after... his only reply should be thank you for the great oppurtunity... Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 7:44pm: No where near those guys...they are all a distant 2nd...3rd...and 4th... :pukey :forfucksake :aimama Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 7:46pm: StickyStones wrote on Apr 6th, 2012 at 3:48pm: I do wonder what it would've sounded like if he had been allowed to compose more songs. I mean the songs he did compose like Moonlight Mile are among the best the Stones did and songs like Sway and Time Waits for No One have been sort of buried by the Stones. And on other songs in the studio, even while he's soloing, he's not as high in the mix as Keith. I mean listen to the way he soloed and what not in the '72 and '73 tours--He was up there with Page. Moire like if he had been CREDITED with more of his work... playing lead guitar on songs is not songwriting... all the musicians brought their creative input into songs, that isn't the same as song writing... and Taylor wanted songwriting credit... Where's all the Taylor songs he wrote after leaving, where's his inspiration and creativity? He left bitter wanting more than he deserved, and he got what he earned... Funny how things turnout. And no question that Mick and Keith could be vampires, but they knew how to make it work out in the long run, and if you were blind to it, you missed a great chance to make good money and be famous and get laid... It's a job and too many forget that and think they are entitled to shit they didn't earn... Ronnie made a huge concession on his helping Mick write IORR... but in the long run, looks like it paid off, they gave him a credit later on a dif. song and the best job anyone might want... while Ronnie was playing stadiums and traveling the world Taylor was playing in front of 50 people for $5 a head... look at all the albums ronnie has released as well on his own, where are Taylors records? and Taylor was great in The Stones, but when it ended so did his greatness, not their's... nuff said! What he said.

RO needs a like button...

Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman...

When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb.

I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes
for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me...

:blankfriggingstare1yes one time
And No the rest :smilemick

Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 7^th, 2012 at 5:14pm:

Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman... When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb. I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me...

underated and talent are two sperate questions or even topics... I gave my opinion on the talent from my POV.... I think the dif. for me is... The Stones made Taylor better, not he made The Stones better... Page had his own sound and style, that is Zep, Clapton in all his bands and solo stuff has his own sound signature and writes songs galore, and a few were huge hits... Allman as well, not sure what he wrote, but I love his playing... all these guys were driving forces for their bands and themselves... Taylor can't say that! This is why i'm always baffled when people think Taylor somehow got cheated. He felt entitled, which is horrible. Who hasn't worked with a guy, especially a new guy, who thinks he should get paid more and work less... Gotta pay your dues... and as I always say, I love his playing in The Stones... He contributed hugely... I know in my gut, they would've been just as great without him... Beggars Banquet is profff of that, barely any Brian or Taylor, and Let It bleed as well... Taylor really only was there fully for three albums, and the two post Exile are wonderful... but no one looks on them like the big four... enter Wood!!!

Pdog wrote on Apr 7^th, 2012 at 7:31pm:

Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 5:14pm: Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman... When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb. I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me... underated and talent are two sperate questions or even topics... I gave my opinion on the talent from my POV.... I think the dif. for me is... The Stones made Taylor better, not he made The Stones better... Page had his own sound and style, that is Zep, Clapton in all his bands and solo stuff has his own sound signature and writes songs galore, and a few were huge hits... Allman as well, not sure what he wrote, but I love his playing... all these guys were driving forces for their bands and themselves... Taylor can't say that! This is why i'm always baffled when people think Taylor somehow got cheated. He felt entitled, which is horrible. Who hasn't worked with a guy, especially a new guy, who thinks he should get paid more and work less... Gotta pay your dues... and as I always say, I love his playing in The Stones... He contributed hugely... I know in my gut, they would've been just as great without him... Beggars Banquet is profff of that, barely any Brian or Taylor, and Let It bleed as well... Taylor really only was there fully for three albums, and the two post Exile are wonderful... but no one looks on them like the big four... enter Wood!!!

Enter Wood: Some Girls, which is mostly Mick and Keith. Emotional Rescue: Mostly Mick. Tattoo You: Outtakes going back a decade, the best songs by Keith with one of the biggest singles having MT on lead. Undercover and Dirty Work have been pretty much forgotten. Steel Wheels, ok comeback album...The rest, meh.

Work less? His playing is all over every Stones record he's on, he dominated the shows live. Taylor was there fully for Sticky Fingers, Exile, Goat's Head Soup, and It's Only Rock N' Roll. All the standout tracks from that era either feature him on lead guitar, or feature heavy contributions from him or were penned by him (Honky Tonk Woman, Can't You Hear Me Knockin, Sway, Moonlight Mile, Winter, 100 Years Ago, Dancing with Mr. D, Doo Doo Doo, Hide Your Love, If You Can't Rock Me, Till the Next Goodbye, Time Waits for No One, etc)

The fact is, The Stones made Taylor better AND he made the Stones better.

My answer to this question would be 'whatever'. I don't know anyone that spins albums on which these guys appear back to back in order to find out who's better or eqally good, I just enjoy their stuff or not.


But I see you're bending this towards a Mick T vs Ronnie thread. That's lovely...

StickyStones wrote on Apr 7^th, 2012 at 10:23pm:

Pdog wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 7:31pm: Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 5:14pm: Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman... When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb. I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me... underated and talent are two sperate questions or even topics... I gave my opinion on the talent from my POV.... I think the dif. for me is... The Stones made Taylor better, not he made The Stones better... Page had his own sound and style, that is Zep, Clapton in all his bands and solo stuff has his own sound signature and writes songs galore, and a few were huge hits... Allman as well, not sure what he wrote, but I love his playing... all these guys were driving forces for their bands and themselves... Taylor can't say that! This is why i'm always baffled when people think Taylor somehow got cheated. He felt entitled, which is horrible. Who hasn't worked with a guy, especially a new guy, who thinks he should get paid more and work less... Gotta pay your dues... and as I always say, I love his playing in The Stones... He contributed hugely... I know in my gut, they would've been just as great without him... Beggars Banquet is profff of that, barely any Brian or Taylor, and Let It bleed as well... Taylor really only was there fully for three albums, and the two post Exile are wonderful... but no one looks on them like the big four... enter Wood!!! Enter Wood: Some Girls, which is mostly Mick and Keith. Emotional Rescue: Mostly Mick. Tattoo You: Outtakes going back a decade, the best songs by Keith with one of the biggest singles having MT on lead. Undercover and Dirty Work have been pretty much forgotten. Steel Wheels, ok comeback album...The rest, meh. Work less? His playing is all over every Stones record he's on, he dominated the shows live. Taylor was there fully for Sticky Fingers, Exile, Goat's Head Soup, and It's Only Rock N' Roll. All the standout tracks from that era either feature him on lead guitar, or feature heavy contributions from him or were penned by him (Honky Tonk Woman, Can't You Hear Me Knockin, Sway, Moonlight Mile, Winter, 100 Years Ago, Dancing with Mr. D, Doo Doo Doo, Hide Your Love, If You Can't Rock Me, Till the Next Goodbye, Time Waits for No One, etc) The fact is, The Stones made Taylor better AND he made the Stones better.

The topic here is taken a diversion.
Taylor never will reside in the same continent as the three guitarists noted.
Never is a mighty long time.

StickyStones wrote on Apr 7^th, 2012 at 10:23pm:

Pdog wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 7:31pm: Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 5:14pm: Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman... When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb. I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me... underated and talent are two sperate questions or even topics... I gave my opinion on the talent from my POV.... I think the dif. for me is... The Stones made Taylor better, not he made The Stones better... Page had his own sound and style, that is Zep, Clapton in all his bands and solo stuff has his own sound signature and writes songs galore, and a few were huge hits... Allman as well, not sure what he wrote, but I love his playing... all these guys were driving forces for their bands and themselves... Taylor can't say that! This is why i'm always baffled when people think Taylor somehow got cheated. He felt entitled, which is horrible. Who hasn't worked with a guy, especially a new guy, who thinks he should get paid more and work less... Gotta pay your dues... and as I always say, I love his playing in The Stones... He contributed hugely... I know in my gut, they would've been just as great without him... Beggars Banquet is profff of that, barely any Brian or Taylor, and Let It bleed as well... Taylor really only was there fully for three albums, and the two post Exile are wonderful... but no one looks on them like the big four... enter Wood!!! Enter Wood: Some Girls, which is mostly Mick and Keith. Emotional Rescue: Mostly Mick. Tattoo You: Outtakes going back a decade, the best songs by Keith with one of the biggest singles having MT on lead. Undercover and Dirty Work have been pretty much forgotten. Steel Wheels, ok comeback album...The rest, meh. Work less? His playing is all over every Stones record he's on, he dominated the shows live. Taylor was there fully for Sticky Fingers, Exile, Goat's Head Soup, and It's Only Rock N' Roll. All the standout tracks from that era either feature him on lead guitar, or feature heavy contributions from him or were penned by him (Honky Tonk Woman, Can't You Hear Me Knockin, Sway, Moonlight Mile, Winter, 100 Years Ago, Dancing with Mr. D, Doo Doo Doo, Hide Your Love, If You Can't Rock Me, Till the Next Goodbye, Time Waits for No One, etc) The fact is, The Stones made Taylor better AND he made the Stones better.

penned? what song did he write? writing is riff, chorus and words... name one... fyi, leads playing and adding ideas to these songs isn't penning... it isn't legally and I don't know any musician that would state otherwise... all bs aside, what did Taylor write, I'm not even sure he claims he wrote songs... He did claim he didn't get recognition... which IMO meant he felt entitled to something...  I still don't get the disconect from this idea Taylor did things that were'nt recognized... He was lucky to get in the band, left the band... before and after doing that he had minimal success, but promise... compared to Brain, who we know was a usical prodigy on instruments... but also wasn't a songwriter... maybe we can see how entitlement and jealousy arise... undestandbly, but still... lame... if you're a great musician, that might be all you get... and many songwriters, can't play live or even be in a band... it has too many variables... the constant with Taylor is obvious... can't write, played amazing susatain on lead, never matured past that and left mad... went on to ruin his life with drugs and bad career choices! question still remains, what songs did he write...?

Nellcote wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 8:08am:

StickyStones wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 10:23pm: Pdog wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 7:31pm: Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 5:14pm: Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman... When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb. I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me... underated and talent are two sperate questions or even topics... I gave my opinion on the talent from my POV.... I think the dif. for me is... The Stones made Taylor better, not he made The Stones better... Page had his own sound and style, that is Zep, Clapton in all his bands and solo stuff has his own sound signature and writes songs galore, and a few were huge hits... Allman as well, not sure what he wrote, but I love his playing... all these guys were driving forces for their bands and themselves... Taylor can't say that! This is why i'm always baffled when people think Taylor somehow got cheated. He felt entitled, which is horrible. Who hasn't worked with a guy, especially a new guy, who thinks he should get paid more and work less... Gotta pay your dues... and as I always say, I love his playing in The Stones... He contributed hugely... I know in my gut, they would've been just as great without him... Beggars Banquet is profff of that, barely any Brian or Taylor, and Let It bleed as well... Taylor really only was there fully for three albums, and the two post Exile are wonderful... but no one looks on them like the big four... enter Wood!!! Enter Wood: Some Girls, which is mostly Mick and Keith. Emotional Rescue: Mostly Mick. Tattoo You: Outtakes going back a decade, the best songs by Keith with one of the biggest singles having MT on lead. Undercover and Dirty Work have been pretty much forgotten. Steel Wheels, ok comeback album...The rest, meh. Work less? His playing is all over every Stones record he's on, he dominated the shows live. Taylor was there fully for Sticky Fingers, Exile, Goat's Head Soup, and It's Only Rock N' Roll. All the standout tracks from that era either feature him on lead guitar, or feature heavy contributions from him or were penned by him (Honky Tonk Woman, Can't You Hear Me Knockin, Sway, Moonlight Mile, Winter, 100 Years Ago, Dancing with Mr. D, Doo Doo Doo, Hide Your Love, If You Can't Rock Me, Till the Next Goodbye, Time Waits for No One, etc) The fact is, The Stones made Taylor better AND he made the Stones better. The topic here is taken a diversion. Taylor never will reside in the same continent as the three guitarists noted. Never is a mighty long time.

on par with infinity, no?

Pdog wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 8:14am:

Nellcote wrote on Apr 8th, 2012 at 8:08am: StickyStones wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 10:23pm: Pdog wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 7:31pm: Paranoid Android wrote on Apr 7th, 2012 at 5:14pm: Well...the initial question was in terms of TALANT...not song writing...so my opinion stands...Clapton has always bored me to tears...Page is bloated, however the LedZep sound is awesome with Jones...and honestly, I don't know much about Allman... When I hear Goat's Head Soup...I feel all warm and fuzzy from Taylor's guitar...and his playing on EoM is supurb. I honestly feel alot of his music is uncredited...the Jagger/Richards machine rolled thru town and left very little to anyone else...the same goes for the Lennon/McCartney machine...though that one is more believable to me... underated and talent are two sperate questions or even topics... I gave my opinion on the talent from my POV.... I think the dif. for me is... The Stones made Taylor better, not he made The Stones better... Page had his own sound and style, that is Zep, Clapton in all his bands and solo stuff has his own sound signature and writes songs galore, and a few were huge hits... Allman as well, not sure what he wrote, but I love his playing... all these guys were driving forces for their bands and themselves... Taylor can't say that! This is why i'm always baffled when people think Taylor somehow got cheated. He felt entitled, which is horrible. Who hasn't worked with a guy, especially a new guy, who thinks he should get paid more and work less... Gotta pay your dues... and as I always say, I love his playing in The Stones... He contributed hugely... I know in my gut, they would've been just as great without him... Beggars Banquet is profff of that, barely any Brian or Taylor, and Let It bleed as well... Taylor really only was there fully for three albums, and the two post Exile are wonderful... but no one looks on them like the big four... enter Wood!!! Enter Wood: Some Girls, which is mostly Mick and Keith. Emotional Rescue: Mostly Mick. Tattoo You: Outtakes going back a decade, the best songs by Keith with one of the biggest singles having MT on lead. Undercover and Dirty Work have been pretty much forgotten. Steel Wheels, ok comeback album...The rest, meh. Work less? His playing is all over every Stones record he's on, he dominated the shows live. Taylor was there fully for Sticky Fingers, Exile, Goat's Head Soup, and It's Only Rock N' Roll. All the standout tracks from that era either feature him on lead guitar, or feature heavy contributions from him or were penned by him (Honky Tonk Woman, Can't You Hear Me Knockin, Sway, Moonlight Mile, Winter, 100 Years Ago, Dancing with Mr. D, Doo Doo Doo, Hide Your Love, If You Can't Rock Me, Till the Next Goodbye, Time Waits for No One, etc) The fact is, The Stones made Taylor better AND he made the Stones better. The topic here is taken a diversion. Taylor never will reside in the same continent as the three guitarists noted. Never is a mighty long time. on par with infinity, no?

FB thumbs up

The simple answer is: Yes, Taylor's up there.

More complicatedly: Great material and great mates make great performances.  Jimmy Page with The Firm, anybody?

andrews27 wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 10:35am:

The simple answer is: Yes, Taylor's up there. More complicatedly: Great material and great mates make great performances.  Jimmy Page with The Firm, anybody?

saw them live... first album and the show I saw were both good!

andrews27 wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 10:35am:

The simple answer is: Yes, Taylor's up there. More complicatedly: Great material and great mates make great performances.  Jimmy Page with The Firm, anybody?

Last I checked, Radioactive by The Firm charted only # 1 in the US
What song did Taylor appear on which charted equally after he left The Stones?

Nellcote wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 10:47am:

andrews27 wrote on Apr 8th, 2012 at 10:35am: The simple answer is: Yes, Taylor's up there. More complicatedly: Great material and great mates make great performances.  Jimmy Page with The Firm, anybody? Last I checked, Radioactive by The Firm charted only # 1 in the US What song did Taylor appear on which charted equally after he left The Stones?

Kind of an unfair comparison since The Firm was a supergroup.

StickyStones wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 12:28pm:

Nellcote wrote on Apr 8th, 2012 at 10:47am: andrews27 wrote on Apr 8th, 2012 at 10:35am: The simple answer is: Yes, Taylor's up there. More complicatedly: Great material and great mates make great performances.  Jimmy Page with The Firm, anybody? Last I checked, Radioactive by The Firm charted only # 1 in the US What song did Taylor appear on which charted equally after he left The Stones? Kind of an unfair comparison since The Firm was a supergroup.

Unfair to Taylor to compare him to these three guitarists as he's not close to their equal.

StickyStones wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 12:28pm:

Nellcote wrote on Apr 8th, 2012 at 10:47am: andrews27 wrote on Apr 8th, 2012 at 10:35am: The simple answer is: Yes, Taylor's up there. More complicatedly: Great material and great mates make great performances.  Jimmy Page with The Firm, anybody? Last I checked, Radioactive by The Firm charted only # 1 in the US What song did Taylor appear on which charted equally after he left The Stones? Kind of an unfair comparison since The Firm was a supergroup.

so are The Stones...! Bill, Mick,Keith and Charlie are some of the best players in thier crafts! and Taylor was enhanced and enhanced their playing, never to come close again by himself... even Mick and Keef never shined solo like they do together... Taylor cut off his nose to spite his face... you never grow a new nose!

Clapton, Page and Taylor are quite similar in that they only truly shined in the context of bands full of egomaniacs who challenged them musically.

Left to their own devices they all tend to create rather bland music. Page seems to have stopped playing altogther now.  :nooslajaleisk

PS: Taylor didn't make the stones better, just different.  :nanker

PS: Taylor didn't make the stones better, just different.  :wow
Yes This is correct, but the difference was great and a little better at the time, now was'nt it? :smilemick
The Guitar riffs on ending solo on the Sticky Finger disc  "Can't You Hear me Knocking" is great don't you agree?

Kilroy wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 5:50pm:

PS: Taylor didn't make the stones better, just different.  :wow Yes This is correct, but the difference was great and a little better at the time, now was'nt it? :smilemick The Guitar riffs on ending solo on the Sticky Finger disc  "Can't You Hear me Knocking" is great don't you agree?

I don't think anyone will argue the greatness... but I will argue if it's greater than Sympathy leads by Keith or just a tune like Gimmie Shelter! Is it greater than the weaving on Some Girls...
The wiki on CYHMK is interesting as well... Keith wrote the riff, and it's brilliant... Taylor's leads aside, I love the way the song jams out, but you don't write a song starting with a lead, it's a riff... and that is genius on that tune... if Taylor thinks his jam is equal to writing, which I've never heard him, just really bitter fans... regardless it ain't the lead...
here's a great example of a great Stones song, with multiple collaborators, but only two song writing credits!
If you read the wiki entry on YCAGWYW, you can see how many people added ideas and parts to the music, but who wrote it? Jagger, and like all songs it's crdited Jagger/Richards!


"You Can't Always Get What You Want" was recorded on 16 and 17 November 1968 at London's Olympic Sound Studios. It features the London Bach Choir opening the song, highlighting throughout, and bringing it to its conclusion. Jimmy Miller, the Rolling Stones' producer at the time, plays drums on this song instead of Charlie Watts. Al Kooper plays piano and organ and also played the French horn intro, while Rocky Dijon plays congas and maracas. Nanette Workman sings backup vocals, but she is credited as "Nanette Newman".[citation needed]
Of the song, Jagger said in 2003,[citation needed] "'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was something I just played on the acoustic guitar—one of those bedroom songs. It proved to be quite difficult to record because Charlie couldn't play the groove and so Jimmy Miller had to play the drums. I'd also had this idea of having a choir, probably a gospel choir, on the track, but there wasn't one around at that point. Jack Nitzsche, or somebody, said that we could get the London Bach Choir and we said, 'That will be a laugh.'"[1]
In his review of the song, Richie Unterberger says, "If you buy John Lennon's observation that the Rolling Stones were apt to copy the Beatles' innovations within a few months or so, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' is the Rolling Stones' counterpart to 'Hey Jude'". Jagger said in 1969, "I liked the way the Beatles did that with 'Hey Jude'. The orchestra was not just to cover everything up—it was something extra. We may do something like that on the next album."[2]
Personnel

Mick Jagger – lead vocals
Keith Richards – acoustic, electric guitar, backing vocals
Bill Wyman – bass
London Bach Choir – choral arrangements by Jack Nitzsche
Al Kooper – piano, organ, French horn[7]
Jimmy Miller – drums
Rocky Dijon – congas, maracas
Madeline Bell – backing vocals
Nanette Workman – backing vocals (credited as Nanette Newman on the LP)
Doris Troy – backing vocals

How about this Pdog....sometimes a Peanut Butter Sandwich is better with Jelly....The Jam at the end is really  superb.  My point being the Lead guitar solo, no did not write the song, only contribute greatly,  but IMO made it made it alot better. So in this case the Jam solo at the end, whom ever wrote the song, it made it better. Yes I am always weary of WIKI but I rely on that till proven wrong , which by the way is a lot. That's why I love this place. I can learn more here when we talk Music, Recording and Stones Stuff than anywhere, and I am a Student of the Stones and their music.
My point being that line up was and is my favorite because of  those two albums. Oh shoot that's a different topic!
No, I do not think Taylor is up there with Page, nor Slow hand, or Allman! sorry 2 discussions going on at one time. Plus I'm looking for a photo of Merle with Jagger, and I've been up since 4!

Kilroy wrote on Apr 8^th, 2012 at 5:50pm:

PS: Taylor didn't make the stones better, just different.  :wow Yes This is correct, but the difference was great and a little better at the time, now was'nt it? :smilemick

Some of it was great for awhile, but it wasn't necessarily better than what came before, just different.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking? isn't better than Gimme Shelter which isn't better than Ruby Tuesday which isn't better than The Last Time etc etc.

Imo there's a continual stream of great shit from 1963 up to and including the recording of Exile then things start going a bit wonky and lacking in inspiration. There are of course some flashes of brilliance after that time.

Taylor is a genius. The thing he did with "Time waits for no one" is enough proof.

Clapton is a genius too.

Those Allman bros have a bunch of great things.

I cannot stand Led Zep. They remind me of U2, Radiohead --- those humorless bands.

So glad to be here to put the record straight. Of course, my opinion only matters.

MrPleasant wrote on Apr 11^th, 2012 at 8:30am:

Taylor is a genius. The thing he did with "Time waits for no one" is enough proof.

Genius? No.

TWFNO is A-typical 70's MOR ballad rock.  :stinkypost

"Typical"? Then I wish I had experienced the seventies, in full.

No.

Clapton stands apart because he can sing and play guitar at the same time, and his voice is as sweet as his guitar. That's very hard to do and he makes it look easy. I would rate them for guitar playing only: 1. Page, 2. Clapton, 3. Taylor 4. Allman.  Mick T had his moments of greatness with the Stones, but his solo career since he left has been a big flop. If he was so good he would of stayed popular, most people dont even know who he is anymore.

tough to really assess Alman as he was gone so soon....his work with Clapton on Layla sessions stands near the top of the mountain. Maybe of all of these guys Jeff Beck is still at the top of his game...