Noonan McKane
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Ah, well possibly not. I'm a firm believer in there being only one version of "Gimme Shelter". And "Sympathy For The Devil". As I mentioned in my previous post, I think what these are are great records, as distinct from great songs. (Not that the two need be mutually exclusive, of course. I think "Brown Sugar" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" manage to be both, among many others) I just always felt The Stones never were able to do either of them justice on stage. (Or in television studios for that matter, but I must say I do like the 'Rock And Roll Circus' version of "Sympathy.." Probably because it's about the only time they played it 'live' using the same arrangement as on the LP. The TV show was intended to plug the LP, so that all works. When "Sympathy.." became a staple of their set, post US 69 tour, it was as a radically rearranged number, which probably had a lot to do with accomodating Mick Taylor. It's not the same, man..) As a veteran of many Stones tours, I would take no pleasure in hearing them forever 'updating' "Sympathy For The Devil", so you would know what was 'all the go' in pop music at the time. You'd get big horn sections on there, you'd get drum n bass. You'd get Chuck Leavell. It's a bit pointless and daft. When Mick shouted out "Who killed the Kennedys?" on 'Beggars Banquet', it was an epoch making moment, placing rock and roll music firmly and squarely in history, and our entire culture. He doesn't do it the same in some athletics stadium, on the 46th night of a tour, he just doesn't. I'd seen them on 4 tours before I saw them play a show without either SFTD or GS, which was at Glasgow SECC, Sept. 2003. First time I saw them indoors, also. (Size of an aircraft hangar, mind, but 'intimate' for The Stones!) When they left the stage before an encore a couple of lads in front of me, who I'd bet a pint that they'd open with "If You Can't Rock Me" (and lost. It was "Street Fighting Man".) started going: "Well, they've GOT to do SFTD or GS. Do they think folk won't notice they've not been in the set so far? I countered this with basically the argument I've presented here, pointing out that the set had managed pretty well without these 'standards, and had had as it's 'centrepiece' an absolutely staggering "Midnight Rambler", which must have been about 12 minutes long and had fans of all ages clasping their hands to their heads in wonderment, it was so brilliant. This is a working rock and roll turn with an awesome back catalogue, which it can play the absolute shit out of on any given night is what I'm saying. Hey, don't get me wrong; I love Lisa Fischer, but when she sashays up stage front to tell us that rape and murder is just a shot away it just looks like showbusiness. Not enough distress, despair , desperation, defiance. Definitely doesn't scream herself inside out like yer spozed to. One might argue that Lisa's legs are worth the ticket price on their own, however, I spoze. Damn statuesque woman, so she is....
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