gotdablouse wrote on Oct 26
th, 2010 at 4:31pm:
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Ok, but what does that have to do with the direction their recording career took ? Aren't you confusing this with the 45 minute version of "Jah is not Dead" that Mick played to the record execs when they asked to hear what had been recorded for Some Girls ?
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Apologies, as this is a quicker.shorter version of a reply I wrote and was about to post when my comp decided to switch itself off and 'configure updates'.
I will try to explain my earlier wafflings.
Certainly Knebworth rehearsals were held at Shepperton and certainly very lengthy and rather experimental / playful versions of some tunes were played, one of which was 'Under My Thumb'. I certainly got the impression that they were all being recorded through the mixing desk, albeit onto metallic cassette tapes. It's more a wish / fantasy that they still exist, because I think it was an interesting time for the Stoonz and I would like my memories confirmed that they were - at least some of the time - being very groovy and imaginative in funky, reggae-y and jazzy ways.
Keith (who spoke on CBS on Sunday about his son's death being the worst thing that happened in his life) seemed incapable - or perhaps just unwilling - to do much more than hit ever-so-slightly-delayed smacky rhythm, which nevertheless seemed to work very well in the context of what was being played by the rest of the band, which seemed to be driven/controlled/inspired by Jagger & Preston. Ronald, of course, was up for funkiness; Chuck was honing his off-beats and such things and the Bill W could add nice understated touches to anything. Bill and Ian had the patience of autistic carers, shirley.
Anyway, what was my point? I was just sort of teasing Edith about his dismissal of all '70s dancefloor grooving, but I am fascinated sometimes when thinking baout where the Stoonz could have gone if: punk hadn't come along (and punk bands hadn't criticised the Stoonz) and Jagger hadn't naturally felt it interesting to explore puink music and also tease it; but also if Keith hadn't been - I suspecyt - so essentially conservative and also (?) jealous of Jagger & Preston's collaboration(s).
One final thought, as I've rattled too much already -- I've never, for instance, really felt that 'Miss You' has worked as well as it could do when played live, and I do wonder if things like that would have been different if the Stones' had retained a 'black' keyboardist.
Love To All