stonedinaustralia wrote on Nov 10
th, 2014 at 2:43am:
Well just to play devil's advocate and saying that I don't mind bits of Zep - physical graffiti in particular - if you watch the clip in the OP it seems to say the comment was made in connection with Jones being the strings arranger on Satanic Majesties.
Based on what I have read he isn't the first to comment on the sometimes tedious and disorganized nature of the Stones' creative process.
I recall an interview with Jeff Beck who was asked about his "audition" in '75. Among other things he said he could never work with Stones full time because he wasn't "into chaos".
Also Jimmy Miller and others have remarked that the band would play around for HOURS slightly out of time and/or tune unit at last something would come over Keith and he would look Charlie in the eye and then -bang - it would all come together. Or play tumbling dice for HOURS on end until one take , barely discernible as different from the dozens that preceded it, would be deemed acceptable by Keith.
On the other hand if you check out the Stones' scenes in 1+1 , as drawn out as it is, you can see the method in their madness.
And all those abandoned ideas, alternative versions and aimless jams have made for some excellent outtakes.
Good points, mate. And true. But the Stones' modus operandi worked, and still makes many, many acts - including Led Zeppelin - sound quite tame in comparison.
Another thing Jeff Beck said about the 'Black and Blue' sessions/auditions: "The Stones can't play funk". Oh really?
And this coming from a guy who was soon to start recording with Jan Hammer...has Beck ever sounded stiffer and more mechanical?