Graham Reid | | 1 min read
If their '68 album Beggar's Banquet got the Stones out of the debacle that was '67's Satanic Majesties and saw them progressing beyond their r'n'b roots, this essential follow-up confirmed that now they weren't a singles band which made albums but an album band with great singles.
Martin Scorsese's constant use of Gimme Shelter may have made that the most familiar track of the nine – and Country Honk a somewhat uncalled for inclusion -- but the darker detail is in Midnight Rambler and Monkey Man, and the raw blues of Robert Johnson's Love in Vain and Keith Richards' You Got the Silver.
Rolling Stone anniversary editions or box sets have often been parsimonious affairs (check the Satanic and Beggar's packages) and in some ways this 50thanniversary collection of Let It Bleed is the same: the album in mono and stereo remastered vinyl and CD versions, a single of Honky Tonk Women (not on the album) and You Can't Always Get What You Want, plus a big book of photos etc, a poster and such.
So no revelatory outtakes or working drawings because the company of Allen Klein controls their early catalogue. A decade after his death, that man still has reach beyond the grave.
Good looking set but maybe all you really need is the stereo remaster to play very loud.
But as far as Elsewhere can tell that isn't an option.
So rather than offering this a Recommended Reissue status we simply note it exists, just as it always has for half a century.
You can hear it on Spotify here
post a comment