There was no choice really – the death of Charlie put me on a single track. It has to be the Stones today. I’ll start off with Goat’s Head Soup. I’m sure the drums will feature more than usual!! I’ll be thinking of Charlie……………………..
Farewell Charlie Watts – one of the great Rock Drummers
It was really sad news to hear that Charlie has died. He was the driving force behind the Stones. The basis of a good band are the drums and bass with a couple of flashy individuals taking the limelight. Charlie did not travel round the kit like Ginger Baker, thrash around like a genius spotlight grabber like Keith Moon, thump around like a monster power beast like John Bonham; he was really a Jazz drummer and provided that steady base from which the band were anchored. Perfection.
The Stones will be less without him.
When I heard that he was missing the US tour I thought something major was up. He’d had throat cancer in 2004 but recovered. The rumour was that he’d had a heart op and needed to recuperate. All that is reported is that he died peacefully in his sleep. Just 80 years old and playing to near the end!!
Charlie made for a strange member of the most flamboyant band in the world; more resembling a dapper banker than a swashbuckling Rock Star. He never liked the limelight. But he sure was a fundamental part of the second-best band the world has ever known!
I’ll sure miss you Charlie! Glad I saw and heard you play!!
Today’s Music to keep me SsSSSAaaaANNnnNEEE in Isolation – The Rolling Stones – Goat’s Head Soup
A good dose of vintage Stones will do a lot to lift the spirits!!
The R̲o̲lling S̲tones – G̲oats H̲ead S̲oup (Full Album) 1973 – YouTube
Music to keep me SssSaaaaAnNNnnnnEeEE in Isolation – The Rolling Stones – 1st Album
I bought this the day it came out and hitch-hiked around France with it. I was fifteen and that album had quite an impact on the French, German and Austrian kids that I met in my travels.
I’ll enjoy playing it again today and drifting through a few memories.
I Just Want To Make Love To You (Mono Version) – YouTube
Mona (I Need You Baby) – YouTube
Now I’ve Got A Witness – YouTube
Little By Little (Mono Version) – YouTube
You Can Make It If You Try – YouTube
T̲h̲e̲ R̲o̲lli̲ng S̲tone̲s __ R̲o̲lli̲ng S̲tone̲s (Full Album) 1964 – YouTube
Todays Music to keep me sane in Isolation! – The Rolling Stones
Well yesterday it was the Beatles so today it has to be the Stones!!
These were the two massive bands of the sixties!! They both were a huge part of my life. The Stones were great to see live!!
When I was fifteen I hitch-hiked around France with my mate Foss. I somehow took the first Stones album with me! It caused quite a furore on the Youth Hostel dansette where we camped in the garden.
That was a brilliant summer.
The Stones were set up as the bad boys of Rock. They were actually quite middle-class. I used to play rugby with Ian Stewart. He was a great guy. I wish I’d asked him to get my albums signed. He probably would have done it!
The Stones have produced a rich body of work. I could probably play good stuff for a week. I’ll start off with Exile on Mainstreet – real LOUD!!!
Rolling Stones Exhibition – Saatchi Galleries London
Rolling Stones Exhibition – Saatchi Galleries London
Just back from London and the Rolling Stones Exhibition at the Saatchi Studios. What a great exhibition that set out the whole story of the Stones (rather airbrushing Brian Jones and Ian Stewart though).
This was a brilliant exhibition with some great ideas. The photos, diaries, information, costumes, videos, artwork, design, split-screen story, quotes and a 3D concert extract. Pretty much had it all apart from the Stones themselves.
It took two hours to go round and absorb and captured the excitement and evolution of the group. Came out zinging and wanting to put on a bit of that iconic music.
Recommend it.
A mock up of their flat from 1963
Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter – a song about the violence and unpredictability of life.
Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter – a song about the violence and unpredictability of life.
There is nothing predictable. Violence is all around us. One minute you’re safe and the next minute you’re caught up in the midst of it.
Yesterday a group of people were on holiday in Tunisia, soaking up the sun on the beach, bathing in the sea. The next minute a crazed religious fanatic is spraying them with machine gun fire.
One minute you’re sitting in your living room and the next someone breaks in and robs, kills or rapes you.
One minute you live in a country that is at peace with the world and the next you’re thrown into the turmoil of war.
We’re a vicious species. Nowhere is safe. It’s all just a shot away.
“Gimme Shelter”
Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost your way
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
The floods is threat’ning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I’m gonna fade away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost your way
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
The floods is threat’ning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I’m gonna fade away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away
Rolling Stones – Heartbreaker – a song of social importance.
Rolling Stones – Heartbreaker – a song of social importance.
The Stones don’t do a great number of songs with any social or political importance but this is one.
I thought it was particularly pertinent given the current concern regarding the gunning down of black youths by white police officers. The debate is whether there is an element of racism in the actions.
This song is concerned with the violence in the cities and the terrible drug situation. Heroin, Crystal Meth, Cocaine and many other drugs have taken a terrible toll on people. When are we going to get unbiased information and a responsible drugs law.
It is obvious to me that the war on drugs is lost and was wrong from the start. Drugs are a health issue and should have been an education issue. Prohibition has put money into organised crime and made the situation worse by glamourizing it.
The gun laws in the States are fuelling crime, murder and death. Look at the statistics.
Rolling Stones – Heartbreaker Lyrics
The police in New York City
They chased a boy right through the park
In a case of mistaken identity
They put a bullet through his heart
Heartbreakers with your forty four
I wanna tear your world apart
You heart breaker with your forty four
I wanna tear your world a part
A ten year old girl on a street corner
Sticking needles in her arm
She died in the dirt of an alleyway
Her mother said she had no chance, no chance
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
She stuck the pins right in her heart
Heartbreaker, a pain maker
Stole the love right out of you heart
Oh yeah
doo, doo doo doo doo
Oh yeah
doo doo doo, doo doo
I wanna tear that word apart
Oh yeah
doo, doo doo doo doo
Oh yeah
doo doo doo doo doo
I wanna tear that word apart
Heartbreaker, heart breaker
You stole the love right out of my heart
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
I wanna tear your world apart
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Stole the love right out, stole the love right out
Doo, doo doo doo doo doo
Ah yeah, you shot the kid, he had no chance
Doo doo, doo doo do
Ah yeah, Ah yeah, you stuck pins right in her heart
Doo doo, doo doo do
You heartbreaker, I wanna tear your world apart
Doo doo, doo doo do……..
5 More Great Stones Covers
- You Better Move On – Arthur Alexander – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYzYEkfkKoo
- Come On – Chuck Berry – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCa6mzdNu2g
- Poison Ivy – Coasters – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr_CymJrbi8
- Money (That’s What I Want) – Barret Strong – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptMwoz1VzJQ
- Reelin’ and Rockin’ – Chuck Berry – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKHNFE1M4M
5 Best covers by the Stones
I love the way the Rolling Stones do covers of Blues and R&B.
- Mannish Boy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyHYE4G7Rhw
- I Just Wanna Make Love to You – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwgCnwTDY5k
- Mona – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB3Z5qJCfDQ
- I Can’t be satisfied – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqm8Qn3iGIM
- Walking the Dog – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lnkm9ReVyo
Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Buddy Holly, Beatles, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Rufus Thomas all got the Stones treatment.
In the UK: