“Let It Bleed” by The Rolling Stones - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1969Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die external-link.png

TJR says

Brian Jones was 5 months dead by the time “Let It Bleed” was released in Dec ’69. He takes his final bow on side 2 by playing congas on the great blues-rocker “Midnight Rambler” (although he’s barely audible) and autoharp on a decent blues-drag, “You Got The Silver”. He was out of the group in any event; on 8 June 1969, Jones was visited by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts and was told that the group he had formed would continue without him. A month later he was mysteriously found dead in his swimming pool, aged just 27. His replacement was 20-year-old guitarist Mick Taylor from John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Groan. Did a future in RAWK beckon? The new boy features on 2 of the tracks – the fantastic countrified version of “Honky Tonk Woman” and the not so great rocker “Live With Me” which emphasises fears as previously noted. As the 60s end, it’s good to hear that the Stones are still in touch with their blues roots – an early album version of “Love In Vain” (Robert Johnson, 1939) is mighty fine, heavy on the slide and with a neat mandolin. The album’s crowning glory is delivered at the end with the epic soul-rocker “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. For this one, the extra magical ingredients are provided by the 60-strong London Bach Choir (with choral arrangements by Jack Nitzsche); Al Kooper (piano, organ, French horn) and Rocky Dijon (congas, maracas, tambourine) with terrific soul-sister gospel backing from Madeline Bell, Nanette Workman and Doris Troy of “Just One Look” fame. Al Kooper’s presence is another stark reminder that Brian’s time was up – it was recorded back in November ’68 and he should’ve been there. Rolling Stones albums in the 1960s have all been good uns. Last couple of years aside, Brian Jones excellent musicianship is stamped all over them. It’s not a bad legacy.

The Jukebox Rebel
22–Dec–2007

Tracklist
A1 [04:32] 6.8.png The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A2 [04:22] 7.4.png The Rolling Stones - Love In Vain (Robert Johnson) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A3 [03:10] 8.2.png The Rolling Stones - Country Honk (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Country
A4 [03:36] 5.5.png The Rolling Stones - Live With Me (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Rock
A5 [05:34] 5.8.png The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B1 [06:57] 7.5.png The Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2 [02:54] 6.3.png The Rolling Stones - You Got The Silver (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B3 [04:15] 4.8.png The Rolling Stones - Monkey Man (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Rock
B4 [07:30] 8.8.png The Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) Blues Rock / Soul Rock

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