Rolling Stones, The - Live Licks


Year of Release: 2004
Label: EMI/Virgin
Catalog Number: 07243 875186 2 9
Format: CD
Total Time: 109:20:00

The most difficult part of taking a band like The Rolling Stones on the road surely must be the choice of songs to perform. With such a wealth of material to chose from, whoever is responsible must certainly spend numerous sleepless nights before the actual setlist is finalized. In fact, to make it interesting for everyone involved I'm pretty much convinced the band rehearses far more material than what they play during one concert so as to be able to change setlists night after night. By expanding the actual Stones line-up with a large number of extra players, such as a horn section and backing singers, the arrangements can be delivered in style. No less than thirteen musicians and singers steer the Stones music towards immortality here. Recorded during the band's 2002/2003 Licks world tour, traversing four continents and spanning fourteen months with nearly 3.5 million fans showing up, this double album surely is the perfect testament for this tour.

Surprisingly the band kicks off with a selection of material from the sixties and early seventies, "Brown Sugar," "Street Fighting Man," "Paint It Black" and the resting point "You Can't Always Get What You Want." By now the audience is fully into the Stones mood so the party can really start and what better way to do it than by performing "Start Me Up." The true spirit surely lies inside "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll" but also in "Honky Tonk Women" where none other than Sheryl Crow gets on stage to join the band. So all in all Live Licks becomes like a live registration of a greatest hits package based around rock 'n' roll as the main catalyst. There's even room to give Jagger a well deserved rest during "Happy," "The Nearness Of You" and "You Don't Have To Mean It" bringing Keith Richards in singing mode. The intro for "Gimme Shelter" almost sounds like something out of the U2 book before that recognizable guitar sound from Richards takes away all doubt.

If you think the sixties is as far as the Stones go, then try again as "That's How Strong My Love Is" dates from 1937! However, as long as the music is good, age doesn't mean a thing. That's what makes Live Licks the party album it is. "Beast Of Burden" and "When The Whip Comes Down" surely bring enough spice into the whole to make the entire stadium steam. By adding the B.B. King classic "Rock Me Baby" (where that organ should've sounded much louder in the mix!) to the set the Stones settle for a slice of authentic blues. Of the band's recent studio output, only "You Don't Have To Mean It" from 1997 is present. Penned by Solomon Burke in 1964, "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" brings Solomon on stage as a guest. Of course, this song is best known for its Blues Brothers version and also goes on and on here backed by glorious horns and wonderful backing singers.

Live Licks is an all around collection, with the first disc clearly focusing on the band's better known hits, whereas the second disc contains much more unsuspected material. That way it remains interesting for us all. One thing runs through the entire package and that is the authenticity of rock 'n' roll. And judging from the Rolling Stones', input I'm convinced they will surely rock till they drop!


Tracklisting:
CD One: Brown Sugar (3:50) / Street Fighting Man (3:43) / Paint It Black (3:45) / You Can't Always Get What You Want (6:46) / Start Me Up (4:02) / It's Only Rock'n Roll (But I Like It) (4:54) / Angie (3:29) / Honky Tonk Women (3:24) / Happy (3:38) / Gimme Shelter (6:50) / (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (4:55)

CD Two: Neighbours (3:41) / Monkey Man (3;41) / Rocks Off (3:42) / Can't You Hear Me Knocking (10:02) / That's How Strong My Love Is (4:45) / The Nearness Of You (4:34) / Beast Of Burden (4:09) / When The Whip Comes Down (4:28) / Rock Me Baby (3:50) / You Don't Have To Mean It (4:35) / Worried About You (6:01) / Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (6:35)

Musicians:
Mick Jagger - vocals, keyboards, harp
Keith Richards - guitar, vocals
Charlie Watts - drums
Ronnie Woo - guitars
Darryl Jones - bass
Chuck Leavell - keyboards
Bernard Fowler - backing vocals
Lisa Fischer - backing vocals
Blondie Chaplin - backing vocals
Bobby Keys - tenor saxophone
Tim Ries - saxophone, keyboards
Mchael Davis - trombone
Kent Smith - trumpet

Special guests:

Sheryl Crow - vocals (D1:T8)
Solomon Burke - vocals (D2:T12)

Discography:
England's Newest Hit Makers (1964)
12 x 5 (1964)
Rollings Stones No. 2 (1965)
The Rolling Stones, Now! (1965)
Out Of Our Heads (1965)
December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965)
Aftermath (1966)
Got Live If You Want It! (1966)
Between The Buttons (1967)
Flowers (1967)
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
Beggars Banquet (1968)
Let It Bleed (1969)
Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out (1970)
Sticky Fingers (1971)
Exile on Main St. (1972)
Goats Head Soup (1973)
It's Only Rock 'N Roll (1974)
Black And Blue (1976)
Love You Live (1977)
Some Girls (1978)
Emotional Rescue (1980)
Tattoo You (1981)
Still Life (1982)
Undercover (1983)
Dirty Work (1986)
Steel Wheels (1989)
Flashpoint (1991)
Voodoo Lounge (1994)
Stripped (1995)
The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus (1996)
Bridges To Babylon (1997)
No Security (1998)
Live Licks (2004)
A Bigger Bang (2005)
Shine A Light: Original Soundtrack (2008)



Genre: Rock

Origin UK

Added: February 7th 2005
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.rollngstones.com
Hits: 1990
Language: english

  

[ Back to Reviews Index | Post Comment ]