While it’s been decades since anyone’s called the Stones “cutting-edge”, they have attempted to stay with current marketing trends, even building up Twitter and Facebook presences. Their official website gets the occasional overhaul, though the on-site record reviews are still pretty skewed. An even more daring move began with an online marketplace where they sold memorabilia, apparel and, amazingly, authorized bootlegs of classic live shows, newly remastered by sonic wizard Bob Clearmountain, and downloadable for less than ten bucks.
The first such release, Brussels Affair (Live 1973), takes its name from several vinyl boots recorded on that 1973 tour; thankfully, we can enjoy it without seeing Mick ride the inflatable phallus that decorated “Star Star”. This authorized version does not replicate any of those, opting to offer most of the late show in that Belgian city, with a few substitutes from the early show, to provide a complete set. With four years and three albums under their belts since Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!, the band is tight and confident, giving Mick Taylor plenty of space to show off from his corner. The sound gets an additional boost from Billy Preston and a two-man horn section, none of whom get in the way.
“Brown Sugar” is strong opener, followed by a snaky “Gimme Shelter”. Amazingly, Mick steps aside for Keith to yell “Happy” only three songs in. “Tumbling Dice” is well-played, and we never thought we’d miss the chick singers. A mini-set from Goats Head Soup begins with “Star Star” (introduced by its actual title), keeping going with “Dancing With Mr. D” and “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)”. Mick consistently exhorts the crowd in French, who go nuts for “Angie”, delivered electric but just as slow.
As long as they’re staying mellow, an eleven-minute “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” never drags, thanks to the stretched-out solos in the middle. Similarly, nearly thirteen minutes of “Midnight Rambler” is an exercise in dynamics. And from there it’s all about the rock and/or the hits: “Honky Tonk Women”, “All Down The Line”, “Rip This Joint”, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Street Fighting Man”.
Had Brussels Affair been released on the heels of the original tour, we would have lambasted them for their laziness. Presented this way, marketed to fans at a bargain price—though there are the expected complaints about lossy sound formats and distribution—it boded well for a lucrative and enlightening series, had it continued past the first handful. This far on, it’s still preferable to the CD version of Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, the soundtrack to the 1974 concert film from the 1972 tour that snuck out to the market in 2017.
While other entries in the Stones Archive series were made widely available on physical media, Brussels Affair remained elusive, probably because there was no visual artifact. It was included in a pricey Japanese box set, but had to wait until 2020 for a more accessible release, as part of the upgrade of Goats Head Soup, via streaming or as part of the Super Deluxe Edition on CD and vinyl. A good place for it.
The Rolling Stones Brussels Affair (Live 1973) (2011)—3½
CD availability: Goats Head Soup Super Deluxe Edition
I'll stick to my bootleg CD and forever live in ignorance of the selections' provenance. This (belated) project is another classic example of Mick the supposedly rapacious capitalist leaving a ton of money on the table for no apparent reason. Why not release this as a CD? Demographic considerations would make this a no-brainer. No need to go overboard on the packaging. A simple cardboard sleeve will do, just like the Hurricane Katrina charity CDs sold on the last tour. It's a pity the Stones didn't follow Pearl Jam's example and release live CDs of every show. Avowed anti-capitalist Eddie Vedder's profit margins must be through the roof. When it comes to tour souvenirs, I guess the Stones preferred to inundate us with achingly tawdry t-shirts (Al Capone with the Stones tongue, etc).
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dean.
ReplyDeleteThey are basically live performers with a great reserve of hits and time defying music.
The Alchemy that gets worked up when the musical soul-mates perform on stage is stuff of immortality. Keith Richards captures it too well ““There’s a certain moment when you realize that you’ve actually just left the planet for a bit and that nobody can touch you ……you’re elevated because you’re with a bunch of guys that want to do the same thing as you. And when it works, baby, you’ve got wings. You are flying without a license.”
http://modernartists.blogspot.in/2012/05/rolling-stones-so-that-we-can-all-grow.html
Considering what a great live band the Stones are it's curious how lackluster many of their "proper" live albums are. I would say the the performances on albums like Love You Live and Still Life were chosen randomly, but it actually sounds more like they were purposely chose weaker takes for those albums.
ReplyDeleteI fully approve of the Stones decision to release these as download only and at a bargain price (they are especially cheap at Google Music).
The 1980 Hampton Coliseum is also fantastic. Listening to it makes the uninspired Still Life a real head scratcher.