Nuggets

The Rolling Stones are the greatest rock and roll band for three reasons;

1 - The Glimmer Twins - Mick and Keith - the second best songwriting duo in rock music (after John and Paul).

2 - The Rythm Section - Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman - never did a rythm section set a better beat with such little effort

3 - Jimmy and Little Mick - Jimmy Miller and Mick Taylor were the additions that took the Stones to another level in the late 60s and early 70s.

I was reminded of Jimmy and Little Mick's contributions when a friend I made via this blog came to visit me this week and gave me a copy of a live recording of a stop on the legendary 1973 European Tour (Goat's Head Soup tour).  The record is called Brussels Affair 1973.

It's hard to call this a Nugget because I've only owned it for a couple days, but every Rolling Stones fan has to own this record.  It captures the Stones at the height of Mick Taylor's prowess and he is all over this record.

If you like Get Yer Ya Yas Out, you will love this one.  It is honestly one of the best live recordings of the Rolling Stones I have ever heard.

So how do you buy it?  Well, I am not sure.  There is a page on Amazon for the record, but it's not available. There is a CDDB entry (and iTunes recognizes it when you put it in your computer) but again no links to where this can be bought.  I guess its a bootleg, but a very popular one.  If any of my readers know where this can be purchased, let me know and I'll add it to this post.

Jimmy Miller's last contribution was Goat's Head Soup and Mick Taylor left one record later, after It's Only Rock and Roll.  They have been missed.

But we can always go back to those records, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, and Goat's Head Soup, and hear the greatest version of the greatest rock band ever.

Comments

[Russ Pillar]

In the immortal words of Mickey Rooney, "Miss Golightly, I must protest!"
I trust you knew you'd be wading into the thick of it with a comment like "The Rolling Stones are the greatest rock and roll band," and I'm here to call you on it. My case for The Who trumping The Stones:
1. What the Glimmer Twins or even your beloved Paul and John did together, Pete Townshend did alone--and with far more energy, passion, and lyrical value (okay, let me have it!);
2. As for your rhythm section, you've got the "little effort" bit down for sure! But does that backing hold a candle to the crazy loud rambling basslines of the late John Entwhistle or the controlled combustion of (the later) Keith Moon?
3. I'd rather watch Roger Daltry nearly decapitate himself swinging a microphone than look at Mick Jagger prancing around like a chicken with his head cut off any day.
Having seen many groups in their strong and also waning years (the Eagles show I saw at the Staples Center a few weeks ago was notable for the intermission the band took for no other reason seemingly than to CATCH THEIR BREATH!), perhaps Pete had gotten it right when hoping "to die before I grow old."

[Tom W.]

Great post Fred, but I gotta sputter "Jimmy Miller?!" yeah, a great producer (Plasmatics work excepted) but cowbell on Honky Tonk Women doesn't exactly equate to Taylor's wonderful lead guitar in that era...that guy was/is great.

And don't forget ol Chuck Leavell as a silent Stone - great blues player, key to some of their sounds...

I'm gonna see them (again) in January at MSG - and will have spent more on this RS tour than in all previous RS consumption combined in my life....shows you the supply/demand quotient for serious rock and roll....

[Daniel Dreymann]

With all this tagging and Web 2.0 BS we tend to forgot we do have search engines. A simple Google search for "brussels affair", "rolling stones", and cd gives you plenty of choices. Froogle lists 3 sources with prices ranging from $25 to $79.

[jackson]

I completely disagree with Russ on all accounts.

Jimmy was around, at least physically, for the 'It's Onlt Rock and Rolll' sessions, but it's generally accepted that the Stones had prety much chewed him up and spit him out by that point.

[Cortland Coleman]

Via Froogle:

Gemm.com - $80

[Andy]

2 other shows coming your way. (RS)
5-22-76 Soundboard, and early Ronnie wood stuff, Earl's Court -- CLASSIC.

And, a 82' in Rome.

Both SDBD's and freshie fresh.

Try SKB.

Andy

[Bennett]

Rhythm section omission: Keith Richards with Brian Jones.

I've always admired Keith's rhythm work more than almost any other guitarist's, especially his acoustic work with Jones. (e.g., "No Expectations" and "You Can't Always Get What you Want.")

The Stones have had many ups and downs, but they've remained a great band in spite of handoffs from Jones to Taylor to Lane largely because Keith's rhythm keeps it all together.

[jackson]

Wrong Ronnie. Wood, not Lane.

[Samuel Miller]

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