Early Rolling Stones versus later Rolling Stones?

[MikeL]

I've been getting reacquainted with the Stones since reading Keith Richards' autobiography, and I bought used copies of "Beggars' Banquet,"  "Let It Bleed," and "Sticky Fingers."  Personally, I thought those three albums, along with "Exile on Main Street," were their best.  Do you agree, or do you prefer the Brian Jones' era Stones?

 

BTW, my interest in the Beatles and Stones tends to wax and wane as the years go by, so that's why I've been making those recent purchases. 

[John Battles]

I think "A Bigger Bang"is a great record. It sounded like "Exile " outtakes , when I first heard it. When the alleged official " Exile" outtakes package came out (Jagger singing , today , over instrumental tracks not used on"Exile".)....There were plenty of existing tracks they could have put out , legitimately , for the first time... TAYLOR IS A MONSTER , BUT , IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE REALLY PISSED OFF AT EACH OTHER , STILL. I don't know if it'll ever happen , maybe a guest spot on a show or two....
 
doornail said:

you know the more I hear the boots from the 70's with Mick Taylor, the more I tend to like his era best.  His guitar work was some of the best guitar work in a Rock and Roll band, ever, In my opinion.  He even made Keith step up his game during this period.  It is hard to rule out the Brian Jones years, which I am not.  I also dig some of Bigger Bang too.  The interplay between Ron and Keith is amazing too.  Those weaves of sound they creat live are incredible.  So, I guess if I had to choose one era, it would be the Mick Taylor years.  I am hoping for a reunion with Taylor for the 50 anniversary.  

[The Pygmies]

I definitely side with the Brian Jones camp. I love their early material, especially their pop songs - Blue Turns to Grey, I Am Waiting, Connection, I'm Free, Singer Not the Song. Jagger-Richards could write hooks just as solidly as Lennon-McCartney when they wanted to.

[G. Wood]

You know what... It's all good. Except some of the stuff Mick insisted on when he was in his 'dance' phase.

[John Battles]

By Jones , I think he's got it.....Some material , particularly on albums like "Goats Head Soup" and "Black and Blue" , was'nt BAD , merely sluggish. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THEIR ARTISTIC DECLINE (THEIR WERE MORE TO FOLLOW) , THOUGH , WAS "MELODY" ON "B & B", A COLLABORATION WITH BILLY PRESTON , ONE THAT JAGGER COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR SAYING IT WAS'NT FEASIBLE TO TRY TO PERFORM , LIVE. BUT , WHEN I SAW BILL WYMAN , ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO , THAT WAS THE ONE STONES SONG HE AND HIS GROUP PERFORMED. BUT , THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD TO BE HEARD ON NEARLY ALL THEIR ALBUMS.
   
G. Wood said:

You know what... It's all good. Except some of the stuff Mick insisted on when he was in his 'dance' phase.

[John Battles]

....Also , I just saw an ad for "The Stones in Hyde Park" coming out , legitimately , for the first time , ever. If  you've never seen a bootleg copy , it's not a very good performance. Brian had just died , and Mick Taylor had been with the group a matter of days. They did what they could , under the circumstances . There are certainly moments , though , I'd say it's of more historical than musical importance . It's sloppy , even by The Stones' standards , and even though Taylor was first to admit to being scared stiff to play before an estimated 100,000 people , it's hard to imagine the others not feeling  the same , though they'd probably never admit it , themselves. It would be nice , all the same , to see the best possible quality copy. I bought a copy in Mexico for about Four American Dollars , thinking , what can I lose? It turned out to be a pretty good copy , though , somehow , that made the shortcomings more obvious than on my crap SLP copy. I don't want to prejudice anyone , but this is NOT the powerhouse band that ripped it's way through America like a buzzsaw though a package of toilet paper, in a few short months.

[Ax Bonmati]

Brian Jones era hands down

[Jason Feldmann]

So it's good to hear that most agree the Exile was their best. Although Let it Bleed is right up there as far as I'm concerned.

Of their earlier stuff, definitely Aftermath and Between Buttons. And Out of Our Heads (if only b/c it has the quintessential rock n roll song with the most recongizable guitar riff ever...)

I was always biased against their later stuff b/c i assumed they got old, tired and just were cashing in. But Voodoo Lounge and A Bigger Bang are great records. Finally got them on vinyl. I now own all of their US releases on wax. It took a while, but well worth it.

And for what it's worth. I love the STones and the Beatles. But when people ask me which one is better, I throw them a curve and say "THE KINKS"

[John Battles]

TWO OF THE EARLIEST , AND MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOTS WERE "Live'R' Than You'll Ever Be" ,"European Tour 1969"(Both '69. Close enough.) , I'll try to think of some others , But this LP , LIVE IN PERTH , AUSTRALIA , 1973, only came out a few years ago.
 I FOUND IT FOR ABOUT $13 OR 15 , AND i KNOW i'VE SEEN IT MORE THAN ONCE , BUT , i DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WERE PRESSED , OFFHAND.  I'm sure whoever it is is asking that price because Keef signed it. If he did . I'm just sayin'. I don't know.
G. Wood said:

How about this one? Apparently it's rare, I've found only one copy listed for sale anywhere, and it was some crazy figure over $1000--but that one was signed by Keef. I found this one at an estate sale a few months ago. Any info about rarity or desirability appreciated.

BPG said:

What are some good 70's boots to look for?

[G. Wood]

Thanks, John.

[John Battles]

Not at all. There's some really good ones , depends on what era you're most interested in. Some people have no preference.

G. Wood said:

Thanks, John.

[Gruesome Grinham]

What a great subject. For me its early stones. I know this is a bit of a cliche BUT ITS TRUE, The Stones were no longer The Stones when they removed Brian Jones.

Whilst we are at it, what gets on my nerves is there are a lot of people that go to Stones concerts, because they are HUGE FANS, or more likely it is because they can afford the tickets, anyway a lot of these people wouldn't and dont any early stones track. I work with a lot of people like this.

[Northside Garage]

Well All I have to add to this is that, I went to their first farewell tour back in 81! Guess that worked out too well. Don't think I could/would afford the tickets now.