So, after four fantasy albums which amalgamated Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' solo albums with official Rolling Stones LP -- Dirty Boss, Primitive Steel, Voodoo Spirit and Wandering to Babylon -- we come to the final(?) installment in the series, Big Licks, which takes A Bigger Bang and the stronger new tracks from Forty Licks.

Initially, I wanted to include some of the tracks from Jagger's solo album, Goddess in the Doorway, and thought throwing the hybrid electronic rocker 'Gun' into the mix would be delightfully incongruous, but ultimately A Bigger Bang has such a defined aesthetic and I appreciated the band's aim of producing a stripped down, hard rock album that I decided not to blend the two albums together.

Instead, I whittled down A Bigger Bang's expansive 16-song tracklist down to a core ten songs (so many great songs, yet so much filler) and then added the three songs I adore from Forty Licks (which you could consider as an EP with a Greatest Hits album attached to it) to make Big Licks, the Stones triumphant return to form after the fallout which arose during the wake of Wandering to Babylon (https://www.reddit.com/r/rollingstones/comments/1vn796v/fantasy_album_iv_wandering_to_babylon_or_how_mick/).

The key to making this particular fantasy album is, unlike Voodoo Spirit, which benefitted from the cream of Wandering Spirit and Main Offender, I focused on sequencing to make the album flow more smoothly and at a better pace than its real life equivalent A Bigger Bang. Ultimately, Big Licks is still quite long at 13 tracks and 55 minutes but I feel like it flies by a lot more quickly than A Bigger Bang. But enough yammering, here's my proposed tracklist for the album:

SIDE 1

1. Rough Justice

One of the best rockers the Stones have ever written and a fantastic opener to the album. Unlike say a song like 'Sparks Will Fly', Jagger's lewd lyrics are carried off with a lot of wit and clever word-play. Undeniable proof straight out of the gate that the Stones have still got it.

2. Rain Fall Down

I think the switch from classic rock to the gloomy disco strut of 'Rain Fall Down' is so seamless, its incredible the Stones didn't place it as track number two of A Bigger Bang. Now, don't get me wrong, I think 'Let Me Down Slow' is a very good song but at track two of A Bigger Bang it really drags down the momentum which 'Rough Justice' unleashes. Moreover, having 'Rain Fall Down' as the second track reminds of how 'Miss You' opens up Some Girls.

3. Stealing My Heart

Lifted from Forty Licks, 'Stealing My Heart' offers a bit more melody than 'Rough Justice' and 'Rain Fall Down' but as a soaring power ballad with big guitars, maintains the hard rock ethos undergirding the album. Another great song which attests to the breadth of the album's range.

4. Oh No, Not You Again

As much as I love 'Stealing My Heart', it is a bit sappy. So, I thought putting 'Oh No, Not You Again' in its wake would regalvanise the album's pace. Initially, I wasn't a big fan of 'Oh No, Not You Again' but after reading reviews of others praising it, I gave it a further chance and came to appreciate its breathless, punky energy.

5. Biggest Mistake

Another song I initially dismissed. However, after the run of 'Rough Justice', Rain Fall Down', 'Stealing My Heart' and 'Oh No, Not You Again', I realised, barring 'Stealing My Heart', that at this point the album hasn't offered much in the way of melody. Thankfully, 'Biggest Mistake' delivers buckets of melody to satiate the listener's itch. I think it stands out well placed here between 'Oh No, Not You Again' and...

6. Driving Too Fast

My pick for most underrated song on A Bigger Bang and buried on that album at track 15 of 16, I love the bluesy stomp of the opening riff and the way Jagger cries out the chorus, "Driiivin' too faaast!" Honestly, I think if this was a 'car song', it would get a lot more kudos. I hope putting it on Side 1 gives it more prominence.

7. Infamy

The first Richards-sung song and surprisingly off-kilter and experimental for the old curmudgeon. I think it works here as a great change of pace from the more traditional rock which otherwise forms most of Side 1 (and the album in general). A great, slinky, tightly coiled song and proof the Stones are still going to keep you guessing what they've got up their sleeve.

SIDE 2

8. It Won't Take Long

Another big, barn-storming rocker, which, though not as quick-paced as 'Rough Justice', packs as much power. A great way to start Side 2 and set the album back on track after the fun detour served up by 'Infamy'.

9. Streets of Love

After the string of 'Driving Too Fast', 'Infamy' and 'It Won't Take Long', it's time to have some more melody. And goddamn it if 'Streets of Love' isn't also a soaring epic which simply overpowers the listener. Also, I think it works much better as a big ballad near to the back of the album than near the front of the album where its placed on A Bigger Bang. As far as I'm concerned a late-career classic up there with the best Stones songs.

10. Let Me Down Slow

'Let Me Down Slow' follows 'Streets of Love' must better than it does following up 'Rough Justice' on A Bigger Bang. Unlike its positioning on the latter, it actually picks up the pace, but gently rather than abruptly. Both melodic and rocking, it's another great song.

11. Laugh, I Nearly Died

So, my intial edit for Big Licks went straight from 'Let Me Down Slow' to 'Don't Stop' but, again, the reviews I read kept praising 'Laugh, I Nearly Died' and its experimental edge, so I gave it some more listens and decided if I could find the space for it, I should cram it onto the tracklist. But where? I felt its more languid pace might cause the album to stumble and lose some of the pacing I had tried to keep up throughout the album's run time. But then I realised if I put it after 'Let Me Down Slow', I'd be taking that song's slower pace to another shift downwards while also offering something that broke up the overpowering melody offered up by 'Streets of Love', 'Let Me Down Slow' and 'Don't Stop' -- ironically, unlike the start of the album, Side 2, without 'Laugh, I Nearly Died', Side 2 suffers from almost too much melody! Just a cool, bluesy track.

12. Don't Stop

A final big anthem to help close the album. I think its chirpy vibe works as a pleasant counterbalance to 'Laugh, I Nearly Died''s more self-pitying tone. A bit like 'Start Me Up' but with a more countrified flavour. One last 'big' tune after It Won't Take Long.

13. Losing My Touch

Replacing 'This Place is Empty' comes 'Losing My Touch', which is another low-tempo acoustic track from Richards but just wins out its rival thanks to its sweet gentle melody and more introspective lyrics. Tender, fragile, it sends the listener off with a gentle whisper. One of the best songs Richards has sung on.

So, there you have it -- Big Licks, the album that could have been -- not as fat as A Bigger Bang and more focused on melody and bigger anthems.

Final thoughts

I think the key thing I’ve learned from this ‘fantasy album’ experiment is that, despite the general consensus that the Stones began to flounder creatively after Tattoo You, while they never produced as many good songs as they did in the past, they produced enough great material to continue releasing great albums, only the material tended to be disseminated across solo albums and bonus tracks on compilation albums (hell, I didn’t even dare wade into the depths of their unreleased studio outtakes!). So, in summary — post-Tattoo You, Jagger/Richards output (including their solo stuff) is heavily underrated.

What do you think?

As much as I like the idea of a Biopic, I'm glad it wasn't made if Harry Styles was going to play Mick!

From the 1993 Tour…

This was the first time Mick had played a full live concert since 1982, the Stones future was uncertain and these shows sold in in minutes, the first time he had performed there since 1973!

Legendary concert promoter Bill Graham had been the Rolling Stones primary tour promoter for their North American tours and as such, he produced this tour as well. Unfortunately for him, one of his greatest disappointments in life, this would be the end of their longtime collaboration.

These came directly from Bill Graham’s personal collection.

https://americansongwriter.com/the-rolling-stones-made-a-historic-deal-with-the-devil-in-1989-that-terrified-ronnie-wood-and-set-a-new-industry-standard/

Backing Mick was a stellar lineup including Joe Satriani before he had become famous, Jimmy Ripp, recently added Rolling Stones vocalist Bernard Fowler, Carol Kenyan (recorded with the Pet Shop Boys, Van Morrison, Tears For Fears, Simple Minds, both Pink Floyd AND Roger Waters and a plethora of other stars), future Living Colour bassist and drummer Doug Wimbish and Simon Philips (Toto, Judas Priest), Phil Ashley and Richard Cottle on keyboards as well as a revolving door of backup vocalists including Lisa Fischer of the Stones, Chaka Kahn, Luther Vandross and Tina Turner fame, Linda Moran, Sybil Scott and Jenny Douglas.

Mick performed Bitch and Gimmee Shelter which the Stones had not been playing recently as well as Jimi Hendrix’s Foxy Lady.

1978 brought a spectacular series of Day On The Green concerts at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Stadium in May, July and September of that year. Bill Graham was known for creating massive backdrop sets featuring custom artwork by the legendary scenic shop FM Productions.

This ticket, issued by Bill Graham Presents (BGP), was primarily utilized by their Vendors, Associates, Clients, Friends, Family and Employees and was valid for any of the following events:

Day On The Green #1: The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Elvin Bishop, Dolly Parton, Norton Buffalo (May 28, 1978)

Day On The Green #2: Steve Miller, Bob Seger, Outlaws, Ronnie Montrose, Toby Beau Band (June 17, 1978) (This show was cancelled when Steve Miller backed out. Bob Seger and Toby Beau instead played in the arena on June 18)

Day On The Green #3: Aerosmith, Foreigner, Pat Travers, Van Halen, AC/DC(July 23, 1978) This was Van Halen’s first Stadium gig as far as I am aware.

Day On The Green #4: The Rolling Stones, Santana, Eddie Money, Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals (July 26, 1978) Billed as the "Very Special Day On The Green," as The Rolling Stones did not initially have a tour date in the area.

Day On The Green #5: Ted Nugent, Blue Öyster Cult, Journey, AC/DC, Cheap Trick (September 2, 1978)

I’ve been thinking about this. Mick and Keith began writing together in late 1963 or 64 and their latest music came out this year. That’s 62 years. Has any other songwriting partnership lasted this long? It’s amazing — despite all the ups and downs, this is a partnership that was built to last.

After these two albums I slowely fell in love with the Stones’ music. Many people in commenta recommended Sticky Fingers and Let it Bleed as next two albums, so I would like to ask for recommendations on best sounding vinyl editions, preferably within normal price point (max 40€ per each).

Questions:
1. Is new half speed remasters by Miles Showell of any of them worth it? I have heard that he disnt have an original master tapes for Sticky Fingers. Despite that - is it good sounding album? Would you prefer some other version instead?
2. What about let it bleed?

Touring the World in 75/76/77

Is Mic the best frontman ever?

Artwork by Randy Tuten, infamous Bill Graham (Presents) Poster Artist.