The Rolling Stones - Get Yer Ya Ya's Out

For years this was proclaimed the greatest "live" album ever.  It may still be, but someone has probably released something better.  Many people have released albums that are far more "live" than this one, but I never cared if this had studio edits and completely wiped and new vocal tracks.  The fact is, this is a great record.  Not because The Stones were so great on the 69 tour, but because The Stones know how to make a great record.  A record you can listen to over and over and always find something new to love about it.  If you want a document of what The Stones sounded like in 1969, then find yourself a copy of Live'r Than You'll Ever Be, which is possibly one of the best bootlegs ever recorded (you have to consider the date if you compare it to modern bootleg audience recordings, but it's very well done).

Right from the start this album starts kicking your ass, and it doesn't stop until it's all done.  The difference between Got Live if You Want It! and Get Yer Ya Ya's Out! is night and day.  Where the former pasted screaming teenies over studio cuts mixed with live tracks, the latter completely reconstructs live songs by wiping guitar and vocal tracks as an artistic choice, not because of a bum note or missed cue.  I've heard people complain about that, especially with Jumpin' Jack Flash (Jagger's vocals are completely different from every other show on the tour) and the missing verse on Sympathy for the Devil.  It just doesn't matter. Sure, it's not the way it happened, but you also weren't down in your friend's basement shooting pool while The Stones played right in front of you either.

Which is what makes this record so great.  It doesn't matter that it didn't actually happen like that.  What matters is that afterwards, this record screamed PARTY! like no other record.  Sure, you can listen to it in the dark with your headphones and get your ass rocked off pretty good, but this record is meant to be shared with your friends.  Every song on it was chosen for good reason.  Two Chuck Berry numbers, one on each side, remind you that The Stones are a direct offspring of the master, and in case that isn't quite enough pedigree, they put Robert Johnson's Love In Vain on there, too.  Keith's snaky picking and Mick Taylor's electric slide are mesmerizing.  Perfect for basement party and tailgating party slower moments.  Taylor's guitar solo's sound like they're coming down from the rafters of Madison Square Garden right into your party, and everyone knows there's at least one guy at that party that needs to close his eyes, hoist his beer high in the air, and let Mick take him up to those rafters.  Even if it's his shot on the pool table.  You just have to wait, and when it comes down to it, you don't mind because you get it, too.

Midnight Rambler is the song of greatest debate on here.  Is this the definitive version? Is it the version from Brussels in 1973?  Is it the original studio version (some people immediately dismiss that one as somehow inferior, but they're wrong)?  Who cares?  It's a party and there's no need to make a final decision.  Maybe this Midnight Rambler really is the best.  There certainly don't seem to be any overdubs, so The Stones seemed to be very happy with it.  It doesn't matter.  It kicks ass, it always has and it always will.  That's what great songs on great records do.

Sympathy for the Devil is the other song that just burns it up here.  Even missing a verse, it still doesn't matter.  What matters is that Keith Richards plays the first guitar solo, and gives everyone a chance to play some air guitar and really feel the music.  I've got to say, I always liked how Mick Taylor and Keith never seem to be in each others' way.  But then comes the next party debate - Mick Taylor plays his solo, which gives us all yet another opportunity to use a pool cue for an air guitar.  Is Taylor's solo better?  Is Keith's?  has anything better ever really even happened in the whole history of the world?  Who knows?  Party records don't care about that shit.  They just bring the fun and wait patiently until the next party to bring the fun back out.

I've got a couple copies of this.  I listened to an older London Records version while I was thinking about what to put on my blog.  It's nice - no seam splits, tight corners and a clean record with very little surface noise.  I've also got that ABKCO version from 1987.  It's digitally remastered and supposedly on virgin vinyl.  I always thought it sounded pretty good, but I've heard people rip that.  But then they also seem to hear subtle differences as giant deficiencies.  My guess is the 1987 version can be had pretty cheap, and it will get a party going quite nicely.