Keith Richards should have sung "Wild Horses" on Sticky Fingers

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Odysseus, Jul 20, 2018.

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  1. Diamond Star Halo

    Diamond Star Halo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Vancouver
    Agreed on all points. The Gram Parsons version of Wild Horses puts me to sleep.

    The Rolling Stones version is absolutely perfect. I love Jagger’s vocal performance and am surprised the track has as many critics as it does on this board.
     
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  2. rjp

    rjp Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    no, he shouldn't have.
     
  3. Propinquity

    Propinquity Forum Resident

    Location:
    Gravel Switch, KY
    The only issue I have with the hit version is it's been played to death and I'm sick of it. Keith's is certainly a breath of fresh air. Not sure how I feel about Gram...
     
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  4. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    No steel guitar needed. The Guitar solos on it are perfect.
     
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  5. RJD1954

    RJD1954 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Perth, Australia
    Jagger's vocal on the version on Sticky Fingers is absolute perfection. Keith's acoustic version is tremendous. But it's not as good as Jagger's. But it's moot. The song belongs to Charlie anyway. His drumming is just prefect.
     
  6. Olompali

    Olompali Forum Resident

    ^This^
    Familiarity breeds contempt or at least boredom. Alternate takes and demos breathe new life and so make them seem preferable. Reverse and imagine it was always Keef, the Jag alt/demo vox would be the choice nugget after decades. The Box Set/Bootleg era has been incredible in keeping longtime listeners still interested
    In that past moment the actual track on the LP was an instant classic.
     
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  7. hammer99

    hammer99 Forum Resident

    Location:
    MD
    I always loved Wild Horses in the Gimme Shelter movie with no Keith vocals at all, just Mick. Glad it's on the deluxe Sticky Fingers now.
     
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  8. aphexj

    aphexj Sound mind & body

    It's great to hear them both sing it live. I enjoy all versions but the Gram Parsons cut really is just a bit too MOR for my liking
     
    coniferouspine, CusBlues and MHP like this.
  9. flaxton

    flaxton Forum Resident

    Location:
    Uk
    This was not a single in the uk.
     
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  10. Parachute Woman

    Parachute Woman Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Wild Horses is perfect as is. One of the most beautiful songs ever. I love Keith, but this was a wonderful performance by Mick. He wrote those verse lyrics and he meant them.
     
  11. Dylancat

    Dylancat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    It’s fine as is.
    Classic track with great arrangement and excellent vocals by Jagger.
    And prefer it over the Burritos cover.
     
  12. Maseman66

    Maseman66 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Westchester, NY
    Very glad Keith did not sing Wild Horses.
     
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  13. drbryant

    drbryant Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Interesting how people refer to it today as a “hit”. In its day, it was only released as a single in the US, where it stalled at no. 28 on the charts. It’s one of those tracks whose stature has grown over the years. Helped a lot that Susan Boyle made it familiar to a new generation.
     
    CusBlues likes this.
  14. JozefK

    JozefK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dixie
    And I am equally shocked that the very phony and mannered Jagger vocal is preferred by some to the Parsons, which is one of my favorite records
     
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  15. MHP

    MHP Lover of Rock ‘n Roll

    Location:
    DK
    ‘Phoney’? Mick Jagger wrote those lyrics and made the vocal line for it. He is the one who knew how to deliver each phrase.
    Gram Parsons based his version on what Jagger had laid down. Your statement it equivalent to claiming Bob Dylan didn’t deliver his lyrics in the right way, despite both writing and performing them.
     
  16. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    I think the Burritos’ version isn’t that great. . The playing is well enough, but Gram sings it by-the numbers. In my opinion, it’s a weak song from a weak album.

    The Stones’ version...what can you say? The song belongs to them. I wouldn’t change a thing about it :)
     
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  17. cublowell

    cublowell Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Love Parsons & FBB, but have never cared for their cover of Wild Horses. Might just be the plodding drums, which ruin a lot of the Burrito Deluxe album. Leon Russell's epic-sounding piano can't even save it for me.

    Mick does fine on the Stones version, but I'd listen to Keith sing anything. He's got no business singing really, but it always makes me smile & it sounds straight from the heart every time.
     
    Kiss73, Doggiedogma and trd like this.
  18. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    I always felt the same way about "Ruby Tuesday".
     
  19. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    Gram "by-the-numbers"? Naw. Nope. Uh-uh.
     
    keyse1, Doggiedogma and Zoot Marimba like this.
  20. GregM

    GregM The expanding man

    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    "Keith Richards should have sang Wild Horses..."

    Baby won't it make you happy?
     
  21. Curveboy

    Curveboy Forum Resident

    Location:
    New York City
    No.
     
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  22. JozefK

    JozefK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dixie
    When Jagger tries to sing country, it's phony
     
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  23. MHP

    MHP Lover of Rock ‘n Roll

    Location:
    DK
    He does not. At least as Wild Horses go, because that song has never been a country tune. It is an acoustic ballad played by a rock ‘n roll band. It was Gram Parsons who gave it a country makeover. Your perception of the song is obviously twisted, since you can’t hear the original intentions of it.
     
  24. Rne

    Rne weltschmerz

    Location:
    Malaver
    I think Jagger does a great job in this one. It's a perfect recording, so I wouldn't change it.
    Anyway, my favorite version of the tune is this one (it starts at 57:24):
     
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  25. jpm-boston

    jpm-boston Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boston, MA
    You know, I’m not a great one for that - maybe Keith should of sang it instead of Mick. What do you mean? It was great, it sold, it’s the bloody Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses”. Shut up!
     
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