Mick Taylor / Bill Wyman Exile on Main Street contributions

Exile on Main Street is one of my favourite albums and I find story of it's creation as interesting in many ways as the music. One thing I always found intriguing are the instrumental contributions of Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman. Using the credits and various forums I found it interesting how both of their contributions were either diminished or more managed for this album than on Sticky Fingers.

Taylor is almost used as a session player, brought in for a few killer solos to spice a track up but seemingly not an integral guitar partner with Keith in creating the songs, at least not in the final mixes. Considering his great playing on both Sticky Fingers before and Goat's Head Soup afterwards I find it hard to believe that he didn't manage to come up with great parts for songs that were then mixed out so I have the feeling he was either not about or presented with completed tunes and told "solo here".

Bill seems to have been shunted aside for many of the tunes with either Keith, Taylor or session man Bill Plumber playing bass. This seems strange considering that Bill is a great player and killed on most of these tunes when played live in the subsequent tour.

Was the chaotic way the album was pieced together a contribution to this? Where Taylor and Wyman simply not around while Keith could record at his mansion in Nellcôte at any time or were their roles more circumscribed due to band politics and/or rivalries?

There are so many layers in this album and the mix is so murky I find it hard to see how certain websites and forums can be so certain of who played what, especially when the Stones themselves seem unclear!

Here is a list of the tunes and what I have read is Taylor and Wyman's contributions to each. I am keen to hear some thoughts from Stones fans out there!

Rocks Off
Taylor: Yes but only small solo at fade of track (possible slide guitar)
Wyman: Yes

Rip This Joint
Taylor: No
Wyman: No

Shake Your Hips
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: Yes

Casino Boogie
Taylor: Yes but only solo at the end
Wyman: No

Tumbling Dice
Taylor: Yes but on bass
Wyman: No

Sweet Virginia
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: Yes

Torn and Frayed
Taylor: Yes but on bass
Wyman: No

Sweet Black Angel
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: No

Loving Cup
Taylor: No
Wyman: Yes

Happy
Taylor: No
Wyman: No

Turd on the Run
Taylor: No
Wyman: No

Ventilator Blues
Taylor: Yes but only solo at the end (I thought he wrote the riff but apparently it is Keith)
Wyman: Yes

I Just Want to See His Face
Taylor: No
Wyman: No

Let It Loose
Taylor: No
Wyman: Yes

All Down the Line
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: Yes

Stop Breaking Down
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: Yes

Shine a Light
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: Yes

Soul Survivor
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: No

 

I think it was more a case of whoever was around rather than any conscious effort to exclude anyone. Having said that, Bill and Mick were the only two members to ever leave the band on their own accord so hmmmm...

 

Bill was staying farther away from Nellcote so it was more of a problem for him to get to the sessions quickly. In addition, I believe Bill contends that the album credits are incorrect and he actually played on more songs than he was given credit for on the album notes.

 

I thought Taylor played on Happy and Let It Loose.

 

Wyman has apparently questioned some of the credits; he says he plays on more tracks than he is credited for. And the album was recorded on "heroin time"; whoever happened to be around when Keith was.

 

Not sure about Let It Loose but I always thought the only folks on Happy were Keith and Jimmy Miller, plus the Jagger backing vocals added later.

 

Happy per wiki:
Personnel

• Keith Richards: lead vocals, guitar, bass
• Mick Jagger: vocals
• Mick Taylor: slide guitar
• Jimmy Miller: drums
• Bobby Keys: saxophone, maracas
• Jim Price: trumpet, trombone
• Nicky Hopkins: electric piano
• Paul Buckmaster: strings[6]

 

This watch keeps "heroin time"

 

Well there you go then. Thanks.

 

I always assumed it was Taylor on slide guitar

 

Songfacts says it's just Keith and Jimmy Miller on drums with Bobby Keys on extra percussion and the horns dubbed in later. Happy by The Rolling Stones Songfacts »

 

Not a bad analysis, baba...based on my years of intimate involvement with Exile On Main Street, my ears and hunches, don't mind me for making a couple of alterations to yer track by track breakdown:

Rocks Off
Taylor: Yes but only small solo at fade of track (possible slide guitar) I think Taylor is also playing the rhythm guitar in the left channel.
Wyman: Yes

Rip This Joint
Taylor: No Yes, lead guitar fills in the bridge sections ("wham, bam, Birmingham...")
Wyman: No

Shake Your Hips
Taylor: Yes The 'off the cuff' sounding guitar solo has always sounded like Taylor to me
Wyman: Yes

Casino Boogie
Taylor: Yes but only solo at the end I believe the slide licks heard at the end of the song are Keith, sounds like his slide style (think "Jigsaw Puzzle" or "Let It Bleed")
Wyman: No

Tumbling Dice
Taylor: Yes but on bass The guitar solo is comped from at least two different guitar tracks, I'm thinking one is Keith (first half of the solo) and the other is Taylor (second half)
Wyman: No

Sweet Virginia
Taylor: Yes The "mandolin" style guitar licks in the left channel
Wyman: Yes

Torn and Frayed
Taylor: Yes but on bass Keith plays the acoustic and electric guitars; the electric guitar part is very Robbie Robertson IMO; "Torn And Frayed" is an excellent homage to The Band.
Wyman: No

Sweet Black Angel
Taylor: Yes I think Keith plays all the guitars on this track, don't ask me why, just a hunch; apparently this was Anita Pallenberg's favourite out of the Nellcote recorded tracks
Wyman: No

Loving Cup
Taylor: No The electric guitar (left channel) is probably Taylor
Wyman: Yes

Happy
Taylor: No
Wyman: No

Turd on the Run
Taylor: No I think Taylor is playing the guitar solo, kind of buried in the mix
Wyman: No

Ventilator Blues
Taylor: Yes but only solo at the end (I thought he wrote the riff but apparently it is Keith) Keith and Taylor both play electric slide guitar; listen closely for a dobro part also likely played by MT
Wyman: Yes

I Just Want to See His Face
Taylor: No Taylor plays electric bass; Bill Plummer is playing the 'uprite' doing the wierd sounding string tapping/plucking effects at the start of the track
Wyman: No

Let It Loose
Taylor: No I don't think it has ever been clearly established whether or not it is Keith or Taylor playing guitar on this track (there's only the one guitar)- parts of the playing sound like Keith, other parts Taylor...I think it's Keith, though.
Wyman: Yes

All Down the Line
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: Yes Though Bill Plummer is credited, "All Down The Line" is one of the tracks Wyman disputed that does have his bass playing stamp all over it!

Stop Breaking Down
Taylor: Yes No Keith on this track
Wyman: Yes

Shine a Light
Taylor: Yes No Keith on this one either
Wyman: Yes No, Taylor plays bass as well as all the guitar parts (the bassline has a similarly 'busy' style as "Tumbling Dice" and "Coming Down Again", also played by MT)

Soul Survivor
Taylor: Yes
Wyman: No

If you've never read John Perry's book on Exile, you should give it a read, the book includes an excellent track-by-track analysis (here's an Amazon link for ya):
https://www.amazon.com/EXILE-MAIN-S...=1-2&keywords=exile+on+main+street+john+perry

It's also worth pointing out that Bill Wyman was not present for any of the post-production/additional recording work the Stones did on Exile at Sunset Sound in L.A.; Bill's absence in Los Angeles might at least partially explain the plethora of bass parts played by Keith, Taylor or Plummer on the album since at least a couple of the tracks were wholly recorded there (not exactly sure which songs, though); only basic tracks were done at Nellcote, and of course a few of the tracks were done at Stargroves in the Sticky Fingers era as well.

Incidentally I love this discussion...for a long time I have wanted to start a "Who plays exactly what on each Rolling Stones song" thread since the credits they list on the albums -especially the earlier ones- are a little vague.

 

I remember reading that Wyman disputed the credits but do we know exactly which tunes he claims to have played on, aside from All Down The Line. I thought Rip This Joint may have been disputed also but my memory is vague.

I've always liked Taylor's bass playing on Tumbling Dice. If ever I listen to a particular instrument on a certain song its always the bass on that.

This thread will be a bit like who played what on All Things Must Pass. At least with Exile you actually have track credits, however reliable they may be. Remembering also that (as a link to ATMP,) Bobby Whitlock suggested he attended the sessions for Exile but not clear if it was claimed he played on any of the released tracks.

 

I'd be very interested in that thread.

 

The Bill Janovitz 33 1/3 book on the Exile lp says Keith is the only actual Stone on Happy.

He also says Mick Taylor played the electric bass part on I Just Want To See His Face.

Janovitz states Mick Taylor slips in some slide parts on Rip This Joint.

 

Nah, "Rip This Joint" is pretty obviously Bill Plummer on 'uprite', even though as a bassline it's got a swing that would be right up Wyman's alley.

Same here, but as I've said -and I know this is an insane, minority opinion- I generally prefer Mick Taylor's bass playing to his guitar playing. Don't worry, folks, I plan on getting myself fitted for a nice wraparound jacket and rubber room any day now!

I seem to recall from that epic thread Bobby started during his time here that he claimed to have played on "Just Wanna See His Face", presumably the electric piano credited to Keith Richards on the Exile inner sleeve. But, having said that, and this is not meant as a knock towards Bobby Whitlock, but I sorta got the feeling plowing trough that discussion that a) Bobby seems to like giving himself credit for a lot of things after the fact and b) his memory could be a little hazy from drugs and stuff, he may simply be misremembering things years after.

Hey, I'd love to do it, but I would definitely need some assistance, no doubt about it (fortunately there are a few Stones Scholars here). I admit I was a bit daunted by the massive Stones Album-by-album threads; I didn't read them all (yet) so I'm not sure how much detail was spent on individual track credits in those discussions. And after all, a lot of it is pure guesswork, like I said, based on our ears and hunches. But, sh-t, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to be able to tell the difference between Jones/Richards/Taylor/Wood/Jagger's guitar playing, or Wyman/Richards/Taylor/Wood/Darryl Jones etc bass playing, since guitar and bass parts are where most of the mystery seems to lie.

 

I haven't read the 33 1/3 book but Janovitz is correct on all of the above.

 

Janovitz has Keith playing the guitar solo in Shake Your Hips.

 

Bill Plummer? The Cincinnati Reds' catcher?

What was his on bass percentage?

 

Hmm...could be (sings "Hip Shake" solo in my head) Yeah, could be Keith- I think there's some Keith-like phrasing in there...hard to say, really.

What's hilarious is if you asked Keith or Taylor chances are they wouldn't be able to remember, either!

 

I've heard people talk about a bigger role for Taylor on Exile, and I've never understood that. First of all Exile is practically perfect as it is, which begs the question: where would you add him and how would it improve the album? Replace Bobby's jumping solo on "Rip this Joint", or his two-note groove on "Casino Boogie"? Get rid of Al Perkins' pedal steel guitar on "Torn and Frayed"? Substitute guitar for Mick's blues harp on "Turd on the Run". Add yet another guitar to the dense mix of horns, piano and background vocals on "Let it Loose"? Of course not; the instrumentation is essential to the magic of each of those tracks - part of the reason we love the album.

Second, and more importantly, his imprint is all over Exile as it is. Side 4 is an essential Taylor-fest. His lead guitar work on "All Down the Line" and "Stop Breaking Down" back to back to open the side is amazing. And the phrase "but on bass", as if it's a negative, makes no sense to me. His bass playing, especially on " Tumbling Dice" is great.

 

Exactly- Exile On Main Street wouldn't be the same if it were any different...if yer a Taylorite Stones fan looking for yer Taylor fix, put on Goats Head Soup, you'll get all the Mick Taylor you need and then some!

 

Greta analysis to fuel the debate! I am always hearing bits pop out of the mix and go " I never heard that before!" I think your analysis is pretty on the mark. I woudl only only say that on Shake Your Hips thew parts they play in the Montreux Rehearsals 1972 clip on Youtube have Keith playing lead, although it is not of course 100% proof he did on record.



Thanks for the John Perry book link looks very interesting!

 

If yer an Exile fan, the John Perry book is essential IMO.

 

I think the slide on Happy, while great, is a bit basic for something Taylor would play. Also live he pretty much sticks to rhythm guitar. I have found that live clips tend to give a good idea of who played what. For example I don't think Taylor ever really got to grips with Tumblin' Dice live apart from his solos. Same with Rocks Off, he tend to play a simple boogie part quite unlike on the record and then add some solos.

Let It Loose I always assumed was Richards, however the playing it quite similar to the playing by Taylor on I Got The Blues from Sticky Fingers. Also it would not be the first time that Richards doesn't play guitar ona tune he wrote the music for. For example Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) on Goats Head Soup where he plays bass with Taylor on guitar and Billy Preston on wah wah organ. Also Moonlight Mile which is just Taylor and Jagger.