I thought we could all share our favorite Brian tracks here, together. And perhaps inform others with bits of information about one of the true geniuses behind the Rolling Stones. Here's a copy of You Got The Silver with Brian's auto harp on full display in the left channel:
Looking at Mick, Keith and Charlie, I'd say '68, but looking at Brian and Bill, I'd say '67. Isn't Bill's hair longer in all the other '68 photos and footage? Like the "Sympathy" studio session footage, the Beggars gatefold spread, and the Rock And Roll Circus? A person's hair can, of course, change a lot in a year. It's probably early '68.
Actually it's from the same photo session that the 'Sympathy For The Devil' picture sleeve came from. The Through The Past Darkly has Brian looking less chipper in general, and the Stones are even more shaggy looking.
So this is later, maybe '69? From the looks of the others (hair, clothes) I would have said 1971, Sticky Fingers era, but obviously can't be.
These are supposedly the last photos of Brian with the Stones, in '69: The Last Time: Brian Jones’s last-known photo with the Rolling Stones | Paul Trynka
Yes, if this picture was from 1971 Brian would have looked remarkably good considering his condition at that time .
'2120 South Michigan Avenue' - address of Chess Records studio, where this was recorded. Group composition. Brian is on harmonica. Those notes he hits at 1:37, whoah. This long version includes the guitar solo, which sounds like Keith, but some say is actually Muddy Waters. Bill with the distortion bass a year before its time.
'Jigsaw Puzzle' from Beggars Banquet. Brian is playing the whirring wind-sound instrument that kicks in at 1:48 - supposedly on Mellotron, but wouldn't surprise me if it was an actual wind instrument. Anyone with a Mellotron know this sound? Keith handles slide guitar. The undersung Nicky Hopkins on keys. Lots of signature Watts drum rolls. Great lyrics from Mick. Bill with the melodic driver and busy bass. This band should have played some dates! The Stones still haven't played this song in concert.
Do we know for sure that it's Bill playing that melodic, driving bass line? Unless someone's heard the session tape, I'm thinking it's more likely Keith. For that matter, do we know for sure that Brian's responsible for the whirring wind sound? I would tend to think it is a Mellotron rather than an actual wind instrument, and therefore most likely is Brian, but Bill would be a good second guess - since those are the two Stones who most often played around with different instruments on overdubs. I've often pondered this, so it would be nice to know for sure.