It's long been my favorite Stones studio record. If only "Honky Tonk Women" could have been substituted for "Country Honk". But "HTW" is musically a little too similar to the title track, besides being a single at the time, so I can see why they went the route they did. A superlative album that hides many raucous gems you don't hear often, like "Monkey Man" (Keith's guitar riffs come through like kidney punches on this one) and "Live With Me".
I don’t know how I rank it with the Big Four. Exile is my number one and after that it can change on a given day. But ranking those four is simply nitpicking. They are all the Mount Rushmore’s of rock albums!
I skip from Gimme Shelter right to You Got the Silver. Nearly all of side one just annoys me and I find Midnight Rambler utterly loathsome. Love in Vain is particularly tiresome. I started skipping that one and Country Honk back in 1969. Since I have Hot Rocks on CD, I've never bothered to get this one on CD. Hot Rocks has the best two songs by a long margin and my LP of Let It Bleed is good enough for the rest. Just my opinion...
Did Mick make any phone calls in late’69? If he did, I can’t wait to hear one of them on the 50th anniversary set later this year. But seriously, like Let It Bleed a lot. Top 5 Stones album for me. Just not expecting too much from the upcoming deluxe set.
Just listened to my London pressing yesterday. My goodness, that was audio excellence. Both sides are terrific.
If they are going to waste time releasing a 50th anniversary set without bonus tracks they should just skip it altogether. I'm not into fancy boxes to hold stuff already released LOL
I always liked this a lot on LP. It had such great textures in songwriting and playing. They were clearly growing as a band, un afraid and taking chances. When the hybrid SACD came out in 2002, I bought it and my appreciation of it grew quite a bit. The detail and nuance heard in Charlie Watts playing is still amazing, and the acoustic guitars benefitted greatly from the hi res transfers of the analog masters. That’s where I hear the benefit of high res, percussion and acoustic instruments.
I said that about Beggars Banquet 50th. I weakened and bought it. I like my original way better and the 2002 SACD is no slouch either. They will need to do better for me to buy a 50th Let It Bleed despite it being one of my top 3 Stones albums.
Looking forward to the 50th anniversary issue in the fall: $50.00 for a red vinyl LP and 7" 'Honky Tonk Women' repro.
This one probably ranks #3 on my list of favorite Stones albums. Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street alternate for #1 depending upon my mood for the day.
my least favorite of their great run of records in the late 60's early 70's. something about just seemed a bit "thrown together" whereas the other's (and i include goat's head soup) all feel unified. i mean LIB is still great but not the greatest.
