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FANS ALBUM REVIEWS
LET IT BLEED
Seventeen Reviews - Overall Average Rating - 9.91 Tongues
(Sorry, but we are no longer accepting fan reviews for this album)
LET IT BLEED
By Chad Hamby
August 3, 2001
Rating: 
This is probably the best rock album of all time. Brian Jones appears on only two tracks
on this album, so the weight falls on the other band members (M. Taylor also appears only
on two tracks, too). That gives this album a cohesion and an intimacy that I don't think
is found on any other Stones album, and it makes for a very nice feel overall. The best
example of this, I think, is 'Monkey Man'. Listening to this song is like being present
for an informal jam session with the Stones. It's amazing. And the powerful presence and
masterful touches of Nicky Hopkins on this and other tracks (especially 'Gimme Shelter')
leaves on wondering why he wasn't made an official member of the band. I could not imagine
a better way to open an album than 'Gimme Shelter', the first track of Let It Bleed.
And 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' makes for an awesome conclusion. Throughout the
rest of the album, the listener is shown a world of debauchery, and yet, and the same
time, vulnerable humanity. 'You Got the Silver' is one of the most stirring ballads the
Stones ever composed. 'Live with Me' contains about the most humorous lyrics in rock
history. I could go on and on about this album. Let It Bleed is an indispensable
part of any rock fan's music library. If you don't own it, make it your next purchase.
To listen to some sound clips from LET IT BLEED or to buy the CD
click here: Let
It Bleed
More fan reviews:
LET IT BLEED
By Hall
May 16, 2001
Rating: 
Let It Bleed has one of the coolest album names ever, and, coincidentally, is one
of the greatest albums ever made. Not too much can be said for this masterpiece that
hasn't already been said, but the album is even more amazing given the time of it's
creation. In between guitarists (Brian Jones and Mick Taylor only contributed their guitar
to one or two tracks on this LP), by the all rights this should have been the band's worst
album. But somehow, through the peaking creative genius of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards,
the Stones not only made a great album but also made a piece of music that embodied the
uneasiness and lowered expectations of the end of the 1960s. The highlights of this album
are the opener, the title song, and the closing song. The first track, "Gimme
Shelter", is one of the best examples of a song not really being a song but more of a
feeling, an image. With a great backing vocal by Merry Clayton and a distressed singing
performance by Jagger coupled with Richard's guitar playing, this song IS terror in 4:31.
The image of people fleeing, gripped by fear from something unknown also complements the
song nicely. The title song is a folky song made interesting by Stu's piano, Richards'
slide guitar, and Jagger's great singing. Many songs on this album show how simple chord
progressions can be very effective("Let It Bleed" is C-F-G the whole song and
"YCAGWYW" is C-F the whole song!), and the closing track, "You Can't Always
Get What You Want", with it's simple I-IV chord structure epitomizes this idea.
Starting as a ballad and building up to it's epic finish, this song comas right behind
"Moonlight Mile" as the Stone's greatest closing song. The rest of the tracks
are consistently good. "Love In Vain" is unfortunately not a very good song,
mostly because it lacks the inertia all great Stones songs have. "Country Honk"
is an acoustic, fiddled-out version of "Honky Tonk Women", and while this song
is ok, why they didn't just put the original on the CD is beyond me. "Live With
Me" is song made great with a memorable riff and a healthy dose of swagger.
"Midnight Rambler" is a good, updated-blues song that sounds fine, but does not
come anywhere near the version off Ya-yas. If you don't have the previously
mentioned album buy it. Now. "You Got the Silver", is a good ballady song that
is sung by Keith, and it is a huge step up for him from "Salt of the Earth".
Finally "Monkey Man" is a song that benefits from the tightest arrangement on
the album, building up tension and releasing it at the best possible time to make a very
effective little piece. Overall, if you don't have Let It Bleed, you need it. It
is not their best album, but it is their most accessible, which allows for people to then
listen to Sticky Fingers and Exile with an open mind. Apart from that it
is a great rock album that has everything you'll ever need.
LET IT BLEED
By Paul
May13, 2001
Rating:
Let it Bleed is definitely my favorite Stones album. Primarily because of 'Monkey
Man'. That song has such a freshness to it. It sounds like it could've been recorded last
week. It's a perfect album. The way it starts out with the quiet guitar on 'Gimme Shelter'
slowly getting louder and louder. It's like a well written movie, 'You Can't Always Get
What You Want' being the climax. One of my favorite songs on here is 'Live with Me' which
I think is underrated. Keith plays bass on this song and just goes crazy on it. I think a
great job and the lyrics are so funny. I love the line where Mick says, "the cook she
is a whore, the butler has a place for her behind the pantry door". I laughed so hard
when I heard that line. One of the things I love about Mick's lyrics is how he tells
stories with them, like with 'Midnight Rambler'. NO review can do this song justice,
it's too good, someone would just have to hear it. I'm only 21 yrs old, I wasn't even born
when this album came out. If that doesn't prove that the Stones are timeless I don't know
what does.
LET IT BLEED
By Rutger Janssen
February 22, 2001
Rating:
This album contains the most fantastic song ever, GIMME SHELTER. The last few weeks I
listened to the song 20 times a day. Keiths guitar is amazing. What a riff he created
here, it's scary. This is deffently the best riff ever. It sends chills through your
bones. Mick is also fantastic here ( like on every song). When he sings: "I tell you
love, sister, it's just a kiss away", I forget everything in the world. I forget all
the problems there are. Not forget to mention Marry Claytons vocal in the middle of the
song. What a haunting vocal she puts out there, just great. In the last tour Lisa Fischer
also sang her hart out on this amazing song, she did this in a superb way. Next to this
song, there are other Stones classics. What about YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT?
This must be one of the best songs by Mick. Only he can sing songs this way. His voice
goes up and down. There is no other singer in the world who could even try to get next to
him. MIDNIGHT RAMBLER has the most scary lyric ever. This lyric is about an serial killer.
This whole song contains haunting riffs and vocals. Next to these three classics, there
are some other great songs on Let it Bleed. Take MONKEY MAN for example. This is
one of the most underrated songs ever. Keith plays some great riffs on it (Keith also
shines on his first vocal lead on YOU GOT THE SILVER). The title song, LET IT BLEED,
is a great country song with a rough lyric. Keith plays a fantastic slide guitar and Mick
sings great like always.
The only thing I can say about this album to people who don’t have it is: BUY IT NOW.
This is an album every one should own. To the people who already have it I can only say:
RAPE MURDER, IT’S JUST A SHOT AWAY!!!
LET IT BLEED
By Alan Alwiel
February 19, 2001
Rating:
Keith Richards showed what a genius he was with the release of 'Let It Bleed. Due
to Brian Jones's personal problems his contributions on the album were minimal and he
tragically died before the album was released. Keith handled most of the guitar parts
except for 'Live With Me' and 'County Honk'. The amazing Mick Taylor played rhythm on
'Live With Me', against Keith's Chuck Berry type lead fills and played slide on 'Country
Honk'. The rest of the album is all Keith and Jagger.'Gimme Shelter', opens the album and
wow, the best rock riff ever. Keith's seductive splash of notes is brilliant and Jagger
delivers great vocals. Keith's lead solo is perfect. The glimmer boys take Robert
Johnson's 'Love And Vain', and make it one of their signature songs. Jagger/Richards craft
a wonderful acoustic version of the song. Keith's acoustic style is just perfect. 'Let It
Bleed', showcases Keith's slide guitar which in prior albums was handled by Brian Jones.
'Midnight Rambler', the best rock blues song put on record has haunting lyrics against
Jagger's vocals and all those guitars by Keith.'You Got The Silver', a gem, has Keith on
lead vocals for the first time and boy does Keith deliver. Also Keith plays an amazing
slide. On 'Monkey Man', Jagger sings his heart out and Keith's guitars are blistering.'You
Can't Always Get What You Want' is a beautiful crafted ballad by the glimmer boys.The song
starts off slow with Keith's perfect acoustic and then the song kicks off into another
gear with Jagger's great vocals and the whole band playing amazing. Let It Bleed
proved Keith was on his way in becoming a rock god and truly the best package in rock
history. It's more Keith's album, in that he shaped the sound and feel of the
record.
LET IT BLEED
By Alice Phillips
October 24, 2000
Rating:
Gee golly but this is a great album! It was my first -- I was reading the reviews here a
few months ago, a couple of days later my mother said she'd gotten me a CD player and I
should acquire some discs. I went out to the HMV near my school and picked up Let It
Bleed and Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, without knowing a
single song on the former. You could not have gotten it more right, reviewers: I've been
listening to this non-stop since then. It makes me wish I were living in my parents' (or,
the webmaster's) day.
"Gimme Shelter" is a gorgeous, pained, poetic piece whose opening rivals any
I've heard. Marred only by the sappy "love
saves" conclusion (and to an extent the somewhat preachy chorus lyrics) -- which is
unworthy not only of this savvy and
sardonic album but also the rest of this raging, fantastic opening track -- this song is
nevertheless more than deservedly a
classic. "Love in Vain," also a bit too earnest, suffers more from it; still it
is a worthy cover, if some of the singing is a bit too
drawn-out. "Country Honk," a countrified "Honky Tonk Women," shares
the joyous vulgarity and malice of the whole LP; I like it."Live with Me" is
dreadfully underrated. It is spirited, pounding, laugh-out-loud funny and vulgar as
anything; it is sleazy and
sarcastic and I cannot imagine anyone besides the Stones singing it and I still sing it
out loud. "Let It Bleed" -- and "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
shares this assessment -- is simply perfect. The title track is both beautiful and wicked.
And I will nevermore be able to listen either to Bill Withers's "Lean on Me" or
to the Beatles's "Let It Be" without hearing its echoes in my mind -- at least,
I hope not. "Midnight Rambler," which is wonderful, is also scary. A bit more
serious ("well, honey, it ain't no rock and roll show"), but never solemn, it
tackles violent crime as a product of personal and social-environmental factors, closing
in increasingly on the voice, persona, and thoughts of the title character, a
"hit-and-run raper in anger" and murderer -- until the final chilling "I'll
stick my knife right down your throat, baby, and it hurts." "You Got the
Silver" I know some people appreciate, but I find the central conceit hokey, the
lyrics underdeveloped, and the vocal rendering scratchy and unconvincing. .
"Monkey Man" is a wild, inchoate, incoherent scream of a song on Mick Jagger's
part, and a finely orchestrated, carefully
executed, pretty cool instrumental on everyone else's. What binds it together is sheer
energy. Good stuff. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is shocking: There are
not rock and roll songs like this. It's beautiful, it's ethereal, it's mature, it's worth
the price of the album. Imagine the lyrical sophistication of "Sympathy for the
Devil" combined with the delicacy of "Paint It, Black" and the ravishing
beauty of ... of nothing else: this is the song to which others should be compared.
This is a damned good album. Get it.
LET IT BLEED
By Net Pimp
October 19, 2000
Rating:
Like their previous album, this one bears a great album front cover. Almost as great as Beggar's
graffiti-wall in the bathroom stall! Here we see the old looking toys of the band set up
on top of the cake, placed on a pizza and a clock with a sticker reading "Stones-Let
it Bleed" (with a figurine Brian Jones still there despite his appearance on only two
songs and that he was dead even when the final touches were being put on it). Then, the
inside perfectly contemplates the straying emotions inside with pieces taken out of the
cake, half-eaten pizza strewn around, the record being played, smashed by the needle and
the clock dismantled. A cool package! Too bad that rule in the UK that banned singles from
appearing on future albums (unless for a greatest hits package) existed because
"Honky Tonk Woman" would surely be welcome on this harrowing great album that
closed out the 60s with its reels. Nonetheless, it opens with the chilling anthem, a grim
prediction of the Altamont terror, "Gimme Shelter." It oozes venom and dark rock
power with Merry Clayton dueting along with her thunderous, (sometimes shrieking) vocals.
The song has a great harp part from Mick. A top five Stones song in my opinion. It became
the anthem for the fallen hippies until new youth power took over in the early 70s. After
that enthralling experienced, they go mellow with a great cover of Robert Johnson's
"Love in Vain" where we hear Ry Cooder contributing mandolin (the Stones needed
all the help possible after Jones was kicked out, then subsequently died). "Love in
Vain" is a surefire top ten in the all-time best covers the "Foul Five"
ever recorded. Then comes an abomination in the face of the raunchy-spirited "Honky
Tonk Woman," the alternate version titled "Country Honk" which is al little
silly with all it's down-home fiddling and ragtime glory. That was better captured on Beggars
Banquet with "Factory Girl." Here we catch a glimpse of Mick Taylor showing
his slide guitar style could equal that of Brian's. The former member of John Mayall's
Bluesbreakers, Mick T., soon became the permanent replacement for Jones. Then, he appears
again on "Live with Me," a nasty little song about a sleazy rich guy and his
mansion ongoing. It sounds like it would've been a fitting inclusion for their next LP, Sticky
Fingers. Well, at this time, mid-1969, other future tracks for that album were being
recorded at the Muscle Shoals Studios in Memphis, like "Brown Sugar," "Dead
Flowers" and "Wild Horses." This song ranks okay in my book, but the sleazy
excitement and bravado gets me a little bit turned off despite it's rocking sound. I still
like it though. Besides Nicky H. providing piano (which he did throughout the album unless
stated), Leon Russell also lends a hand. He even arranges the horn section, the debut of
Bobby Keys' amazing tenor sax work. He became a much-hired sessionman soon afterwards. The
lines about sex, coke and sympathy, junkie nuts being pleasant company, it gets me
laughing. But "Let it Bleed," although it's a pretty good track, shouldn't have
been the title track, why not "Gimme Shelter" or "Midnight Rambler."
Bill Wyman gets to show he has some autoharp skills here too. Stu, of course, plays some
boogie-woogie piano as well. Again, we are given violent images in the next track, the
time-changing hard rock/blues fusion called "Midnight Rambler" which talks about
the Boston Strangler. The awesome harp is played by Mick J. The slide guitar seems to be
out of tune with the song, but that shouldn't matter because it's still and a half minutes
of energetic mayhem. An exsquistent acoustic number with Brain on autoharp called
"You Got the Silver" with Keith taking his first full lead and doing well I
might add. His chorus singing is wild and uncontrollably pulsating and his scream sounds
like that of John Lennon's on the hard-rock version of "Revolution."
"Silver" has fine acoustic guitars and is a worthy unsung gem on this album. The
next one, "Monkey Man" usually gets slammed because of its trite lyrics and
overemphasized rabid monkey theme, with Mick J. doing his, uh, articulate imitation of a
chimp during the fadeout. But, I think it's rather good with the eerie piano in the
beginning and the great guitar riff. The closing seems progressive because the London Bach
Choir opens it and can be heard backing it up. Female singers also spice up the funkiness.
The song is an inspired philosophical reverse image of the horror of the opening track. It
has a solemn message and builds up to a great finale with producer Jimmy Miller filling in
for Charlie on drums. Also, Al Kooper pitches in big time, playing the important French
horn, piano and organ parts. This is a definite top ten Stones song in my book. Despite
"Country Honk" this album houses a couple of Stones essentials, and for that
reason it is a 10 in my book.
LET IT BLEED
By Dave Bennett
August 27, 2000
Rating:
"Gimme Shelter" is unrivaled. It sends chills down your spine. "Love in
Vain" is awesome and much better in studio than on Get
Your Ya Ya's Out (NYC live in 1969). "Country Honk" is really good and some
fans vastly underrate it. "Live With Me" is
the most underrated song on this album (judging from the webmasters review). I think Leon
Russell played on it. It doesn't get
any raunchier than this (except maybe "Star Star" from Goats Head Soup).
I don't know how relevant "shooting water rats and
feeding them to his geese" is but it rocks none the less. "Let It Bleed"
the song doesn't move me like it once did. It's gotten kind
of stale for me after all these years. "Silver" and "Monkey Man" are
decent. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is one of the greatest Stones songs
of all time. It took guts to put the London Philharmonic Orchestra in there. Very nice
touch.
LET IT BLEED
By John Barnett
August 16, 2000
Rating:
The Rolling Stones' 1969 release entitled Let It Bleed is a masterpiece on
several different levels. On one hand, it is a brilliant
collection of songs, all held together by incredible melodies and lyrics of pure,
unabashed genius. On another hand, it serves it's
purpose as the creative bridge between the Stones' early period and their later periods.
The album really falls into neither
period. On the final hand, Let It Bleed is one of rock's most subtle and powerful
concept albums. Yes, I said 'concept'
albums. Little would a person know upon the 1st, 2nd, or even 10th listen, but what the
Stones have done here is created one of, if not the only concept album dealing with the
topic of death and the finality of life. And what a job they did. It's almost as if they
foresaw the Altamont tragedy (where a young black man w/ a white girlfriend was stabbed to
death by a member of the San Francisco Hell's Angels in the front row of a free Stones gig
in December of '69).
As for the band, Mick Jagger struts his stuff with godlike confidence, Keith Richards
plays his heart out and captivates ours in
the process, Charlie Watts beats the hell out of his drums but never misses a beat (and
even adds a few surprise ones!), Bill
Wyman's bass playing has been rarely matched in rock history, and newcomer Mick Taylor
rips and tears some amazing
sounds out of his guitar, and his playing here is only a hint of Mick's solos to come in
the next 5 years.
Songs:
GIMME SHELTER- One of those tunes where everything fell into place, especially Mary
Clayton's haunting vocal. LOVE IN VAIN: Simply the Stones' best cover song. A fascinating,
well played version of guitar guru Robert Johnson's blues ballad.
COUNTRY HONK: A disappointment mainly because the hard rockin' version of this country jam
(Honky Tonk Women)
wasn't included instead. LIVE WITH ME: A fast and furious song in which the band's nasty
and obscene side 1st surfaced in full form (besides "Stray Cat Blues"). Not that
that's a bad thing by any means. LET IT BLEED: The only other disappointment on this
wonderful album, even though many will disagree. Great lyrics and playing, just not very
exciting. MIDNIGHT RAMBLER: Wow! What an epic song. It's essentially a song about a serial
killer whose murders are oddly celebrated. The 2nd best tune on here. YOU GOT THE SILVER:
Keith's vocal on this track is quite amazing. The 1st time his vocal talents were realized
to great effect on record. And what an awesome chorus! MONKEY MAN: Mick Jagger uses this
song to jibe and poke fun at himself and the rest of the band. The only but of humor
you'll find during the entire 43 minutes. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT: In this
reviewer's humble opinion, this is the greatest song the Stones ever recorded. Listen to
it once and see if you agree.
Buy this today, if there are any copies left at the music store.
LET IT BLEED
By Chris McVey
July 18, 2000
Rating:
The Rolling Stones Album Let It Bleed is indeed a fantastic album...It's probably
the closest thing you'd ever get to a
greatest hits CD on a single album. I purchased this album in a Wal-Mart department store
at 2:00 in the morning. I listened to it until dawn till I fell asleep...that was a
memorable night. I have the 1986 Digitally remastered one which I'm sure is the most
common and maybe only one available on CD. For some odd reason the songs are not in
the correct order in which they are labeled on the actual compact disc. I don't know why
they did that but it's still a killer album and I have the tracks memorized
I rated this album 9.5 being that it's an incredibly good album. You probably wonder why
not a 10? Well I am a big fan of
greatest hits albums and only those get 10's in my book...don't get me wrong it's a great
album. There are a few problems with
the album...it's like the stone in your shoe. This album has some greats like "Gimme
Shelter"(my all-time personal favorite)which I think is a little underrated being
that it is a really great rock and roll song. "Midnight Rambler" is really cool
too. "Let It Bleed" another underrated classic, "Love In Vain" is a
classic ballad, "Live With Me" is really neat and for some odd reason not famous
at all, and of course there is "You Can't Always Get What You Want" which I'm
sure all people have heard but may not have known was a Stones song. Another one of my
personal favorites is "Monkey Man". This song should be loved by all true rock
and roll fans...I think it is there most underrated song ever. How can you not like it,
very musical and Mick's shouting of "I'm A Monkey!" is still on pitch for how
loud he's actually screaming. The Real Kick in the groin is "Country Honk". If
they had the song "Honky Tonk Women" instead it would probably be a 10 in
my book. "You Got The Silver" is just average I think but I like the uniqueness
of Keith singing, not Mick. It's "County Honk" that really spoils the CD I
think. It is still a really cool album and probably the best one up to date. That's my
opinion and I'm stickin to it!
LET IT BLEED
By Zizzy
May 25, 2000
Rating:
Let It Bleed is one of four greatest Stones albums.The opening song, Gimme Shelter, is one of the best songs to date and that raw energy that surrounds it is just incredible. Love In Vain though is nothing compared to the live version on Get Your Ya-Yas Out, mostly because Jagger sounds awful and that bluesy Mick Taylor lead guitar is missing. Live With Me and Midnight Rambler, both classic rock songs, but again much better done on stage (great example on the incredible Ya-Yas live album). Country Honk, I don't know...I'm glad they changed this song into Honky Tonk Women. Monkey Man is awesome, Keith's guitar licks, Charlie's impressive drumming, the bassline, the piano, the Jagger freak-out....this could have been the best Stones song ever, BUT the lyrics are awful...what a waste. Anyway Let It Bleed (the song) is great and You Can't Always Get What You Want is another Stones classic. This album is a must have for all true rock fans!
LET IT BLEED
By christophoros
April 14, 2000
Rating:
The opener GIMMIE SHELTER has got the message, that love can help you from being lost,
which is typical for the Woodstock time, in which it was released. That it became such a
popular song without even being a single alone shows, how great the song is. The cover
version of the Robert Johnson song LOVE IN VAIN gives the song new spirit by Mick's this
time tear- jerking voice. COUNTRY HONK is the better, more dirty version of the song HONKY
TONK WOMEN. LIVE WITH ME, LET IT BLEED, MONKEY MAN and especially MIDNIGHT RAMBLER must be
among the most hated Stones songs by parents. When I hear "I slit my knife straight
down your throat", I think about parents, who fear that their kids could happen
something by being fans of that stupid band. YOU GOT THE SILVER just rocks and rolls
greatly. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT, THE epic song, that alone would be worth the
money for the album. The album also profits from having both Brķan Jones and Mick Taylor
on it (although each on only two songs) . Brian plays autoharp on YOU GOT THE SILVER and
percussion on MIDNIGHT RAMBLER (tragically ironic, as he is rumored to have attacked Mick
Jagger with a knife around the time ). The backcover shows all of them dead, only Brian
alive, after the prediction on the FLOWERS cover (Brian's flower= the only one without
leaves). LET IT BLEED is one of their biggest classics with only 1.5 songs from
singles on it (because the HONKY TONK WOMEN here is different from the single version).
What's more to say about the album? Well, it belongs to the ones, where I could only say
-instead of talking a lot- that you just have to listen to it. So: THIS RECORD WAS MADE
FOR BEING PLAYED LOUD!
LET IT BLEED
By Glen Speirs
July 12, 1999
Rating:
After struggling with question of the Stone's greatest album quite seriously for some 15
years, I may have to give it to Let It Bleed. Not so much as it defines the Stones, but as
for what it sets up. It was the first sight of how the Stones would put their everlasting
mark on not just rock music, but music of the 20th century.
It set up the 1970 tour (Get Yer..Out) where the band got the confidence and maturity to
release the next string of truly important albums (Sticky Fingers, Exile, Some Girls).
Traces of Let It Bleed are all over these albums.
One thing to listen for on Let It Bleed: Most people think Let it Bleed only has one
country song on it. (You've Got The Silver). Take a good listen over a few years and you
will find another one.....The song Let It Bleed (Which happens to be the Rolling Stones
finest moment).
LET IT BLEED
By John Missig
June 19, 1999
Rating:
This is best album ever made with out a doubt.
First of all the album starts off with Gimmie Shelter perhaps the best stones song ever
with the exception of Sympathy For The Devil. Keith's Guitar riffs in this song are
exceptional. Let It Bleed is another great tune and I think Mick's voice sounds the best
on this song. Other great songs on this album include Midnight Rambler one of my all time
favorites, Monkey Man, and You Can't Always Get What You Want. This album should be owned
by anybody who digs rock and roll.
LET IT BLEED
By Jim Wilgus
May 6, 1999
Ratings:
Country Honk is a great alternative version of one of their greatest
"throw-away"singles of all time.The real gem on this mixed blessing of an
lp,(after-all it does include the last tracks of multy-talented Brian Jones) is contained
within the track "Gimme Shelter".The moment I'm referring to is not even
preformed by a Stone.A little-known diminutive back-up singer named Merry Clayton,delivers
an orgasmic solo in one word"Murder",on "Gimme Shelter",it still makes
the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.Well done!..is all I can add.
LET IT BLEED
By Vladimir Mihajlovic
April 10,1999
Rating:
Let it Bleed is one of the best albums by the Stones. Eight songs from this album were
used in concerts. Gimme Shelter is a great track.Great vocals by Mick and Mary
Clayton.This song is one of the Stones best songs.Bass from Bill and guitar from Keith are
great.Love in Vain is one of the best blues songs ever. It is a beautiful ballad. This
song makes you wanna cry. Country Honk is the worst song from this album.It is bluegrass
version of Honky TonkWoman. Live with Me is a great fast song.Great drums by Charlie.
Mick's and Keith's guitars are very good. Let it Bleed is a great song. Slide guitar and
keyboards are great on this one.Midnight Rambler is best track from album.The best blues
song ever.Great guitars,drums and bass on this one.You Got the Silver is one of the best
stones ballads.Great vocals by Keith.Monkey man is a great rocker.Mick Jagger is great on
vocals and guitar work is fantastic.You Can't Always Get What You Want is one of the best
Stones songs.Mick and Charlie are great on this one.It is a great ballad. Let It Bleed is
one of the best albums ever so if you don't have it, buy it.
LET IT BLEED
By Hard Knox and Durty Sox
March 24, 1999
Rating:
"Let It Bleed", released at the end of 1969, gets my vote as the greatest rock
album ever recorded. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' peak creative period as songwriters
occurred during 1968 through 1969, future developments notwithstanding, and it culminated
with this masterwork.
The Stones have made other albums of equal consistency, "Beggars Banquet" in
particular, but there is a critical and large distinction between songs that can be
categorized as "classic" or "great", and the very, very few that are
truly "masterpieces". What sets this album apart is the inclusion of two of the
greatest songs in the history of rock music, the masterpieces that begin and end this
album, "Gimmie Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Both
tracks are great rock music performances, when judged strictly on that basis, but they
transcend other Stones classics and other great rock songs by the way they also
brilliantly invoke vivid imagery, through their lyrics and musical tones.
The tone is set for "Gimmie Shelter" by the introduction, starting from the
delicate initial guitar notes and background vocals, followed by the second guitar, bass,
and piano joining in with increasing volume until the full effect of foreboding is
established, then maintained by the repeated, descending three-chord sequence. The lyrics
conjure up images of disaster and destruction in successive verses - a storm is
threatening, a fire is sweeping, a flood is threatening, war, rape, and murder are just a
shot away. The second verse, describing how the fire "burns like a red coal carpet,
mad bull lost its way" is especially evocative. The song does offer potential solace
and salvation in the final chorus, as "love is just a kiss away". Last but not
least, the exceptional performance by Merry Clayton as the female co-lead vocalist
provides some vital, additional coloration to this track.
"You Can't Always Get What You Want" offers still more wonderful movie-like
imagery, with its shifting of scenes, from the reception to the demonstration to the drug
store, and back to the reception. This song also evolves, starting from a mood of quiet
resignation, eventually transitioning to a feeling of uplifted triumph. This magnificent
metamorphosis is realized through the creative use of instrumentation, voices, and tempo,
from the intro with the poignant, lone acoustic guitar and French horn to the soaring
crescendo at the end. Al Kooper's contributions are major, from the playing of the French
horn to providing both melodic fills and rhythm accompaniment on piano and organ.
Similarly, Keith switches from injecting lyrical fills to rhythm playing on the electric
guitar, and doubles on acoustic guitar, multi-track guitar performances by Keith being a
feature of the album. The choir imparts an ethereal tonal quality to the song, especially
during the powerful crescendos in the middle and ending, and the female background vocals
and additional percussion instruments add to this enormous and overwhelming production of
a rock song.
"Let It Bleed" has no weak tracks, and does contain at least three other classic
songs. The subject matter in "Midnight Rambler" might be of a dubious nature,
since the protagonist is a rapist-murderer, but the murky sound quality achieved by
producer Jimmy Miller works in creating a mood of darkness, mystery, and danger. The
distinguishing characteristic of "Monkey Man" is its archetypal, Stones-ensemble
instrumental work that is wonderfully pervasive throughout the album, in which optimal
effect was achieved without lengthy, virtuosic solos. The song feeds on the tremendous
energy generated by Keith's slashing lead guitar lines that drive the drums and bass
(instead of the opposite, in most other bands), and are complemented by the resonance and
brightness emanating from the piano (Nicky Hopkins) and vibes (Bill Wyman). "Let It
Bleed" (the song) is another classic, highlighted by its clever poetry, Keith's
slide guitar work, and typically bluesy piano from Ian Stewart. Noteworthy is the fact
that this album was made with basically a four-member version of the Stones, as Brian
Jones was
on his way out, and Mick Taylor was just arriving.
"Let It Bleed" also works brilliantly as a concept album in terms of contrast
and flow, possessing the strength to sustain interest, and unmarred by any stretches of
monotony. On the first side, "Gimmie Shelter" is followed by a rural-style blues
("Love in Vain"), a country song ("Country Honk"), an uptempo rocker
("Live with Me"), and a country-rock number ("Let It Bleed"). Side two
opens with an urban-style blues ("Midnight Rambler"), followed by a folk-country
ballad ("You Got the Silver"), a mid-tempo rocker ("Monkey Man"), and
ends with "You Can't Always Get What You Want".
"Let It Bleed" has stood the test of time, and will continue to do so because it
contains depth, in both great musical compositions and inspired musical performances. The
Rolling Stones will always have a prominent place in rock history, even if they had never
done anything but create this artistic masterpiece.
Keno's mini review, song list, lyrics and more info on LET IT BLEED
To listen to some sound clips from
LET IT BLEED or to buy the CD click here: Let It Bleed