For the second time in three
reviews, we get the Rolling Stones again! After this, I’ll only have one Stones
album left to review after this.
Disc 822 is….It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Artist: The
Rolling Stones
Year of Release: 1974
What’s up with the Cover? The band on a staircase,
surrounded by a group of Victorian era maidens. Given how big the band was by
1974, I assume this is just a shot of them backstage after a show.
How I Came To Know It: I owe this one to my buddy
Randall, who played me the song “Time Waits For No One” one music appreciation
night. I appreciated the hell out of that song, and the next time I was in a
record store I bought the album.
How It Stacks Up: I have seven Rolling Stones albums. “It’s Only
Rock ‘N’ Roll” only ends up at sixth best, but don’t let that be a detriment to
how truly good this record is. Let that instead be a testament to how amazing
the five albums ahead of it are.
Ratings: 4 stars
On my last Stones review I reveled in the arrival of
Mick Taylor on “Let It Bleed.” “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll” is the bookend of Mick
Taylor’s career in the band, and not surprisingly he goes out with a bang.
Taylor was in the band from 1969-1974. During that
time the Stones released five studio albums and I have four of them. Prior to
1969 the Stones released around nine albums (depending on how you count them)
and I have only one of those. After Taylor left the band they released 10 more,
and I have only one of those. I think it is safe to say that I like the Rolling
Stones best when Mick Taylor is part of them.
Since I knew going into it that “It’s Only Rock ‘N’
Roll” was Taylor’s last record, the experience was bittersweet. Kind of like
Mick singing the sweet and sensitive “’Til
the Next Time We Say Goodbye” which shows the Stones can slow things down
and just idly strum a guitar and still write a classic rock song.
The album has a great tension between the raw and
steady rhythm guitar of Keith Richardson and Taylor’s sweeter bluesy tones.
Mick is the man in the middle, finding the perfect phrasing and delivery to
marry the two sounds. Rough enough to match Keith, and sultry enough to work
with Taylor.
“It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll” has less of the
accoutrements of the earlier records. I didn’t notice any horn section, for
example. This just lets Taylor shine more as a result, though.
And shine he does, never more so than on “Time Waits For No One” which is a trippy
and introspective number that might be better suited to a Pink Floyd album with
its consideration of the fleeting nature of our existences. Then around the two
minute mark Taylor drops in a little lick of guitar wizardry. It is just a
taste of what is to come, because a minute or so later Mick Jagger graciously
scats his way into the background and Taylor takes over which is one of the
great guitar solos I have ever heard. I will always be eternally grateful to my
friend Randall who caught my attention one night last year, said “listen to
this” and then gave Mick Taylor the floor.
While this is the show piece of the album, it shows
great range throughout. “If You Can’t
Rock Me” and “Dance Little Sister”
get things hopping, and “If You Really
Want To Be My Friend” and “Til the
Next Goodbye” slow things down and let you think. There are even
light-hearted tracks like “Short and
Curlies” and “Luxury.” “Luxury” would have been one of my
favourites except for the weird West Indies accent Jagger affects when he sings
it. It isn’t necessary, but it is a testament to Jagger that he somehow pulls
it off and prevents the song from being a train wreck.
They work in a little Motown with a cover of “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” which is every
bit the equal of the Temptations’ original. In fact, I like it more. The Temptations
sound a bit too satisfied in their begging. Jagger drawls and scratches his way
through it with the desperate energy that begging deserves.
“It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll” had three hits, most
notably the title track, but it is a testament to how strong it is that the
deep cuts are even better. It’s a late addition to my Stones’ discography, but
a welcome one.
Best
tracks: If You Can’t Rock Me, Till the Next Goodbye,
Time Waits For No One, If You Really Want to Be My Friend
No comments:
Post a Comment