It's Only Rock 'N' Roll [Original recording remastered]

One of the joys of the recently upgraded Rolling Stone catalogue is the way that the mixes have brought out the best in all their albums. It's Only Rock 'N' Roll really does benefit from this process. This was a end of Mick Taylor's time with the band and he really does show what a wonderful guitarist he was, particularly on Time Waits For No One,and it does seem a shame that he just couldn't cope with the reality of being in the band because I am sure he would have added a whole lot more to future albums. This said Ronnie Wood has gone on to proved that he is a natural born Stone. He begin's his lead guitar duties in the title track where, Faces drummer Kenney Jones also take the place of Charlie Watts with Willie Weeks filling in for Bill Wyman on bass. Although it was not until the album was completed that Taylor left and it would be some time before Wood was confirmed as his replacement, many other guitarist were written about in the music press as potential replacements, such as Ry Cooder, Jeff Beck and Rory Gallagher but in the end Ronnie was the perfect choice.

Tracks:

1. If You Can't Rock Me: 3:46
2. Ain't Too Proud to Beg (Norman Whitfield/Eddie Holland): 3:30
3. It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It): 5:07
4. Till the Next Goodbye: 4:37
5. Time Waits for No One: 6:37
6. Luxury: 5:00
7. Dance Little Sister: 4:11
8. If You Really Want to Be My Friend: 6:16
9. Short and Curlies: 2:43
10.Fingerprint File: 6:33

I wondered if the lack of track listing in this Amazon posting was a reflection of the relative low esteem that this album is held in, sure the title track is on all the Best of... albums but the album is treated by many as an also ran in much the same way as Goats Head Soup is, another under-rated Stones album.

I disagree strongly with the reviewer who states that "...the second half is almost unlistenable." This is a real Rolling Stones party album, Luxury has a great groove, If You Really Want to Be My Friend slows down to a nice ballad, Short and Curlies is just a daft lads song but it also reflected some of the relationship issue in the band at the time, it is then contrasted with Fingerprint File that deals with more serious issues.

I recently went back to my Stones collection, sorting out there albums on iTunes. I has been focussed on the Decca years, reconstruction the UK early albums from the available US albums on CD but then moved on back to the 70s albums. Instead of endlessly going back to Exile on Main Street (Deluxe Edition - Includes 12 Page Booklet) which has always been my favourite, or just listening to the singles or other stand-out track from other albums I started with Sticky Fingers which I never rated as an album, although I loved some songs from it. I then went on to Goat's Head Soup which I did listen to a lot before but found that I really liked it more than I thought. The beauty of iTunes is that you can avoid the final track being accidentally played in from of young children or mother's in law. I have always really liked Black And Blue and Some Girls butEmotional Rescue also has much more going for it than many gave it credit for. Perhaps the success of both the previous album and the big single hit, Miss You/Far Away Eyes, made expectation way too high.

This album is a genuine Stones classic. This band remains one of my favourites and although their recent studio output could have done with a far stronger hand on the production controls, and it is unlikely that they can ever reach the heights of their heyday, you only need to see them in action on Shine A Light [DVD] to see that this is still a great rock and roll band and I like it!

As I stated in my review of Sticky Fingers 2009 remaster I got the rest of this current batch of remasters. This one is a real relevation. Once again the new technology has allowed more information and less dirt/noise to get through.

I always beleived that there was no excuse for a duff sounding record since about 1950 as the technology and talent to nail a great performance onto tape was out there. The proof is in the loads of stunning jazz and classical recordings that folk have in their collections eg. Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis. Giles, Giles and Fripp 1968 "The Brondesbury Tapes" is a testament to the ingenuity of Peter Giles' abilities with a Rvox F36 two track recorder in the modified front room of their flat in London, and sounds stunning.

So where did the Stones go wrong? The only reason I can think of to explain away the muddy sound that this album suffered under until now is the wholehearted joining of all involved in "recreational" pursuits. The music was presented in a sonically murky and limited way.

The last remaster, Apogee chiz chiz by Bob Ludwig, went a long way to redressing this problem, however this version is noticeably better again. Jaggers singing really stands out, the guitars all sound well separated, previously unnoticed keyboard parts make themselves known.

At last the album can be heard as it ought to be, bright and shiny lively music and not a grimy trudge. The overall sound on this album is improved by a larger margin than Sticky Fingers.

Disappointing sleevenotes, uplifting music!

Mick and Keith have always come up with great ideas which have then been rendered special by the contributions of other band members (or guests). In the 63-69 period the fairy dust was sprinkled liberally by Brian Jones and between 1969-1974 it was Mick Taylor who held the magic wand. Regrettably, since 1974, fairy dust has only been sporadically available. So, back to this album - the last of Mick Taylor's era with the band - and it's a good one, although the first signs of future complacency are already here.
"If You Can't Rock Me" contains an addictive riff, and although the song doesn't really develop beyond the riff, it is so insistent that the track remains a strong one. "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" is one of the better Stones covers, but I prefer the original. "It's Only Rock n'Roll" is a wonderful swampy soup of a song - God knows how many guitars are on there from how many sessions - and I've always been surprised by its relative lack of success as a single. "Till The Next Goodbye" I regard as a lost classic. It is a simple, plaintive and evocative song about love and sees the Stones on top form. "Time Waits For No One" is already acknowledged as a classic, and showcases beautiful guitar work from Mick Taylor that lifts the track into a whole different class. Rumours are that Taylor co-wrote the track with Jagger and that his not receiving a writing credit was one slight too many. "Luxury" has a nice groove and "Dance Little Sister" has the drive and edginess to transform a one riff track to a near classic. "If You Really Want To Be My Friend" is where it starts to unravel for me. No matter how many times I listen to it I can never find it convincing. It sounds like Mick trying to write about something he can't personally feel or connect with. I find it slightly embarrassing. However, compared to "Short and Curlies" it is a masterpiece. A few reviewers see this as a fun song, but I think it's just lazy and uninspired. In fact, more than that, it is awful, and the start of the Stones placing at least one terrible track on each album. "Fingerprint File" is an interesting one. I can't say I warm to it greatly, although it is quite inventive. I would like it a lot better without the contrived whispery/shouty bit in the middle.
This album is good but not great, but the highlights are very good indeed. Certainly not deserving of the "Stones slump" tag that it was given back in '74. More tracks from this album should be played live.