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The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'N Roll Audio CD

A fair review of the The Rolling Stones "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Rolling Stones reviews here, or go back to the The Rolling Stones tabs.

The Rolling Stones Band: The Rolling Stones
Title: It's Only Rock 'N Roll
Rating:
Release Date: 2009-05-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: If You Can't Rock Me 2: Ain't Too Proud to Beg 3: It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It) 4: Till the Next Goodbye 5: Time Waits for No One 6: Luxury 7: Dance Little Sister 8: If You Really Want to Be My Friend 9: Short and Curlies 10: Fingerprint File

No, It Is Very Rock 'n' Roll
Still, it is interesting to listen once again to the guys when they were at the height of their musical powers (and as high, most of the time, as Georgia pines). Hey, in 2009 no one, including this reviewer, NEEDS to comment on the fact that The Rolling Stones, pound for pound, have over forty plus years earned their place as the number one band in the rock `n' roll pantheon. This album from the tail end of their most creative period , moreover, unlike let us say Bob Dylan who has produced more creative work for longer, is the `golden era" of the Stone Age. The album, however, is a little uneven in spots reflecting, I think, a certain exhaustion of material that they could call their totally their own unless the time when they owned a big chunk of rock 'n'roll in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The age of a more sedate music (at least technically) was approaching and I think there was some confusion about whether to embrace it or "spoof" it. Still the title track "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll"if only for the message makes their 'greatest hits' list, right? Add in the very germane (for the 1960s generation) "Time Waits For No One" and their cover of the old Temptations tune "To Proud To Beg" and this is a snappy little remastered album. .


Not What Could Have Been, But A Superb Remastering
The problem with It's Only Rock 'n' Roll and its 1973 predecessor, Goats Head Soup, is that The Rolling Stones did not want to take their time in building a strong follow-up to Exile on Main Street (1972). There are some great songs on this album, but there are some very weak ones too. If you love Some Girls, then you might like It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, which is kind of an earlier version of that album since it has that same overall sense of fun and also features a cover version of a Temptations song.

Had the song list been, say, "If You Can't Rock Me," "Heartbreaker," "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll," "Angie," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "100 Years Ago," "Hide Your Love," "Till the Next Goodbye," "Luxury," and "Winter," we might be reviewing one of The Rolling Stones' best albums. Instead, they preferred a rapid fire release of albums (4 consecutive records from 1971-1974) instead of making 1 great album. Like Goats Head Soup, what we have here is a mixed bag with a few redeeming songs included. Followed by the underrated Black and Blue in 1976. .


If You Really Want It
From "If You Can't Rock Me" through the title rack onto "Dance Little Sister" the band were still very much riding the crest of their classic,bottom heavy rock n roll sound. Mick Taylor's departure from seven very successful years with the Stones was a fine point for all concerns. Nothing had really changed too much across high key Motown rave ups of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" or countryish ballads such as "Till The Next Goodbye" or the yearning "If You Really Want To Be My Friend". But a change was coming. Perhaps all too aware of various changes that were occuring in the pop world the Stones were also looking past the blues and soul as their main influences and beginning to integrate elements of reggae and other things into their style. That Jamaican influence,which was than actually pretty new came to the surface most strong on "Luxary" as well as now and again in the rhythms of "Time Waits For No One and "Short And Curlies". In terms of the conclusion "Fingerprint File" ends the album with the bands first all out,bona fide funk number complete with chugging wah wah's and Mick's learing vocals at fine effect. This particular variation on the bands style would bubble more to the surface on the follow up album Black and Blue when Ron Wood joined the band. The fact that the band could integrate so many new musical experiments into their already locked down tight sound has the effect of adding to their status as being able to do what they do very well when they choose to do it.


Is it because it is an import?
It is so heavy on the treble that it is not enjoyable. I love this album but this particular copy sounds terrible. It is an Argentinian import. Could that be the cause for the poor quality? I have never had any problems with imports before but am wary now. Oh, and the cd smelled awful. Not real happy with this provider(Tango Tienda).


Read
It is nicely cleaned up. The remastering is excellent. I noticed that right away when listening. However, the artwork is identical? Why? I can't justify buying all these albums again. A lot of the albums don't deserve purchasing again especially with no new artwork or bonus songs. This was very lazy on their part. But, again the remastering is great and I will buy some of the other classics like Sticky Fingers. .


You can see a complete list of all The Rolling Stones discography, or go back to the The Rolling Stones tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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