Okay, so it may not be in the same league as “I have a dream” or “Ask not what your country can do for you…” but one of my favorite live-album ad libs appears on the Rolling Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! when Mick Jagger declares, “Charlie’s good tonight, innee!” The “Charlie” in question is, of course, drummer Charlie Watts and a terrific job he did in 1969 at Madison Square Garden (where the album was recorded), propelling the Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World through performances of, among others, “Midnight Rambler,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Love In Vain,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
The good news? Now I—and you!— can hear Mick’s compliment and that track listing with much greater clarity. In November, ABKCO are releasing a 40th-anniversary deluxe boxed-set version of Ya-Ya’s which includes a remastered version of the album, an additional disc of five previously unreleased tracks, and a third disc featuring songs by the Stones’ Garden support acts B.B. King and Ike and Tina Turner. The set will also contain a DVD of material shot by the Maysles brothers of the MSG shows as well as other footage of the band offstage, plus a 56-page Collectors Edition book.
Last week, I got a sneak peek at the new Ya-Ya’s and it really is a terrific piece of work. The remastered Stones music is a revelation and, in particular, allows you to better enjoy the bluesy genius of guitarist Mick Taylor, who, with all due respect to Brian Jones and Ron Wood, really is by far the most talented foil for Keith Richards that the Stones ever had.
A lot of the Maysles footage is utterly gripping, if for very different reasons. One hilarious sequence finds Charlie Watts reluctantly participating in a Ya-Ya’s photo shoot with a donkey on a particularly desolate British day. Another scene, loaded in hindsight with portentousness, features the Stones monkeying around with the Grateful Dead just prior to leaving for the disastrous Altamont festival. (Incidentally, the Maysles’ documentary about Altamont, Gimme Shelter, will be released by Criterion on Blu-ray at the start of December.)
So, are you as excited about the new Ya-Ya’s as me? And is anyone going to seriously argue about this Mick Taylor-equipped, Exile on Main St.-producing version of the Stones being the best? Or, for that matter, that they really are The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World?
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I’m very excited about this release of arguably the best live rock album ever. the extras sound really enticing as well. I agree that the Exile-era Stones were incredible and that Exile on Main Street is the greatest rock album ever. While much of the public may not think so, most musicians will agree and profess what a profound influence it was/is on them.
Thanks for spotlighting this release!
I am so looking forward to this release. That Thanksgiving weekend was the first time I ever saw the Stones live & I have seen them on every tour since then. Hopefully the band will be touring in 2010 & perform at the new Giants/Jets Stadium in NJ!
Am very much looking forward to this release. The Stones have been my favorite group since ’68 (“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” sealed the deal for me!)& this has definitely always been my favorite live LP. Just wish they could have mixed the additional songs in with the rest, in correct running order, rather than on an separate disc. I’ve seen the Stones on every tour since ’66, and this one always stands out as my favorite. (I was at the Baltimore concert from which this version of “Love In Vain” was actually taken.) As for that additional disc, it would have also been nice if they could have included a live version of “Gimmie Shelter” from that same tour, as well as “Brown Sugar”, which was performed at Altamont, for the first time ever. (Two years before it was actually released!)Not complaining though.
I love the Stones, have nearly all their CDs, but I’ve gotta say I’m a bit disappointed. Makes no sense to have only 5 extra tracks (opening acts excluded) on a separate CD – seems like they could have kept it to one disc. And the last remastering was only 7 years ago, which still sounds great to me. $50 is a lot of money to spend on such an ill-assembled box set.
“the Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World” I thought this was an article about the Stones, not The Beatles.
No disrespect to the Beatles, but in the end they were essentially a pop group. The Stones, for me, represent the truer spirit of rock & roll / R&B. Never understood why everyone compares the two. They’re very different groups.
The Beatles weren’t a great rock band…just very talented writers of mostly radio pop. watch Let It Be…they reeked live.
The Mick Taylor era was indeed the best. seek out and buy A Brussels Affair…blows Ya-Yas away.
The Beatles “weren’t a great rock band”? That’s utterly ridiculous. Music as we know it today wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for The Beatles. I think 99% of the world would agree with me.
With apologies to each and every other rock band out there The Rolling Stones in the Mick Taylor years were, and still are, The Greates Rock And Roll Band ever. And this is coming from somebody who wouldn’t cross the street to see the Stones with Ron Wood.
The Beatles HAVE revolutionized music. They are the number one elevator pop band in the world. All you hear in NYC elevators is: Elenor Rigby, She’s Leaving Home, and yellow submarine with horrible muzak orchestral arrangements…
Dear Mr. Collis, thank you for the preview of the Expanded Ya-Yas. I have a few observations about your review.
First, before you write that the album is remastered did you confirm who it was remastered by or did you just accept what was written in the press release as fact. Ya-Yas was remastered in 2002 by Bob Ludwig.
Second, doesn’t Mr. Jagger say something like, “Charlie’s good tonight, innee!” at every show?
Best Regards Michael
Can’t wait. Oh ya, the Beatles were around for 6 years until one of them let his old lady screw them all up.Never happen with the Stones .
Was that picture taken at an Auburn, Alabama, show?
Needless to say, Charlie’s good EVERY damn night! He is the engine of that band. As for Mick Taylor, he is a fine player, but more in the “lead guitarist” role, something Keith was never too keen on. The idea with the Stones has always been to have two guitarists weaving together. Ronnie is a fine player as well (especially on slide) and there’s no need to disrespect the man.
It’s nice to have the extras but it’s an overpriced ripoff.
The burning question on behalf of Mick Taylor is: will he receive financial compensation for the reissue of Get Yer YaYas Out? He was never given writing credit for Time Waits For Noone or any of the songs to which he contributed music, clear into Tattoo You.
Frankly, in regard to Ronnie Wood, I can’t stand steel guitar. Really not impressed with anything he’s done since the Rod Steward phase of his career. Should have declined Jagger’s offer, even though he was being prepped in the event that Richards either died or was sent to prison. History would have been much more interesting with the Rod Stewart-Ron Wood Band.
Now, about Mick Taylor’s solo album, with the required listening of: ‘Put Your Leather Jacket On’
Excuse me, but Brian Jones WAS the Rolling Stones. He came up with the name and auditioned the lot of them to play in HIS BAND.
’nuff said ! Go Brian !