As Mick Fleetwood observed several years ago, the Stones' latter-day pop-cultural image has diminished their accomplishments as an innovative, creative band. This tendency leaves many, who apparently don't like the band or most of its music, to belittle Mick and Keith, usually for not being as brilliantly virtuosic as Mick Taylor, not being as "great" as Led Zeppelin, and on and on.
Of course, this misses the point that the Stones, even if you believe they peaked in the early '70s, created more standard-setting rock and roll in their first 10 years than most subsequent bands after decades in the business.
Furthermore, how can one question or casually dismiss the quality of the Stones' lyrics when they, among few other peers (Lennon-McCartney, Dylan, Neil Young, Lou Reed) wrote the template of what rock lyrics could and should say? I can only conclude that people who make these statements haven't really listened.
You want great rock lyrics? How 'bout "Paint it Black," "Mother's Little Helper," "Get Off My Cloud," "Brown Sugar," "Sympathy for the Devil," "Gimme Shelter," "Blinded by Rainbows" and "Moonlight Mile" ... just for starters, of course. Say what you will about Mick Jagger's image, but the man – along with Keith, of course – always had a way with words.
Because there are very few who possess a true talent for writing (and he is blessed beyond belief with not only intelligence, but an extensive vocabulary and an ability to express his thoughts and feelings in such a way as to engulf his audience's hearts and minds). He could be making $$$$ off his ability while reaching a much larger audience yet he isn't. He is SOOOOO lucky he's not with me or I'd nag him at least once weekly to share his gift (before he kicked me to the curb:)
Because there are very few who possess a true talent for writing (and he is blessed beyond belief with not only intelligence, but an extensive vocabulary and an ability to express his thoughts and feelings in such a way as to engulf his audience's hearts and minds). He could be making $$$$ off his ability while reaching a much larger audience yet he isn't. He is SOOOOO lucky he's not with me or I'd nag him at least once weekly to share his gift (before he kicked me to the curb:)
F*** Clapton; Mick Taylor is God! I've nothing against the BJ era of the Stones ('62-'69) but the '69-'74 lineup was the best; it gave us SF, EOMS, and the underrated GHS before declining a bit with "It's Only Rock and Roll," soon after which MT called it quits with Stones (though his guitar shows up on some tracks on a few of the later albums). His outro solo on this song is in my opinion the greatest guitar solo in rock history.
F*** Clapton; Mick Taylor is God! I've nothing against the BJ era of the Stones ('62-'69) but the '69-'74 lineup was the best; it gave us SF, EOMS, and the underrated GHS before declining a bit with "It's Only Rock and Roll," soon after which MT called it quits with Stones (though his guitar shows up on some tracks on a few of the later albums). His outro solo on this song is in my opinion the greatest guitar solo in rock history.
As Mick Fleetwood observed several years ago, the Stones' latter-day pop-cultural image has diminished their accomplishments as an innovative, creative band. This tendency leaves many, who apparently don't like the band or most of its music, to belittle Mick and Keith, usually for not being as brilliantly virtuosic as Mick Taylor, not being as "great" as Led Zeppelin, and on and on.
Of course, this misses the point that the Stones, even if you believe they peaked in the early '70s, created more standard-setting rock and roll in their first 10 years than most subsequent bands after decades in the business.
Furthermore, how can one question or casually dismiss the quality of the Stones' lyrics when they, among few other peers (Lennon-McCartney, Dylan, Neil Young, Lou Reed) wrote the template of what rock lyrics could and should say? I can only conclude that people who make these statements haven't really listened.
You want great rock lyrics? How 'bout "Paint it Black," "Mother's Little Helper," "Get Off My Cloud," "Brown Sugar," "Sympathy for the Devil," "Gimme Shelter," "Blinded by Rainbows" and "Moonlight Mile" ... just for starters, of course. Say what you will about Mick Jagger's image, but the man – along with Keith, of course – always had a way with words.
Once again writing (for free no less) in an incorrect forum. Geesh....
Once again writing (for free no less) in an incorrect forum. Geesh....
The God you don't believe in is CRYING....
The God you don't believe in is CRYING....
Because there are very few who possess a true talent for writing (and he is blessed beyond belief with not only intelligence, but an extensive vocabulary and an ability to express his thoughts and feelings in such a way as to engulf his audience's hearts and minds). He could be making $$$$ off his ability while reaching a much larger audience yet he isn't. He is SOOOOO lucky he's not with me or I'd nag him at least once weekly to share his gift (before he kicked me to the curb:)
Because there are very few who possess a true talent for writing (and he is blessed beyond belief with not only intelligence, but an extensive vocabulary and an ability to express his thoughts and feelings in such a way as to engulf his audience's hearts and minds). He could be making $$$$ off his ability while reaching a much larger audience yet he isn't. He is SOOOOO lucky he's not with me or I'd nag him at least once weekly to share his gift (before he kicked me to the curb:)
F*** Clapton; Mick Taylor is God! I've nothing against the BJ era of the Stones ('62-'69) but the '69-'74 lineup was the best; it gave us SF, EOMS, and the underrated GHS before declining a bit with "It's Only Rock and Roll," soon after which MT called it quits with Stones (though his guitar shows up on some tracks on a few of the later albums). His outro solo on this song is in my opinion the greatest guitar solo in rock history.
F*** Clapton; Mick Taylor is God! I've nothing against the BJ era of the Stones ('62-'69) but the '69-'74 lineup was the best; it gave us SF, EOMS, and the underrated GHS before declining a bit with "It's Only Rock and Roll," soon after which MT called it quits with Stones (though his guitar shows up on some tracks on a few of the later albums). His outro solo on this song is in my opinion the greatest guitar solo in rock history.