How good were The Rolling Stones at the time of this Fort Worth gig? Consider that in the 4 years between May 1968 and June 1972, the Stones issued 61 songs in the following forms:
- 4 albums with producer and funk shaman, Jimmy Miller: Beggar’s Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), and Exile On Main Street (1972)
- 1 live album with the band’s longtime engineer, Glyn Johns: Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (1970)
- 3 non-LP singles: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” b/w “Child Of The Moon” (1968) and the cowbell version of “Honky Tonk Women” (1969)
- 1 LP single: “Memo From Turner” from the Performance soundtrack (1970)
61 songs that total 4 hours and 17 minutes and MAYBE 10 of those minutes are even close to filler. Taken together, these 61 songs are rock’s equivalent of the Harry Smith Anthology, a full clout reimagining of American blues, soul, funk, R&B, gospel, country, and pop. It’s Jagger/Richards in their songwriting prime, the lockdown Wyman-Richards-Watts rhythm section taking it to the next level, Mick Taylor on Gibson SG, Bobby Keys on sax, Jim Price on trumpet, Nicky Hopkins in the studio, and Mr. Jimmy deep in the mud. Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes.
Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX
June 24, 1972
Excellent point (and very well said) comparing the Stones output during that fertile period to the Harry Smith Anthology. I sometimes forget how great the Stones were.
It’s really impressive to think about the Stones in terms of a 1972 setlist. They could’ve played for 6 hours before hitting filler, the catalog was that deep. What were their misfires to that point? The way early stuff was hit, hit, and miss (not a bad ratio at all), Aftermath was a little weak, and Satanic Majesties was just plain goofy. However, even their acid-tongued psychedelia outbreak wasn’t as bad as initial wounds seemed to suggest. It wasn’t the Stones’ strong suit, sure, but ‘Citadel’, ‘2000 Man’, ‘Dandelion’, and ‘She’s a Rainbow’ are all great songs. Even at their weakest, the Stones were producing A game material.
Thanks for the linkage!
No problem, Mike. That was an excellent profile on Mr. Jimmy, who I think deserves more love.