The Rolling Stones 'Let It Bleed' remarkable in some ways, confusing in others

The Rolling Stones album Let It Bleed was another tremendous work released during their truly great period from 1968-72. During this period, they produced their four greatest albums (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main Street) and their best live album, Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! (released in 1970 though recorded in 1969).

The opening cut on Let It Bleed is 'Gimmie Shelter,' and it is one of the great songs of their career. As many have written, the song effectively reflects the time in which it was conceived. The hippie movement had tried and failed to make 'flower power' the defining characteristic of this generation. It was the Stones' job to tell the truth.

Shrouded in a guitar intro that is both spooky and unnerving, the song deals with the turmoil of the time. Rebellion was flowing through the streets of America and Europe. People were tired and scared. Shelter was very much on people's minds, and the song provided it. The greatness of this song is not only that it spoke to the fear of the time, but that it also provided a solution. As Mick Jagger sang: "Love, sister, is just a kiss away."

We live in a cynical age, and the idea that love can carry the weight toward solving our problems seems naïve. However, it is far from naïve. It was not then, and it is not now. 'Gimmie Shelter' is a timeless song because its fear and brutality remains, but the solution does, too. Hopefully, people will look more toward the solution.

The second song is the band's cover of the Robert Johnson classic 'Love in Vain.' Obviously, Robert Johnson was one of the most influential blues artists on the early wave of British rock and roll bands. The Stones and especially Eric Clapton are stamped with his influence. The Stones do the song justice. The song drips with despair, which is the appropriate emotion when we love somebody, but it's not going to work out.

The next is 'Country Honk,' and I have never understood its inclusion on this album. It is the country version of the Stones' 'Honky Tonk Women,' which hit the top of the singles' chart in the summer of 1969. This was five months before Let It Bleed was released. However, both songs were recorded at approximately the same time.

Why include this song? 'Country Honk' is not in the same league as 'Honky Tonk Women.' It comes across like it was the result of an impromptu jam session in which people were a little drunk. Because of this, it clouded their judgment regarding its quality.

Whatever the reason for the inclusion, it was a definite misstep. The fact that it was released so soon after 'Honky Tonk Women' makes it worse.

The title cut is a strong song, but it gets lost in the shuffle on this album. 'Let It Bleed' is a universal song about friendship. It is about helping each other when we are down and just need somebody to cling to ("We all need someone we can lean on").

However, the lyrics rely on overt references to drugs and sex, especially toward the end of the song. Many speculate this is why it was never released as a single. Additionally, I believe this is why it does not get played on the radio as much as it should. In some respects, this makes the song a missed opportunity because it deserves a larger audience.

'You Got the Silver' is a song of firsts and lasts. It is the first song that guitarist Keith Richards sang lead on from start to finish. He had previously sang lead on a few lines of songs (for example, 'Salt of the Earth' on Beggars Banquet), but this was the first time he went all the way. Also, this was the last song Brian Jones took part in, playing the autoharp. He had left the band earlier in the year and died soon after.

The finale is the well-known 'You Can't Always Get What You Want.' A radio staple, it is one of the few successful examples of using a children's choir on a rock and roll song. Other attempts to use this technique have yielded disastrous results (Bob Dylan's 'They Killed Him,' for example).

Lyrically, each verse presents scenarios that lead back to the theme of not getting what we want. This is not a particularly sophisticated theme, but it is performed with conviction. The long fade out is reminiscent of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Effigy' and The Beatles 'Hey Jude' that were out around the same time.

Simply put, this is a great album. Even casual fans of The Rolling Stones should have this in their collection. It represents some of the greatest rock and roll of all time.

Resource material: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die; The Rolling Stone Album Guide; The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll; ‘Knocked Out Loaded’ by Bob Dylan; The Essentials (Unpublished)

'Beggars Banquet' is the Rolling Stones greatest album

Released in December 1968, Beggars Banquet was a return to form for the Rolling Stones. Coming off 1967's ill-fated Their Satanic Majesties Request, the Stones returned to their rhythm and blues roots and kicked off their greatest period of music.

Their Satanic Majesties Request was the Stones attempt to jump on the bandwagon created by the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Though not a bad album, it seemed more like an attempt to cash in on a fad. In its aftermath, the band bounced back and made remarkable albums from 1968-72. Beginning with Beggars Banquet, the Stones produced Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main Street during this period. All these albums appear on lists of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time. However,
Beggars Banquet is the greatest.

The album begins with the powerful and provocative 'Sympathy for the Devil.' By this point in their careers, the Stones had already been branded as rougher trade than the Beatles. Songs like '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' and 'Let's Spend the Night Together' developed the public perception that they wanted to do more than hold a girl's hand. The title of Their Satanic Majesties Request and drug arrests further developed the Stones dark persona.

So, does 'Sympathy for the Devil' add to that persona? It does only if a person ignores the words of the song. 'Sympathy for the Devil' is definitely an attention grabbing title, but even a casual study of its lyrics reveals that it is not an anthem glorifying hell.

The song is a fictional narrative in which the devil sings about his role in major events of history. Beginning with Jesus' crucifixion, the song takes us through the Russian Revolution, World War II, and the murder of John and Robert Kennedy. The song ends with a threat as the devil says to treat him with respect or he will 'lay your soul to waste.' Would anybody expect less from the real devil?

If people use this song to brand the Stones as Satanists, then they conveniently overlook the inclusion of 'Prodigal Son' on the album. A song written by Robert Wilkens, it is a bluesy retelling of the parable of the prodigal son that appears in the New Testament. Because of its subject matter, does this make the Stones good role models? I have no idea. Good music is good music, but my advice is to look away from rock and roll when determining good or bad role models.

The bulk of the album is dominated by Mick Jagger's vocals and Keith Richards' acoustic guitar. Songs like 'Dear Doctor,' 'Factory Girl,' and 'Parachute Woman' all grind forward in an entertaining fashion.

Jagger and Richards were consolidating their control of the group as guitarist Brian Jones was continuing his slide toward death. This was the last album that he fully participated on, and his contribution was sporadic. However, his lovely slide guitar on 'No Expectations' is one of the most beautiful aspects of Beggars Banquet.

'Street Fighting Man' is a rocker that communicates the violence and protest taking place in 1968. At its release, it was considered quite a controversial song, but now its subject matter seems tame though well performed.

The album closes with 'Salt of the Earth.' It is primarily notable because Richards sings the first couple of lines and is one of his first recordings as lead vocalist. The song itself is a salute to the workers of the world. Jagger has said that his lyrics were meant in a cynical way because the people being sung about were the ones with no power. Basically, the song is meant as a hymn for the suffering masses.

There is no denying that Beggars Banquet is a great album. It was an album of resurgence for the Rolling Stones. If it had failed, the band might have faded into the sunset instead of becoming a musical corporation.

I do not know which fate is worse.

What is spinning in my CD player these days?

Here are some tasty songs I am listening to that you might want to check out (if you have not already):

'Salt of the Earth' -- The Rolling Stones
'Dead Flowers' -- The Rolling Stones
'Shine a Light' -- The Rolling Stones
'Surrender' -- Cheap Trick
'Across the Great Divide' -- The Band
'Whispering Pines' -- The Band
'Something in the Air' -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
'San Francisco Bay Blues' -- Eric Clapton
'True Love Ways' -- Buddy Holly
'Here Comes the Sun' -- The Beatles
'Take Me with U' -- Prince and the Revolution