Mick Jagger Turns 69, Rolling Stones Turn 50

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 08:15:58 PM EST
Tags: Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones (all tags)

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Happy Birthday to Mick Jagger, who turned 69 on July 26.

There's not many groups that prompt lists of their top 100 songs. Among my personal favorites:

“Gimme Shelter“ (1969)
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want“ (1969)
“Sympathy for the Devil“ (1968)
“Street Fighting Man“ (1968)
"Dead Flowers" (1971)

[More...]

Best Albums: Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed, Beggars Banquet, Aftermath, December's Children, Exile on Main St, High Tide and Green Grass

Here's another one of my photos (not that I took them, just that they are photographs rather than posters or from books or the internet):

If you are in London for the Olympics or anytime until August 27, check out the Rolling Stones exhibit at the Somerset House. Here is the exhibit guide with thumbnail pics. And here are some photos of the Stones at the opening. You can take a video tour with Mick and Keith here.

How many times have you've seen the Stones live in concert? I think my first concert was in Denver, CO in 1972 and my last was Thanksgiving Night in Denver in 2005.

A few weeks ago the Rolling Stones put their 2006 concert in Rio de Janeiro, where they played for 1.5 million people, on You Tube. You can watch here (no commercials.) Here's You Can't Always Get What You Want. I'll end my little tribute with, what else, Gimme Shelter (2006 Shanghai, HD version from the Stones official You Tube channel.).

The Stones are spending their days now rehearsing, for some limited touring this fall.

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Mick Jagger Turns 69, Rolling Stones Turn 50 | 45 comments (45 topical)

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Great decision on their part (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Jeralyn on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 02:39:26 PM EST

to put 103 of their performances on You Tube with no commercial intros. I wish everyone would do that, I turn off videos the second a commercial appears and won't link to videos with commercials.

Since it hasn't Been Mentioned (5.00 / 1) (#37)
by ScottW714 on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 11:33:18 AM EST

One of my absolute most favoritest songs is 2000 Light Years From Home.

And while 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' is not one of their best albums, it easily one of my favorites. It's the original band, and not something I hear daily like most of the songs mentioned above.

One thing I wish I could experience would be the stones in concert per-stadium era.

And a little trivia, the Sticky Fingers original release has a zipper on the cover that was warping albums, the they hired a bunch of old ladies to move the zippers. And the model used by Warhol, Joe Dallesandro, is gay. One of the alternative covers was a can of fingers soaked in blood.

And my favorite album art, Tattoo You, was most outtakes from other albums because Mick and Keith weren't getting along. How a phenomenal is a band that it can release a great album of outtakes that is considered a very solid album ? The photographer/illustrator also did Some Girls, which is pretty cool art as well.

Satanic Majesties... (none / 0) (#38)
by kdog on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 01:15:39 PM EST

was a bit contrived for me..."Beatles made Sgt. Peppers so we need to make an acid album" kinda thing.

But there are a few gems on there...2000 Light Years, Citadel, She's a Rainbow.


: Been about 2000 light years (none / 0) (#40)
by brodie on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 03:50:15 PM EST

since I've heard that song. I don't think it's aged well. Sheeza Rainbow is a far superior song. In my 'umble opinion of course.

Also... (none / 0) (#1)
by Lora on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 10:47:30 PM EST

Angie
Wild Horses
Paint it Black
As Tears Go By
Miss You
Beast of Burden
Honky Tonk Women

Gotta crank up the volume when a Stones song comes on.

Wish I could remember the song (none / 0) (#2)
by nycstray on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 12:30:27 AM EST

(actually thankful I can't atm) when we were backpacking miles of straight up switchbacks in HS. Some 'idiot' started singing a Stones song*. 8 miles of that and it lasted the whole 2 week trip!

Now you just know the song will hit me right before I go to sleep .

*disclaimer: I love the Stones, I just didn't need an ear worm for 2 weeks backpacking in the mountains, lol!~. .


My list would favor (none / 0) (#13)
by brodie on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 09:13:26 AM EST

early and middle Stones:

Play with Fire
Route 66 (cover)
Carol (cover)
Out of Time
19th Nervous Breakdown
Under My Thumb
Lady Jane
Let's Spend Some Time Together*
Satisfaction

* a sneaky Ed Sullivan reference


Oh yeah (none / 0) (#15)
by Lora on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 01:57:16 PM EST

Can't believe I forgot Satisfaction. One of my all time favorites.


: And wasn't that the song Keith (none / 0) (#22)
by brodie on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 03:52:32 PM EST

said came to him in a dream?
I list it as a topper even though it has been played to death over the decades on classic rock radio and even though the lads were never able to adequately reproduce its aggressive guitar sounds in live performance.

how many bands, of any genre, (none / 0) (#3)
by cpinva on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 01:29:20 AM EST

can celebrate their 50th anniversary? heck, they've lasted longer as a group, then the majority of marriages do. their trick: they never go to bed angry at each other!

ok, ok, it sounded better when i said to myself. :)

On Mick's b-day (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by nycstray on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 01:33:01 AM EST

which came shortly after their 50th, I was thinking, "How elfin' cool to have a job for 50yrs that you love and still be going strong." He was 19 when they started. Wow. Talk about hitting the job lottery!


: Let's hear it for (none / 0) (#5)
by NYShooter on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 03:19:31 AM EST

"Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll."

Keith attributes it to his (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by ruffian on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 07:09:28 AM EST

mad personnel management skills. Said if he had not been a musician he would have been a high ranking Army officer.

His memoir also has my favorite quote about Mick. When expressing some exasperation about Mick's early tendencies to borrow different affectations from others, Keith says 'You're Mick Jagger - why the #$@# would you want to be anyone else?'


: To clarify - Keith was talking about his OWN (none / 0) (#10)
by ruffian on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 07:13:10 AM EST

management skills.

Jeralyn... (none / 0) (#6)
by bmaz on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 06:11:50 AM EST

Excellent little set list you chose there. Just about exactly what would be at the top of mine, though I would probably toss in All Down The Line from Exile and Heartbreaker from Goats Head Soup. Seen 6 shows to date, plus a New Barbarians gig in LA. Hoping to see one more still....

Mike Jagger and Tina Turner (none / 0) (#7)
by LeaNder on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 06:45:54 AM EST

Absolutely hot, my highlight of the Live Aid Project.

Live Aid - Tina Turner & Mike Jagger

I like your list (none / 0) (#8)
by ruffian on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 06:57:41 AM EST

can't think to differ with it at the moment. OK, maybe I'd add Jumpin' Jack Flash.

Can we start a petition to have The Stones do the Olympics Closing Ceremonies? I hope that is already the plan.

Mick said no Olympic performance (none / 0) (#17)
by Jeralyn on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 02:33:52 PM EST

because they aren't ready. He said they haven't performed live in 5 years and while they are now starting to rehearse for this fall, they are just not ready for such a huge event. Pretty honest of him.


Mick said that as to (none / 0) (#19)
by bmaz on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 02:50:35 PM EST

the opening ceremonies. Although not specifically extended to closing (at least that I saw), I suspect you are right and they will not there either. I am thinking Elton will be involved.


Too bad for us. Yes, I applaud the honesty. (none / 0) (#21)
by ruffian on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 03:49:38 PM EST

Calling Sir Elton I suppose. Or Eric Clapton- I'd like that better!


: Good call (none / 0) (#23)
by bmaz on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 07:44:17 PM EST

As to Clapton. Bowie also possible I suppose. I would also love to see Kinks/Ray Davies, but I doubt that is in the cards.

I hate to be crude (none / 0) (#11)
by Dadler on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 08:55:12 AM EST

But I bet Mick has already made a few prurient jokes about being this particular age. Ahem.

To be honest, I don't HATE to be crude (none / 0) (#12)
by Dadler on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 08:56:01 AM EST

I sort of like it actually. ;-)


if I may add another unimportant (none / 0) (#14)
by LeaNder on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 10:31:15 AM EST

a little note on age:

Interestingly nobody so far added Sympathy for the Devil or Paint it Black so far to his list of favorite songs (strictly, or a multitude of other songs that come to mind, writes someone that didn't like to be associated with Angie).

Although in the first case that may have to do with Altamont.

As a philologist I was puzzled about the fast dot-connecting between Sympathy for the Devil - Altamont - and Alexis Crowley. For me it is rather obvious the history of the devil has much to do with sex, not just in its extremes like in the case of Crowley, carefully measuring his sperm (the diary of the beast, if I remember correctly). Rock an Roll as a youth rebellion almost naturally had something to do with sex as human experience, but not necessarily with Crowleys mystical extremes. ...

Hmmm? I could go on, and would end up with the huge question why is it so difficult for people to say they are asexual but appreciate the Turner and Jagger act?


Huh? (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Lora on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 02:02:58 PM EST

Interestingly nobody so far added Sympathy for the Devil or Paint it Black so far to his list of favorite songs...

Jeralyn listed Symapthy for the Devil in her post. I added Paint it Black in my comment (#1).


you are right, and I am wrong (2.00 / 1) (#20)
by LeaNder on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 02:58:49 PM EST

but, from my perspective, you made the mistake to put Angie on top. I somehow didn't like that one, and still don't. That's like the purring version of Clapton in some of his most famous songs, which I don't like either, and he is a pretty brilliant guitarist. I guess it's human to get schmaltzy occasionally, I simply seem to not have been born with a ears for these tunes.


Heh (none / 0) (#24)
by Lora on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 10:26:17 PM EST

Yeah I confess, I like the unplugged version of Layla. And yeah I get all goofy feeling when Mick whispers during Angie, corny as it is.

While I like Angie, putting it on top was just coincidence. I love 'em all. I hear a Stones song, even the ones I don't like, I like.


What?? (none / 0) (#25)
by NYShooter on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 12:17:14 AM EST

No one listed:

"Lets Spend The Night Together?"


: See my list above (none / 0) (#30)
by brodie on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:34:10 AM EST

with the Sullivan reference that probably confused some of our younger viewers.

Angie never worked for me (none / 0) (#35)
by brodie on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:59:29 AM EST

And I always got hung up on the way Mick pronounced it "An-jay". No Mick, it's An-gee.

I know it's only rock n roll, but sometimes I don't like it like it when glaring mispronunciations are heard.

Other than that I find the song uneven and a tad overrated.


: Awww (5.00 / 1) (#43)
by Lora on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 09:25:32 PM EST

Who (what woman) can resist the line...
"There ain't a woman that comes close to you..."

Flowers (none / 0) (#26)
by sj on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 09:41:27 AM EST

I've always had a particular weakness for that album. And for some of the songs that never got airplay. I loved "Lady Jane". I discovered it the same time I discovered the Plantagenets. What can I say? I was really young. Still like the song, though. And then it was followed by my personal favorite - "Out of Time"

Out of Time (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by brodie on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:44:08 AM EST

rates 1, 2 or 3 on my Stones all timers. And it was a great touch when filmmaker Hal Ashby used it as the track to open that fine, gritty VN movie Coming Home. Memorable and moving.

Richards and Jagger were very talented songwriters.


Sorry kdog (none / 0) (#27)
by sj on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 09:42:35 AM EST

Exile on Mainstreet is way down on my list.


You're mad sj...mad! (none / 0) (#28)
by kdog on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:24:25 AM EST

I teeter on my fav. Stones album between the big 4...Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Exile, & Sticky Fingers. The Mick Taylor Stones were the most spot on musically. What a sustained peak!

But Flowers will always have a special place in my heart, for no other reason than "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows". Monster track!

I've been on a Beggars binge lately;)

Dear Doctor, some of Mick's best vocal work ever imo.

"I'm down in Virginia, with youuuuur Cousin Louuuuu. There'll be no wedding to-day."

Happy 50th Stones, go another 50, we have the technology! ;)


: Agree about Have You Seen ... (none / 0) (#31)
by brodie on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:38:42 AM EST

I always wanted to hear Kate Smith or the Carpenters cover that one. Or one of the Miss America contestants in the talent portion.

: Common ground then (none / 0) (#33)
by sj on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:46:49 AM EST

on Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed. Agree with you about Mick Taylor version of the Stones.

Lady Jane and Out of Time (none / 0) (#29)
by bmaz on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:33:32 AM EST

Were both originally on Aftermath, over a year earlier than Flowers.


But I didn't get Aftermath (none / 0) (#34)
by sj on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 10:47:10 AM EST

I got Flowers.


It was weird (none / 0) (#36)
by bmaz on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 11:25:37 AM EST

how they shuffled tracks around between British and US versions of albums back then. I never even realized until later in life when I started buying European wax and noticed the discrepancy.


: That's true (none / 0) (#41)
by sj on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 04:11:37 PM EST

And even on the American releases many songs appear on more than one album. My aunts had some of those early albums. In fact in felt like none of them had really exclusive material. That's probably not literally true, but that was how it felt to me back then.

weighing in belatedly.... (none / 0) (#39)
by tworivers on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 03:24:46 PM EST

Play With Fire
19th Nervous Breakdown
Paint It Black
Let's Spend the Night Together
Jumping Jack Flash
Street Fighting Man
Gimme Shelter
Monkey Man
Bitch
Torn and Frayed
Tumbling Dice
Happy
Sway
Parachute Woman
When the Whip Comes Down
Waiting on a Friend
cover of Route 66 on (December's Children)
She's a Rainbow
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
Emotional Rescue
Shattered
Miss You

Yum (none / 0) (#42)
by sj on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 04:13:34 PM EST

Play with Fire


Yup (none / 0) (#44)
by Lora on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 09:31:13 PM EST

I especially like Play with Fire, and Waiting on a Friend as well. And yeah Jumping Jack Flash, but every time I hear it I think of Whoopie Goldberg in the phone booth being dragged down the street...


: You made me laugh out loud (none / 0) (#45)
by sj on Tue Jul 31, 2012 at 10:55:26 PM EST

I love that silly, little movie. The bit where she gets her dress caught in the shredder is typically that kind of scene that kind of ... I don't know, annoys me I guess. But she just made me crack up.