Much like real life, voter turnout has dropped. Though it's fair to call "Wild Horses" the winner in round three of "Beggars Banquet" VS. "Sticky Fingers." I think this will become much more interesting as both albums become very strong as they play on. But not before tracks 4, which for me, are the weakest tracks on these records.
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" never worked for me. I find the jam boring. I cringe just a bit every time Charlie answers with snare knocks when Mick sings "KNOCKING!" I don't like it and almost always skip it. Been skipping it for years.
"Parachute Woman" is thankfully only 2:21 long, so I can deal with what is basically nothing, with grating production and a grating Mick vocal.
I realize neither of these songs are as bad as I am making them sound, but what surrounds them on both albums is otherworldly, so their weaknesses really stand out to my ears.
If I had to pick the lesser of two evils, I would vote for "Parachute Woman."
36 comments:
me too, Parachute Woman. I love the first 30 seconds of "Knocking" though.
The opening riff to Can't You Hear Me Knocking alone puts this song ahead.
I'm voting for Can't You Hear Me Knocking. Yeah, maybe the jam goes on too long, but the both the opening riff of the song and the way it comes out of that jam and in for a landing are outstanding. I think, of the two songs, it's the much more memorable one.
I'm Knocking, too.
Dave F
''Can't You Hear Me Knocking'... is one of my favorites... (The jam at the end) just happened by accident; that was never planned. Towards the end of the song I just felt like carrying on playing. Everybody was putting their instruments down, but the tape was still rolling and it sounded good, so everybody quickly picked up their instruments again and carried on playing. It just happened, and it was a one-take thing. A lot of people seem to really like that part.'
- Mick Taylor, 1979
While not many others have, I've always liked the version of "Parachute Woman" on the Stones' "Rock & Roll Circus" release - a charmingly shambolic affair all round - so for that reason alone I'd plump for it here.
Parachute woman is the one song on BB that i have never really liked (dear doctor is silly, but sort of amusing, cheap laughs but not mean-spirited cheap laughs like far away eyes), so i vote for can't you hearing me knocking.
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" No contest really.
I don't think I've ever entered a track by track discussion about anything before. Really interesting to see who likes what. Especially after finding out my least favorite song on "Exile" has so many fans, including Sal.
I love both of these songs. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is one of my favorite songs, period. The band is clearly firing on all cylinders during the jam.
There isn't anything on BB I don't love a little.
I got to thinking through all this that an album is only as good as it's worst song.
That's a scary thought. I'd hate to have to judge an album based on the merits of 'Maxwells Silver Hammer' or 'Wild Honey Pie' or the one that goes "...the camp with the difference, never mind the weather, when you come to Tommy's the holiday's forever"
My vote is for "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". I think its a good workout.
Oh, and I didn't get a chance to put my two thoughts in for "Wild Horses". I'm riding that puppy to the finish line.
I'm in with 'Knocking' and 'Horses.' To be honest, I can't even hear Parachute Woman in my head, but y'all are far more acquainted with Stones deep cuts than I am.
I know they're rock n roll personified, but I've never developed the deep love for them that others have. They've done lots of great stuff, unarguably. But the faux-country stuff makes me cringe, usually, and I've honestly never sat down and listened to, say, 'Goats Head Soup' front-to-back. So I guess I'm more of a greatest-hits Stones guy, and not completely worthy. (FWIW, I think 'Ya-Yas' was pretty much their peak.)
'Knocking' has one of the great Keith riffs, which is why I'll never turn it off if it comes on the radio. How the fuck does he come up with those, time after time?
Anyway I'll try to hang and contribute as unsuckily as possible. I know you're all relieved to hear this.
You're not alone here. I learn far more from this site than I could ever contribute. 'Unsuckily' is my goal as well. Lol!
"That's a scary thought. I'd hate to have to judge an album based on the merits of 'Maxwells Silver Hammer' or 'Wild Honey Pie' or the one that goes "."
Bad songs drop the over all score a notch or two for sure. The truly great ones don't have any of those.
"Knocking" is the Stones at their finest, IMO. The opening 20 seconds is definitive Stones to me.
(I, too, missed the Wild Horses discussion -- I assumed we'd have a new thread for each matchup...)
Not even close. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". One of my favorite RS songs.
Sorry! I've been away. Im voting for "Parachute Woman" too. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is my LEAST favorite song from their golden age.
I missed the Wild Horses vs. in the earlier post. It's always Wild Horses for me. Always. Here it's "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"...
As a whole, I'd go for brevity, Parachute Woman at under 3mins! But the intro to Knocking always slays me, did you know that Jimmy Page played it uncredited??
"did you know that Jimmy Page played it uncredited??"
I read that it was Paul Sorvino.
I haven't been following this blog long enough to know: have you listed the albums with no bad songs? I'm assuming you have, would love to take a look at that list.
They're both fuckin' great so my vote is no help to the final tally.
Captain Al
"Can't You Heam Me Knocking" is my vote. And while I'm at it, I'll vote for "Wild Horses" as well!
Hello all...no, pleae remain seated,
Track #4
Love Can't You Hear Me Knocking. Always have. The opening riff, the fills, the scratchy rhythm guitar. It all works for me. I don't love Parachute Woman, but I do love the middle section break. That's some pretty greasy pounding on guitars.
Regards,
RichD
Missed the earlier tracks, but here are my votes: Brown Sugar, one of the most essential rock songs from anyone, by a hair, over Sympathy, another classic, with one of Keith's best solos; No Expectations, also a close one, but more interesting than Sway, which is good but a little clunky; Wild Horses, my favorite Stones song, easily, over D.D,; and here, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, for the great opening riff from Keith and the nice improv from Taylor.
(Great idea, Sal!)
Alexi
I'm sorry Parachute Woman is simply an okay performance of an okay song, possibly the album's weakest track. On the other hand, like for others here, I was impressed with Can't You Hear Me Knocking from my first listen. To me this song is so long because it is the band stretching out, trying something different. What I'm seeing here is that you either really like it or not at all. That's the biggest revelation to me.
From My Lawn
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Geez, do I love Can't You Hear Me Knocking.
I played it for my girlfriend this morning after seeing today's blog and she said "Oh, I love this song!!!!" and I explained Sal's take on it.
She said"Whaaaaat? Is he crazy?"
Not that that proves anything, but that's two strong votes for Sticky, and against Parachute Woman, for which the best you can say is "It's technically a song"
Can't You hear Me Knockin is one of my top 20 Stones songs.
Keep these topics coming Sal!!! Love this blog, please never stop.
I have a hard time getting excited about either song, but based on the first 30 seconds and the Bobby Keys sax, I cast my vote for Knockin. Just wish it was about 2 min shorter.
"One Hit (To the Body)" is the only Rolling Stones song Jimmy Page plays on.
Buzz, please explain more about the Page connection to "One Hit". Never knew he was on a Stones track. Oh my heart is crushed.
Captain Al
from wikipedia:
"Both Richards and Wood played electric, but the solo was provided by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Page's contribution was the result of a short studio session between him and Wood after Page's request to hear what the band was working on."
(Jimmy Page) rang me at the studio one night and said, How's it going? Do you mind if I come and hear how the album's going? I said, no, I didn't mind. He's a very shy guy. After he'd done that overdub on One Hit, he left the studio saying, I'm sorry, man, I'm sorry. I said, Don't apologize... you did all right!
- Ron Wood, 1986
If "Parachute Woman" didn't have a song title, I doubt I would ever know what Mick Jagger was singing. "Passionate woman?" "Pachout woman?" (No, Pachout woman isn't a thing.) Same with the rest of the song, which is wonderfully murky and all vibe, all feel as it chugs along. Plus it's shorter so since I THINK I"m a BB guy and believe brevity is the soul of good music, I was ready to lay my money down. Love the fadeout and the way instruments sort of muscle their way into the mix. But the extended jam session that is "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" really held my attention too. Much closer call than expected and I'm still wavering but I guess..."Can't You Hear Me Knocking" for being such a satisfying jam. [Ooh, just read Sal's comments. Bonus for having the fun of not always agreeing with him!]
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