The "El Mocambo" side was always the best thing about the Rolling Stones double live set "Love You Live." (Well, that side and "Fingerprint File.") The "El Mocambo" side sounded like a different band in a different place on a different tour because that is exactly what it was.
If you don't know the story, I'll catch you up. In brief, the Stones were looking for a place to warm up for an upcoming tour. They loved the city of Toronto, but wanted to keep it on the down low. So a radio station ran a contest, and winners were given a pair of tickets to see local heroes April Wine, with opening act The Cockroaches. For two nights in March of 1977, April Wine actually opened for The Cockroaches and those Cockroaches were the Rolling Stones. 300 lucky people got to see history, whether they realized it or not.
For the first time, the second of those two nights has been released in its entirety. "El Mocambo 1977" is a new box that quite frankly is one of the greatest live documents I have ever heard.
I listen to "It's Only Rock N Roll" and "Black & Blue" with the same enthusiasm as most Stones fans listen to "Beggars Banquet" and "Let It Bleed." Hearing songs like "Hot Stuff," "Hand Of Fate," Crazy Mama" and "Dance Little Sister" come alive, with Billy Preston doing for the Stones what he did for The Beatles in "Let It Be" is a rare and and special treat.
This performance has no right being this hot. Bill and Charlie are relentless! "Honky Tonk Women," takes its time wading through the swamp to open the festivities. You can fry an egg in between snare hits. The groove is filthy. By the time the boys hit "Rip This Joint," the Stones sound like The Damned!
This band is on fire. I don't recall ever...I repeat EVER hearing Bill and Charlie this locked in, and with Woody on the left and Keef on the right, and the genius ears of Bob Clearmountain making it all come together, you might just agree, this set rivals the best of the Stones, including the Marquee from 1971 and Brussels from 1973. That it has taken this long to see the light of day is almost as amazing as the performance itself.
If you are a fan of this band, do not sleep on this set.
Turn it up!
13 comments:
I listened to it all day. Interesting that Worried About You is the final song, but they didn't actually release it until Tattoo You.
Any talk of a movie coming out?
Kirke,
The last three songs are bonus tracks from the first night, so they didn't actually close with "Worried About You." I should have mentioned that in the post. I love Jagger alternating his singing on that track from his straight voice to falsetto. Kinda wish that was how it wound up on "Tattoo You."
“Look Out ‘Live At Leeds,’ There Is A New Sheriff In Town?” Now I have to listen. Thank goodness for Apple Music. That’s a hefty price for 31/2 sides of live music.
I meant discs, not sides.
Even better than "The Brussels Affair", or at least less coked up sounding. Charlie and Bill are ferocious on these cuts.
I knew this was famous (especially for we parochial Torontonians)
I had no idea it would be SO GOOD!
Wow, you ain't wrong about this. this is sweet spot Stones for me. Thanks!
I had mostly given up on the archive recordings (Stones and almost everyone else), but the new songs I've heard so far are outstanding.
Your enthusiasm for this is so apparent in your words--I don't know whether I loved reading or listening more! I so enjoy your excitement for the music! Makes us all excited, as well!
Brussels Affair is without doubt the Stones at their best in an arena setting.
But this set, recorded in a club, is just so real and the setlist so different that it instantly is one of their greatest ever releases. Clearly the big 3 are straighter than say, side 4 of Love You Live (a record I love the first 3 sides of) a side of the Stones that is pretty much their nadir in the 70s.
This record reminds me of AMEOBA GIG by Paul McCartney - which blows every live album he ever made (except Wings Over America which so wonderfully encapsulates the 70s Macca finally breaking out and again being the good natured god is he) because they both have audiences right in their face and they can feel the bass drum in their whole body.
Meanwhile thinking about what you said about Charlie and Bill... its kinda no wonder they were so locked in - They were right next to each other, as opposed to being 30 feet apart in a hockey arena. Clubs and small venues, you can't beat them for great live albums.
Bought it on your recommendation, and it’s as good as you enthused. What’s treat, and thanks for the heads up.
Thanks for the strong recommendation. My "new" favorite Stones live release. Your observations are spot on.
just got around to listening to this and couldn't agree more. Great live set and it's got a very punk like energy (whatever that means)on the uptempo (nod to Larry Welk) numbers.
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