Let it Bleed Anniversary
On this day in 1969, The Rolling Stones released "Let it Bleed"*. Let's take a look back at the iconic album with some fun facts and musical history.
*Released on November 28th in London.
Keith Richards first started writing 'Gimme Shelter' because he was jealous of Mick Jagger
Richards began working on the iconic opening riff while Jagger was filming "Performance" alongside Keith's then-girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg. In his autobiography "Life", he revealed that the tension of the song was inspired by his jealousy of seeing Pallenberg and Jagger's relationship, and even suspected of an affair between them.
The song's inspiration was also not initially the Vietnam War or social unrest, but Richards seeing people scurrying for shelter from a sudden rain storm
"I had been sitting by the window of my friend Robert Fraser's apartment on Mount Street in London with an acoustic guitar when suddenly the sky went completely black and an incredible monsoon came down. It was just people running about looking for shelter – that was the germ of the idea." (Source: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-richards-making-gimme-shelter/)
The song remained the most prominent contribution to a Rolling Stones track by a female vocalist for 54 years thanks to Merry Clayton
She recounts her experience working with the Stones in the film "20 Feet from Stardum" (see clip below)
The song has appeared in three Martin Scorsese films
It appears in "Goodfellas", "The Departed", and "Casino"
Personally, one of my favorite covers of 'Gimme Shelter' comes from The Voice!
Hannah Kirby and Sarah Potenza kill it on the Voice in 2015 and we need to talk about this version more. Although you can never compare, Sarah is the closest to Janis Joplin reincarnated.
'Country Honk' is how 'Honky Tonk Women' was originally written
The band initially recorded the track in early March 1969. Brian Jones played on the first handful of takes and demos, his last recording session with the band. The song was later transformed into the Stones' hit single 'Honky Tonk Women', prior to Mick Taylor joining the group.
The single was released the day after Brian Jones' Death
Jones died within a month of being fired (at the age of 27). He played backing instruments on only two songs for "Let it Bleed". 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was 'Country Honk's' B-side.
Brian was then replaced by Mick Taylor
Taylor believed he was being called in as a session musician when he first recorded with the Rolling Stones. Mick and Keith, impressed, invited Taylor back the following day to continue rehearsing and recording. Taylor overdubbed guitar on 'Live With Me', 'Country Honk' and 'Honky Tonk Women'. He was only 20 when he made his concert debut with the band.
'Midnight Rambler' is based on the Boston Strangler
The song is a loose biography of Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to being the Boston Strangler. Keith Richards called the song a "blues opera". The first time I heard this song was when I was 15 and saw the Stones at the Staples Center. Mick still rocks that harmonica!
And 'Monkey Man' was written as a tribute to Italian pop artist Mario Schifano
Mick and Keith met Schifano on the set of his movie "Umano Non Umano! (Human, Not Human!)"
Comments