It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, but both say it is largely a Jagger composition. The working title of the song was “The Devil Is My Name”, having earlier been called “Fallen Angels”. Jagger sings in first person narrative as the Devil, boasting his role in each of several historical atrocities. The singer then ironically demands the listener’s courtesy towards him, implicitly chastising all for their collective culpability in the listed killings and crimes. In the 2012 documentary Crossfire Hurricane, Jagger stated that his influence for the song came from Baudelaire and from the Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita (which had just appeared in English translation in 1967). The book was given to Jagger by Marianne Faithfull and she confirmed the inspiration in an interview with Sylvie Simmons.
In a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, Jagger said, “..that was taken from an old idea of Baudelaire’s, I think, but I could be wrong. Sometimes when I look at my Baudelaire books, I can’t see it in there. But it was an idea I got from French writing. And I just took a couple of lines and expanded on it. I wrote it as sort of a Bob Dylansong." It was Richards who suggested changing the tempo and using additional percussion, turning the folk song into a samba.
From The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
The Rolling Stones performing "You Can’t Always Get What You Want"
From The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
Recorded before a live audience in London in 1968, The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus was originally conceived as a BBC-TV special. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, it centers on the original line up of The Rolling Stones -- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman (with Nicky Hopkins and Rocky Dijon) -- who serves as both the show’s hosts and featured attraction. For the first time in front of an audience, “The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band” performs six Stones classics. The program also includes extraordinary performances by The Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, Yoko Ono, and The Dirty Mac.
It just occurred to me quite how many of those involved saw their lives affected by 'junk' we lost keyboard maestro Nicky Hopkins and Jesse Ed Davis, John and Eric had their struggles though we think John restrained his use to smoking it. Marianne's use she documented well and is clearly in her prime here but John's 'Yer Blues' always struck me as being about junk rather than depression . . . . . .
A ‘supergroup’ before the term had even been coined, the band was comprised of Eric Clapton (lead guitar), Keith Richards (bass), Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (drums), and John Lennon on guitar and vocals.
Deemed to be the best performance The Who's 'A Quick One' stormed it. Keep your eye on Keith!!
(always a good idea!?)
Jack is Jumpin' mind you!
No Expectations however!
Sunday, August 23, 2020
For Keith
KEITH MOON
on what would have been his 74th birthday!
From 'The Rock 'n' Roll Circus'
Keith sings . . . . . I've said before how spruced I was to hear Keith Speak and how well spoken he was, this reveals it, nice voice too. Not Roger strength or Pete's high harmony but not a bad voice
THIS! Keith's last time . . . . . . . .
Monday, December 10, 2018
The WHO
. . . again we purchased this little smackerel of a volume when it came out and I owe this to one of my oldest friends, Malcolm C, a childhood hero and actually a fine drummer, a neighbourhood friend who turned me onto quite a bit musically (Keef Hartley was his hero as a schoolboy) and there were a goodly gang of us along with Leo (brother of my best friend) who could literally play anything on the guitar and they formed a little combo . . . . . .they drew the line at learning 'Boris The Spider' but it features the Ox (John Entwistle ) at his silliest best! We loved this album . . . . . . A quick one while he's away!
On this day in music history: December 9, 1966 - “A Quick One”, the second album by The Who is released (US release is in May 1967 under the title “Happy Jack”). Produced by Kit Lambert, it is recorded at IBC Studios and Pye Studios in London from September - November 1966. Issued one year and one week after their debut release “My Generation”, The Who’s second full length is an important turning point in the band’s career, as it marks Pete Townshend’s first foray into composing a “rock opera” in the form of the title track. The nine minute long suite of songs at the end of the album’s second side tells a story about a wife’s infidelity while her husband is away. “A Quick One While He’s Away” is also semi autobiographical, as it is the first time that Pete Townshend writes about the periods of separation from his parents as a young boy (in the opening movement “Her Man’s Been Gone”), living with his maternal grandmother, and the sexual abuse he suffers at the hands of one of her male friends (“Ivor The Engine Driver”). The mini opera is the genesis for Townshend’s later works “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia”. The other three members of the band also contribute songs to the album including John Entwistle’s “Boris The Spider”. The band’s US label Decca Records retitles the album “Happy Jack”, after their then current single (#24 Pop) which is added to the track listing. The cover artwork is illustrated by British pop artist Alan Aldridge (The Beatles, Elton John). Released on CD in 1988 with its original mono mix, the US CD release is issued in stereo with five tracks in re-channeled stereo. It is remastered and reissued in 2005, with some tracks newly remixed into stereo. The track “Whiskey Man” is still in fake stereo with the majority of the remaining tracks in mono. The mono version of the album is reissued as 150 and 200 gram vinyl pressings by Classic Records in 2005, with another reissue in 2015.
