Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (SACD)

by

The Rolling Stones

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Sometimes called the greatest live album ever, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out is a brilliant album recorded at Madison Square Garden during the Stones' 1969 live peak. While calling it the greatest live album ever is exaggerating its worth slightly, it's the best live album Mick and the boys ever released.

Ya-Ya's showcases how they've evolved as a band since 1966's Got Live If You Want It. Gone are the sloppy playing that was heightened by the screaming teenagers. Here, the band showcases themselves as accomplished and focused musicians. Part of this transformation was the new kid on the block back then, Mick Taylor. While not as versatile as Brian Jones, Mick Taylor played the best lead guitar ever for the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world. Taylor works hard but never overplays; his riffs are brilliant on Jumpin' Jack Flash, Midnight Rambler & Sympathy For The Devil (listen to the second solo, it's by him, not Keith). Stray Cat Blues is much different from Beggars' Banquet's version, with the runaway's age changed from fifteen to thirteen, and slowing down the tempo. Love In Vain is brilliant, and on it Taylor again shines. Carol and Little Queenie are great and do justice to Chuck Berry's originals. Live

With Me Rocks with out-and-out fantastic bass playing by the great Bill Wyman. Honky Tonk Women is the only song here I think could have been better, but Street Fighting Man is great, thanks to yet again Taylor's fantastic electric lead guitar work.

Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out isn't the greatest live album ever, but it lands near the top. It's a blistering example of how good live the Stones are when they feel like being this good rather than extremely sloppy. Compared to this, Love You Live and Still Life are big letdowns. I recommend this album today.