Let It Bleed

by

The Rolling Stones

Edit

There was only one version of Let It Bleed. This is it. It was released simultaneously in the UK and US on Dec 5, 1969. The Stones had the guts to leave off their July megahit Honky Tonk Woman and instead (much to the chagrin of record company execs) put a countrified satire of their own hit on the album. The Let It Bleed sessions also produced 3 of their finest works that are not on the album (Honky Tonk Woman, Sweet Virginia, and Sister Morphine).

The album contains a huge chunk of the work that made the band famous for this era....Gimme Shelter, Love in Vain, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, and You Can't Always Get What You Want have all pretty much defined not only the Stones but this era of English-speaking history to the world. The album is a staple in every serious rock collection.....it's that simple.

The album has several notable facts:

.....Brian Jones died the same day the last tracks were recorded in London

.....M.C. Escher and photographer Man Ray were both invited to design the cover (they declined)

.....it includes the 1st song not sung by Mick - You Got The Silver, sung by Keith (Mick's version was left in the can)

.....Gimme Shelter was written by Keith while he waited in his car for girlfriend Anita Pallenberg who was starring with Mick (and actually making love instead of only acting) on the set of Performance

.....the Stones have long been accused of stealing many of the song bits from Ry Cooder who was involved in the early sessions and laid down basic tracks that developed into many of the songs

The tracks were recorded between Feb 9 and Jul 2, 1969 at Olympic Sound, London, with final mixing done at Sunset Sound and Elektra Studios in L.A. between Oct 18 and Nov 3. You Can't Always Get What You Want dates slightly earlier, first recorded on Nov 17, 1968 at Olympic with Al Kooper on French horn, producer Jimmy Miller on drums instead of Charlie, and the 35 member London Bach Choir. In addition to the 9 tracks that made the album, the Let It Bleed sessions also produced:

.....the entire jam session on April 23, 1969 that became the album Jammin' With Edward

.....Honky Tonk Woman (released as a single - Mick Taylor's 1st session with the band)

.....All Down The Line (released on Exile On Main Street)

.....Stop Breaking Down (released on Exile On Main Street)

.....Sweet Virginia (released on Exile On Main Street)

.....Shine A Light (released on Exile On Main Street)

.....Loving Cup (released on Exile On Main Street)

.....Sister Morphine (released on Sticky Fingers)

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.