Vinyl of the Week - 5 July 2020

Let it Bleed, The Rolling Stones

As a self-confessed Stones tragic, this week I thought I would highlight another favourite album from “The Greatest Rock & Roll Band of All Time”. Let It Bleed was recorded in 1969 at a pivotal time for the band. Founding member Brian Jones had become largely incapable of contributing due to drug issues and was fired during the recording, playing backing instruments on only two tracks. He died by drowning in his own swimming pool less than a month later. Mick Taylor replaced Jones to finish the album but the majority of the guitar work was Keith. It was also the first time Keith performed lead vocals, singing solo on track ‘You Got the Silver’. All of the songs on this album were written by Mick and Keith, aka “The Glimmer Twins”, with the exception of ‘Love In Vain’ by Robert Johnson. The cover depicts a sculpture by graphic designer Robert Brownjohn, items stacked like records on an old phonograph topped with an elaborately iced cake complete with figurines of the band. The back shows a piece missing and the whole creation destroyed. (The cake part of the sculpture was made by then-unknown cookbook star Delia Smith). I love the simplicity of this album. Drawing heavily from early roots, blues and country, it’s very laid-back and showcases the band’s ability to put their own magic on their musical influences. Some of their most loved songs appear on Let It Bleed including ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, ‘Midnight Rambler’ and ‘Gimmie Shelter’. It also has ‘Country Honk’, the original version of ‘Honky Tonk Women’ (tour manager Sam Cutler responsible for the car horn you hear at the beginning, blasting the real horn of Gram Parson’s car which was parked outside the studio). The centre label instructs you to play this record loud and you definitely should. A true classic - DS