For the final post in this Rolling Stones' outtakes collection we raid the 'Bridges To Babylon' archives, with some nice offcuts, plus three tracks featuring Keef on vocals, which did eventually make the final track listing once Jagger took over vocal duties. By this time the band were down to a four-piece, following the retirement of Bill Wyman in 1991, and for one last time, here are the notes from the Zen Archer's Aural Surfing Odyssey blog, with a bit of background to the tracks, plus the corrected year of recording.
01 20 Nil (1991)
A dusty little piece from the 'Bridges To Babylon' sessions (I wonder how deep THAT well is?) – it fits well of the time and would still sound amazing now. An extended, indie-ish intro leads in to an almost primal squall from Mick while Ronnie and Keith ad-lib in the background, taking turns at stripping off levels of slow-burn guitar. Should be 1997.
02 Dream About (1992)
This might the stray mutt of the collection. A shonky set of lyrics with a very rote drum backing and less than inspiring musical prowess. Thankfully, it was buried in the middle of the set making it easier to forget. Should be 1997.
03 Low Down (Keith Richards vocal 1997)
A Keith vocal for a change, one that was given up to Mick for the final 'BTB' album – Keith’s voice here being buried under the instrumental (though it’s a tight race between such a densely layered production, and I've now boosted them up a fraction), it was the right decision to give the job over. Correct year.
04 Prairie Love (1993)
Prowling funk work out with a breathy vocal line and slinky clockwork bass line. A b-side at best (and considering the glut of danceable remixes that littered CD singles at the time, that's no bad thing). Should be 1997.
05 Sanctuary (1994)
An odd little breathy whisp of a ballad around a curious organ bedding and bongos. As with 'Desperate Man', it draws deeply on Minneapolis's most famous son, but unlike that track, it never seems to go anywhere and opposed to being sexy, sounds a little creepy. There's a lot to be said for experimentation, though and this track is wildly different to what you might expect. Should be 1997.
06 Too Tight (Keith Richards vocal 1997)
A Keith lead track from 'BTB' that was handed back to Mick for the commercial version. Correct year.
07 Desperate Man (1973)
A proto-Prince production of spidery silk slide guitar lines and falsettos. It edges in, stealing from styles as it shifts around too, showing just how versatile the band can be all in the space of a few minutes. Should be 1997.
08 Might As Well Get Juiced (extended, alternate version 1998)
Borne of static and a moody, looping riff, an electronic throb permeates through this 'BTB' track. This one is around a minute and a half longer than the commercial version. Should be 1997.
09 Flip The Switch (Keith Richards vocal 1998)
From the 'BTB' sessions again, this is a solid Keith vehicle. A wildly different production with a disjointed feel – not that that’s damning it with faint praise – it's a brave move for someone who professes a more blues oriented style generally. As it's 'BTB', it should be 1997.
01 20 Nil (1991)
A dusty little piece from the 'Bridges To Babylon' sessions (I wonder how deep THAT well is?) – it fits well of the time and would still sound amazing now. An extended, indie-ish intro leads in to an almost primal squall from Mick while Ronnie and Keith ad-lib in the background, taking turns at stripping off levels of slow-burn guitar. Should be 1997.
02 Dream About (1992)
This might the stray mutt of the collection. A shonky set of lyrics with a very rote drum backing and less than inspiring musical prowess. Thankfully, it was buried in the middle of the set making it easier to forget. Should be 1997.
03 Low Down (Keith Richards vocal 1997)
A Keith vocal for a change, one that was given up to Mick for the final 'BTB' album – Keith’s voice here being buried under the instrumental (though it’s a tight race between such a densely layered production, and I've now boosted them up a fraction), it was the right decision to give the job over. Correct year.
04 Prairie Love (1993)
Prowling funk work out with a breathy vocal line and slinky clockwork bass line. A b-side at best (and considering the glut of danceable remixes that littered CD singles at the time, that's no bad thing). Should be 1997.
05 Sanctuary (1994)
An odd little breathy whisp of a ballad around a curious organ bedding and bongos. As with 'Desperate Man', it draws deeply on Minneapolis's most famous son, but unlike that track, it never seems to go anywhere and opposed to being sexy, sounds a little creepy. There's a lot to be said for experimentation, though and this track is wildly different to what you might expect. Should be 1997.
06 Too Tight (Keith Richards vocal 1997)
A Keith lead track from 'BTB' that was handed back to Mick for the commercial version. Correct year.
07 Desperate Man (1973)
A proto-Prince production of spidery silk slide guitar lines and falsettos. It edges in, stealing from styles as it shifts around too, showing just how versatile the band can be all in the space of a few minutes. Should be 1997.
08 Might As Well Get Juiced (extended, alternate version 1998)
Borne of static and a moody, looping riff, an electronic throb permeates through this 'BTB' track. This one is around a minute and a half longer than the commercial version. Should be 1997.
09 Flip The Switch (Keith Richards vocal 1998)
From the 'BTB' sessions again, this is a solid Keith vehicle. A wildly different production with a disjointed feel – not that that’s damning it with faint praise – it's a brave move for someone who professes a more blues oriented style generally. As it's 'BTB', it should be 1997.
Track listing
01 20 Nil
02 Dream About
03 Low Down
04 Prairie Love
05 Sanctuary
06 Too Tight
07 Desperate Man
08 Might As Well Get Juiced
09 Flip The Switch
Hey pj, this one looks like another fun one. You really do a good job of sequencing the songs into a very enjoyable playlists!
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