Tuesday, April 23, 2024

The Rolling Stones - Strictly Memphis (1993)

This third album from the superb 'Fully Finished Studio Outtakes' bootleg is a transitional set, using tracks following on from the last post's1982 leftovers, starting with an edited take of a 1983 outtake (I thought the outro just went on too long), followed by half a dozen songs from 1985, one from 1989, and then closing with a couple from 1993, which will lead us nicely into the final post, which will cover 1997. As before, here are notes from Zen Archer's Aural Surfing Odyssey blog, with the correct years of recording, and as well as editing 'Dog Shit', I've also fixed the intro to 'Strictly Memphis'. 

01 Dog Shit (1983)
I guess you'd rather putty in your hands rather than the alternative but this track, which made it's inaugural appearance on 'Foxes In The Boxes' as a thrilling instrumental now features vocals. A storming horn lead thruster with an insatiable appetite for longevity (sounds about right, eh?) is far too good to have been left by the side of the road but here we are. Correct year.
02 Deep Love (1985)
A deep and funky, loose guitar driven track from the 'Dirty Work' sessions. Jagger veers between roar and growl with his vocals. Correct year.
03 Nobody's Perfect (1975)
Apparently from the 'Black And Blue' sessions, I would argue that this track has much more of an 80's feel, as the production is a give away – that and the drive of Charlie’s drumming. Both Ronnie and Keith's licks playfully lap against each other. More likely to be 1985.
04 Putty In Your Hands (1982)
Soul styled romp with Keith starring just as closely as Mick's bellowed vocals. This track has as much sass as the girl who's leading Mick around and up and down. It’s a cover-version of a Shirelles track from 1962 and makes a good fist of attempting to sound like it might. Probably 1985.
05 I Can't See No One Else (1985)
A perfectly packaged double-entendre of a song. Mainly piano led but featuring a stinging Shadows styled guitar with a chugging rubbery bass-line and fabulous call and response harmonies. Correct year. 
06 Don't Lie To Me (1972)
No, not that one but an 80's version instead. Very interesting lyrics referencing a "Monkey Man", this is in the very same style as 'Troubles A-Coming' This re-work sounds like 1985.
07 Strictly Memphis (1985)
This track appears almost fully formed, a soul funk stomp that cuts in on a take that's already in full flow (now fixed). This version adds a little extra brass. Take your pick of ‘Dirty Work' outtake compilations previous – It's probably already featured on there already. Correct year
08 What Am I Gonna Do With Your Love (feat. Kirsty MacColl, Tom Waits & Bobby Womack 1985)
On this 1985 gospel track recorded in New York, the band are joined by guest artists who perform a credible vocal-orientated song. Jagger takes the lead vocals and Richards the backing vocals, while Kirsty MacColl, Patti Scialfa, Don Covay and Bobby Womack do the gospel invocation of "your love". Tom Waits possibly plays the piano, as he was recoding his next album 'Rain Dogs' in New York at the same time, and Keith took time out to play on a couple of tracks. 
09 Giving It Up (1989)
Taken from sessions for the 'Steel Wheels' album, this version features an extra piano line that was later stripped out. Correct year. 
10 Hands Off (1986)
A tough, thundering rocker with a quick, choppy tempo. Really very Stones-of-the-time, and that time is most likely 1993.
11 Ivy League (1994)
A more complete version of the track without some of the overdubs of other versions. Probably one year earlier, at 1993.



Track listing 

01 Dog Shit
02 Deep Love 
03 Nobody's Perfect
04 Putty In Your Hands
05 I Can't See No One Else 
06 Don't Lie To Me
07 Strictly Memphis
08 What Am I Gonna Do With Your Love (feat. Kirsty MacColl, Tom Waits & Bobby Womack) 
09 Giving It Up
10 Hands Off
11 Ivy League 

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