Friday, March 22, 2013

Short And Curlies

Following their most successful tour ever the Rolling Stones disappeared to different corners of the globe. In September 1972 Mick Jagger and Keith Richards started to work on songs for the band's next studio album. When a few ideas were there they had to decide on a studio. Keith Richards in particular was intrigued by reggae music, and so Byron Lee's Dynamic Sounds Studio in Kingston, Jamaica, was selected.

Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins and Billy Preston (during the last week) were the only additional musicians present in Jamaica. The so-called 'Goat's Head Patties' sessions lasted four weeks (November-December, 1972) and were consolidated by producer Jimmy Miller and sound engineers Andy Johns and Carlton Lee to produce the "Goat's Head Soup" album. Ian Stewart played piano on 'Short And Curlies', a track that would stay in the can until 1974's "It's Only Rock'n'Roll" album.

Stu was a natural for the boogie woogie bar-room piano display, but the song itself lacks conviction, and can be considered a filler track on "It's Only Rock'n'Roll". The Stones finished the 1972 basic track during overdubbing and mixing sessions in London, England (April-May, 1974.).


Adapted from the following source: Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.

1 comment:

  1. November 25-December 21, 1972: Dynamic Sound Studios, Kingston, Jamaica.

    The Rolling Stones: Seperately (Jagger-Richards-Taylor(2:45)
    The Rolling Stones: Tops (early version) (Jagger-Richards)(4:39)
    The Rolling Stones: Waiting On A Friend (early version) (Jagger-Richards) (4:17)
    The Rolling Stones: You Should Have Seen Her Ass (Jagger-Richards) (4:17)
    The Rolling Stones: Fast Talking (Jagger-Richards) (6:31)
    The Rolling Stones: Through The Lonely Nights (Jagger-Richards) (4:14)
    The Rolling Stones: Winter (Jagger-Richards) (5:30)
    The Rolling Stones: Short And Curlies (Jagger-Richards) (2:42)

    721125A 25th - 30th November and 6th - 21st December: Kingston, Jamaica, Dynamic Sound Studios. Producer: Jimmy Miller. Sound engineer: Andy Johns (with Carlton Lee). Note: All backing tracks for the ‘Goats Head Soup’ album were recorded during these sessions. Incl.
    - Separately (Jagger-Richards-Taylor) - Nicky Hopkins on piano; Jimmy Miller on percussion; instrumental
    - Tops (Jagger-Richards) - instrumental early version
    - Waiting On A Friend (Jagger-Richards) - Nicky Hopkins on piano, Jimmy Miller on percussion; "Waiting On My Friend"-version
    - You Should Have Seen Her Ass (Jagger-Richards) - Nicky Hopkins on piano
    - Fast Talking (Jagger-Richards) - Billy Preston on piano
    - Through The Lonely Nights (Jagger-Richards) - Nicky Hopkins on piano
    - Winter (Jagger-Richards) - Nicky Hopkins on piano, strings arranged by Nicky Harrison
    - Short And Curlies (Jagger-Richards) - Ian Stewart on piano
    - After Muddy And Charlie/Brown Leaves/First Thing/Four And In/Give Us A Break/Jamaica/Man-Eating Woman/Miami/Zabadoo (all Jagger-Richards) - unverified.

    Line-up: Mick Jagger (voc, gtr, p, harm)/Keith Richards (gtr, bass, voc, bvoc)/Mick Taylor (gtr, bass, bvoc)/Bill Wyman (bass)/Charlie Watts (dr).
    Additional musicians: Ian Stewart (p)/Nicky Hopkins (p; first three weeks)/Billy Preston (keyb; last week).

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