Also in 1972-1973 Ian Stewart recorded with singer Dennis Coulson, who had just left the remains of McGuinness Flint, the once successful band around guitarist Tom McGuinness, and ex-John Mayall drummer Hughie Flint. Coulson's solo album, co-produced with Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle, and sound engineer Keith Harwood, was recorded during 1972-73 at Stargroves, Mick Jagger's home, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Unit.
Stu played piano on four tracks: SS Man, Neurosis USA, Is It Me? and Let It Shine. Other musicians on the album included Benny Gallagher (guitar, accordion, bass, electric piano, harmonium), Graham Lyle (bass, banjo, dobro, guitar, mandolin, harmonium), Hughie Flint (drums), Bruce Rowland (drums, congas), Jim Jewell (saxophone), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Toad Thompson (guitar), and Nicky Judd (piano, organ).
Of course Stu knew most, if not all, of the musicians involved, especially Benny Gallagher, who later, together with Ronnie Lane, went on to form the band Slim Chance, and drummer Bruce Rowland, with whom he'd worked together on the soundtrack to the "Mahoney's Last Stand" movie.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Something New
July 1973 saw the release of Chris Jagger's first solo album, "You Know The Name But Not The Face". Despite the release of the album (and a second one in 1974), Chris, who studied dramatic art, remained in the shadow of his elder brother Mick, although he cemented his own place in music history with a handful of fine albums.
The debut album, produced by Chris Jagger and John Uribe (with sound engineer Glyn Johns), was recorded during 1972-73 at Stargroves, Mick's home, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Unit.
Basic line-up: Chris Jagger (vocals), John Uribe (guitar, bass, percussion)/David Pierce (guitar)/Roger Earl (drums)/Bobby Keys (saxophone).
Ian Stewart contributed piano to one track, the blues rocking 'Something New'. Mick Jagger helped out on backing vocals on a couple of tracks. You can listen to snippets of all songs right here:
http://www.chrisjaggeronline.com/facenoname.html
In a 2012 interview with on line music blog pennyblackmusic.co.uk Chris told about Stu's role and position in the Stones' ranks:
“Often the musicians that are most highly regarded by their peers are not the best known names. For example, the Stones all admired Ian Stewart who was their pianist, a founder member of the band. He had links back to jazz, boogie-woogie and the old days. He taught the band so much. Even now if you mention his name the band will say, 'Ah, Stu....he would have done it like this!' And he would always be helping people out, encouraging young players who he felt had a good attitude. Attitude was very important".
The debut album, produced by Chris Jagger and John Uribe (with sound engineer Glyn Johns), was recorded during 1972-73 at Stargroves, Mick's home, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Unit.
Basic line-up: Chris Jagger (vocals), John Uribe (guitar, bass, percussion)/David Pierce (guitar)/Roger Earl (drums)/Bobby Keys (saxophone).
Ian Stewart contributed piano to one track, the blues rocking 'Something New'. Mick Jagger helped out on backing vocals on a couple of tracks. You can listen to snippets of all songs right here:
http://www.chrisjaggeronline.com/facenoname.html
In a 2012 interview with on line music blog pennyblackmusic.co.uk Chris told about Stu's role and position in the Stones' ranks:
“Often the musicians that are most highly regarded by their peers are not the best known names. For example, the Stones all admired Ian Stewart who was their pianist, a founder member of the band. He had links back to jazz, boogie-woogie and the old days. He taught the band so much. Even now if you mention his name the band will say, 'Ah, Stu....he would have done it like this!' And he would always be helping people out, encouraging young players who he felt had a good attitude. Attitude was very important".
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Star Star
One of the final tracks recorded at 1972's "Goat's Head Soup" sessions, 'Star Star' created a furore with Atlantic Records President Ahmet Ertegun. Starfucker, the song's original title, hit too close to the belt for his liking and Ertegun insisted it was retitled on the album's sleeve to 'Star Star'. The tune told the story of the young girls whose choice of men are rock and movie stars. To the sound of Keith Richard's rowdy Chuck Berry riffing, Mick Jagger sings of a groupie "giving head to Steve McQueen", betting that she'll "get John Wayne before he dies".
Final mixing and overdubbing of 'Star Star' took place during May-June 1973 at Island Studios, London. The music itself is basically the definitive rip-off of a Chuck Berry song that has never been written. Keith Richards' R&B riff is Berry lead guitar at its best. Mick Taylor plays the rhythm track, and Ian Stewart once again is a natural on piano.
Adapted from the following sources:
Steve Appleford, The Rolling Stones: The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs, Carlton Books Limited, 2010.
Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
Final mixing and overdubbing of 'Star Star' took place during May-June 1973 at Island Studios, London. The music itself is basically the definitive rip-off of a Chuck Berry song that has never been written. Keith Richards' R&B riff is Berry lead guitar at its best. Mick Taylor plays the rhythm track, and Ian Stewart once again is a natural on piano.
Adapted from the following sources:
Steve Appleford, The Rolling Stones: The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs, Carlton Books Limited, 2010.
Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Silver Train
On the way back from their Australasian tour, the Rolling Stones went to their homes all over the world before travelling to London to resume recording of the new studio album. All basic tracks for "Goat's Head Soup" were recorded during sessions at Dynamic Sound Studios, Kingston, Jamaica (November-December 1972). Mixing and overdubbing of the album took place in May-June 1973 at Island Studios, London, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards taking over Jimmy Miller's producer role.
Being the only blues and boogie oriented track on the album, 'Silver Train' stayed closest to the band's electrifying 'roots' sound on the previous two albums. No wonder, since the origins of the song dated back to the October 1970 recording sessions at Olympic Sound Studios and Stargroves (with the Mobile Recording Unit), during which many "Sticky" and "Exile" tracks were first taped.
In his book The Rolling Stones: The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs, Steve Appleford catches the spirit of the song best: "The Stones recorded 'Silver Train' at Island Studios in London, seemingly inspired to reconnect with some chugging blues rock. And who better to send the boys along than that erstwhile Stone, Ian Stewart? His spirited boogie-woogie keyboard work is joined here by the slippery bottleneck of Taylor and the frantic harp-playing of Jagger, who blows a stirring train whistle between lyrics describing another jolly encounter with a prostitute".
Adapted from the following sources:
Steve Appleford, The Rolling Stones: The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs, Carlton Books Limited, 2010.
Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
Being the only blues and boogie oriented track on the album, 'Silver Train' stayed closest to the band's electrifying 'roots' sound on the previous two albums. No wonder, since the origins of the song dated back to the October 1970 recording sessions at Olympic Sound Studios and Stargroves (with the Mobile Recording Unit), during which many "Sticky" and "Exile" tracks were first taped.
In his book The Rolling Stones: The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs, Steve Appleford catches the spirit of the song best: "The Stones recorded 'Silver Train' at Island Studios in London, seemingly inspired to reconnect with some chugging blues rock. And who better to send the boys along than that erstwhile Stone, Ian Stewart? His spirited boogie-woogie keyboard work is joined here by the slippery bottleneck of Taylor and the frantic harp-playing of Jagger, who blows a stirring train whistle between lyrics describing another jolly encounter with a prostitute".
Adapted from the following sources:
Steve Appleford, The Rolling Stones: The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs, Carlton Books Limited, 2010.
Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
1973 Australasian Tour
After a Christmas break the Rolling Stones started rehearsals for an upcoming Australasian tour (January 21- February 27, 1973), with planned shows in Honolulu, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong. Rehearsals took place at Village Recorders, Los Angeles (January 13-15). The tour was due to commence on January 21 in Honolulu and then proceed to, for the first time ever, Japan. But, at the last minute, the Japanese authorities refused to grant Mick Jagger a visa due to his British drug conviction in 1967.
The tour was preceded by a benefit concert for the Nicaraguan earthquake victims at the Los Angeles Forum, Inglewood, California (January 18). Just as during the 1972 US tour, Bobby Keys and Jim Price provided the brass work. and both Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart (some shows) played piano. Stu especially filled the gap when Hopkins had to jet back and forth between live dates with the Stones, and mixing and mastering sessions for his upcoming solo album in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Adapted from the following sources:
Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
Julian Dawson, And On Piano.....Nicky Hopkins, Backstage Press, 2011.
The tour was preceded by a benefit concert for the Nicaraguan earthquake victims at the Los Angeles Forum, Inglewood, California (January 18). Just as during the 1972 US tour, Bobby Keys and Jim Price provided the brass work. and both Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart (some shows) played piano. Stu especially filled the gap when Hopkins had to jet back and forth between live dates with the Stones, and mixing and mastering sessions for his upcoming solo album in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Adapted from the following sources:
Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
Julian Dawson, And On Piano.....Nicky Hopkins, Backstage Press, 2011.
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.
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.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Bluesberry Jam
With Exile On Main St. released it was time for the Rolling Stones to rehearse for the upcoming US tour, due to commence on June 3, 1972. Rehearsals took place from May 15-19 at the Rialto Theatre, Montreux, Switzerland, a disused theatre complete with the intended tour stage. The backing band for the tour again comprised Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys and Jim Price, but during the rehearsals Ian Stewart also jammed with the band, most notably on an instrumental shuffle and roll blues song called 'Bluesberry Jam', aka 'Jammin' With Stu'.
Adapted from the following source: Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
Adapted from the following source: Martin Elliott, The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2002, Cherry Red Books, 2002.
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