Just supposing The Rolling Stones ever tire of documenting their decline and wish to celebrate their heyday instead - crazy thought, I know - <I>Ladies and Gentlemen</I> would make an excellent second half of a 2-disc set, twinned with the infamous <I>Cocksucker… More
Just supposing The Rolling Stones ever tire of documenting their decline and wish to celebrate their heyday instead - crazy thought, I know - <I>Ladies and Gentlemen</I> would make an excellent second half of a 2-disc set, twinned with the infamous <I>Cocksucker Blues</I>. Seeing the band emerge victorious from the shambolic excesses of <I>...Blues</I> to give this splendid concert would have a similar sort of impact as watching The Beatles on the Apple rooftop after an hour's studio bickering in <I>Let It Be</I>. The film captures The Stones at their reinvigorated peak, having successfully wriggled out of a miserly record deal and escaped the equally rapacious clutches of the British taxman, accompanied by arguably their two greatest sidemen, pianist Nicky Hopkins and saxophonist Bobby Keys. This is everything a great concert movie should be. No gimmicks, no masturbatory shots of an adoring crowd; just a great band playing killer versions of some of their best material, mainly culled from <I>Let It Bleed</I>, <I>Sticky Fingers</I> and <I>Exile on Main St</I>. Ta, r&b.