Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter - London - Sept 9, 1973

[MrStevebanta]

I too love ronnie Wood--with The Faces---Mick Taylo era was their finest !!!!

[wincanton2]

I believe this from a bootleg called "Nasty Music" recorded in Brussels in 1973.

It is excellent, although the version played at Altamont is a very raw version, considering the events unfolding around them.

[Jlipnicki]

Never quite worked out why Charlie Watts is such a perfect drummer to this music, perhaps its what he doesn't do rather than what he does ...

[keeeeeeeeeeeef91]

this out rocks zepplin!!!

[bobbychomp]

wow, forgot how good mick taylor was...damn

[thudstrike]

Taylor played on some of the best Stones albums that marked an era of Rock."Time Waits for No One"on Its Only Rock N Roll (1974) was his swan song masterpiece for the band.

[Woalpadinga]

Epic Mick Taylor solo

[fondofrory]

2:50 = the classic mick taylor riff ! Sound amazing as always .

[MrSlitskirts]

Great live version; regards.

[coperoad]

Great version, never heard it before.

[jimdep1]

Somebody here said Mick Taylor turned the Stones into a serious R&Roll Band, that is SO true. His playing generated a chemistry of energy they haven't had since. I loved the Mick Taylor era. It was a great era for music in general and the Stones were tops for rock, after we lost Hendrix.

[ALLEYJOE]

who the fuck is mick taylor

[fondofrory]

@ALLEYJOE I hope you joke ... Or shame on you

[3d3a3v3i3d]

@ALLEYJOE who the fuck are you that you don´t know him????

[ALLEYJOE]

@3d3a3v3i3d what the fuck is to you who i know

[schapman5]

I always laughed when Keith talked about his guitar playing with Ronnie and how it is the "ancient form of weaving". To me it was more like 2 guitars playing trying to make enough sound to pass as one. Richards / Taylor complimented each other and were the perfect rhythm and lead combo. This was when the Stones were a guitar band. Taylor gave them a dimension of sound that allowed for incredible skilled creativity without sacrificing the meaty raw power of Richards chord play.

[demonsbutterfly]

Mick Taylor turned the Stones into a serious Rock Band...Thank God he did.

[Stacie4Kirk]

keith and ronnies guitar weaving? my arse, more like covering up each others fuck ups, keith has never been the same since mick taylor left, and thats a long time to just keep plodding along.

[TheRiotRadio]

Awesome...really the best version EVER!! Even better than Amsterdam ´95, because it´s sharper and more melodic at same time - because of Mick Taylor´s lead guitar!

[clafong9]

Live versions of songs are sometimes so muddy and slapped together. This is fantastic and mostly due to Mick Taylor and his beautiful, not-a-bad-note playing. Just beautiful stuff, not duplicated all these many years since he left the stones.

[martshankleman]

Absolutely agree about Mick Taylor's exquisite lead, what makes it so special is his timing , each of his phrases and every note clicks with Charlie's drum beats and keef's chords. Magical. 

[jimbeaux70427]

Taylor kept Keef on the edge, Keef really had to play well, or sound like like shit, i've listen to the Brian stage, Brian kept him sharp, Taylor kept him sharp, if him and woody have this ancient form of guitar weaving down, i dont know where it is, i dont hear it, if any body had it, it wasTaylor and him......freak

[schapman5]

Best version of one of the greatest songs in music history. Mick Taylor burned white hot for those years! I love Woody, but this is guitar meshing at it's best. The whole band is on top of their game. They were "The Worlds Greatest Rock n' Roll Band". People don't know the Stones live music from this period because of copyright issues with their business manager. Thank goodness for You Tube!

[stoogettes4me]

OK..I guess this settles it...Mick Taylor is a Genius...this version is so awesome, the only thing to top this would be to see the Boys in action in the Vid of This

[monkfistlust]

WOODY MADE KEITH LAZY

I LIKE HIS WORK AND ALL BUT IN THE STONES ITS BRIAN AND TAYLOR FOR ME

[Mr1979longhorn]

@monkfistlust Couldnt agree more with ya !!!

[donedave]

epitome of rock 'n' roll- rooted in gospel music, spirt of black folks crying out for freedom- filled with the spirit of redemption on Sunday morning under the revival tent w/ poor white country folk; and then there's the Stones, raw uncompromising dancing with the devil, singing the blues like angels on fire; Gimme Shelter: stop the killing, stop the hate (rape murder, it's just a shot away), bring the love sister (it's just a kiss away), all the while Mick Taylor screams away....

[donedave]

@donedave you can picture it in your mind, if you're free: Bill standing looking bored the bass notes pulsing through his fingers, Charlie hitting every stop on time, Keith going down, down, down slashing his tele; Mick Taylor howling; and Jagger praying for peace through all the violent mayhem!

[lutefireball]

Just love it when Jagger steps in.........yyyyyeah!!

[snorkelvideo]

No slide on this song, that is for sure....the was so smooth and his vibrato so perfect that it sounds like it....he played slide on love in vain and all down the line, and happy, but not this one....from one who plays slide...he is the master of slide in my opinoin.

[fondofrory]

@snorkelvideo For me the master is rory gallagher . B ut here Taylor is just amazing ...

[ringozstarr]

Perhaps the finest moment in the history of rock. Nothing even touches The Stones, they are in a league of their own.

[leahpd19]

Absolutely fucking blistering slide guitar mastery by the brutally forgotten demi-demon of guitar work diversity--Mick Taylor. Listen to the piercing heights he reaches on this version of "Gimme Shelter." Just like Duane Allman at his best. He even pushes the passion in Jagger's vocals to the edge.

[davepguitarservices]

Yeah Mick Taylor rocks on this. Sounds like he's copped a load of Hendrix's Watchtower licks.

[merossi1]

Mick Taylor and KR.....rock and roll at its best....and not to be duplicated again.

[dukefrank]

This is pure rock & roll .Raw and hard. not like the $hit of today.

[hoarse01]

As much as a like Ronnie Wood, the lead by Mick Taylor has never been equalled since he left. He was a great to the world of rock and roll when he left.

[petpmeith]

M.Taylor's guitar is driving me in trance state! I wonder if any sexual game ever gave me such an orgasm!!!

[Nielsanderspoulsen]

This is probably the best version of Gimme Shelter whatsoever. Mick Taylor is fabulous, simply. The man lifted the Stones the greatest rock and roll band. The combination of kid Taylor and the tough macho Keith was amazing. And actually, Jagger also really good on this version.

[hkyoutoob]

12/24/2010 As far as the comment from GRAMP7 1 month ago, yes I most definitely agree that the Stones peak, especially live shows was 69-73 when Mick Taylor was there. He was a real technician, who added addicting melodies, as well as structure, to the Stones. I was at theLA Forum in 1969 for two shows, I think they played 5 or so that week. That concert, and The Who in '71 doing Who's Next, would have to be my top 2 concerts. I also recommend early M.Taylor,"Snowy Wood" with J.Mayall.

[cowboysfan782008]

@hkyoutoob I can't imagine seeing the Stones in 69', or The Who in 71'. I almost saw the Stones in 81' at the LA Coliseum when I was about 13 but didn't. Saw all shows from 89' on, but not the same. 1981 was the last time to see them young. I preferred the 94' Rose Bowl show with The Chili Peppers to the 89' with G&R. I imagine you saw Zep too?

[claptongroupie]

takes you back to a time and a place ...I miss that time and place

[tellthetruthoryour]

Much better music than the c-rap we have to hear blasting from suburban white boys lame ass cars

[Luarrangel]

Taylor and Keith are just perfect!!

[lorio62]

the best version ever mick t the best ever

[l7ebels]

@lorio62 no wayyyyyy... there are better versions, and the views agree

[Luarrangel]

I AM IN HEAVEN!!!

[GRAMP7]

This song says it all about the Stones at their peak. Mick Taylor's awesome guitar work is no where more evident than here. Live stones 1969-1973 are the best rock and roll has to offer. No one has ever even come close. Les Paul must have been ecstatic at what Mick Taylor was able to create from his guitar.

[alaswoe2u]

MT's riff has the psychydelic twang of it's time: a sort of kaleidoscopic vortex of residual 60’s progressive guitar metal sound that is seriously "out of sight”.

[kentucy9999]

Amazing. LIke this version and the 1st 1972 version from the Philadelphia concert the best. {also posted on youtube} Mick Taylor is unbelievable.

[helenawf]

I would say that this is one of the three on the podium among the Gimme Shelter renditions I know of this song ever.

[juscurious]

Listen to Gimme Shelter when Mick Taylor was with the Stones and then after he left. There is no comparism. Between 1969-1974 they were the best rock & roll band ever. Nobody will EVER be this good again. They were never as good after Taylor left. Nothing against Ron Wood, but they simply were not as good.

[nostaticatall]

@juscurious @beatlephred Right on.

The Stones really haven't had a "lead guitarist" since MT left the band. There isn't enough contrast between Keith and Ron therefore they haven't done anything that interesting since... except for a few numbers on Black and Blue where the gorgeous leads were played by Wayne Perkins.

[juscurious]

@nostaticatall 100% agreement. Not much more left to say except that the power lead guitar they had with Taylor gave the Stones a dimension that they never had before or since. It's interesting that they offered Jeff Beck the job before Ron Wood. He turned it down because he knew it was a dead end street despite the money. It might have been interesting what they would have been like with Beck. Beck is an even greater guitarist than Taylor but would he had fit in? We will never know will we.

[nostaticatall]

@juscurious It is interesting about the offer to Jeff Beck. I had heard that too and have wondered what they would have done together. Musically it might have been very interesting but I'm actually surprised that they would approach Jeff Beck in a way. I mean no disrespect toward Mick and Keith but Jeff Beck has quite a presence and is such a monster guitar player, he may have been more than a handful for Mick and Keith.

[marinman39]

@juscurious Totally agree about what Mick Taylor did for the stones, he raised them to a level they have not seen since! Bluesy rock doesn't get any better than this recording.... Jeff Beck is a true original and has a signature style all his own so I seriously doubt he would have fit in the Rolling Stones sound at all, think he would have completely changed it. In fact, Beck is notorious for not fitting in with anyone for long, but a genius he is.

[goonchistaw]

absolutely incredible !!!!

what did this band run on ?

mick taylor !!! words fail me.....

[oclero]

Mick Taylor is almost the soul of the song (when played live) !!!

[alanabit]

I saw them on the seventh for the first time. I have always been a Mick Taylor fan too!

[allgrams713]

Interesting to listen on UT to these various renditions of this song from different venues. While there are similarities, the subtle differences are noteworthy and just plain fun.

[SyndroOm3]

Very good version maybe one of the greatest =)

[beatlephred]

Mick Taylor and Keith, they rocked it - loved Ron with Faces but he didn't mesh like Taylor and Richards. Mick Taylor - criminally underrated and no royalties. Someone should take a bullwhip to Jagger & Richards give them a little Midnight Rambler. This version is effing incredible even without Merry Clayton doing backing vocals. Thanks for posting it!

[jagfug]

@beatlephred You said it brother

[amixofeverything]

@beatlephred So true! Mick Taylor was the best guitarist the Stones ever had. Certainly the most technical and talented.

[rolling422]

@beatlephred well i like both mr taylor and mr wood...no sense comparing...they just do what they do...all good gifts

[paraloidb72]

@beatlephred

Absolutely !!! Once Mick left the Stones went downhill really quickly. Most of my favourite Stone's songs 1968 - 1975 are partly because of his guitar playing: how about Richards and Taylor playing against each other on Sticky Finger's "Can't you hear me knocking": best guitar duet EVER !

Ronnie unfortunately is just a poor man's Keith.

[SoVerySappy]

@beatlephred Yeah Mick Taylor got screwed...I think mostly by Mick. And Im sure Keith was aware of it.

[beggar81]

I like listening to these gems as therapy after having to listen to crap that passes today as music in public places.

[thedragon9999]

Great version.

[iwasbornin1955]

WOW...Mick taylor and keith are the best duo ever.

[billyjo1881]

@iwasbornin1955 Got that right.

[soundshunter]

Best ever ! Fantastic...awesome !!