Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1986
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Abkco
• ASIN: B000003BF1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,091 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gimme Shelter

2. Love in Vain

3. Country Honk

4. Live with Me

5. Let It Bleed

6. Midnight Rambler

7. You Got the Silver

8. Monkey Man

9. You Can't Always Get What You Want

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the Stones' most beloved albums, 1969's Let It Bleed was a benchmark for several reasons. First, founding guitarist Brian Jones died during the recording process. Second, the Stones take their last significant look at pure blues (Robert Johnson's spooky "Love in Vain") and country ("Country Honk," the two-stepping alter ego of "Honky-Tonk Women") before folding both styles into a cohesive rock & roll vision. Third, it contains some of the band's most eerie hits, such as the flame-enveloped "Gimme Shelter," the drug-reality anthem "Monkey Man," the epic "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and Mick Jagger's menacing "Midnight Rambler." --Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic On Everybody's List, September 22, 2002

By 

Richard R. Carlton (Ada, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let It Bleed (Audio CD)

There was only one version of Let It Bleed. This is it. It was released simultaneously in the UK and US on Dec 5, 1969. The Stones had the guts to leave off their July megahit Honky Tonk Woman and instead (much to the chagrin of record company execs) put a countrified satire of their own hit on the album. The Let It Bleed sessions also produced 3 of their finest works that are not on the album (Honky Tonk Woman, Sweet Virginia, and Sister Morphine).

The album contains a huge chunk of the work that made the band famous for this era....Gimme Shelter, Love in Vain, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, and You Can't Always Get What You Want have all pretty much defined not only the Stones but this era of English-speaking history to the world. The album is a staple in every serious rock collection.....it's that simple.

The album has several notable facts:
.....Brian Jones died the same day the last tracks were recorded in London
.....M.C. Escher and photographer Man Ray were both invited to design the cover (they declined)
.....it includes the 1st song not sung by Mick - You Got The Silver, sung by Keith (Mick's version was left in the can)
.....Gimme Shelter was written by Keith while he waited in his car for girlfriend Anita Pallenberg who was starring with Mick (and actually making love instead of only acting) on the set of Performance
.....the Stones have long been accused of stealing many of the song bits from Ry Cooder who was involved in the early sessions and laid down basic tracks that developed into many of the songs

The tracks were recorded between Feb 9 and Jul 2, 1969 at Olympic Sound, London, with final mixing done at Sunset Sound and Elektra Studios in L.A. between Oct 18 and Nov 3. You Can't Always Get What You Want dates slightly earlier, first recorded on Nov 17, 1968 at Olympic with Al Kooper on French horn, producer Jimmy Miller on drums instead of Charlie, and the 35 member London Bach Choir. In addition to the 9 tracks that made the album, the Let It Bleed sessions also produced:
.....the entire jam session on April 23, 1969 that became the album Jammin' With Edward
.....Honky Tonk Woman (released as a single - Mick Taylor's 1st session with the band)
.....All Down The Line (released on Exile On Main Street)
.....Stop Breaking Down (released on Exile On Main Street)
.....Sweet Virginia (released on Exile On Main Street)
.....Shine A Light (released on Exile On Main Street)
.....Loving Cup (released on Exile On Main Street)
.....Sister Morphine (released on Sticky Fingers)

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stones' Blues, July 27, 2000

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Let It Bleed (Audio CD)

Let It Bleed is the bluesiest of all the Stones' records and this probably has to do with the addition of former Bluesbreakers guitarist Mick Taylor to the band. He adds some fine slide and blues guitar work to the band. This album sounds like it could have been recorded in the Mississippi Delta. In fact "Love In Vain" is an old blues song that the band sings in a dirge-like fashion. "Midnight Rambler" sounds like something that Muddy Waters could have written. "Let It Bleed" contains just a simple guitar and drum backing, but is a great song. "You Got The Silver" has Keith singing lead and it is some of his best vocal work ever. "Country Honk" is a country reworking of their number one hit rocker "Honky Tonk Woman". There are some hard rockers on the album including the opening track "Gimme Shelter" and the scorching "Live with Me". "Monkey Man" is one the most underappreciated songs in the Stones catalog. Martin Scorcese used it brilliantly in the film "Goodfellas" and it contains some classic screeching by Jagger. Of course the most played track on the album is the last one, "You Can't Always Get What You Want". It's the Stones slap of reality to the hippie's love & peace movement and a foreshadowing of the violence that would pierce the country, including their own Altamont show.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Masterpiece, October 28, 2000

By 

AntiochAndy "antiochandy" (Antioch, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let It Bleed (Audio CD)

This is another of my personal top ten favorite album/CDs. Coming on the heels of "Beggars Banquet", this set has been called one of the two most assured albums in rock history (the other was "Who's Next" by The Who). This recording also marked the end of Brian Jones' association with the Stones. Though his replacement, Mick Taylor, was certainly an excellent guitarist, some would argue that the band was never quite the same without Jones. He provided a versatility to the Stones arrangements that has since been unmatched.

This album is studded with gems. It opens with "Gimme Shelter", a great Stones rocker, and ends with "You Can't Always Get What You Want", another of their best-known songs. In between are the bluesy "Love In Vain", a countrified version of "Honky Tonk Women" called "Country Honk", and the fluid rock of "Live With Me" and "Let It Bleed". There is also the studio version of "Midnight Rambler", a dark piece that showcases Jagger's dramatic posturing at its most effective, and a couple of tunes that, in my opinion, are underrated. "You Got The Silver" is Keith at his best both playing and singing, while "Monkey Man" builds to a frenzy of wailing and gibbering by Mick at the end.

The Stones are one of the essential bands of rock and roll, and this recording, along with "Beggars Banquet", find them at the peak of their game. There are, of course, several other outstanding Stones recordings, but it just doesn't get any better than this. If you own any rock music, you've got to own these.