Customer Reviews

Sympathy for the Devil Remixes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Not to say that what we have here is bad, it's just that this isn't a necessary purchase by any stretch of the imagination. However, it's cheap compared to full length albums, and if you're curious, why not pick it up?

The Neptunes, Fatboy Slim, and Full Phatt, each recorded their own remix of 'Sympathy for the Devil', one of if not THE greatest track, that the Stones ever cut. Each remix had also been cut down for the radio, so both versions of each remix are included here. Quite frankly, I find listening to the radio versions a waste of time, since they're only included to beef up the cd, somehow, but i guess for the sake of being complete, it makes sense.

The Neptunes' remix, in my opinion, is the best of the three. It stays true to the style of the original, while at the same time, being fresh and interesting. This is especially true when the beginning of the last verse starts (after the guitar solo), and the music changes to the acoustic guitar, and the string arrangements.

Fatboy Slim's remix, is ok, at best. Although, this one is worth a listen, because somehow, they got their hands on an extended version of the original recording, which includes more riffs from Keith's guitar, and Mick growling, which was cut due to the fade out.

Full Phatt's remix is the one that i don't really care for. The techno/dance beat just doesn't work for me. Still, for the sake of being new and somewhat interesting, i guess it's worth at least one listen.

And lastly, we have the original, which first appeared on the Beggars Banquet album back in '68, and as it proves once again, is untouchable.

You get exactly what you are promised in this one. Given we probably all bought it due to the curosity factor, of course, no one who bought this really should be bitching too much.

The last track is the original March-June 1968 mix that became the classic with Jagger, Richards, Wyman, & Watts plus Rocky Dijon's congas, Nicky Hopkins' piano and Marianne Faithful and Anita Pallenberg adding vocals. Then you get 6 remixes, 2 each by the Neptunes, Fatboy Slim, and Full Phatt.

The Neptunes pair is by far the best....leaving Mick to do some acapella work works great plus they had enough sense not to try to outdo the original length (something Fatboy Slim should have considered as his full length remix exceeds the original by more than 2 minutes.....without adding significantly to any acoustic experiences of the Stones original mix)....so what is the point of a remix again?

Full Phatt does a decent job on both.....the first is better in my opinion but both are good enough they should have run in second place, not third.

Finally, this would be much better if there were more of the classic recordings of the song that have already been done with perhaps the version from Maxx or one of the other DVDs.

By the way, in response to a previous reviewer, Keith Richards played bass as well as guitar on the Stones' original recording of Sympathy for the Devil, not Bill Wyman. And, although the remixes are good (it's an awesome song so they couldn't go wrong) none can touch the original version.

My boyfriend bought this cd single with neat dance versions of The Stone's classic song "Sympathy For The Devil". All the remixes are cool and sound great. Stone's lovers should pick this up and listen to it and enjoy the groove. I also like the regular album version too which is also included on the single. Another reviewer feels it's not necessary to have released this single, all I can say is open your mind, get your head out of the sixties man. The old stuff is great but updating doesn't hurt as is in this case. Buy it and enjoy.

The Neptunes version is good, and the a capella part at the break "just as every cop is a criminal ..." is worth getting the single - Mick's voice is pure and great, as it should be.
The Rolling Stones are the KING OF THE WORLD !!

In my opinion SFTD is the best rock song ever written. I was pretty sure no remix could even come close to the original but by curiosity I got this album. The remix by the neptunes is ok, seems to me that they understood what the song is about (keeping the bass and the piano untouched). I also liked the "a cappella" part of it (after the guitar solo, "just as every cop is a criminal..."). Overall they made some contribution. The two other remixes are unecessary, just taking stuff out of the song, changing it from an incredibly rich/well arranged song into an regular good song.

Featuring remixes and re-edits by The Neptunes, Fatboy Slim and Full Phatt, The Rolling Stones classic "Sympathy For The Devil" is nicely updated for 2003. The Neptunes "Full Length Remix" (5:54) has a newly added percussion line, lots of boom, dropout effects, and acoustic guitars and orchestra. Mick Jagger's original vocals and Keith Richard's guitars and the piano line all remain intact if not tampered with somewhat. Unfortunately, Bill Wyman's bass has been toned down (and replaced by artificial bass) to the point it's hardy recognizable. Fatboy Slim's "Full Length Remix" (8:22) has a new percussion line which adds even more punch to this track, with dropout effects galore, phasing, and new synthesizers. Again, Jagger's vocals, Richard's guitars and (thank God) Wyman's bass is left intact. Full Phatt's "Full Length Remix" (5:30) is breakbeat with dropout and scratch effects added. As in The Neptune's remix, Wyman's bass is toned down to next to nil, but Jagger's vocals and Richard's guitars are left alone. The "Original ('68 Album Version)" (6:16) is also included on this cd maxi single as well as short "Radio Remixes" of the "Full Length Remix" versions. This is a SACD (Super Audio Cd) playable on regular cd players as well as those capable of playing Super Audio Compact Discs. If you are a Rolling Stones fan then pick up this cd maxi single, it's better than you may think.

With seven versions of the same song, you wonder if it's worth it - yeah, it is. "The Neptune's" two versions focus on the vocal and the percussion, leaving the bass out most of the way. "Fatboy Slim" adds more special effects and has the bass going full steam, but they too have the special effects that can either add or detract from the song - it's your interpretation. "Full Phat" basically does the same thing, only those versions are livelier with the percussion, bass and effects. The only real reason to buy this extended mix is the Rolling Stones true version at 6:16 minutes, where in SACD surround sound; you can hear everything you never heard before. It is that crystal clear. Big kudos for having veteran pianist Nicky Hopkins on board and percussionist Ricky Dijon made his historic mark here. The lead guitar sounds best on the final track and we can even thank Marianne Faithful for background vocals. I'd say this is a hit across the board.

Everyone has a different opinion regarding these remixes and frankly, i just can't see myself listening to this whole album in one sitting as there is too much redundancy. These are essentially three remixes of the same song, with a long and short version of each for a total of six track ranging from under four minutes to over 8 minutes in lenght.

But never mind all that!

This album is A MUST for anyone because of it's last track: The original Sympathy for the Devil, beautifully remixed in 5.1 Multichanel Audio. Here, the lead guitar and vocals use the center chanel and the congas and maracas have been sent to the surrounds to provide a nice envelopping sound without getting cheezy...

If only all the Stones' Abkco rereleases were like this!

The remix of Sympathy for the Devil was a brilliant idea but it could have been much better.
The remix released in 2003 features a long and full length remix by respectively the Neptunes, Fatboy Slim and Full Phatt. The seventh, and last piece in the record, is the Rolling Stones' original recording.
Leaving aside that the original recording seems (to me at least)to be mych better than the more recent remixes, there's another reason to think that this projecty could have been realized in a much better way.
In addition to the original recording and the most recent remixes -three would have been enough, six is way too much- the Stones should have included some historical live performances of their classic song (the version performed in Hyde Park for Brian Jones'funeral, the version recorded in Love you Live and so on). This would have shown that no matter how it is performed or when it is performed, 'Sympathy' is always a phenomenally fresh and intriguing song. This, and nothing less than this, would have done justice to the greatness of the Stones.