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* From a 2011 tribute to the late, beyond great “Stu” Stewart featuring long-retired bassist Bill Wyman, here’s the Rolling Stones covering Bob Dylan’s “Watching the River Flow”…

People disagreeing on almost everything,
Makes you stop and wonder why.
Why only yesterday I saw someone on the street
Who couldn’t just help but cry.
Oh, this ol’ river keeps on rollin’, though,
No matter what gets in the way and which way the wind blows,
And as long as it does I’ll just sit here
And watch the river flow.

That’s pretty much how I describe my chosen career.

* Also, now that they’re all 70 or so, I really wish the Stones would play more outstanding tunes like this one. Get back to the roots, guys. Be necessary again to our understanding of what music is, what it has been, what it will always be. And, while you’re at it, go out with some counter-culture dignity.

And I say this as someone who’s been a Rolling Stones fanatic since before I could talk. I so badly want them to be relevant again because I am convinced down to my marrow that they still have it in them if only they’d rise above their jaded, faded, tiresomely self-referential “Star Star” schtick. Just listen to today’s song for proof.

In other words, get the heck off Les Champs-Elysees and get back to 2120 South Michigan Avenue.

/rant

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 12:13 am

Comments

All I can say to that is Amen! And, give us a little more Keith and Charlie and a little less Mick.

Comment by jimbo2 Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 12:21 am
What a great way to wake up!

Comment by Rufus Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 5:38 am
unfortunately, the stones are now driven by the almighty dollar than any thought of musical legacy (which they have already earned). they get top dollar for being a best-of band; relevant bands make far, far, far less…

Comment by bored now Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 6:07 am
That’s the conundrum that long time musicians seem to struggle with- how to get the public to listen to any new music they compose when most everyone in their audience just wants to hear their hits. They have to please their paying customers so they stick with the greatest hits. When they do mix in material it is often received with tepid applause. It’s a tough situation for any musician to navigate.

Now- on to the next round of mudslinging!

Comment by Roadiepig Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 7:40 am
U2 and the Rolling Stones are a bad influence on each other.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 8:13 am
This roots stuff reminds me of when I used to listen to late night blues shows on the radio in the 1980’s. Big Bill Collins and Mr. A (Your Entertainer) were the blues deejays on WNIB in Chicago, a former classical music station.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 8:42 am
Wow. Good stuff.

Your sidebar is good for context too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 8:44 am
If they only could channel Brian Jones.

Comment by Res Melius Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 8:47 am
*Like*

Comment by Toure's Latte Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 9:33 am
Roadiepig, What you say is very true. But, too frequently, when the Stones move away from their Warhorses they play a more recent less known song that they wrote. Not sure if it is Ego or $$ that drives that. Stuff like they played in ‘62 would be great:

The Marquee – July 12, 1962:

- Kansas City (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)
- Baby What’s Wrong (Willie Dixon)
- Confessin’ The Blues (Walter Brown/Jay McShann)
- Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed/Mary Lee Reed)
- Dust My Blues (Elmore James)
- Down The Road Apiece (Tony Raye)
- I’m A Love You (Jimmy Reed)
- Bad Boy (Eddy Taylor)
- I Ain’t Got You (Calvin Carter)
- Hush-Hush (Jimmy Reed)
- Ride ‘Em On Down (Eddy Taylor)
- Back In The USA (Chuck Berry)
- Kind Of Lonesome (Jimmy Reed)
- Blues Before Sunrise (Elmore James)
- Big Boss Man (Luther Dixon/Al Smith)
- Don’t Stay Out All Night (Billy Boy Arnold)
- Tell Me That You Love Me (Jimmy Reed)
- Happy Home (Elmore James)

Now that’s be a setlist

Comment by jimbo2 Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 10:07 am
It’s still there. In fact it’s probably what they listen to themselves when they need to reaffirm what they are after decades. The people who “buy” the most music might be the people who “really listen” to it the least. That must be the explanation. What else could it possibly be?

Comment by A guy... Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 10:58 am
thanks for the music, Rich!

Comment by Belle Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 12:03 pm
A blazing treatment of a Dylan song by a Stone is Ronnie Wood’s “Seven Days” at the 1992 Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert with a Murderers’ Row of a band: Woody, G.E. Smith, Steve Cropper, the late Howie Epstein, Anton Fig, and Jim Keltner.

Rich, your comment about the Stones straying from their roots brings to mind what Little Steven said while naming guitarists with great tone: “Eric Clapton… used to have it; hasn’t had it much lately.”

Comment by Mugs Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 4:08 pm
===Ronnie Wood’s “Seven Days” at the 1992 Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert ===

Yeah. I had the original recording of that Wood cover from one of his solo records. He owned that song, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 4:10 pm
You are right Mr. Miller.

Comment by Quizzical Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 10:21 pm