Viewer Comments: The Stones' Best/Worst Live vs Studio 

Thanks so much for this fun follow-up to the last episode! And thanks for the shout-out. Totally agree re Hand of Fate and Dance Little Sister, but ain’t gonna happen. That’s why we have so many Stones cover bands out there playing the tracks Mick Keith and Ronnie won’t play live anymore.

Hey Justin! What a beautiful voice you have. Great videos. My preffered in the internet.

Brussel’s Affair Midnight Rambler is the best. But yes, Ya Ya’s Out brought us to the dance.

Hi Justin, thanks for the mention! Glad you "get" the BJ era live, particularly 1967. Many fans don't. I didn't start buying the albums on first release until 'Tattoo You' when I was 18, though I was slowly catching up before that. The first time I heard 'Let Me Go' and 'Shattered' was via the live 'Still Life' album! It took some getting used to the studio versions afterwards. Interesting that you say they MUST do songs like 'Paint It Black', 'Get Off Of My Cloud' and 'Ruby Tuesday'. From 1969 - 1982, they ignored these songs (even 'Satisfaction' was largely missing from 1972 to 1978), yet they still obviously pleased most fans. Personally, I still like to hear them... but perhaps not every night.

As just a music listener (not a player) I enjoyed this discussion and learned plenty, hopefully you’ll do more of these. Thanks!!

About the "Jumpin' Jack Flash" intro......they actually played the "original" intro..or a facsimile of it....early in the Steel Wheels tour. There are a handful of shows from early in that tour where Keith played that intro prior to launching into the main riff. Off the top of my head I think maybe Toronto was one of them? And I believe maybe Alpine Valley? I'd have to dig out my bootlegs from that tour to confirm but I know it was something they tried a few times. Afterall, 1989 was the beginning of a different philosophy for the Stones as a live band where they used more concise arrangements that tried to replicate the studio recordings as much as possible. The early tour versions of JJF with that intro are a good example.

You really nailed your explanation with Rocks off live difficulties. It's not that easy song to sing. I always wondered why they kept performing it... The studio version is pure greatness. Thank you for the channel.

Absolutely love this video Justin, might be one of my favorite pieces of content you’ve put out !! So many interesting opinions that have changed my thinking about a few live songs. 1967 tour recordings are so good, hopefully the Stones get the rights back eventually to release 60’s demos/live shows 🤞🏻 On a completely unrelated note, you have fantastic hair, i’m jealous 👌🏻

Great format, love it. Yes please, repeat it from time to time.

This was a great video! Thanks for posting. A worthy topic indeed!

Might As Well Get Juiced is a wonderful song and I've thought that since I first heard it in 1997. I know many fans don't like it but their loss I say. I'd like for them to try playing it again but fat chance! And yes Dance Little Sister I'm sure would be great live.

Thanks for another good vid! ✌️❤️ Going to see the Stones in LA in a couple weeks and i could not be more excited!!

Thanks for replying to my comment cool! I think you are exactly right the STONES have never been after duplicating Studio versions live. As KR has said many times in interviews, often the songs have to be worked out live for a while to see how they actually should be played. On KR’s various Guitar choices live …he has always been pretty eclectic although now people always connect him with Telecasters live. In fact on a lot of the G tuning tunes were not recorded originally on TELES ! For instance Jim Dickinson there at the Muscle Shoals sessions remembered that KEITH used a Gibson, probably a JR. on BROWN SUGAR. I believe Honky Tonk Woman is not a TELE either on the original. Anyway live he uses the Tele for years on the 5 string songs. The 335 does not bother me, I think he may just like the look and versatility, I don’t think he likes to push distortion playing it though. Giving it a mellower sound.. interesting to note that in the late 70’s there are instances of him using STRATS live which he never is seen using now…then there were the MUSIC MANS in the 80’s ! Now those are models you never see now.

I love the studio version of She's So Cold: slinky, country-ish, and Ronnie's pedal steel break in the middle. Just delicious! I can't stand how they brutalize the song live with distortion and a sped-up tempo.

Heart of Stone was another smash live when played during the club shows in 02-03. And (I think) the only time they played She Smiled Sweetly after 1967 was on that tour.

Great idea to adress the comments this way, Justin, hope you make it a trend ! 😀👍

Great job as always, and I believe doing the show on peoples comments is a very good idea and hope you do decide to do more of it in the future

The Brian Jones era can definitely be replicated in a live setting no doubt with its big hits but something is clearly missing from those performances that is Brian Jones which brought something special to those tracks

I love Voodoo Lounge ! As I like A bigger bang.

Love your videos

Justin you should make a Spotify playlist for your best lives. It would be quite an undertaking, but I’d legit be willing to pay for that and my guess is other viewers would too! There’s a “Keith Richards Sings” playlist on Spotify that helped me discover some cool songs of his I had missed. Love the channel bro! 🤜

Dance Little Sister would be stellar! Going to both Chicago shows so we'll see!

Keith bought back the 335 for gimme shelter in Houston 2024. But went back to the Jr’s for the rest of the tour

Hello !!There Justin❤❤😊so intressting to listen to you so good.Your voice is so lowely to listen to you do a great video program about all what Stones do❤❤❤😂and i be a fan seens 1962 so follow they in 62 year now so great They are the best band ever ❤❤and Mick so good frontsinger..😊🎉❤Thanks nice program love it❤❤

72us/73europe tours are closest to my heart. Sweet Virginia in Texas, oh me oh my, better than Nellecote. This Diamonds tour most of the songs are closest as ever to the studio versions. They now use that ultra technique where every member listens to the isolated original part on a hearing aid while playing. Nothing wrong with that. During the tour, they learn by heart, getting better all the time (😉) Full circle.

I meant to comment in your previous video that I’ve always wished keith could play the intro to Gimme Shelter more like the studio version. I’m no guitarist so I can’t put into words but there are several notes in the beginning of that song but when live Keith just hits the same cord several times. I think he may have tried to address this during few shows during the ‘21 tour (see Pittsburgh) perhaps at Steve Jordan‘s prodding?

I've seen the Stones 19 times since 1989. Always ferocious and guitar-driven. That said, some of their great songs just don't work live - "Sway" "Silver Train" "Dance Part 1". On this tour, "Mess You Up" is a clever, fun record, but from what I have seen and heard on YT, it comes off as borderline embarrassing live. Shockingly off key singing, dull beat, band not into it. Why does Mick continue forcing a song that simply does not work live? There are some gems on HD that would rock live-- "Close to You" and the ballad "Depending on You". FYI- love your channel. You do a great job!

They are firing on all cylinders on let it rock

isnt there like a Ya Ya eras version of Under My thumb? yea love the 80s one too!

I have to add one more.. I've always loved the live version of YCAGWYW from Rock n roll circus.

Street Fighting Man in Brussels Affairs is, in my opinion, the best live recording in the entire history of the Stones.

'69 version of UMT is rad. From Gimme Shelter.

I understand keith playing les paul juniors. I have one myself. They are simply comfortable and unlike a strat not too light weight. It's a good compromise because you still have something in your hands

Start Me Up and Miss You never catches the brilliance of the studio. Could be dropped and I wouldn't be upset at all.

Give me I’m Alright from the Brian Jones era for flat out pure youth energy rock n roll swagger

I prefer "Street Fighting Man" from "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" over the studio version. But it's close. Love the Stones, all versions of the lineup.

Yea but do you guys really think Rough Justice would work like a modern Stones era anthem like - You Got Me Rockin or Out of Control? I dont think so even though I loved it on BB

If you listen to the DECCA release of the songs from the Ya-Yas album, there's some real contenders for worst right there lol. But oddly, I really like the dubbed versions of many of the songs on Ya-Yas better than the originals. Jumpin' Jack Flash has a much livelier feel for instance, and Street Fighting Man is pure punk rock, with the original stage guitar sounding almost Pistols-like. As for the best, there are a million Stones performance videos all over this platform, and many are great, particularly the earlier examples. But I have to say that in the Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus the Sympathy for the Devil performance has always captivated me, particularly Jagger's interpretation (see kids, drugs can sometimes be a good thing lol). And the Love You Live album has a lot of great tracks, a welcome relief after the lackluster Black and Blue studio album.

As far as Telecasters possibly being too heavy for Keith's back, i'd like to point out that Billy Gibbons has plenty of Telecasters he's been using for years that have been customized to be lightweight. My vote is for Keith to have an ultra lightweight version of his Black 1972 Tele Custom made & use it for little T&A so all can be right in the world again. Save semi hollowbody guitars for "Almost hear you sigh" or something, not Little T & A!

While listening to you, occurred to me that a majority of Stones classics became so after a killer live version, with rare exceptions.

Always get likes on my comments but never a reply from you bro. So I’d love a reply Why does it surprise you that Paint it Black is their number one song on Spotify?

I think they dropped the intro to JJF because that was Brian's contribution. They don't really want to give Brian his due.