Shine A Light: Original Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition)

The Rolling Stones

Polydor/Interscope, 2008

http://www.rollingstones.com

REVIEW BY: Mark Millan

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 12/02/2008

A year into their two-year highest grossing tour of all time (A Bigger Bang), the Rolling Stones hooked up with legendary film maker Martin Scorsese to film shows for a concert film. Scorsese chose New York’s Beacon Theatre for the intimate gigs, and the result was a masterful concert film of possibly the greatest band ever. This two-disc set is the soundtrack album and groups together the best takes from both shows. 

The truth is that these guys have no right to be this good this late in the game, but they are and it’s looking like they won’t ever stop. And who could blame them? The Stones appear to follow the blues tradition of carrying on until it’s physically impossible to do so. They still sound great and somehow manage to inject life and swagger into hits that are now over forty years old. 

Opener “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” kicks off with one of Richards’ (courtesy of one Mr. Wyman) most electrifying riffs. The band fall in and Jagger leads them through an aggressive take that leads straight into the frantic “Shattered.”  Undercover’s “She Was Hot” is an interesting inclusion, not being one of their finest moments then, and it is still average at best here. “All Down The Line” fares better, and it’s here that the band sound unbeatable as the horn section kicks in and some serious jamming takes place

An intro cut-in finds Scorsese stating, “We can’t burn Mick Jagger,” something to do with Mick spending too much time under the lights.  Fittingly it introduces a slow-burning version of “Sympathy For The Devil,” which still delivers the goods.  

The first two guest spots are filled by Jack White, who joins the band for a faithful version of “Loving Cup,” and bluesman Buddy Guy for a brilliant take on the old blues song “Champagne & Reefer.” The third is a curious choice, but it works for me as Christina Aguilera swaps spit with Jagger for “Live With Me.” This is immediately followed by the one-two punch of “Start Me Up” and “Brown Sugar,” which amounts to nine-and-a-half minutes in rock heaven.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

As if that’s not enough, the boys roll out “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Paint It Black” for possibly the millionth time, but you won’t hear me complaining. Wood and Richards have been trading blows now for almost thirty-five years and they are still clearly having a blast. Keef takes the helm for his ode to the female form on “Little T&A” before the album comes to an end with a pair of underrated gems.

“I’m Free” is loose and funky while “Shine A Light” is a touching blend of rock and gospel (with great vocals from longtime backers Lisa Fischer and Bernard Fowler),  and this is surely one of their finest moments. 

So that takes care of all the well-known stuff, but the real gold to be found here are the unsung heroes of their canon that they dusted off and delivered with equal parts heart, soul, and muscle.

The first track ever written by Jagger and Richards was not intended for themselves but for a young and pretty Marianne Faithfull, who delivered an eerie take on the innocent charm of “As Tears Go By.” Here The Stones perform it acoustically with a tender sensibility not always evident in even their sweetest ballads. 

This is followed by three cuts from their 1978 LP Some Girls, including a genial reworking of the title track. What was once competent album track is now a bluesy rocker no doubt helped by Wood’s angry slide guitar. Next up is the funky groove of “Just My Imagination,” which finds Jagger’s pipes in fine form. The third of the Some Girls trio is the country-fueled gospel of “Far Away Eyes,” which just floors me every time. It’s at moments like this that one can truly appreciate the diversity of their talents and the depth of their soul. 

Richards again takes the lead for a pair of numbers that finds him in fine voice and rude health. “You Got The Silver” from the stellar Let It Bleed (1969) was his first outing as lead vocalist and is a worthy addition here. It’s possibly a first for Richards singing without his instrument as well, while Ronnie Wood again steals the spotlight with his awesome slide work. “Connection” is a fun rocker that Keef clearly has a soft spot for.

For me, the star of this show is one of my very favorite songs, “Tumbling Dice.”  The version dished up here is the loosest, funkiest take I’ve ever heard and it really exemplifies the mood of the band on the night. This is a fantastic account of the modern day Stones, as was their previous live release, 2004’s Live Licks. It’s also worth noting that apart from their original decade of decadence (the ‘60s), the last ten years have seen the Stones rediscovering and maintaining their mojo in the most unexpected way. 

With a collective age now in excess of 200 years, the remarkable thing is that the group shows no signs of stopping or even slowing down.  There will be more tours and possibly albums, and the only stick in the mud will be if they once again misplace that ever-potent mojo. 

Rating: A-

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© 2008 Mark Millan and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Polydor/Interscope, and is used for informational purposes only.