The Rolling Stones, 1969-1974 – The Mick Taylor Years – Limited Collector’s Edition (2010)
Interviews: John Mayall, Al Perkins, Bill Plummer, Richard Greenfield, and others.
Chapters: Introduction, The End of the 60s, New Guitarist in Town, Back On The Road, Dawn of a New Decade, The Drugs Don’t Work, Exile, Goats Head and the A List, It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll, Further Into the 70‘s.
Director: Alex Westbrook
Studio: Chrome Dream SDVD557 [7/27/2010]
Video: 1.33:1 Color
Audio: PCM stereo
Length: 99 minutes
Rating : ***
By 1969, The Rolling Stones were dubbed “the greatest rock and roll band in the world”. However, there was a storm brewing. Due to the ongoing personal and legal problems of founding member, Brian Jones, the group had not toured for three years. In a common narrative for this era, Jones would meet his untimely demise. The Rolling Stones would select their first replacement, Mick Taylor. The 20-year-old had been a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and was considered an accomplished guitarist. In the next few years, the band would release an unprecedented trio of rock classics (Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exiles On Main Street), tour the world and become legendary. Taylor’s versatile and creative blues guitar is credited for influencing the musical chemistry.
This documentary, with the help of archival photographs, performance, and interviews with musicians and music critics, attempts to capture this meteoric ascension. Despite the title, the DVD focuses on the leaders of the group, the charismatic lead singer, Mick Jagger and the infamous guitar hero, Keith Richards. There is an emphasis on the power struggle between the two, as well as the creative spirit that united them.
For diehard Stones fans, there are fascinating details of the recording of these indelible albums. For example, it took over one hundred takes of “Tumbling Dice” to produce a song that had a loose unrehearsed feel. The group would get to release Sticky Fingers under their own label with Atlantic Records. Many of the tracks on Exiles On Main Street were recorded without the entire group together. Of course, the culture of debauchery and excess is scrutinized in detail. It is suggested that the early to mid-1970s tumult of hugely popular acts like the Stones and Led Zeppelin hastened the end of the rock era.
The photographs (black & white and color) are evocative, reflecting the atmosphere of popular culture in this time. There is some interesting live footage ( a slow bluesy version of “Honky Tonk Woman” is memorable), but there should have been more. There is an academic context that is too subdued, and doesn’t convey the excitement of this iconic phenomenon.
— Robbie Gerson
