The Stones Roll On With New Album

Rolling Stones
Shine A Light
The Album
5 scoops of Bosco (out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco

I remember sitting at a Rolling Stones concert in the 1980's and thinking that these guys as they were approaching their fifties probably didn't have a lot of Rock and roll left in them. They would gracefully retire on top and retire to their farms in England and enjoy their grandchildren.

Fast forward twenty years later and the bad boys from London are still pushing the envelope as to how old you can be to participate in rock and roll and still be viable.

Now in their mid to late 60's, the Rolling Stones in conjunction with Martin Scorcese have released a live concert film entitled Shine A Light. It may very well be the last concert film that the Stones or Scorcese for that matter will ever produce. It's like Keith Richards says between numbers, as he repeats the old Vaudeville line, "It's good to be here...It's good to be anywhere". Fitting because the Beacon Theatre, a New York institution, where this album is recorded, was an old Vaudeville house.

I have not seen the movie yet...am anxious to... but I just got done listening to the album and I am in awe.

The Rolling Stones on the "Shine A Light" album sound better than ever. From the Martin Scorcese nervous-voiced lead in on "Jumpin' Jack Flash" to the "Brown Sugar" finale, the Stones are tight and energetic and leave it all on stage at the Beacon in this live recording.

This concert album, as in another critically acclaimed Scorcese concert film, "The Last Waltz" with The Band, has some great special guests. Christina Aguillerra chimes in on "Live With Me" and the legendary Buddy Guy joins the Stones for a Muddy Water's tune "Champagne and Reefer". Jack White III lends himself to "Loving Cup".

Most interesting is a new phrasing and renditions of "Shattered" and "She Was Hot" as well as the Temptations "Just My Imagination"

Filling out the playlist on this extraordinary live album is "All Down the Line", "As Tears Go By", "Some Girls", "Faraway Eyes", "You Got the Silver", "Connection", "Sympathy for the Devil", and "Start Me Up"...all handpicked by Mick Jagger.