"Number 5" by STEVE MILLER BAND (2012 Edsel 'Special Edition' CD Remaster in Digipak) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Industrial Military Complex Hex..."

For many worshippers of 70ts Rock and Steve Miller's LP output from that revered period – our home collections would probably have consisted of 1973's "The Joker" on Capitol Records (in a natty gatefold), 1976's "Fly Like An Eagle" and the wonderful but sorely overlooked "Book Of Dreams" from 1977 (with Inner Sleeve) – both on Mercury Records.

Well here's another 'overlooked' nugget in his voluminous back catalogue - 1970's "Number 5" - loaded down with the talent of Boz Scaggs, Ben Sidran, Nicky Hopkins, Lee Michaels and members of Charlie McCoy's Area Code 615 (who did the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' theme "Stone Fox Chase" on their 1970 LP "Trip In The Country").

Edsel of the UK have been steadily feeding Steve Miller Band fans a diet of these tastefully presented CD reissues in foldout card digipaks - all newly mastered with superb Audio and featuring upgraded booklets with the artists’ involvement (photos from his own collection, reminiscences) - but sadly minus any outtakes (see full list of titles in the series below). Here are the details for five alive...

UK released 17 September 2012 (25 September 2012 in the USA) - "Number 5" by STEVE MILLER BAND on Edsel EDSA 5007 (Barcode 740155500733) is a straightforward 'Special Edition' Remaster of the 1970 US 10-Track LP with CD Digipak Packaging/Expanded Liner Notes and plays out as follows (36:20 minutes):

1. Good Morning

2. I Love You

3. Going To The Country

4. Hot Chili

5. Tokin's

6. Going To Mexico [Side 2]

7. Steve Miller's Midnight Tango

8. Industrial Military Complex Hex

9. Jackson-Kent Blues

10. Never Kill Another Man

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 5th studio album "Number 5" - released July 1970 in the USA on Capital SKAO-436 and November 1970 in the UK on Capitol EA-ST 436. Produced by STEVE MILLER - it peaked at No. 23 in the USA but didn't chart in the UK.

As you can see from the list of reissues provided below - Edsel of the UK have had a go at a huge swath of his entire recorded out (excepting a few albums from 1971, 1972 and 1973). The card-digipak is a three-way foldout affair with a picture CD and a new 12-page booklet. JOEL SLEVIN of the Soul Francisco Chronicle fanzine and all-round Music Consultant has done the short but informative liner notes which includes photos from Steve's collection, lyrics, original recording credits/reissue details and some label repro's of American 45s ("Going To The Country" on Capitol 2878 and "Going To Mexico" on Capitol 2945) and the British LP on Capitol Records EA-ST 436. It's nicely done. PHIL KINRADE did the new CD Master at Alchemy in London and it sounds amazing - really lovely warmth on the instruments - none too hissy - but too dry either where NR has been excessively used.

"Number 5" was Steve Miller's best selling American album to date (over 350,000 copies on release in 1970) and featured the songwriting talent of BOZ SCAGGS, Fusion Keyboardist BEN SIDRAN, his Bassist BOBBY WINKELMAN and his Drummer TIM DAVIS as well as great STEVE MILLER originals. The players included England's ace Keyboardist NICKY HOPKINS and members of AREA CODE 615 - Charlie McCoy, Bobby Thompson, Buddy Spicher and Wayne Moss along with ex Family Tree Guitarist LEE MICHAELS. It opens on a song from their soon-to-depart bassist Bob Winkelman called "Good Morning". Winkelman takes Lead Vocals on the song while Steve's younger brother Jimmy Miller plays Lead Guitar - it's tippy wind-swirling entrance is almost Todd Rundgren in its feel and Winkelman's voice could easily be mistaken fro Steve's. Jimmy Miller plays a lead guitar blinder on it too.

Things go decidedly 'Steve Miller' with the wickedly good "I Love You" - the first of four solo-penned songs on the album. While the Acoustic Guitars strum and cascading vocals swoon over your speakers like The Beach Boys circa "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" - the song is anchored by brilliant Charlie McCoy Harmonica playing. Along with his fellow Area Code 615 band mate Buddy Spicher on Fiddle - McCoy's Harmonica presence is felt again on the first single released from the album in August 1970 - "Going To The Country" - an unconvincing Country-Rock song that's busy but not particularly memorable. Drummer Tim Davis offers up the first of two songs "Hot Chili" (with one 'l') - the other being "Tokin's". Bud Billings provides the multi-layered Trumpet on the Herb Alpert 'Tijuana' vibe to "Hot Chili" while three members of Area Code 615 countrified the hometown "Tokin's" with McCoy's Harp and Bobby Thompson's Banjo.

Side 2 opens strongly with the 2nd 45 single issued by Capitol from the album - a Funky-Blues co-write with Boz Scaggs by Miller on "Going To Mexico". I've always been a sucker for this groovy little tune that features Lee Michaels on Organ and Curley Cooke on Rhythm Guitar while Steve lets rip on some rather excellent lead Guitar. Benefitting from an expert remix from famed Audio Engineer Glyn Johns - "Going To Mexico" was paired on the rarely seen Capitol 2945 7" single in the USA with "Steve Miller's Midnight Tango" - the first of Ben Sidran's compositions on the album (his second was a co-write with Miller on "Going To The Country"). Love it. With Sidran providing cool keyboard tinkles - "Steve Miller’s Midnight Tango" is the kind of SM song that stays with you.

Jon Savage who compiled the superb "1966" double-CD and accompanying book - put together a CD compilation I loved called "Meridian 1970". On it he chose Miller’s sick-of-it anti-war song "Industrial Military Complex Hex" where he wearily sings "...from Sunday to Sunday...all I hear is bad news..." as the mood chugs along feeling like The Who on a melodic song tip. Just as good is the album’s final showings – two more SM originals – the trippy seven-minute guitar and voices of "Jackson-Kent Blues" - another song raging at the 'four shot down by the National Guards' because they didn't agree with Nixon's views on Vietnam. I've always loved it's echoed space guitars and manic voices - like a nation stoned - a nation that doesn't want to be. The album bows out on "Never Kill Another Man" with Lonnie Turner on Fretless Bass and Nicky Hopkins on Piano - both they and Keith Spicher (on Strings) give the ballad a majesty as Miller wishes "...if I can make it through through this life...I'll never kill another man..."

For sure the grittier 'trying times' Side 2 of the "Number 5" LP feels far better than the slightly ditzy Country jigs of Side 1 - but its once again one of those Steve Miller albums that has great moments criminally overlooked with the passage of four and half decades. Time to brings the numbers back into your home...

The 2011 and 2012 STEVE MILLER BAND 'Special Edition' 

CD Reissue Series from Edsel Records of the UK

1. Children Of The Future (April 1968) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5003 - Barcode 0740155500337

2. Sailor (October 1968) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5004 - Barcode 740155500733

3. Brave New World (June 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5005 - Barcode 740155500535

4. Your Saving Grace (November 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5006 - Barcode 740155500634

5. Number 5 (July 1970) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5007 – Barcode 740155500733

6. Fly Like An Eagle (July 1976) – released 11 October 2010 on Edsel EDSX 3010 (with Bonus DVD) – Barcode 740155301033 – see REVIEW

7. Book Of Dreams (May 1977) - released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1051 – Barcode 740155105136 – see REVIEW

8. Circle Of Love (October 1981) – released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1052 – Barcode 740155105235

9. Abracadabra (June 1982) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1053 – Barcode 740155105334

10. The Steve Miller Band Live! (April 1983) - released 4 April 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1056 – Barcode 740155105631

11. Italian X-Rays (November 1984) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1054 – Barcode 740155105433

12. Wide River (July 1993) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1055 – Barcode 740155105532

PPS: Could someone please get to Remastering long-standing holes in the Steve Miller back catalogue - October 1971's "Rock Love", March 1972's "Recall The Beginning...A Journey From Eden" and especially October 1973's "The Joker" – that way fans and the curious would have access to a 'near' complete run in decent Audio... 

"Truth" by JEFF BECK [feat ROD STEWART] (May 2005 EMI 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Rock My Plimsoul..."

Jeff Beck's debut solo LP was always going to be a barnstormer - and with a band featuring talent like Rod Stewart on the microphone and Ronnie Wood on second guitar - plus contributions from friends like Jimmy Page, Nicky Hopkins, Aynsley Dunbar and Keith Moon - that's what 1968's "Truth" gives you – a staggering start. Never mind that some claim it even kick-started a subtle but definite move away from Blues-Rock to Hard Rock into the bargain. There's a lot to assess...so once unto the riffage...guvnor...

UK released May 2005 - "Truth" by JEFF BECK on EMI 873 7492 (Barcode 724387374928) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Eight Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (70:37 minutes):

1. Shapes Of Things [Side 1]

2. Let Me Love You

3. Morning Dew

4. You Shook Me

5. Ol' Man River

6. Greensleeves [Side 2]

7. Rock My Plimsoul

8. Beck's Bolero

9. Blues De Luxe

10. I Ain't Suspicious

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut LP "Truth" - released July 1968 in the UK on Columbia SX 6293 (Mono) and Columbia SCX 6293 (Stereo) and in the USA on Epic BN 26413. Produced by MICKIE MOST - it peaked at No. 15 in the US LP charts (no UK chart placing).

BONUS TRACKS:

11. I've Been Drinking (Stereo Mix) - originally the Mono UK B-side to "Love Is Blue" released as a 7" single on Columbia DB 8359 in February 1968

12. You Shook Me (Take 1) - First take without piano that was overdubbed on the Final Version - Take 7

13. Rock My Plimsoul (Stereo Mix) - originally the Mono UK B-side to "Tallyman" released as a 7" single on Columbia DB 8227 in July 1967

14. (Beck's) Bolero (Mono Single Version with Backwards Guitar) - originally the Mono UK B-side of "Hi Ho Silver Lining" released as a 7" single on Columbia DB 8151 in March 1967

15. Blues De Luxe (Take 1) - Previously Unreleased (Take 7 is the Master)

16. Tallyman - originally the Mono UK A-side - released as a 7" single on Columbia DB 8227 in July 1967

17. Love Is Blue - originally the Mono UK A-side - released as a 7" single on Columbia DB 8359 in February 1968

18. Hi Ho Silver Lining (Stereo Mix) - originally the Mono UK A-side - released as a 7" single on Columbia DB 8151 in March 1967

Musicians:

JEFF BECK - Electric Guitars, Steel Guitar on 1, Acoustic Guitar on 6, Bass on 5 and Lead Vocals on 16 and 18

ROD STEWART - Lead Vocals

RON WOOD - Bass

MICKY WALLER - Drums and Percussion

Guests:

KEITH MOON of THE WHO - Drums on 8 and 14 - Tympani on 5

JIMMY PAGE of LED ZEPPELIN - 12-String Electric Guitar on 8 and 14

JOHN PAUL-JONES of LED ZEPPELIN - Organ on 4, 5 and 12 - Bass on 8, 14 and 18 - String Arrangements on 18

NICKY HOPKINS - Piano on 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 14 and 15

AYNSLEY DUNBAR - Drums on 13 and 16

CLEM CATTINI - Drums on 18

MADELINE BELL - Backing Vocals on 11

JOHN CARTER & KEN LEWIS - Backing Vocals on 16

The 16-page booklet is a very tasty affair - new liner notes from noted writer and music historian CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY with contributions from the Guitar Maestro himself - black and white photos of the band (Rodders in full microphone manhandling pose) - guests like Nicky Hopkins - and a wonderful Modtastic photo of the pre "Truth" band with Aynsley Dunbar on Drums instead of Mick Waller (he features on Page 8). CSM keeps it light and witty whilst pouring on the factoids - guitar beginnings with The Yardbirds - the 'Jeff-Rod' writer's credits Beck and Stewart used on the album sleeve - both Zeppelin's John Paul Jones and The Who's Keith Moon contributing so much to that old Paul Robeson chestnut "Ol' Man River" (Organ and Tympani) - an unlikely and very unhip choice for a cover version - and yet one that 'so' works.  Long-standing EMI/Abbey Road Audio Engineer PETER MEW carried out the fantastic Remaster - all that latent power now suddenly to the fore - threatening almost all of the time to get snotty, rowdy and salacious with your amp and speakers. Great stuff...

It opens with an oldie done in a new way - a cover of The Yardbirds 1966 hit "Shapes Of Things" - Beck's witty liner notes advising that you crank the track - even if you have the vicar over for afternoon tea. Immediately your struck by the updated heavier guitar sound and Rod's ridiculously good voice – wow – what a combo this band made. The original song "Let Me Love You" starts the first of four 'Jeffrey Rod' writer credits - two more originals in the shape of "Rock My Plimsoul" and "Blues De Luxe" with the last being an 'Arrangement' credit on the old madrigal "Greensleeves". His playing on "Let Me Love You" is fantastic - Stewart singing along with Beck's playing and vice versa. They then take a stab at Tim Rose's "Morning Dew" - a track on his explosive "Tim Rose" debut album on Columbia Records. You can hear why Rod wanted the song - it has that 'soulful' rock thing at its core. The remaster brings up that great wah-wah playing and Ron Wood's sweet bass playing. While you can just about catch Nicky Hopkins Piano tinkles if you listen real close - we still don't seem to know who the 'mysterious Scottish bloke' is on the Bagpipes?

Their brilliant cover of Howlin' Wolf's "You Shook Me" (penned by Willie Dixon) keeps in lean, hard-hitting and dirty - 2:31 minutes of great Blues-Rock. The old nugget "Ol' Man River" gets a kick in the privates too - Moonie's huge tympani drums giving it an epic feel while Zeppelin's JPJ gives it tasteful organ fills. I'm still not convinced if I admire the track more than I like it - but Rod's vocals are truly awesome and Beck's speaker-to-speaker guitar slides are worth the admission fee. Side 2 opens with a clever and beautiful Acoustic Guitar interpretation of "Greensleeves" - Beck sounding like he's Gordon Giltrap all mellowed on a pile of mushrooms. One of my raves is "Rock My Plimsoul" - a Rodders/Beck boogie tune said to bare a close resemblance to B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby". Beck's guitar fills are superb - panning your speakers like Page gone Bonzo on his axe (I love those "over here" calls from Rod). It ends on a one-two - the Slow Driving Blues of "Blues De Luxe" and a fabulous guitared-up cover of Willie Dixon's Wolf showcase "I Ain't Superstitious". It ends the album on a high...

Excluding the awful pop of "Hi Ho Silver Lining" (even if it is Stereo here) - the Bonus Tracks offer up a very cool selection - most of which is killer. The Take 1 version of "You Shook Me" contains Organ instead of Piano and wild guitar playing - someone clearly devouring too much Hendrix for breakfast. "Blues De Luxe" has Rodders laying into the vocals with a passion and at 7:31 minutes - Beck gets to stretch out while Hopkins lays down a Mississippi piano background dripping with ache and feel. The rare single sides are good too and make for quality fan-pleasing extras.

Jeff Beck would briefly dent the LP charts with the even heavier "Beck-Ola" in July of 1969 - but my heart has always been with this raucous, rough and ready starter album - "Truth". And what it must have been like to see this line-up 'live' - giving those tunes what for in some sweaty bar...lost in the music they loved...

"Sticky Fingers: Deluxe Edition" by THE ROLLING STONES (June 2015 Polydor 2CD Reissue - Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

AMAZON UK Best Price Link Above - AMAZON USA Best Price Link Below

"...English Blood Runs Hot..." 

There can’t be too many Rolling Stones fans out there in the big wide world that won’t look at the sleeve of "Sticky Fingers" and grin like a schoolboy watching the English Ladies Hockey Team practice their down strokes. And I suppose if us aging reprobates are to suffer yet another reissue of that absolute Classic Rock Album – then this June 2015 two-disc rehash is a great way to massage our hip-replacements - because frankly it’s a bit of belter. In fact fans of the 'Mick Taylor Era' of The Rolling Stones are going to flip for Disc 2. Once more unto the bleach...

First things first – Disc 1 is not a new version in any way – it’s the remaster done by Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering in 2009 and runs to exactly the same playing time – 46:25 minutes. Disc 2 presents us with 10 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks mixed by BOB IRWIN and mastered by STEPHEN MARCUSSEN – five album outtakes and five live cuts from the last date on their UK Tour – Sunday, 14 March 1971 at The Roundhouse in London.

The 8-page basic inlay that accompanied the 4 May 2009 reissue has been upgraded to 24-pages for this 2CD Deluxe Edition (there is a single disc version that keeps the 8-page inlay). The Andy Warhol torso and underpants photo that was hidden under the original ‘zipper’ sleeve is reproduced on Page 3 - with Pages 4 to 7 giving us new black and white portrait photos of each member of the band (all were once considered for the inner artwork). The photo that did grace the inner insert for the original April 1971 LP is reproduced on the left hand flap as you open the gatefold card digipak – but rather tastefully - an outtake I’ve never seen before from the same photo session is on the right flap. Instead of Mick yawning and Keith grinning in side profile – it has Keith and Mick staring forward pensively with the other three doing the same in the rear (Bill Wyman, Mick Taylor and Charlie Watts). You can see why they chose the one that finally came out – its just more funny and a better snap (but what a lovely touch). Beneath each see-through CD tray (yellow lips logo on Disc 1 and green on Disc 2) are pictures of tape boxes. The booklet also has shots of their initial recording sessions at the famed Muscle Shoals Studios in Alabama (there’s even a bill for $1009 for the recording of "Wild Horses"), black and whites of the Stargroves Estate in Hampshire where further recording took place, the artwork for the "Brown Sugar" UK 7" single picture sleeve, a repro of the UK Tour 1971 poster, colour shots from the Roundhouse gig in London and even photos of the album launch in France with Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records. Finally there are detailed credits for both discs.

UK released 8 June 2015 (9 June 2015 in the USA) – this reissue of "Sticky Fingers" by THE ROLLING STONES comes in a dizzying TEN FORMATS - including Single and Double Vinyl variants, differing Downloads versions and even a Spanish Cover Version with its famously unique 'Fingers in A Tin Of Treacle' artwork. This review is for the 2CD Deluxe Edition on Polydor/Rolling Stones 376 483-6 (Barcode 602537648368). Here are the details...

Disc 1 (46:25 minutes)

1. Brown Sugar

2. Sway

3. Wild Horses

4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking

5. You Gotta Move

6. Bitch [Side 2]

7. I Got The Blues

8. Sister Morphine

9. Dead Flowers

10. Moonlight Mile

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Sticky Fingers" - released 23 April 1971 in the UK and USA on Rolling Stones Records COC 59100

Disc 2 (54:02 minutes):

1. Brown Sugar (with Eric Clapton) – 4:05 minutes

2. Wild Horses (Acoustic) – 5:47 minutes

3. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version) – 3:24 minutes

4. Bitch (Extended Version) – 5:53 minutes

5. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version) – 4:18 minutes

6. Live With Me – 4:22 minutes

7. Stray Cat Blues – 3:48 minutes

8. Love In Vain – 6:42 minutes

9. Midnight Rambler – 11:27 minutes

10. Honky Tonk Women – 4:14 minutes

Tracks 1 to 5 are Outtakes from the original sessions produced by Jimmy Miller. "Brown Sugar" is credited as (with Eric Clapton) when in fact it also has Al Kooper on Guitar (Ian Stewart on Piano and Bobby Keys on Saxophone too). Tracks 6 to 10 are highlights from a show at The Roundhouse in London on Sunday, 14 March 1971 (there is a CD3 only on the Super Deluxe Edition 12" x 12" Box Set which is called "Get Yer Leeds Lungs Out" and was recorded 1971 at Leeds University). The live band for the London show included Bobby Keys on Saxophone, Jim Price on Trumpet and Nicky Hopkins on Piano. All songs are Jagger/Richards originals except "Stray Cat Blues" which is a Robert Johnson cover version.

THE ALBUM:

Right from the opening riffs of "Brown Sugar" (slightly distorted it has to be said) - you know you're in the presence of a different beast. This (2009) thing rocks - the guitars and rhythm section filling your speakers with incredible energy. I can hear the 'loudness wars' naysayers already - sure these things are loud and sure they're hissy in places too - but at least I feel like I'm in the presence of the real master tape. The power and clarity of instruments on say "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and "Dead Flowers" is astounding. Ry Cooder's Slide Guitar and Jack Nitzsche's Piano on "Sister Morphine" is so good too, Paul Buckmaster's gorgeous Strings on "Moonlight Mile" and Keith's beautiful acoustic playing on "Wild Horses" - all fabulous. But if I was to isolate one track that shows massive improvement on this SHM - it's the Side 2 nugget "I Got The Blues". Everything about it rocks - Keith Richards and Mick Taylor on guitars, Bobby Keys and Jim Price on Horns, Jimmy Miller's Percussion and especially the Billy Preston Organ solo - it sounds truly fabulous. There's just that little more pep in the step of every track on this format - and somehow that amazing Cooder Slide on "Sister Morphine" seems more in your face (but in a good way), the sexy Saxophones on "Bitch" - the guitars on their fantastic bluesy cover of the Mississippi Fred McDowell/Gary Davis dead-and-dying tune "You Gotta Move". There are many who hated the 2009 remaster saying it was too loud or something like that. I think this is crap of the highest order. I bought the Japanese Platinum SHM-CD version with a flat transfer (which is what many of these detractors wanted) and it 'was' awful. It's a matter of Audio taste I know - but I frankly get weary of Audiophile types telling me what I'm hearing is lousy when my ears tell me different.

I had expected Disc 2 to be a disappointment – five lesser versions with a bunch of live stuff that should have stayed in the can – neither let the side down thank God. To hear “Brown Sugar” in ‘any’ variant is a blast - yet you can so hear why Jagger toned down the “get down on your knees...” lyrics and how the twin slide guitar work of Clapton and Kooper is good but still feels too ramshackle. Bobby Keys comes blasting in with that Saxophone solo pretty much intact but the finished album cut is sharper and their decision to go with a cleaner more concise version was the right one. It’s odd ‘not’ to hear the opening acoustic strums of “Wild Horses” be accompanied by that second guitar – this time we get a sort of unplugged original – and what a gorgeous song it is too. Lyrically there’s not much that’s different except that you can you hear the words more clearly on this Alternate. We then get a weird reversal – the finished album masterpiece “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” gets cut down from 7:16 minutes to 3:24 minutes and is really the band ‘feeling’ for something. In fact on the amazing near 12-minute live version of “Midnight Rambler” where Keith and Mick solo like crazy – you can hear the finished licks and solos creep in because it was March 1971 – after they’d recorded this early attempt. 

But then comes an absolute jewel – the extended “Bitch” where Bobby Keys (Saxophone) and Jim Price (Trumpet) add so much to the song. It’s absolutely fantastic and I actually shouted “More” at the Marantz as it finished – not wanting this bad sucker to end. After such excitement the Alternate of “Wild Flowers” isn’t nearly as Country as the finished album version and suffers for it. Fans will be disappointed that the five live cuts don’t actually feature a single “Sticky Fingers” track but that’s not to say that they’re inferior fare – far from it. This is the 1971 band cooking (with Mick Taylor) on 1969 “Let It Bleed” material like “Live With Me” and “Love In Vain”. There is already a huge step forward in the overall sound and impact – a band finding their Rock feet. The Robert Johnson cover of ”Stray Cat Blues” is just fantastic while the huge “Midnight Rambler” sees Mick give it some fabulous harmonica fills inbetween those Bluesy guitar moments (“Spotlight on Keith’s arse...” he say before they launch into the jam). After introductions of the band – Mick tells the crowd to “open your lungs on this one” as The Stones go into a stunning version of “Honky Tonk Women”. Very tasty stuff...

I don’t know if I’d plum up the dosh for the Super Deluxe Version – but I have to say that this 2CD Deluxe Edition is a triumph.

In the Jake Gyllenhaal/Dustin Hoffman/Susan Sarandon movie “Moonlight Mile” from 2002 – Jake’s character is in a bar, goes over to a jukebox and puts on the movie’s title track. It starts to play and then as the stunning Paul Buckmaster strings kick in – Jagger sings - “I’m riding down your Moonlight Mile...” And I remember watching it - and not for the first time did a chill go up my arms – reminding me of how much I loved this band and in particular this album that I played to death as a teen in Dublin.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are more Zimmer-Frame Twins these days than Glimmer Twins – but that doesn’t stop this 2CD reissue from being magical to me. Lick your lips folks...because here we go again...