A gem

One of the very best live offerings from the Stones, "Stripped" is culled from club dates in Amsterdam and Paris, as well as rehearsals in Tokyo and Lisbon.

The sound is excellent, and you get a sense that the band is much "closer" than on your average live album.



The Rolling Stones do an excellent rendition of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" with some powerful drumming from Charlie Watts, and a great take on Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away", but it's really impossible to talk about highlights here...the entire CD is filled with some of the best performances the Stones have ever released.

They also perform a wonderful live version of the soulful, gospel-like "Shine A Light", and other rarely-played songs like "The Spider And The Fly", "I'm Free" and Robert Johnson's "Love In Vain".

Also, this rendition of "Wild Horses" has to be the definitive take on that song, and the same can be said for the superb "Dead Flowers" (great solo by Ronnie Wood), and the lean, bluesy "Sweet Virginia".



Many arrangements are primarily or solely acoustic, and Mick Jagger plays the harp on several songs, adding to the intimate atmosphere, as well as helping to make "Stripped" such a superb, soulful live album, a real gem, and an excellent purchase even for casual Stones fans.

Highly recommended.

A great little garage band

Mick Taylor was quoted as saying that when he first rehearsed with the Stones in 1969, he couldn't believe how bad they were - too loose, too loud, " like a garage band". Well "Stripped" just goes to show how far a garage band can improve with a few years' practice. This little outfit is ultra tight - Richards and Woods mesh to perfection and the strength of the Watts/Jones rhythm section must have left Bill Wyman crying into his chip fryer. Jagger's singing is more varied and expressive than in his stadium rock outings and the choice of material is more original than their usual live album stuff. Dead Flowers, Spider and the Fly, Let it Bleed and Slipping Away stand out however there isn't a duff song on the entire album. When it comes to live Stones, this is second only to "Get Yer Ya Yas Out". No shame in that - "YYs" is the best ever live album by anybody.

A great semi acoustic live album of obscurer material

The energy level may be a little low due to the acoustic nature of most of this live album, but the musicianship is way high. You could think of this album as semi unplugged. The boys are on their game that's for sure. Marvelous slide and lead playing from Ron Woods, while Keith puts in some of his best and most soulfull vocals I've ever heard him do and of course his guitar playing is impeccable. Charlie Watts is a freaking rock, he's the man. And then there's Mick who puts in some of the best singing I've heard him do in years. His harmonica adds a really nice touch on many of the songs. The keyboard playing by Chuck Leavell both piano and organ are just great. The band sound like they're having fun and are really feeling the music. Like I said the energy isn't at the high level of Get Yer Ya Ya's Out but the playing is tighter, funkier and soulfull. These guys just keep getting better with age. If this album were longer I'd have given it 5 stars.