Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment
The live recordings keep coming from The Rolling Stones. Early this month, the band released another concert from its Bridges to Babylon Tour in the form of Bridges To Buenos Aires. Originally recorded April 5, 1998 at the River Plate Stadium, the 22-song set is yet another enjoyable addition to the home library of any fan of The Rolling Stones. That is due in part to the show’s set list. The band’s performance thereof plays its own critical role in the show’s presentation. The companion booklet that comes with the recording rounds out its most important elements. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of this recording. All things considered, they make the recording in whole yet another welcome addition to The Rolling Stones’ ongoing series of live recordings.
The Rolling Stones’ latest addition to its ongoing series of live recordings is yet another presentation that audiences will openly welcome into their libraries. That is due in part to the concert’s set list. The 22-song set list features many of the same songs featured in the band’s performance from its Bridges To Bremen show, with a handful of changes. Once again, the band reaches back in its catalog, reaching as far back as 1967. Fan favorites, such as ‘Start Me Up, ‘It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)’ and ‘Gimme Shelter’ are all featured in this collection. Others, such as ‘Memory Motel,’ ‘Anybody Seen My Baby’ and ‘Paint It Black’ are replaced here with ‘Sister Morphine,’ ‘When The Whip Comes Down’ and ‘Little Queenie,’ which reaches back to the band’s 1970 album Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out. The rest of the show’s set list in this concert is the same as that featured in Bridges To Bremen. For those audiences who do not already own Bridges To Bremen, the expansive set list presents audiences with a rich presentation of the band’s catalog. Along with that rarely represented album – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out – the set list also gives nods to the band’s 1969 album Let It Bleed, its 1967 album Between The Buttons and its 1968 album Beggar’s Banquet as well as Bridges To Babylon, on the back of which the band was touring at the time. Simply put, the set list featured in this collection will appeal to audiences who already own any of the band’s previously released live recordings (released through Eagle Rock Entertainment) and those who might not own said recordings. It is just one of the recording’s positives. The band’s performance of the set list plays its own important part to the whole of the recording.
The band’s performance of the concert’s set list is notable because it shows the band as a unit, at the time, that was still at the top of its game, even more than three decades into its life. The band’s performance of ‘Little Queenie’ is one example of that high level of entertainment. The swagger exhibited by the band as it makes its way across the hydraulic bridge and energy in its performance is commendable to say the least. Even as something is thrown at him, front man Mick Jagger doesn’t bat even an eyelash. He just keeps going, not missing a beat or even giving recognition to whichever audience member threw the unidentified item at him. Drummer Charlie Watts, decked out in his soccer jersey and guitarists Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards make their way around the band’s second stage with the ease of much younger performers, showing they are right in step with their younger counterparts. The band members’ energy in the show’s opener – ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ — provides just as much show of energy from the band as any other performance from the group. Jagger struts his way across the stage, giving his full energy and attention to the audience and song at the same time. Meanwhile Richards and Wood keep such a cool demeanor as they make their way through the song alongside Watts. Much the same can be said of the band’s performance of ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash.’ It shows this band even at that point, held its own easily against every one of its younger up-and-coming counterparts, proving once more why it is one of the elite acts in the rock and music community in general. Between these performances and those of the rest of the shows set, the whole of the band’s performance gives audiences just as much to appreciate here as the set list itself. It is just one more part of what makes the recording so enjoyable. The companion booklet that comes with the recording rounds out its most important elements.
The companion booklet that comes with Bridges To Buenos Aires features liner notes composed by Journalist Paul Sexton. Sexton paints a vivid picture of the concert contained in the presentation’s Blu-ray through his words. He writes in part about the band’s performance of ‘Flip The Switch,’ noting that it “offered the first cameo for now much-missed saxophonist mainstay Bobby Keys.” He adds later of the performance of ‘Gimme Shelter,’ that vocalist Lisa Fischer’s performance is just as powerful as ever. There is even mention of Bob Dylan’s surprise guest appearance for the band’s take on his timeless classic ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ in Sexton’s liner notes. He writes in part here, “Bob’s [Dylan] customarily approximate vocal style certainly kept Mick on on his toes, but the bonhomie of the moment gave further warmth to a set that was growing ever more fierce and forceful.” Here again is more proof of the power of Sexton’s description of the show, proving even more, the importance of his preview of the concert. Sexton has much more to add about the concert, but that will be left for audience to discover for themselves. Between the rest of the notes not discussed here and those items addressed, it goes without saying that Sexton’s notes are recommended to be taken in prior to taking in the concert itself. Keeping this in mind, the importance of the recording’s liner notes couples with the power of the band’s performance and the importance of the show’s set list to make the recording in whole, yet another positive addition to The Rolling Stones’ ongoing live releases series, and a presentation that any fan of The Rolling Stones will welcome into his or her music library.
The Rolling Stones’ latest addition to its ongoing series of live recordings, Bridges To Buenos Aires is another wonderfully entertaining presentation from the band and Eagle Rock Entertainment. It is a work that continues to prove why The Rolling Stones remains more than half a century into its existence, one of the rock (and music) community’s elite acts. That is evidenced partly through the show’s set list. The band’s performance thereof plays just as much into supporting the noted statements. The liner notes featured in the recording’s companion booklet does just as much as the set and its performance to show the strength of the recording. Each item noted here is important in its own way. All things considered, they make Bridges To Buenos Aires another recording that builds and maintains the band’s bridges to its audiences. It is available now. More information on this and other titles from The Rolling Stones is available online now at:
Website: http://www.rollingstones.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/therollingstones
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RollingStones
More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:
Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt
Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews
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