As you may know, there’s no period of The Rolling Stones that I like better than what I call the “Brian Jones era.” I refer to it as such with full knowledge that Jones may not have contributed much, after helping Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to come together and study Da Blooz, beyond his ability to drive the band with his awesome Rhythm Look and an aptitude for coloring songs with his vast collection of “exotic” instruments. What’s never been clear to me, though, is whether Jones actually contributed anything special on the guitar. I, as much as Richard Lloyd, Martin Belmont, and anyone else who’s passed through these hallowed halls, frequently refer to the band’s legendary twin-guitar attack, but can we actually pinpoint what Jones did other than stay out of the way of Richards’ riffs?
A couple of weeks ago E. Pluribus Gergely called me with the following discovery, which he said was the first example he’s seen of Jones playing an audible, prominent rhythm guitar part. It’s the band playing “Oh Carol” on the Mike Douglas Show in 1964. I’ve watched this clip a few times and, although Jones’ part is easily discernable, I think my friend gave Jones a little too much credit. The execution is nothing special, is it?
I’d love to hold onto the belief that Richards-Jones set the template for all that I love about twin-guitar attacks in rock ‘n roll, but please help me find live video evidence of Jones doing anything worthwhile on guitar. Thanks.
By the way, Douglas and his old fart guests’ dismissive intro of the band and the segment at the end of the lip-synched performance of “Tell Me,” when a couple of giddy teenagers come up to meet the band, are priceless.
Finally, it goes without saying that I’m not allowing the following lip-synched performance as evidence, as much as I’d love to:
19th Nervous Breakdown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCB3J1iWwYs
It’s Keith you hear playing the chunky chords, but it’s Brian playing that simple riff on the low strings that starts the song out. I think it’s essential to the overall sound of the song.
And there’s no video evidence of it, but isn’t Miss Amanda Jones enough proof that the two-guitar thing continued to work even after Brian started to focus more on exotic instruments?
The sound quality is not, of course, stellar, but I have always thought the best audio/visual evidence of the Stones mach 1 (er, mark 1), is their TAMI show performance. As much as one can hear it, the two-guitar thing is going on here: Keith’s pounding out the riffs and Brian’s got more of a scratchy rhythm going–I don’t know, you guitar players tell me what’s going on. But definitely their performance of “Around and Around” is thrilling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct2n2iiiIGQ&feature=related
The other performances are there, too–It’s All Over Now is great.
Check out this very early performance of I Wanna Be Your Man, with excellent 2-guitars and Brian on backing vocals! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_EiKJ8gAkc&feature=related
Yes! I knew evidence existed, but I couldn’t recall where I’d seen it. This is the track I was thinking about as E. Pluribus and I searched for answers. Excellent! Faith is being restored. Thanks.
Awesome! I feel like that girl at the beginning of the TAMI clip! I’d never seen that “I Wanna Be Your Man” clip. Would woulda thunk I’d find a new, ancient Stones performance after all I’ve seen? Thank you! I can go back to confidently citing the Richards-Jones’ twin-guitar attack.
The question now is whether Brian could do anything besides pinky rock and basic slide guitar?
Wow — I gotta give it up for the Stones on the TAMI show. That performance of “Around and Around” is indeed amazing!
Indeed.
I’s never seen this Mike Douglas clip. Very cool to see, and very thoughtful of them to basically bury Keith’s guitar in the mix and, apparently, not mic Charlie’s drums at all, just so we could hear Brian.
Anyone have any idea who the other duffers are on the show?
While considering the extent of Brian Jones’ contribution to the Stones (aside from lead haircut and his album collection in the early years), I stumbled across this site:
http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/the-rolling-stones-road-worn-forlorn-almighty-guitar-porn/
Man, what a treasure trove of cool photos. There’s Stones guitar porn, muscle cars, pin up girls, George Jones being fitted for a Nudie Suit…
Brian played the main riff on the song “The Last Time” and the opening chords on “It’s All Over Now.” He also played slide guitar on “No Expectations”, “I’m a King Bee”, and “I Can’t Be Satisfied”….and vibrato guitar on “Mona.”
Welcome aboard, Deb, and thanks for pointing out these great examples of Brian’s contributions on guitar – and for helping to reaffirm his place as part of one of the greatest guitar tandems in rock.
More importantly — the TAMI clip proves my hypothesis that Bill Wyman wasn’t needed at all.