SOD: The Rolling Stones "Plundered My Soul"

Yea, I know. It's a lot of The Stones on SOD these days. But I couldn't pass this one up.

An extremely knowledgable buddy of mine (DCV), gets all the props on this one though. He sent this track over first thing this morning, commenting that he found it on the Exile on Main Street Deluxe addition album. It's interesting how things like this surface, though I'm 2+ years behind the ball apparently. As Rob Sheffield commented in Rolling Stone (April 17, 2010):

"The whole idea of an unreleased tune from the Exile on Main Street sessions is like hearing somebody dug up video footage of Jesus skateboarding."

Yea, that about sums it up. But this track goes beyond merely digging up an old could-have-been classic. What really interest me is that in addition to Mick Jaggers vocal overdubs, Mick Taylor did guitar overdubs on this in 2010 as well. Now I know the camp is split, but in my mind there is no question that Mick Taylor was The Stones best (and at least most diverse) guitarist. My old man would probably disagree, but it's not really a point worth arguing. Like all art, the critics and fans can tell you what to like and what to think, but in the end your heart and mind are going to decide in their own way.

Mick Taylor gave The Stones a prettier sound in my opinion. He gave Jagger something to work off of that none of the other guitarists could. Songs like "Sway," "Tumbling Dice," "Torn and Frayed," "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," etc. would not really exist without him (significantly, any slide parts). The best description I've ever heard of Taylor came from New York Times music critic, Robert Palmer. He said:

"Taylor is the most accomplished technician who ever served as a Stone. A blues guitarist with a jazzman's flair for melodic invention, Taylor was never a rock and roller and never a showman."

That right there is why I love him. But it's also why he never truly fit the mold of a Rolling Stone. Never a rock and roller, and never a showman. The two things the rest of the stones have always been about (though Charlie Watts has always kept a pretty even keel). And Keith Richards being the bit of a princess he is, could never technically measure up to Taylors stuff, so you know that pissed him off. Jagger's been quoted as saying one of the reasons Mick Taylor left was because he couldn't get on with Keith. Not many can I'd imagine. Ronnie Wood does, but that's because he's content to give Richards the stage, and play the backup man. And I've got nothing but love for Ron Wood, truly. But he's no Mick Taylor.

Mick Taylor went on to have a solo career, and a critically acclaimed one at that. But he never garnered much popularity with the masses, never sold Clapton type numbers. He released his eponymous blues debut album in 1979 which included the song "Broken Hands" (the main riff sounds a bit similar to the Stones tune "Hand of Fate" released in 1976 on Black and Blue). It's certainly worth a listen for anyone interested in the old Mick.