The Rolling Stones’ ‘Let It Bleed’ Turns 55
Article via Kenzie Gay - @kenzwrites
Rock n roll. It’s a genre that I thank the universe for every single day of my life but it is also so much more; a world of rich history, culture, rebellion, and originality. There are so many staple acts that come to mind when discussing rock such as Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and even the more recent My Chemical Romance, Green Day, and Muse. With all of these powerhouses, the gods of rock if you will, there is one that reigns supreme when it comes to impact, however. It’s a band that is answered more often than not to the question ‘what is the most influential rock band of all time?’ and that artist would be none other than The Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones
Long ago before the dominating entertainment magazine under the same name, The Rolling Stones were almighty figures in the 1960s that were head to head with The Beatles. Leaders of the British Invasion movement within rock, The Rolling Stones’ early lineup was composed of Mick Jagger (vox, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar, sitar, harp, etc.), Bill Wyman (bass), and Charlie Watts (drums) though they’ve seen several different guitarists over the years. On this day 55 years ago, one of their most iconic and highly–esteemed albums was released to the public by the title of Let It Bleed. It would go on to become a phenomena in the world of rock for its unorthodox approach at the genre and the incorporation of diverse styles that made it so free spirited.
Today, we will take a look back at this renowned and timeless record, analyzing four of its most credible tracks and its overall meaning to the band’s journey.
Track I - Gimme Shelter (ft. Merry Clayton)
Gimme Shelter opens up Let it Bleed with a bang that’s a mix of fired up political commentary and utter soul thanks to gospel singer Merry Clayton and her vocal contributions that fuse surprisingly well with Jagger’s. The piece speaks out about the violence of war, the brutality of murder and rape, and the fear mongering the world received in context to the Vietnam War in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Jagger’s lines highlight the danger and constant threat people felt during this time, singing “Ooh, a storm is threatening my very life today. If I don't get some shelter ooh yeah, I'm gonna fade away”, “Ooh, see the fire is sweepin' our very street today. Burns like a red coal carpet. Mad bull lost your way”, and “The floods is threatening my very life today. Gimme, gimme shelter or I'm gonna fade away” whereas Clayton’s contributions are more repetitive from a lyrical perspective as she only sings “Rape, murder yeah it's just a shot away. It's just a shot away” on her lonesome along with backing harmonies during the song’s chorus that states “War, children, it's just a shot away. It's just a shot away”.
The story goes that Miss Clayton was called to the studio where The Rolling Stones were recording in the wee hours of night and she showed up in her rollers and nightgown, completing her powerful verse in just a few takes without much faltering. The band members really wanted the vocals and touch of a woman within the album, specifically Gimme Shelter since it deals with themes of rape that women statistically faced more than men at the time, and Clayton captured their vision perfectly that night at Elektra Sound Recorders Studios in Los Angeles.
Track IV - Live With Me
Live With Me makes up the album’s fourth track and it begins with a bluesy bass line via Bill Wyman, kicking things into second gear compared to its prior song, Country Honk, a piece that’s much more acoustic-based and country leaning. Live With Me was also the very first song that the group made with Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones as a secondary guitarist, and his fresh grit is a big reason why Let it Bleed was so monumental. Nobody could replicate Jones’ style and knack after his tragic death in July of 1969 so this totally new sound appealed to the public and got people talking; hence its mass success.
In grand contrast to Gimme Shelter, however, Live With Me doesn’t appear to be politically charged or even profound within its lyrics. It’s the odd ball of the bunch in my opinion because instead of themes of war, friendship, hard truths, and other thoughtful topics, it appears to be about lust and bad habits. Jagger sings to an unnamed woman, outlining his flaws while also asking her to build a home with him which can be most clearly spotted within the chorus and closing verse: “Come on now, honey. We can build a home for three. Come on now, honey. Don't you want to live with me?…Don'cha think there's a place for us right across the street. Don'cha think there's a place for you in between the sheets?”
Track V - Let It Bleed
In my book, Let It Bleed may go down in history as the best title track to ever exist. It’s a work of camaraderie that highlights the importance of friendship and unity through life’s ups, downs, and in—betweens. Another acoustic-heavy song, Let it Bleed still manages to possess the attitudes of rock n roll that listeners have come to know and love as it has the same energy of a song you’d hear in a bluesy type of saloon or hole-in-the-wall dive bar. In typical Rolling Stones fashion, though, there are still several lewd lines to be found throughout Let It Bleed’s lyrics such as “Yeah, we all need someone we can cream on” and, of course, “Get it on rider. You can come all over me”. Again, this is a great example of how sexual The Rolling Stones’ approach at lyricism were during the time, which was rebellious on its own.
Track IX - You Can’t Always Get What You Want
The most popular tune off of Let It Bleed happens to be the concluding number, the renowned song You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Its simplistic message details a notion that should be obvious to most yet it’s easy to turn a blind eye towards if you’re entitled enough to afford that. “You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you'll find you get what you need” is the song’s main mantra as Jagger lists out varying scenarios consisting of small interactions such as one with a woman at a wedding reception and another with an ill man at a drugstore, all of which end with him telling them the aforementioned affirmation. It’s a genius number to close out Let it Bleed with due to its balance of honky tonk styles, bluesy roots, witty lyricism, and somewhat vulgar tones.
With 62 years behind them as a band, The Rolling Stones have proven themselves to be a trailblazing group of pioneers that paved the way for rockers both current and to be discovered. Let It Bleed consistently stands as one of their highest selling records (second to Sticky Fingers from 1971) for its ingenuity, experimentation, and political commentary that remains relevant 55 years later. The band has seemingly retired after their 2024 tour for their newest album titled Hackney Diamonds but it would be of no surprise if they played some more scattered shows in the near future; only time will tell.
