Saint Jude - Diary Of A Soul Fiend

 
 

I am a man of my word. Months ago I promised you, my faithful readers, and the Ripple editors that I would select a random piece of new music and review it regardless of whether I liked it or not. I think I missed a few months but that's life. Anyway, I'm back on track with the latest edition of the grab bag special. I was thinking about what to write up when the new issue of Classic Rock magazine arrived and this CD literally fell into my lap.

Saint Jude are a soul/R&B influenced band based out of London fronted by vocalist Lynne Jackaman. Their debut album is titled Diary Of A Soul Fiend and they describe their sound as maximum rock and soul. I'm going to assume that they know that Solomon Burke is the King of Rock and Soul since they are self-proclaimed soul fiends. Saint Jude draw more from a Rolling Stones/Rod Stewart version of soul that was probably discovered through the Black Crowes rather than from Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, etc. This is definitely a rock band so I'll cut them some slack. They're not going to blow Sharon Jones off the stage, but they're also not tying to compete with today's true queen of soul.

Of the ten songs on this CD I definitely prefer the more up-tempo material like the first three songs "Soul On Fire," "Garden Of Eden" and "Little Queen." The band comprised of guitar, bass, drums and organ (no names on the cover) are tight and the tones are vintagey. Lynne's vocals are very strong. She has a great voice, never screechy like Janis Joplin or too relaxed like Dusty Springfield. She's probably a big fan of Rod Stewart, which is bad news for me since he's one of my all-time least favorite singers, but Lynne's much easier to take than Rod the Clod. Her voice reminds me a little bit of Lydia Pense, singer of the San Francisco funk rock band Cold Blood. As a matter of fact, the entire album reminds me of that band. Similar instrumentation, influences and white people playing R&B. If you've never heard Cold Blood, check out their song "Kissing My Love," one of the hardest hitting funky rock songs you'll ever hear.

The slow songs on this record are not my cup of tea at all. The only ballads I really like tend to be sung by people like James Brown, B.B. King or Bobby "Blue" Bland. "Down and Out" and "Rivers and Streams" are reminiscent of Stones songs like "Wild Horses" or "Maggie May" by Rod. If you like those types of songs you'll probably really like the rest of this album. There are also two live songs at the end of the record that are also way too Stonesy for me, but prove that the band can play well and that no-one had to fix her vocals in the studio. If stuff like the Black Crowes is up your alley, then you'll love Saint Jude. If you're an old fart like me who listens to Albert King all the time then this will probably leave you cold. But, hey, it's good to try new things every now and then.

--Woody




BONUS (optional): Cold Blood "Kissing My Love"

Ripple Theater – The Rolling Stones – Ladies and Gentlemen The Rolling Stones

If you’re a Rolling Stones fan, you know this film.  Shot over four nights in Texas during the Exile on Mainstreet tour in 1972, Ladies and Gentlemen the Rolling Stones was originally released in cinemas for limited engagements in 1974.  Since then, the film has remained largely unseen, never released on DVD.  A problem that has finally been rectified with this, the official DVD release of this Rolling Stones classic.

While not held in the same esteem as Give me Shelter, or as wondrously sought after as Cocksucker Blues, Ladies and Gentlemen is a real treasure, revealing the Stones at the absolute peak of their early ‘70’s prowess.  With a wealth of great material to choose from, and the inclusion of several deeper catalog cuts, these shows pull back the curtain on a band on a terror, tearing it up and having a blast doing so; shedding light on the Stones in the midst of all their ‘70’s power and excess.   Simply put, you just won’t find the Stones looking or sounding any better on film than they do here.

Director Rollin Binzer spent over a year editing footage for the film.  It was a tough time for the band; they couldn’t get into three countries because of their drug bust, they’d survived the death of Brian Jones and the trouble at Altamont. Binzer distilled the backstage action away and left only the best of four performances (two matinees and two evening shows) from the band’s June ’72 swing through Houston and Fort Worth, Texas.  What was left behind was pure rock and roll, showing the Stones doing what made them the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world.

1972 was also and interesting time for the band and for rock music in general.  Bolan, Bowie, Iggy, and Eno had flamboyantly burst onto the scene, and it shows. Jagger, in particular is riotously glammed out, with purple sequins around his eyes, a pinkie ring and a spangled, Ossie Clark jumpsuits or decked out with scarves and sachets.  At one time Keith Richards appears wearing what can only be described as a scarf-cape.  Certainly an unusual appearance for the band, and one that works in direct contrast to their set of muscular, rootsy rock and roll.   But haven’t said that, the band rarely looked better.  Jagger as always is a dynamite, captivating frontman, a force of motion, while Richards looks stunningly healthy, energetic and definitely into the music.  Even Charlie Watts, the normally stoic backbeat of the band shows signs of animation and life.  This is a band having fun, and it shows.

After the blast off of “Brown Sugar”, “Bitch”, and “Gimme Shelter,” the Stones jump into an inspired version of “Dead Flowers,” bringing to light the incredible work of Mick Taylor.  While a totally subdued stage presence (I don’t think either he or Bill Wyman move one inch the entire DVD) Taylor was a brilliant guitarist and his solos and slide leads bring a depth and earthiness to the Stones that they never had before or since.  In my opinion, he’s the best pure guitarist the band ever had and it shows.  His performances on each track with his work on “Love in Vain,” worthy of leaving the audience breathless.

At the same time, you can almost get an inkling for why Taylor left the band.  With Jagger and Richards being the dynamic creative and visual force of the band, there really was little room for Taylor to stretch out.  His stage presence seems to suggest more than shyness, but simply there not being enough room in the band for three pillars.  Rarely do Jagger or Richards so much as look his way.  Instead he stays in the background (not even the front of the stage) working his magic slowly and deliberately on his slide.

“Happy” jumps in with more passion and force than I’d ever imagined it, with Richards doing a fantastic job taking over lead vocal with some terrific harmonizing with Jagger.  Horns blaring, Charlie Watts smiling, Jagger preening; what more could you want?

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” is epic followed immediately by “All Down the Line” with some of Taylor’s most ear-catching slide work.  “Midnight Rambler,” here is perfect as are the concluding frenzy of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and “Street Fighting Man.”  Definitely a shot of the Stones a their peak.

But just as interesting as the concert film are the bonus features, or more specifically, one bonus features;  a three song rehearsal for the tour filmed in Switzerland.  Gone are the flashy jumpsuits and sequins, in it’s place are five musicians gathered in a circle working out the kinks on “Shake Your Hips,” “Tumbling Dice,” and the rootsy “Bluesberry Jam.”  Jack Daniels bottles open on the piano, drink glasses scattered about, Keith Richards playing while sitting on an amp, Mick Jagger without the flamboyant dances, standing stationary marveling at the musicians, Charlie Watt’s eyes closed in near ecstasy as the band locks onto the groove.  This is a rare peak at the band behind closed doors and well worth the addition.

If you’re a new Stones fan or an old one, this is concert footage you’ll certainly love.  And to make it even better, we got one copy of the DVD to giveaway for free to the first waverider who drops us a line asking for it.  Either leave a comment or send an email to our contact address and we’ll get the Stones heading out your way.

--Racer

Buy here: Ladies & Gentlemen The Rolling Stones
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones [Blu-ray]
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones- Deluxe Edition 3DVD Numbered Box Set

Ripple News - Rolling Stones Legendary Concert Finally Available on DVD and Blu-ray

Ladies and Gentlemen…The Rolling Stones is finally coming to DVD on October 12th.  The DVD features Rolling Stones concert footage, shot over four nights in Texas during the Exile on Main Street tour in 1972, which was recently released in cinemas around the country for a one-day, one-time engagement. The DVD also includes previously unreleased rehearsal footage and interviews with Mick Jagger from 1972 and 2010.

This is probably the most sought after Rolling Stones concert performance and it has been fully restored and remastered from the original film print and multitrack audio masters. Ladies & Gentlemen follows the highly successful CD reissue of Exile On Main Street (Universal Music Group) in May of this year and the Stones In Exile DVD (Eagle Rock Entertainment) on June 22, 2010.  The October 12 releases will be followed shortly after by a deluxe edition box set with additional bonus material and memorabilia.

Filmed in Texas in 1972 over four nights of the Exile On Main Street US tour, Ladies & Gentlemen was premiered at the Ziegfield Theatre in New York on April 15, 1974 and released into selected cinemas across the USA shortly afterwards. Bonus features on this release include tour rehearsal footage from Montreux, plus two interviews with Mick Jagger; one from a 1972 Old Grey Whistle Test show, and one filmed in 2010.

The line-up for this show comprised Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitars), Charlie Watts (drums), Bill Wyman (bass), Mick Taylor (guitars) with Bobby Keys (saxophones), Jim Price (horns) and Nicky Hopkins (piano).  Ladies & Gentlemen was billed at the time as “…the most powerful rock film ever made” and is considered by many fans to be the finest Rolling Stones performance ever captured on film.  This is simply unmissable!

Track Listing:
1.)   Brown Sugar
2.)  Bitch
3.)  Gimme Shelter
4.)  Dead Flowers
5.)  Happy
6.)  Tumbling Dice
7.)  Love In Vain
8.)  Sweet Virginia
9.)  You Can’t Always Get What You Want
10.) All Down The Line
11.) Midnight Rambler
12.) Bye Bye Johnny
13.) Rip This Joint
14.) Jumpin’ Jack Flash
15.) Street Fighting Man

Buy here: Ladies & Gentlemen The Rolling Stones
Buy here: Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones [Blu-ray]