Rolling Stones
" Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! "
abkco

Blueswax 9
Rating 8

Ya-Ya This!, (02/04/10)

If you ask me, Ya-Ya's was the Stones defining moment that etched their well deserved marquee title as being the rightful heir as the greatest rock 'n' roll band. And what a band they were. With all due and deserved respect to Jagger, Richards, Wyman and Watts, but I've always felt that the Mick Taylor era was their best, especially instrumentally. For example, take note of the explosive version of "Midnight Rambler," and Taylor's lengthy and fascinating solo on "Sympathy For The Devil." Originally released in 1970 long before digital versions were a reality, The Rolling Stones' Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out correctly was proclaimed the best rock concert ever put on record by legendary rock critic Lester Bangs. I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Bangs. Forty years after this Madison Square Garden performance went down, we not only get the original released record, we are additionally graced with one CD of five of the Stones' previously unreleased songs from the same shows, plus a disc of B.B. King and Ike & Tina Turner, a DVD of the same five unreleased tunes...and backstage footage not only of the band, but also shots of the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Chuck Berry) and, last but not leas,t a fifty-six page hardbound book.

As a sum, this box set is one gorgeous package, that overly enhances the original recording, and somewhat completes what went down in New York City on those two nights in November of 1969.

Make no doubt about it; this is the Stones at their zenith, full of themselves with amazing energy, powerful and raw. So what's not to like? Well there are only five (unreleased) tracks on the bonus CD, which only clocks in at about eighteen minutes. Ditto for the DVD. The sound during B.B.'s set is a bit murky, but this is a young and dynamic Mr. King, and despite the rough mix is a most welcome B.B. King addition to own.

In summary, there's a lot to like here. The Stones bonus tracks are strong, watching the DVD is also a great flashback, having B.B, and Ike & Tina is also a big plus, and hearing the new digital mix of the original Ya-Ya's' is sumptuous. Please take note: this extremely fine packaged bundle doesn't come cheap, (there are two versions, large box and small.) But to me, this fortieth deluxe edition of Ya-Ya's is well worth the cost of admission!

Bob Putignano a senior contributing editor at BluesWax. He is also the heart of Sounds of Blues at www.SoundsofBlue.com. Bob maybe contacted at: bob8003@yahoo.com

Bob Putignano: www.SoundsofBlue.com