Rolling Stones/London,UK 5.21.1976

For the Rolling Stones in 1976, the highlight of the UK leg of their European tour was the series of performances at Earl’s Court. Like Led Zeppelin in 1975, Earl’s Court was used instead of Wembley Stadium when it came to London at the time, and the only venue that could attract large crowds. In 1976, the Stones performed six times at the same venue, including one day off (May 24th). Among them, sound board recordings have been discovered for May 22nd and 25th, and items have been released in audience recordings for 23rd, 26th and 27th. Furthermore, in 2016, only one song, “Hey Negrita,” was leaked, but an outtake from a multi-track recording for the live album “LOVE YOU LIVE” was leaked. In this way, Earl’s Court in 1976 was blessed with sound sources and items, but the only show that has not had a track record of releasing a single song is May 21st. Audience recordings existed on this day, and they were also circulating among CD-R traders at the beginning of the 21st century. However, compared to the sound sources of the other days mentioned above, it is undeniable that the recording condition is more for enthusiasts, and because of that, it was a day when no items were released until now. Regarding this, the slightly distant sound image may have been the enemy. However, the problem is that the sound quality is of a lower grade compared to other days at Earl’s Court, and it is also true that it is a sound source that can be heard enough from the entire 1976 tour. I think that the 1976 sound source with the same trend is the Dortmund performance on June 1st, but it is clear that this one can be heard much better than that. Rather, if you are an enthusiast who is accustomed to audience recording, you can enjoy it with ease. Basically, the sound image is far away, and there is also a feeling of echo. The secret to being able to hear it still is that Mick’s vocals are recorded with a solid sound. That alone is enough to prove the ease of listening, but in addition, Mick’s song on this day is just amazing. I think it’s very rare for him to fly so sharply on the 1976 tour. It’s as if Mick from the previous year has transferred over. It is as if the recently released 1975 Boston Two Days Mick has descended on Earl’s Court, and for example, compared to the famous next day on the sound board, he is screaming in an even higher tone. In a good way, in Europe in 1976, the free-spiritedness of the previous year’s America faded away, and instead the funky sound of the new album “BLACK AND BLUE” was pushed to the forefront, a live performance that could only be recreated by the Stones in 1976.・A time when sound was a big attraction. It was on this day that the unusual Mick was revived in that atmosphere. The fact that it was the first day of a series of performances may have been one of the reasons for his unrestrained behavior. Anyway, it’s so intense that Mick’s high point peeks out once per song from the opening. A strange voice that sounds like 75 years itself is emitted many times, and for example, on “Tumbling Dice”, Mick attacks with a higher melody than usual. What’s more, there’s even a strange voice called out at the ending. This is a typical scene on the first day of Earl’s Court, where his singing is so clear that you want to say, “Isn’t it like 75 years?” Even on the next day’s show, which is familiar from the sound board, Mick made a strange voice at the ending, but the intensity of the song as a whole does not reach here. And the finale is “Sympathy For The Devil”, which was introduced as Earl’s Court Special. In 1976, it was a rare encore repertoire that was not only performed at this venue, but also at Earl’s Court, where the 25th and 26th were omitted. The premiere of the 1976 version will be heard here, but the arrangement is completely different from the previous year. The tempo is faster than that time, and the performance progresses in a rather chaotic atmosphere. When the performance reaches 8 minutes, it is amazing to see not only Mick but also the whole band reach a spectacular peak as if they were blown away by the high momentum. In the second half of the live show, including this finale, pitch instability was a big problem, which was also a factor in the item not being released, but this time, the problem was thoroughly adjusted. If you are a core enthusiast who has the original sound source, you will be surprised by the stability of the new version. As a result, the performances of the Stones, including Kirekire Mick, stand out even more. With this release, the missing link of the Stones’ 1976 Earl’s Court will finally be filled! Live at Earl’s Court, London, UK 21st May 1976 Disc 1 (60:20) 1. Intro. 2. Honky Tonk Women 3. If You Can’t Rock Me / Get Off Of My Cloud 4. Hand Of Fate 5. Hey Negrita 6. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg 7. Fool To Cry 8. Hot Stuff 9. Star Star 10. You Gotta Move 11. You Can’t Always Get What You Want 12. Band Introductions 13. Happy Disc 2 (54 :26) 1. Tumbling Dice 2. Nothing From Nothing 3. Outa Space 4. Midnight Rambler 5. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll 6. Brown Sugar 7. Jumping Jack Flash 8. Street Fighting Man 9. Sympathy For The Devil