Funny to think that we are now disussing the third album beginner song in a row - first from their hey-day peak album, then from the latest (so far? ever?), and now from their very first - and if we listen them all in row, they essentially sound the same - the greatest rock and roll band doing what they do best, that is, play kind of music I described in regards to "Rough Justice" as their 'home-vocabulary' music.
That is to say that "Route 66" offers something that we would immedeatily recognize as The Rolling Stones sound. Maybe first time ever so purely. We hear a driving guitar there (actually two), which with an extraordinary relation to the drums and bass, offers a groove that no other rock and roll band ever have succeeded to copy. We hear a guitar solo that goes straight to the point with no any extra gimmcks, just adding a needed spark to the song. We hear a singer who uses his voice like another instrument in the band, trying to reach to whatever accents and nuances his endless study on American black music has given him, ending up sounding totally unique by his tone. Altogether, the song is like an undivided organ, a beautiful band effort where everything is in its place, even though a bit sloppy or chaotically, even dangerously as if it might fall apart any sec, and what there is not, is not needed. The wholeness is bigger than its parts. What else there is to say... but "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones..."
Probably they also knew that what they do with this song is something extraordinary. Surely they it had been one of their gig favourites already in Richmond days (as it would be for a year or something), but placing it as an open number of their debut album, they surely were rather satisfied with what they achieved in a studio. And I can't think any better song for that job. Okay, the yankees got the already familiar (for UK ears) "Not Fade Away", which also offers an introduction to their unique sound world, so that's alright.
Ever since I've heard the song I would love to have done that "California trip". Still live in hope.
- Doxa
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2014-02-03 14:22 by Doxa.