Since inaugurating the digital-only Stones Archive in late 2011 with the release of 1973’s The Brussels Affair, The Rolling Stones have made good on their promise to rescue never-before-available concerts and make them available to the public in higher quality than previous bootleg editions. The new LA Friday follows the late January release of Hampton Coliseum: Live 1981, which preserved a show from Hampton, Virginia. LA Friday was recorded on July 13, 1975 at the venue known as The Forum. Inglewood, California’s Forum opened its doors in 1967 and despite many changes of ownership (including a ten-year period under the Faithful Central Bible Church) is still a popular concert venue today.
The LA Friday title was first applied to the recording by bootleggers, but the title is actually incorrect; the recording was made on Sunday, July 13, 1975 at the last of five shows at The Forum. The concert was part of the Rolling Stones Tour of the Americas, and celebrated the newest addition to the Stones: Ronnie Wood. The tour festivities had begun with the Rolling Stones’ typical flash when the band played on a flatbed truck driving down New York City’s Fifth Avenue, with Wood in tow. Joining Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman were Ian "Stu" Stewart and Billy Preston on keyboards, Ollie E. Brown on percussion and Trevor Lawrence on saxophone.
Hit the jump for more details on the gig, including the full track listing and a link on how to order this concert!
The 24-track set is a veritable greatest hits feast, kicking off with “Honky Tonk Women,” hitting on “Gimme Shelter,” “Get Off My Cloud,” “Tumbling Dice,” “Brown Sugar” and more before concluding with the trinity of “Street Fighting Man,” “Jumping Jack Flash” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” (You won’t get no “Satisfaction,” alas.) The Temptations are covered via the band’s trashy version of “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and Billy Preston leads the Stones on two spotlight songs, “That’s Life” and “Outta Space.”
As is the norm for this series, Bob Clearmountain has performed the remastering chores. Once again, American consumers looking for high-resolution files are shortchanged. Both MP3 and FLAC formats are available worldwide with the exception of the United States, where only MP3 is offered by the Archive’s exclusive licensee, Google Music. That said, the price is right at under $5.00 for the entire concert.
You’ll find a link to order LA Friday at the Stones Archive below! Time for you to sound off: Which Rolling Stones concert would you like to see show up in the Archive next? And how many of you would be inclined to purchase these concerts if they were released, say, as a CD box set or in a physical format?
Rolling Stones, LA Friday (Rolling Stones Archive, 2012 – digital only)
- Honky Tonk Women
- All Down The Line
- If You Can't Rock Me/ Get Off Of My Cloud
- Star Star
- Gimme Shelter
- Ain't Too Proud To Beg
- You Gotta Move
- You Can’t Always Get What You Want
- Happy
- Tumbling Dice
- Band intros
- It's Only Rock N Roll
- Heartbreaker
- Fingerprint File
- Angie
- Wild Horses
- That's Life (Billy Preston and the Rolling Stones)
- Outta Space (Billy Preston and the Rolling Stones)
- Brown Sugar
- Midnight Rambler
- Rip This Joint
- Street Fighting Man
- Jumping Jack Flash
- Sympathy For The Devil
All tracks recorded July 13, 1975 at The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Jim Regan (@Jbones72) says
I would love them to release these in a cd box set.Since this is the 2nd with Ronnie Wood hoping for another Mick Taylor era release next.
Mark says
If these were on CD I would buy them in a heartbeat, but I have no interest whatsoever in digital downloads. I wish they would consider releasing these as quality digipaks with a nice booklet with photos and liner notes and make these shows something extra special for fans. But as long as there is no physical product I will not be purchasing any in this series. I like your idea about a CD box set! It would be cool to see them released in groups of five with a slipcover box (similar to the recent Queen reissues in the U.S.).
Shaun says
I'd consider buying some, or all, of these on CD *if* the prices are reasonable. Under $5.00 for this new release as a download is more than reasonable. So I might break down and get this one, in spite of my disgust over the lack of a high quality FLAC option.
I doubt I'd buy a CD boxed set though... Too often these days, box sets are made and the prices are through the roof. Keep prices low for individual releases, and I'll be interested.
Likewise, I'm definitely interested in downloads since the lack of packaging, and me supplying my own media, should keep costs down. But mp3 "quality" is the pits and it's really shortsighted of Google Music to not offer something better. The Stones should demand better from their distributor.
ed silverman says
I'd definitely buy cd's, whether individually or in a box set.
Thomas Casagranda says
I think they should be issued as cds: the downloads are good, but I still want the tangible feel of a cd, plus some nice liner notes, and interviews from the band within the liner notes.
They could even reproduce the comments from Mick and Keith which are on youtube.
Damien Andrews says
Sorry to the Stone's fans in the US, but I'm enjoying my FLAC version in Australia - the band (as to be expected after 4 nights) is really firing on all cylinders - worth getting if you have a friend who can do so for you who resides outside the US. (The Brussels Affair is also very good) I think a low priced CD would be great to get if you didn't have another option (Flac version cost me Au$9.00 - US$9.30)
Shaun says
Under $10 US would be reasonable enough for a FLAC option. Even that might be a little high, given the lack of packaging and media, but assuming this would be a two CD set in physical form, that's a pretty good deal.
The Stones should certainly have the bargaining power to force Google to offer better options.
Steven Cummings says
I love it
Karen R. Gossett says
The Rolling Stones should release the November 26, 1989 Clemson, South Carolina, USA at Death Valley Stadium (It was the last outdoor stadium show of the 1989 Steel Wheels Tour)
This entire concert was recorded. Several songs from this show appear on "FLASHPOINT" cd released in 1991.
The Clemson show was a fantastic performance!
william edwards says
the complete leeds concert recorded on march 13 1971n which in myopinion includes the best EVER live version of midnight rambler would be great also the benifit concert in LA jan 18 1973 as well as any of the winter 1973 shows from Hawaii and Australia woulld be most welcome. Enough Ron Wood for awile Mick Taylor rules