The Rolling Stones’ groundbreaking multi-platinum selling album Let It Bleed is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, and what better way to celebrate the momentous album than with a limited deluxe reissue?
In June of 1969, during the peak of the Vietnam War and the era’s social upheaval, The Rolling Stones were in the process of recording eight Jagger/Richards-penned tunes and a cover (Love In Vain from the canon of bluesman Robert Johnson) when they made the difficult decision to part ways with founding member Brian Jones, who was found dead in his swimming pool the following month. By then, Jones had already been replaced by 20-year-old guitar prodigy Mick Taylor formerly of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Let It Bleed hence stands as the only proper Rolling Stones full-length that contains contributions from both members; Jones played autoharp on You Got the Silver and congas on Midnight Rambler, while Taylor laid downslide guitar on Country Honk and guitar tracks, along with Richards, on Live With Me.
The album’s hit single, Honky Tonk Women, was originally released four months ahead of Let It Bleed. With its distinctive cowbell-centric intro, was a #1 hit in both the US and UK, and was reprised on the album, playing heavily on country-esque riffs, as Country Honk.
The 50th anniversary box set includes; the remastered album in stereo and mono on vinyl, a Honky Tonk Women picture sleeve vinyl 7″, lithographs, a poster, and an 80-page hardcover book with previously unpublished photos.
Let It Bleed is out 1 November from ABKCO Records. Click here to pre-order.