Album Summary
Let It Bleed is the 8th British and 10th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 28 November 1969 London Records in the United States and shortly thereafter by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. Released shortly after the band's 1969 American Tour, it is the follow-up to 1968's Beggars Banquet. As with Beggars Banquet, the album marks a return to the group's more blues-sound approach that was prominent in the pre-Aftermath period of their career. Additional sounds on the album draw influence from gospel, country blues and country rock. The album was recorded during a period of turmoil in the band; Brian Jones, the band's founder and original leader, had become increasingly unreliable in the studio due to heavy drug use, and during most recording sessions was either absent, or so incapacitated that he was unable to contribute meaningfully. He was fired in the midst of recording sessions for this album, and replaced by Mick Taylor. Jones appeared on this album on only two songs, playing backing instruments, and died within a month of being fired. Taylor had been hired after principal recording was complete on many of the tracks, and appears on two songs, having recorded some guitar overdubs. Keith Richards was the band's sole guitarist during most of the recording sessions, being responsible for nearly all of the rhythm and lead parts. The other Stones members (Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts) appear on nearly every track, with contributions by percussionist Jimmy Miller (who also produced the album), keyboardists Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart, and guest musicians including Ry Cooder. The album charted top ten in several markets, including reaching number one in the UK and number three in the US. While no high-charting singles were released from the album, many of the album's songs became staples of Rolling Stones live shows and on rock radio stations for decades to come, including "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want", both of them listed on "best ever" songs lists. The album was voted number 40 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd edition (2000). In 2005, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and is on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
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Reviews
A great album- like Beggar’s Banquet, the singles are jaw-dropping, especially Gimme Shelter. Just missing a liiiitle bit of substance in the non-singles and cohesion of vision overall. I hate the french horn in You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and I always have.
This one barely making a 4. Not much of a fan but this album is not bad.
Ilke min type rock. Men det beste jeg har hørt fra Stones.
Gimme Shelter is an incredible opener but unfortunately the rest of this album doesn’t quite carry that same energy, which disappointed me. Still great though!
No me gustó tanto como otros. Si somos anteriores, no lo sentí tan
La first track est hard mais c’est pas mal ça
Honestly lot more bangers than I realized
Perhaps the most rock n roll album from musics most rock n roll band
Первая и последняя песни улет. То что между ними такое себе, очень медленный текст, музыка цикличная, есть попытка в разнообразие от припева к припеву, но как будто мало. Но в целом слушать приятно, поэтому 4
already listened to this 4 stars You Can't Always Get What You Want and Gimme Shelter are 5 star songs
Solid ass record here. The Stones were rock and roll hit makers and you won't find many people that hate their sound. Some of the tunes they crafted are staples of rock for years to come. The bookends of this album are a couple of the best songs the Stones ever made. Gimmie Shelter is amazing, go check out the video on youtube of Merry Clayton returning to the studio where she recorded that part. You Can't Always Get What You Want is simply put a 10/10 track for the ages and one of the best album enders of all time. The filler tracks here drag the album down a bit in my minds eye, but I love this as a very high 8/10
Merry Clayton does so much heavy lifting in "Gimme Shelter", I seriously doubt it would be as great a song as it is without her backing vocals carrying it. This album is fine, The Rolling Stones' hits never sounds like the other songs on their albums, so I always have skewed expectations going into them. I'm not a huge fan, but i never actively dislike their stuff.
A bookshelf containing just the admittedly fantastic bookends. This is my second stones album and I still don't feel it. It's derivative white man blues lifted from the classics and half heartedly delivered. It feels like cosplay at best and insulting at worst. 1*
i think let it bleed is probably my first album from rolling stone that i fully listen to many underrated songs in it specially the second one was my favorite i did found the songs a bit repetitive but doesnt mean they were bad
Increasingly realising the Stones are not really for me. This starts and ends with two of their greatest songs, but nothing inbetween really grabs me. A country version of Honky Tonk Women feels a little like they ran out of ideas early on. That said, Gimme Shelter is SO good, this just about scrapes a 3.
Ahh, The Rolling Stones...Again? This album is pretty much the same as every other Stones album: mediocre "white man blues" with a couple of good songs. If all of these albums have only a few good songs, why are all of them essential? This stupid band is the most overrated band of all time, and not just on this list. In general,they are not as good as most people say they are.
Album No. 0213 on my list. I've never been a huge Stones fan per se, but I've liked some of their music and in that sense, I also have nothing "against" them. Besides, they've been hugely influential and popular, so I had actually been looking forward to this album. And "Let It Bleed" is actually a pretty good album! It's the second Stones album that I've encountered on this list and I did enjoy it more than "Aftermath" (my first one). I like the drive on this one, I like the cool genre mixture (country, blues, rock, folk), I like that it does still sound pretty well despite it being almost 60 years old. I had known (and liked) some of the tracks before listening to the full album, but actually, there's not a single song on here that I didn't enjoy. The band will probably never become an all time favorite, but I did like this one. Will add "Gimme Shelter" (obviously), "Let It Bleed", "Monkey Man", and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (obviously) to my playlist. I guess I'll listen to the whole thing again though sooner or later again. 4/5 stars!
3.1/5 basic
Not as iconic as I thought it would be
"In the immortal words of Mick Jagger..." A lot of sentimentality going into this rating for me. I don't think I can judge the Rolling Stones objectively -- it's too wrapped up with my childhood!
This a pretty good album bookended by two really, really excellent songs.
Masterpiece!
I grew up listening to the Stones on the radio in the 70s through the mid 80s. I know them through this format more than through specific albums so there's about 20 years of their music that I know well, but not how they were originally packaged. I was honestly surprised at some of the songs on this album from 1969. I must have seen concert footage and just placed them later. Anyway, it's all great. I had forgotten that they have a long love for country music and so was surprised by a those tunes. Not my favorite, but still charming because it's these guys.
Iconic songs spaced out with droning wails
Zopár hitov si občas vypočujem, v rádiu neznejú zle, ale málokedy si viem sustredene vypočuť nejaký ich album.
Bookended by two all-time great songs but nothing much in the middle to make me care
One of my favourite stones albums, midnight rambler and gimme shelter on the one album, oof.
Yeah, OK.
Puros temazos, mola la version de honky tonk woman
nothing crazy tbh
'Gimme shelter' is an incredible opener. The rest is blues à la Stones. Nothing bad in here, all solid tracks. Strangely I preferred the more basic 'aftermath'.
wasn't as bad as i was expecting but didn't enjoy it
It was aight
I just don't get the hype. Nothing about this so-called "critically acclaimed" band piques my interest.
I’ve said previously that Mick Taylor stones are the best stones, and sadly this is Brian Jones rather than Mick but Country stones are the second best stones and this full of cpu try influences. It’s bookended by two different things in the majestic gimme shelter and the equally majestic you can always get what you want but it’s just a lot of fun in between.
not a critical listen too album, but nice time capsule from when it was released. A few songs are worth the listen, but other than those, they have so many other great albums to choose from before this one.
Honestly liked it less than I remembered. A lot of it feels like cheap American play acting. Merry Clayton steals the show
Classic Stones
I quite enjoyed this album, especially when it features Gimmee Shelter which one of my favourite rolling stones songs. There a little bit of a blues vibe but I can appreciate the analogue style guitar work, which is one thing I do like about this era of music. No overproducing, no audio enhancements, no extra sound effects. just a solid 41 minutes of classic rock.
Another strong album from the Rolling Stones
The closing track makes me feel like a mean doctor with a bum leg... This is a low 4
Classic rock
the best one so far?
I do not like the Stones, but, unfortunately, gotta give this a 3 for Gimmie Shelter.
Not their best, but still has some good songs on it.
Classic Rolling Stones
Pretty good
It’s the rolling stones!
This is good advice for nosebleeds.
"Gimme Shelter" - magnificent, as always "Love in Vain" - a little weaker than the rest; just makes me want to hear the original "Country Honk" - a surprise to hear "Honky Tonk Women"; this version sure does have more of a honky-tonk vibe, and it suits it "Live with Me" - reminds me of what the Stones will sound like in the 80s "Let it Bleed" - I didn't recognize from the title that I knew this song so well; a staple of classic rock radio. "Midnight Rambler" - I do love a song with a fake-out ending, and this song has two! "You Got the Silver" - a nice song. Keith's vocals are like a cross between Mick's and Bob Dylan. "Monkey Man" - the instrumentals in the middle are great, best part of the song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - a perfect ending. I love when songs build and build, adding in instruments and getting more intense. This is one of the best to do it.
Good album def carried hard by having good feel. Very funny the choir in the last song distanced themselves from the band
nice
Quality album, great flow, great tunes, some bangers, winner
Doesn’t feel authentic
I liked the stones growing up, but I only ever had one of their greatest hits albums. I am quickly learning through this list though that outside of those greatest hits, there isn't really anything there to rave about. This album is not shaking that opinion. Excellent opener and closer, but everything between is completely forgettable.
4.2/5 Favorite Songs: Gimme Shelter Live with Me Midnight Rambler Monkey Man You Can't Always Get What You Want
Two of these songs are brilliant, the rest are whatever
Greatest ever opening/closing combo. RYM: Y (#471) Saved a song: N
Starts with my favorite Stones song and ends with my very most least favorite. Almost gave it a 4 just for Gimme Shelter but the rest is just blah.
Like the vibes, it’s probably a 4 but have to be in the mood for it. And aren’t some of them a bit pedoy ?
better stones albums methinks
I mean - c’mon
A classic, whether you like them much or, as I, don’t particularly care for them.
If you don’t like this album, you’re lying. Opens and closes with absolute incredible bangers. In the middle the songs are less memorable but still quality blues rock with a great song. Country Honk has the bones of a great song but its predecessor is better for sure
Meilleur que celui avant et égal ou sinon moins bon que celui après.
Nice!!
Gimme Shelter
really good songs for a road trip
Me when I'm a doctor treating George Washington's throat infection. Better than expected. The vocals are grating, but the instrumentals and production aren't bad. I was surprised at how folk-y and country some of the tracks sounded. The best track is "Gimme Shelter". The title track "Let it Bleed" sucks. 2.5 stars.
Great rock. I love The Rolling Stones.
Many great tunes here. Love in Vain is a particular favorite of mine. 5.
Perhaps the band’s apotheosis, a diverse mix of songs showcasing their evolution as a capital R rock band. Setting the tone for their early seventies releases, while bookended by two of the great songs of the late 60’s. If they had included Honky Tonk Woman (instead of the somewhat flaccid Country Honk) it would be even further up critics’ best of lists.
Gimme shelter, midnight rambler, and can’t always get what you want are doing some very heavy lifting for this 4 rating.
First and last song მპუა
Two of the biggest hits bookending the album with some fun material in between makes for a nice listen but I can't say the album as a whole is fantastic.
I do not like them. Not a single record works.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really don't understand the hype around this band. Admittedly, they have some good songs, and Gimme Shelter is a fantastic track - unfortunately it's really the only good thing about the record. The rest of it I just find uninteresting. I realise when I listen to a whole album how much I actually don't really like Mick Jagger's voice, and most songs just plod along. I see everyone raving about "You Can't Always Get What You Want" but even that feels like it drags on for me. 2 stars, only because Gimme Shelter is a banger.
(8.6)
I don't listen to the Rolling Stones much, but this is a classic.
Great loose blues sound. Like the quieter bits between the heavier guitar songs.
Really carried by the two huge songs that are staples of the Stones and each classic in their own right. For the rest of it, I’m not very interested in British blues and soul. 4⭐️
Coolt omslag
Asså fattar ni hur jävla coola dom var Lite jobbigt att den här är 5/5 för det innebär att Sticky Fingers är 6/5.
Jävla munspelsdansband
Definitely a sucker for their older stuff
2.8, its better than average. I really liked two of the songs but the rest didnt click with me.
I'll never understand The Rolling Stones going country. You're from London! The fact that one of the most popular rock bands of all time known explicitly for Rocking has so many country songs will never not shock me. And mostly, they're just fine. The best Stones songs usually are the singles, the ones you know, and the ones you expect to be the best. This, to me, is certainly the weakest of the four records it's sandwiched between.
Whatever I thought The Rolling Stones sounded like, this album was not it. Aside from opening with Gimme Shelter, the range of sound surprised me. Not all quite to my liking, or, maybe seeming out of place. It was an album that I struggled to listen to get into after the strong opener, but once the momentum built (Let It Bleed and especially Midnight Rambler), I had a good time with it overall. Glad to have listened.
Some fantastic songs, but it's no Exile on Main Street
Obviously
The opening to “Gimme Shelter” is lovely. Meh. The rest of the album just blurred together. It’s OK and I’d be fine having it on as background music (although not my first choice). I’m not a huge fan of this era of rock music overall.
No es un mal album, tampoco el mejor. Gimee shelter y you cant always get what you want temones, despues no siento que me haya dejado algo más
Ok album. Like the Rolling Stones typically make. Very ok, middle of the road, average, fine enough mediocre band
The highs are high and the lows are okay. I’m not too familiar with the Rolling Stones but they’re never what I expect. Worth a relisten.
Maybe my favorite Stones album?? Tons of variety, from lowkey gorgeous ballads to fiery rockers to some groovy jam sessions.
The band's best song of their career followed by a bunch of meh blues and folk.
Just simply one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Gimme Shelter is so great, honky tonk, live with me, and then fucking choir in you can’t always get what you want. Bluesy, folksy, rocky, and just amazing.
Yeah baby. Such a good album. The huge hits are obviously the bookends but the middle is full of songs that you feel like you’ve known your whole life. Country stones are the best stones.
The Stones have to have the highest floor of any of the major rock bands, just another rock solid album with 3-4 lights out songs plus I don't have to sit through anything resembling Tommy or much of the White Album. Don't think it's quite a 5, Love in Vain and Live with Me are just good not great but this is as good an album you'll find from this era.
Pure black tar rock n roll. Shoot that sleazy junk directly into my ear canal