If you're wondering which CD of this Stones classic to get, get this one. The digitalized remastering process here sounds almost as good as pristine heavyweight vinyl. And for younger listeners, if you've never heard "Let It Bleed", you're in for a ride. From the first quiet haunting notes of "Gimme Shelter" to the tongue in cheek choral intro and outro of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - with plenty of hard rockin' in between - it's the Stones at one of their all-time peaks.

I am a music lover period and The Stones one of the great groups of all time.Had some 45 rmps by them in the sixties and seventys but this is my first album.No complaints here.

Sticky Fingers is close, but for overall quantity of good songs on one disc - this is probably it! Not "knocking" their other disc's (they have plenty of good ones), or individual songs on others - but overall, for number of good rockers/quality tunes on one album I like this one.

Cr@$#!!!!! "Christopher" CRADDOCK, the one-eyed king of Bakersfield says:
"Released on November 28, 1969, this signaled the end of the Summer of Love. Gimmie Shelter, Live With Me, Midnight Rambler, but then the resignation and redemption of You Can't Always Get What You Want."

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter - Criterion Collection

Exile on Main St.

Beggars Banquet

Some Girls

Their Satanic Majesties Request

Goats Head Soup

Out of Our Heads

England's Newest Hitmakers

Tattoo You

(last one goes out to Jandi Lin)

Let It Bleed is one of, if not THE, greatest album from one of, if not THE greatest rock and roll band of all time. If you don't have Let It Bleed, you need it. It's beyond a must have; it's essential listening. It's music history. Standout tracks: Gimme Shelter, Country Honk, Live With Me, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, Monkey Man, You Can't Always Get What You Want.

The title of this album is a play on the Beatles last official album "Let It Be". The Stones were always the Yin to then Beatles Yang and never was it more apparent than at the end of the 60's. The Beatles were on the verge of breaking up while the Stones would continue for another 4 plus decades. "Bleed" is one of the Stones better albums and contains two songs that have become classics, still receiving a vast amount of airplay today. "Gimmie Shelter", "You Can't Always Get What You Want" rank up with the best songs of the 60's as they open and close this album. The rest of the disc is not as good, but it is all decent Stones material. The band covers Robert Johnson's "Love In Vain" then covers themselves with a country version of Honkey Tonk Woman called "Country Honk". "Midnight Rambler" is good, but I think the live version on "Get Your Ya Ya's Out" is better. "You Got The Silver" finds Keith Richards on lead vocals for the first time. "Live With Me" and "Monkey Man" round out the album. Original member Brian Jones would die during the making of this one, with Mick Taylor on board as his replacement.

Leading off with the stellar "Gimme Shelter," followed by the twangy country blues number "Love in Vain," The Rolling Stones immediately show their two greatest talents on this 1969 album, those being the ability to write a killer "hit" track, as well as to fill out an album with songs you wouldn't necessarily expect from a band described as being a rock n' roll act. I've always been amazed at the differences between Mick Jagger's vocals on their more country tracks, where he sings with a nasal whine, and the more rocking tracks (or, at least, the slightly less country tracks), where his voice can be deeper and, generally richer, and nowhere is this more apparent than in "Country Honk," versus "Midnight Rambler." The classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" closes out the album, which is really just a great piece of songwriting. I have, however, always wondered at the inclusion of the choir, which seems unnecessary and, in honesty, takes away from the song.

All in all, a good offering from the Stones. Better than its predecessor, Beggars Banquet, which follows the country theme to a fault, this album plugs in and rocks enough to give it more variety.

After releasing Beggars Banquet in 1968, The Stones not only ended the Sixties with one of their best albums, but with one of their best songs ever ("Gimme Shelter," the intensity of which caused backing vocalist Merry Clayton to miscarry). Let It Bleed also featured songs that were to become classic Stones: "You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Midnight Rambler," as well as a cover of Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain." The band performed most of the songs from Let it Bleed as part of their concert tour ending with the infamous December, 1969 Altamont Free Concert. It was on that dark note that the Stones ended the Sixties.

Thanks to Keith Richards' acquaintance with Gram Parsons of the Byrds, Let it Bleed has some interesting country influences ("Country Honk," a true honky-tonk tune). The album also features Richards' first lead vocal on a Stones' album ("You Got the Silver"). Let it Bleed is among my five favorite Stones' albums, and one of the four albums that I consider to be The Golden Age of the Rolling Stones--when they were at their best, the others being: Beggars Banquet (1968); Sticky Fingers (1971); and Exile on Main St. (1972). Other album tracks include:

1. Gimme Shelter
2. Love In Vain
3. Country Honk
4. Live With Me
5. Let It Bleed
6. Midnight Rambler
7. You Got the Silver
8. Monkey Man
9. You Can't Always Get What You Want

G. Merritt

It's albums like this that seem to echo BB King's perspective that we owe thanks to the brits for promoting American Blues. I love listening to the album as a whole.

What kind of idiot would review this? Brilliance, first on vynil, then on CD, and now on a CD that's maybe, too clear. All tracks are highpoints in the Rock Genre, which we should realize now means Popular Music. Probably some of the best music to come out of the 2nd half of the 20th Century.
There was a point in time where many CDs were not in release in the US, but were in Great Britain. There was a store in NYC that sold these imports, and I almost broke a finger grabbing for my first copy of "Let It Bleed". And paid many dollars to the store owner.
Some yutz in the mastering process had obviously put in the leader tape that goes between cuts when mastering the tapes for CD. And, this clever person had put the leader BEFORE the tracks. So, you'd set the CD player to play "Live With Me" and there'd be a pause, about as long as the space between cuts. I actually made a copy w/o the pauses, CD player to CD Recorder, but...
Here's the fix-it to several worn out copies of the vynil release, the weird early CD import... all those problems. Finally, I got what I want and what I need.
And when was the last time you heard "You've Got The Silver", "Love In Vain", "Let It Bleed" or "Monkey Man" on the radio?

With this album the Stones grabbed that title and effortlessly held the title until sometime after the release of Exile On Main Street. A supreme mix of of blues influenced rock music with a bit of country and the frankly really oddball, but magically catchy "You Can't Alway get What You Want".

The album starts with one of the Stones best ever tracks "Gimme Shelter", which is nearly four and a half minutes long. The influence of Chuck Berry can still be heard on this track but the Stones have moved the goal posts and although Chuck invented some of the greatest Rock N Roll guitar licks, on Gimme Shelter Keith Richards raises the bar.

Following the slow Robert Johnson blues "Love in Vain" (superb) and the country rewrite of "Honky Tonk Woman" that is "Country Honk" (probably the weakest track) we get to "Live With Me". Heres a track that could easily have been on Exile on Main Street. A supreme piece of Rock Music, Jagger snarls the lyrics, a barnstorming Sax solo by Bobby Keys, the twin Pianos of Nicky Hopkins and Leon Russell pounding in the background. Its probably my favourite track on the album.

Having said the title track "Let It Bleed" is quite something as well. Charlie Watts who is frequently forgotten when the Stones are discussed, as always propels the track along with indecent drive, theres some lovely slide guitar from Keith Richards and Ian Stewart (the Stones equivlent to Billy Preston) adds the funky Piano licks.

As a previous reviewer has stated, and as I indicated at the start of my review, if you have this album, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street you have the Stones at the very height of their powers. There are many other worthy albums they made which are worth getting but none touch these three.

It seems as if the Stones' early albums each gradually altered a sound or a technique and this album doesn't let down. Either be it the incorporation of a new guitarist or the different insruments, Let It Bleed is innovative and sounds fresh.

This is a great album although I think the definitive Midnight Rambler is on Ya-Ya's and the definitive Let it Bleed on Stripped. I also think they should've put a bass line on Country Honk. That nitpicking aside, this a must have for Stones fans. Even if you have the big hits on 40 Licks or Hot Rocks, you need this and Sticky Fingers.

This is the downest dirtiest partyingest meanest rockin'est Stones record of all times. I rate it over Exile. Gimme Shelter is AMAZING. Richt on the money.
I don't know anything about no DSDs, but I know good rock and roll when I hear it.

One of the Stones' best album/cd's. It was great music when it first came out and still is. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to hear the Stones at their best.

I bought this album after initially being satisfied that my 3cd Stones' compilation and their later "Jump back" compilation were sufficient for having the best Stones' songs. What changed? I saw Mick Jagger perform solo in Australia many years ago and a guy I went to the concert with got excited when a certain song started to be played [along with the audience]. I asked what it was...thought he said "Jimmy Shelter", which just confused me!

Anyway, when I heard Jagger play that song live, I considered it to be an instant classic. It's started to be played more on Australian commercial FM radio since then, fortunately. And I do remember this song being listed on some internet poll as the Stone's greatest song...a sentiment I have to agree with, or at least share the honour with "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Gimme Shelter just has has a nice subtle guitar sound and male/female vocals which put goosebumps on the back of your neck.

On this album, there is distortion of this song, and I'm guessing that the recording technology was not able to capture the bigness of this song's sound.

So, why only two stars for this album? Firstly, I don't give albums a lot of stars for merely having ONE great song on it. Secondly, like I say in the headline of my review, this album is passing strange-I did NOT expect an album full of blues and country music from a pop/rock group!

It's been a while since I've listened to this album after I bought it recentlylish [some months ago]-so, going on memory, I think that "Country honk" is what WOULD become a compilation staple, Honky Tonk Women. Unfortunately, it is a little too country for me.

This album does have other songs that often make Stones' compilations, but it's just that I don't particularly like those songs! E.g. "You can't always get what you want".

If you've never heard "Gimme Shelter" [which absolutely shines as a song due to the great female vocals in the song], then either buy this album, or the Stones' compilation "Hot Rocks". If you choose to buy this album, however, then make sure you like or are open to blues and country music.

I'm not sure if this album often gets listed as one of the Stones' great albums, but for me it is not that good [this is the only regular Stones' album I have, along with my two compilations comprising 4 cds].

For die hard fans only, I think, though Gimme Shelter is a 5 star song, in my opinion.

Wow! What a line up! As soon as you hear the opening guitar of Gimme Shelter you know your in for something special! I love "Country Honk" How many groups have that kind of balls to not include a classic hit like "Honky Tonk Woman" and do a country version of that song for the album? Most groups could only dream of having enough great material to do something like that! The Stones were at the top of the game between "Beggar's" & "Exile". They managed to put out four of the greatest albums of all time, a fantastic live album(Ya Ya's) and an incredible hits set with Hot Rocks! This is an album that should be in every music lovers collection!

The Rolling Stones and their guests made a great one with Let it Bleed. Keith is at his best, His song Silver is one of the best. Nicky Hopkins piano at the start of Monkey man is creative.Byron Berlines fiddle makes Country Honk better. Al Kooper plays Frech horn, Piano and Organ on Cant always get what you want. Bobby Keys has a good solo on Live With Me. Ry Cooders mandolin is good on Love In Vain. Mick is great on here his vocals are great and good harmonica on Midnight Rambler.

Led It Bleed is the follow up to Beggers Banquet and its just as good if not better than Beggers Banquest with its country, blues, and rock music.

The album has been reviewed for content excellently on these pages. I will only comment on this New Edition.
I have listened to this album since 1973, and have LP and CD.

Was it worth to buy this Remastered version?

Absolutely. I hear things in the mix that I'd never heard before (even with my older and well-abused ears!).

Same for Aftermath, and Beggars Banquet. There's a new freshness on these re-editions that is simply staggering.
Of course, only if you have listening equipment that can capture these details... But even on my old Quad and Heresy's the difference is amazing.

Keith is perfect in his 'You Got The Silver'. Other great and arresting songs are 'Gimme Shelter','Monkey Man".

The other half of the songs are pretty Sluggish for their usual fast pace.

Let It Bleed for me is the band's first genuine classic album. It was the album that lived up to their billing as the greatest rock and roll band on earth in the late sixties.

By this time the Stones had released the great Beggars Banquet album, which is a great album, albeit not a classic but a pivotal record in the band's career, where country rock was added to their usual rock/blues and a few classic rock singles such as "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honkey Tonk Woman".

Let It Bleed kicks off with one of my favourite Stones songs, the harrowing classic "Gimme Shelter". There could not have been a better song to have opened this album. "Love in Vain" changes the tempo a bit with Mick crooning the blues cover accompanied by Keith's acoustic guitar and Mick Jones slide work is nice. It's a good effort but never came near the original. A little humour is added with "Country Tonk" which is a parody of their single, Honkey Tonk Woman.

The album comes alive in a big way with the thumping bass line into of "Live With Me", which is good times Stone's rock. I love the way Keith joins Mick with harmonising vocals. Great song. The title track comes off better live in my opinion. There are some great Stones lines in it such as the coke and sympathy one amongst others.

Mick turns in a sensational effort with one of their best blues originals, "Midnight Rambler". The song remains a concert staple after all these years. Keith's song, "You Got The Silver" is a good little country blues ballad. "Monkey Man" didn't have quite the popularity as "Midnight Rambler" "Gimme Shelter" or "You Cant Always Get What You Want" but is every bit as good as any of those.

The album closes with the epic "You Cant Always Get What You Want" which is the Stone's "Hey Jude". Addition of the horn was fantastic but the choir is a little overbearing towards its closure. Underneath its epicness lies perhaps one of the best songs from the Jagger/Richards team.

This is an essential rock album which I recommend to everyone. There was a second classic Stones album, that was Sticky Fingers. Beggars and Exile have been touted as classics over the years but just don't measure up to Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers.

We all know how great the songs are on this CD -- 5-Star all the way.

However, I guess there's an unlucky few oddballs among us who can't play the SACD hybrid CD format of this particular reissue on our PC. Which also means that we can't add the CD to our iTunes or iPod music selections. In this day and age, that's severely limiting, so I regret this purchase (I don't have some jalopy of a PC/processor either, as my computer is less than seven months old, with 2GB of RAM).

I don't know who to blame for my "mistake" -- myself? Amazon? Sony? Philips? ABKCO?

I'll blame myself and be more careful next time -- in part by avoiding "DSD-" or "SACD-" labeled items.

I'll also give the CD 1 Star on the basis of its limited technological usefulness to me.

from 1968 thru 1972 the stones created "beggars banquet," "let it bleed," "sticky fingers," and "exile on main st." what other band can boast such a majestical string of classics in such a short period. from the eerie opening sounds of "gimmie shelter," a song that has an air of menace, a flavor of tension to it, on out through the album finale, the great "you can't always get what you want," this is an album of powerhouse music. rock and roll touched by some heavenly muse. there are three acoustic blues numbers here, and no white boys could ever do a blues number like the stones could in this era. they seemed completely at ease with the blues, took to it so natural. their cover of robert johnson's "love in vain" is totally compelling, fresh, and moving. the country-blues hoe-down number "country honk," with violin and a ragged vocal by keith, is equally fresh and exciting. it is "you got the silver," though, which is the most excellent of these 3 acoustic blues cuts. this is keith's best vocal ever, and his slide work is divine. a beautiful, beautiful tune. more fine slide guitar work from keith is found on the title cut, a honky-tonk rocker with a heavy boogie beat, and a loose relaxed vocal from jagger. "midnight rambler," with its driving beat, funky harmonica, and freaky slide guitar flourishes, matches the tension and menacing atmospherics of "gimme shelter" note for note. and did i forget "live with me?" that great heart-thumping rocker with tenor saxophone fireworks from bobby keys? and how about "monkey man?" a great rock anthem, celebrating misfits and our animal nature, with guitar wizardry provided by keith. and lastly, there is, of course, "you can't always get what you want." that song is simply one of the great songs of the rock and roll canon. and what's with this al kooper fella? isn't he the guy who played the organ on dylan's classic "like a rolling stone?" another all-time great of rock music's canon. he plays organ on "you can't always get what you want," too. and french horn, to boot. seems the guy carried a load of luck with him into a recording session. anyway, you definitely need this album. no doubt about it. make the kids skip a few meals if you are short on cash. this is more important. believe me.

This is the best album that the Rolling Stones ever recorded. They had found their identity with a hybrid sound of blues, country and hard rock. The subject matter is dark. Images of junkies, serial killers, war mongers, and hard drugs form a decadent, nihilistic atmosphere. But it is appropriate as this album summed up the filming of the ominious movie "Performance", the death of Brian Jones, and Keith's long descent into heroin oblivion...

Best tracks: "Gimme Shelter", "Monkey Man", "Midnight Rambler", "Let it Bleed", "You Got the Silver".

It's hard to top Beggars Banquet, but they come close. Keith plays most of the guitars so they are mostly a four piece band here.

Bought on vinyl when it first came out. Truly a Stones fan at heart.

It is a huge joke that the Rolling Stones could make more than 20 albums in 40 years and each one of their albums suck horribly ever since 1964. They only made two good songs 'Start Me Up' and 'Shattered' and the rest of their songs stink! Their vocalist Mick Thornten wears his hair like a mohawk just can't sing at all and uses makeup like a girl. Keith Richmond, their guitar player is the worst guitar player in the world ever who never took guitar lessons doesn't know any of the chords,always out of tune and only two strings on his pink guitar. Willie Whatts,their drummer cant drum at all never took lessons and he was no comparison to drum greats like Lars Ulrich. Do not buy any Rolling Stones CD,they are the worst band ever besides Pink Floyd. Put Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones albums in the freezer. Mark Knopfler is 10 times better, get the Ragpicker's Dream insted.

Nothing like the Stones. They are at their best on this album. However as with all their albums the prodution values suck. But still it is a powerful blast from the past. well worth the money.

This just might be the Rolling Stones' best album. At least I think so.

The Stones heavily-praised first album of the Mick Taylor era (and last of the Brian Jones one) is a great collection of Stones rock. Most of the reviews have spewn heavily upon it, so I'll save mine for the simple truth of beauty that is Monkey Man, Midnight Rambler, Live With Me, and the arguably top five all time Stones number of Gimme Shelter. There is no Stones song I know of that can so make me stop what I'm doing and just LISTEN to that intro and pause in awe. REALLY great stuff. Yeah, Midnight Rambler live on Ya-Yas is pretty intense, but the version here is a bit scarier, so what the hell. The cover of Love In Vain is really great despite the fact that it sounds little like the original, but hey, isn't that what makes a great cover version anyway? It is such a great Stones workout every time you hear it live it just demands to be an integral part of their country blues legacy. The different take on Honky Tonk Women, however fun, isn't as great as the first version. YCAGWYW is pure Stones canon material and Keith's turn on You Got The Silver as well as Mick's lecherous title track are really solid. So I wonder, how is it that Keef manages to make so many of his songs (You Got The Silver, Coming Down Again, All About You, Slipping Away) sound like the way you feel after a dozen or so glasses of scotch? The man is a marvel of human ingenuity, innit he?
Anywho, this is great Stones stuff. It isn't all the way to five stars for me, but it is a high point of the Stones storied career. The extra stars were soon to come...

The Rolling Stones released their 13th US release Let it Bleed in November of 1969.
The year was a turbulent year for the band. First, original guitarist Brian Jones got fired and drowned that July at his home in England(only bass player Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts attended his funeral whilst guitarist Keith Richards continued working on this album at Olympic Studios in London(he was the only member to appear at the recording sessions day in and day out) and frontman Mick Jagger was filming Ned Kelly in Australia).
Next, guitarist Mick Taylor joined the band towards the conclusion of recording.
Then, the band released Let it Bleed in November of 1969.
The album picked up where its predecessor, 1968's Beggars Banquet, left off.
This album opens with Gimmie Shelter which is one of the band's best numbers with a passionate vocal from Mick and superb backing vocals from Merry Clayton who sings the haunting middle section and if you listen close, you can hear her voice crack(clearly audible on the remaster) and Keith's guitar work was killer(in fact he played most of the guitars on the album). Next is a great reading of Robert Johnson's Love in Vain with a great vocal from Mick. Country Honk follows and was the first track with Mick Taylor on a Stones album and was a country version of Honky Tonk Women with different lyrics. Live With Me is next and featured great guitar work from Keith and Mick Taylor. Keith also played bass on this track and was the first appearance by Bobby Keys with his sax on a Stones track(he would play sax with the band from then on off and on). The title cut is a great song and is a classic.
Midnight Rambler starts the second half off and is a great bluesy rocker. Keith's proper vocal debut You Got the Silver follows and is one of Keith's best vocals and a break from Mick's vocal work. Monkey Man is next and a song about the evils of drugs and all I can think of Goodfellas when I hear this track. The closing You Can't Always Get What You Want is the only track on the album to not feature Charlie on drums, that honor went to producer Jimmy Miller, and is a classic rock radio staple with its choir intro and is a classic.
When released, this album was a huge hit peaking at #3 here in the US(as it could not dethrone either The Beatles' Abbey Road or Led Zeppelin II) and going Gold immediately, eventually Platinum.
RECOMMENDED!
NO COUNTER REVIEWS PLEASE!

I do want to clarify that this review is not of the album Let it Bleed, which is one of the all time greats in rock history, but of the misrepresentation given by Universal Music Group about the release.

This album was released advertised as an SACD Hybrid disc. I see that it no longer is. The inference is that the audio is 5.1. It is not. If you purchase this or any of the ABKCO re-release discs expecting 5.1 audio you will be disappointed.

The Stones continued their winning streak with '69's "Let It Bleed", the second disc in their holy trilogy that begins with '68's "Beggars Banquet" and ends with 1970's "Sticky Fingers". I'm aware that most fans also consider "Exile On Main Street" to be an essential part of the Stones' legacy and while I agree that it's a great album I find it a bit too rambling and sloppily recorded (precisely what those fans dig about it!) to be included among their very best. Ultimately, these late-'60's Stones discs show Mick & Keith stepping out of the Beatles' shadow as excellent songwriters to be reckoned with.

This masterpiece begins with the swampy guitar lick of "Gimme Shelter" and Mick singing falsetto 'oohs' along with it. Then Keith's guitar kicks in and the song gets eerie/spooky as Mick and guest vocalist Merry Clayton sing about subjects like urban unrest, rape and murder. I especially love the way Merry's vocal cords sound like they're shreading when she sings the 'rape, murder' line and the honkin' harmonica solo in the bridge. Next the Stones do a fantastic job of reinventing Robert Johnson's sorrowful "Love In Vain". Dig that wonderfully expressive slide guitar. It my have irritated some fans that instead of the single version of "Honky Tonk Woman" being included on this record, they remade it as "Country Honk" but I think it fits right in with the tone of the album- some blues, some country, a bit of gospel and a lot of pure 'rawk'. Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for the Stones and the Beatles to release singles that weren't to be found on their albums. This was due to record company pressures for new product. The Beatles did the same thing with "Revolution". The single rocks, the version on the "The Beatles" aka "The White Album" is a slowed down doo-wop number. "Country Honk" is followed by the totally rockin' "Live With Me" with the usual nasty lyrical wit of Mr. Jagger. This one's got a great walking bass line courtesy of Bill Wyman. The country-tinged title track again features some really tasty slide guitar and some nice, loose piano played by guest Nicky Hopkins. "Let It Bleed" is full of raunchy lyrics and pure stoner attitude. I can't count how many times cocaine is mentioned on this disc so if you're anti-drugs (and/or sex) you'll definitely be offended. This was way before the age of 'politically correct', thank God. "Midnight Rambler" is a bluesy gem and is lyrically dark with its depiction of serial killers on the loose. Keith slows things down a bit with another blues number, "You Got The Silver" which is the first lead vocal he'd done up to that point. "Monkey Man"is a lively, funky piece of work- a rock anthem soaked with sex & drugs. It's interesting to note that both this album and its predecessor end with gospel-influenced songs ("You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Salt of the Earth" respectively). Are the boys looking for redemption amidst all the previously mentioned carnality? All I know is that it's only rock and roll and I LOVE it!

Probably the best Stones album of all time. If you only have one, this should be it.