Sources close to the present day Rolling Stones (whoever they are!) state that the guys never liked Got Live If You Want It and even go as far as to say they disown it. It was contractual-obligation album (Monty Python pun included) and their manager, “Loogie” (Andrew Loog Oldham) rushed it out. Nevertheless, it went gold in the U.S. in 1967, reaching 6th spot on the charts.

From the announcer’s hoarse voice introducing the band to the screaming Newcastle, England fans you can feel the raw edge developing. Charlie Watts continues this energy by hammering the drum intro to Under My Thumb at almost double the speed of the recorded tune. Wyman’s bass rumbles to the distortion of small stereo speakers and the guitars are no where near the fast groove. Jagger gets into the song with a drawling scat to the riff before he starts to sing. He does this for two passes as if the attacking of the female crowd is distracting him from the lyrics. Then, in typical Stones fashion, the song comes together - albeit with its very fast tempo - and the band falls into place.

Rolling Stones, Brian Jones

Watts starts off Get Off Of My Cloud in the same fashion and this time the bands comes right in. Brian Jones’ recognizable riff snakes around the original recorded version of the notes as if struggling to break with the confines of the passage without losing the original sound of the song.

The pressure of playing live have lifted by now and Lady Jane, even out of tune, is a classic. In the studio version Brian Jones doubles on flute and dulcimer, a lap, stringed instrument. He uses slide guitar in this version and Richard’s 12-string needed tuning.

I think 19th Nervous Breakdown and Buddy Holly’s Not Fade Away are gutsy and by far the best versions I’ve heard of the tunes. In the Holly song Brian Jones again shows his amazing virtuosity by being the best white harmonica player of his time. This is the classic Stones beat

As for quality I think Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out is much better. As a matter of fact I think it is the best live album ever. However, Got Live If You Want It is snap-shot of 1966. The pressures must have been enormous: playing with inadequate sound systems in front of screaming girls who have to be shoved off stage by police.

When I think of the Brian Jones-led Stones I think of this album. BTW, my old copy is “Monophonic.”