Midnight Rambler

I bought a copy of the Stones' 1969 behemoth Let It Bleed a few weeks ago for £5:

Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (1969)

It has as many lines on it as Keith's face, but luckily they're much lighter so only provide some atmospheric crackle on the quieter parts.  In fact on their cover of Robert Johnson's "Love In Vain" it sounds particularly appropriate.

Let It Bleed is probably my favourite Stones album.  Although a bit patchy (Monkey Man for example being one of the weaker tracks) it contains Midnight Rambler, You Can't Always Get What You Want and the incredible sinister groove of Gimme Shelter; proof positive of the Jagger/Richards alchemy that provided the run of classic albums from Beggars Banquet to Exile.

The cover is of course iconic, even appearing on a Royal Mail stamp two years ago.  The back cover with Robert Brownjon's sculpture (featuring Delia's cake) in a despoiled state is equally good:

Let It Bleed back cover

Released in the December, the album reached no.1 in the UK and no.3 in the US.  The original Rolling Stone magazine review is here, followed by Gimme Shelter on youtube:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/let-it-bleed-19691227

Gimme Shelter: