chuch magee

       

 

 

Keith said neither he nor Ronnie are much to speak of alone, but together they are worth ten guitarists.
They have been playing together so long that they have developed a unique method of weaving their leads
and rhythms together.  They call it an ancient art ; while I'm more inclined to call it unique among preeminent rock guitarist..

Keith talks about weaving with Ronnie.

"Little Baby"
from Stripped. 
 

Simple, yet complicated. Follow the guitars as they toss the solo back and forth.  Can you tell which is "lead" and which is "rhythm"?  If not, as in this example, it's woven well.
This is a completely interwoven double lead.
 Listen.

"I Go Wild." 
Live version from "I Go Wild" single.
 

  Ronnie starts the solo (his is the more trebly dominant guitar; Keith mirrors him after a while, they toss it back and forth.  Ronnie's lead bursts forth briefly, before they head into a weaving pattern as Mick and singers come back in.
Listen.

"Gimme Shelter." 
Live verson from "Wild Horses" single. Bob Clearmountain mix.
a
Keith has the lead where this excerpt starts. Ronnie weaves in, rising from Keith's part at about the point
Mick starts to sing.  They weave back and forth under "kiss away" until Ronnie heads up the scale.
This version is exquisite: Ronnie builds the tension with this climb, but right as the listener anticipates the resolution, he extends the "ti" (the note before the "do" or the dominant key note.)   This is classic Ronnie--making you wait for it.  More often than not he doesn't give it to you.
Here he does, which may account for why I find it so satisfying.
The outtro continues with the lead passing to Keith.  Both Ronnie & Keith are essentially playing lead from here on out, with the baic riff handed to Ronnie and then back.  Listen to the two guitars fight for the last "word," or note, as the song ends.
Listen.

This version also holds the most spectacular rendition of Lisa Fisher's coloratura soprano improvisation
at the end of her solo verse (Rape. Murder. It's just a shot a way.).
This is the only released version where she explodes from the high C# to the E above it.
This is one of the spine-chilling notes that only sopranos can offer up .
Brava, Lisa, brava..

Listen.

"Tumbling Dice"
Live verson from "Wild Horses" single. Bob Clearmountain mix.

Listen for how Ronnie's lead comes right out of Keith's riff.  Keith works his bits into the solo--echoing and tracing Ronnie's lead.
Keith will sometimes mirror Ronnie's part right under Ronnies lead.
He does this just before the Mick exclamation.
Listen.


these excerpts are provided to be discussed in a critical or scholarly way.  Therefore, they are excerpts only.
If you want the whole song:  buy it.