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List Price: $24.98 | | Label: Virgin Records Us
Salesrank: 130163
Released: November 2, 2004 |
| Our Price: $19.54 |
| Used Price: $8.69 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
The Rolling Stones have built themselves a fine conundrum with this double-disc anthology culled from performances on their 40th Anniversary tour of 2002-03, releasing arguably their most comprehensive and compelling live recording at a moment in history when it seems to matter least. The Stones' by now overwhelming spate of live albums has consistently been the most disappointing part of their considerable oeuvre, but the band--particularly the chunky/bluesy twin guitar locomotion of Keith Richards and Ron Wood--are in a form here that rivals the halcyon touring behind Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. Befitting this tour's anniversary aims, they tackle material that ranges from their original Brit Invasion roots ("Satisfaction," "Paint It Black") through 70's superstardom (with Sheryl Crow guesting on "Honky Tonky Women") and a middle-age that was anything but staid. Disc two is largely given over to paying energetic, loving tribute to roots heroes like B.B. King ("Rock Me, Baby"), Otis Redding ("That's How Strong My Love Is") and even Hoagy Carmichael (Richards' raggedly sweet "The Nearness of You"), concluding the show with Mick Jagger's voice triumphantly being joined by soul legend Solomon Burke on a buoyant, gospel-fervent version of his "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love." --Jerry McCulley
Live Licks (topless cover) Reviews:
Watts Is Electrifying 
2008-03-24 - The 2002/2003 Live Licks World Tour was vast in scope and set a new standard in staging concerts. Spanning 23 countries, The Rolling Stones had gigs in clubs, arenas and stadiums, with ever-changing playlists which made each date truly special.
And this 2-CD set does a good job in showcasing the power and energy witnessed by nearly 3.5 million fans. The diamonds are on the second disc, which features a variety of rarities, including Neighbors, Monkey Man and Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (with Solomon Burke).
But cutting through the clean mix is drummer Charlie Watts. His jazz-inspired patterns has defined the band's legendary sound, while being a great influence on rock-n-roll drummers for five decades. Each number is a textbook in propelling the rhythm, with the highlights being Street Fighting Man, Paint It, Black, Gimme Shelter and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.
Leave it to the band to encapsulate cyberspace through the CD cover. Far away eyes, indeed. This is as solid of an authorized live release in the band's discography, which dates back to 1964.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones
2007-07-18 - This is one of my favorite Stones' live albums. I play it a lot. It's not as good as "Get Your Ya'Ya's Out", but better than all the other live albums, and it's two CD's, so it's the longest. The weaving guitars of Richards and Wood, Charlie's stomping beat, Jagger's frantic vocals, and Bobby Key's saxophone offer a sonorous sprint into outer space on "Neighbors". Jagger's lyrics on "Monkey Man", back when Dylan's influence made everybody try to write poetric lyrics, back in the "Let it Bleed" days, sound better live than in the studio. The tinkling piano offers a different shade to the song than the original Hopkin's recording. Keith recreates "Exile on Main Street" on "Rock's Off", as the backup singers help build the creshendo. One of the best songs on "Sticky Fingers", "Can't you hear me Knocking?", suffers live in comparison to the studio version. "That's How Strong my Love Is", a cover, sounds very early sixties R&B. The Stones' roots are showing. It's Jagger at his best, as he croons for all he's worth. Most of the standards are here as well.
A trifle less satanic collection of classics 
2007-04-05 - The Stones get three points for filling this double CD with favorites such as "Monkey Man" that haven't appeared on previous live albums. The problem is that Mick can't hit the same notes that he could hit when he was 27. "Rocks Off" is downright painful as he ratchets his vocals down. I'd rather hear "no" Rocks Off than a painfully labored version. What MADE the original a classic was its "shot out of a cannon" arrogance. It's like Mick thought about the best part of the song and concluded "Well, we can do without THAT..." No we CAN'T, Mick! The wonderful and amazing Lisa Fischer once again accents "Gimme Shelter," but her ultimate performance of this track can be found on the Japanese import CD single of the "Stripped" version of "Wild Horses" (director Martin Scorsese lifted her bone-chilling vocal solo from that version for a climactic moment in his film "Casino"). There are NO jaw-dropping performances in this set, and with all due respect to the band's fans (I'm one of them), there SHOULD be. Mick's coasting his way through, and to a lesser degree, so are Woody & Keith (although "Happy" is better than the majority of what Mick phones in here). To paraphrase KISS via Homer Simpson, "the Stones used to rock and roll all night and party ev-er-y day. Then it was every other day." Maybe "Live Licks" should have stayed in the vaults. Former strutting rooster Jagger sounds like the heavily bruised veteran of one too many cockfights, and that's sad.
Still The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band Around
2007-02-08 - I may be one of the few Stones fans left who still enjoys the live albums that follow every tour. Stripped and No security were both great from start to finish. Live Licks continues that tradition. I don't need to hear the live versions of Satifaction or Brown Sugar for the 10,000th time, but when they're placed along side Gimme Shelter, Rocks Off, Monkey Man and Can't You Hear Me Knocking, it all sounds just right. Now Keith, get the Winos together for one more album/tour!!!!
Great album 
2006-10-04 - i luv this album. its a little unnecessary for its time. although its great to here some new songs from their tour. oh yeah and i choke the chicken whenever i see the album cover. very hot! imagine a girl or a guy licking you.
