Flashpoint by Rolling Stones (The) (CD, Nov-1998, Virgin Records USA)

The Stones have quite a few live albums. I don't know which one is the best, they're all a little different, each recorded after various albums. I haven't heard one that hasn't rocked yet, and this one is no different. Flashpoint comes on the Steel Wheels tour. It's almost like a big band concert, with all kinds of instruments going with this one. The mixing on this CD is exceptional. You can hear every instrument nicely, and the vocals, whether lead or backup, are in full force. Highlights on this one are Paint It Black, which has a cool acoustic guitar playing the main rhythem, Sympathy For The Devil, Brown Sugar, Jumpin' Jack Flash, and Satisfaction-which are all played consecutively on tracks 11-15. They are out in full force on these 5 tracks. A little extra bonus is on track 10, Red Rooster, which has a guest appearance by Eric Clapton. So you get some cool blues fingerpicking as well. I also enjoyed Rock and a Hard Place which I believe is the only one off their new album (at the time). They also throw in a couple of new studio tunes in as well with Highwire and Sex Drive, which are pretty good also. It's hard to find anything wrong with this set. They always seem to pull it together when they're out on the road and put together exceptional shows.

I don't know to what extent it was caused by sheer nostalgia, but I loved this album right from the start. I saw the Stones only once, in the early seventies and I can't say this album reminded me much of that concert: too much water had gone under the bridge by the time "Flashpoint" was produced. Yet this album just hits all the right spots for me, bringing me back to the sixties (if only briefly) and then re-exploring the next few decades one by one with music that I had never heard in a live context before. My test of a live album is simply listenability: if I can put it back on the turntable (sic!) after first listening to it, it can't be too bad. This definitely meets that criteria and besides, it's a very good overall compilation album, meaning I like the way it was put together. It really is a blast. Go ahead and get it; you won't be disappointed.

When I purchased this,I did not realize it was recorded live & I detest listening to the roar of the crowd.I would like to hear the Rolling Stones without interference.So, I would definitely not recommend this.There are plenty of CD"s of the Stones recorded in a studio,so why purchase this one?

For all you live album fans out there, this cd is the bomb.
I had origianlly purchased the tape back in 1991, while in
the Army. I wore the tape out, well I finally decided to get
the cd. The studio track of highwire should be a contemporary
classic. But the highlight of the album is the electrifing live
version of paint it black. (The opening riff puts the hairs on the
back of my neck stand on end.)Over all ,I give it a 10!
buT THEN AGIAN i AM A STONES FAN TO THE END.
Mikea1972

I love this live version of the greats. The only recording missing is Shattered to make it perfection.

Great CD to OWN! All song are up to speed & woderfully master.
I purchase this CD because of the pricing & the artist stlylish
vocals!

Thanks

had all but one song NEEDED start me up this album had it .and i needed it for a ring tone was cheeper to buy the album than pay for ringtone