Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/27/2002
Run Time: 43:25
Recorded during their American tour in late 1969, and centered around live versions of material from the
Beggars Banquet-
Let It Bleed era. Often acclaimed as one of the top live
rock albums of all time, its appeal has dimmed a little today. The live versions are reasonably different from the studio ones, but ultimately not as good, a notable exception being the long workout of
"Midnight Rambler," with extended harmonica solos and the unforgettable section where the pace slows to a bump-and-grind crawl. Some
Stones aficionados, in fact, prefer a bootleg from the same tour (
Liver Than You'll Ever Be, to which this album was unleashed in response), or their amazing the-show-must-go-on performance in the jaws of hell at
Altamont (preserved in the
Gimme Shelter film). Fans that are unconcerned with picky comparisons such as these will still find
Ya-Ya's an outstanding album, and it's certainly
the Stones' best official live recording.
~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide