The Rolling Stones
Still Life (American Concert 1981)

THE REVIEW

After the mediocre "Emotional Rescue" (1980) and the good "Tattoo You" (1981), the Stones hit the road for a long tour, whose performances are quite different from those of the '70s. In this live album, indeed, there are great hits from the '60s ("Under My Thumb", "Let's Spend The Night Together", "Going To A Go-Go", "Time is on My Side", "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"), performed, however, with a dirtier, rougher sound, in a few words more rock-blues; but there are also tracks from the late '70s, especially from "Some Girls", with "Shattered" above all; the tracklist obviously can't do without the last big hit "Start Me Up". The sound quality is good and appreciable, less so the state of the band: Jagger tries too hard to be in the spotlight, Richards gives it his all and stands out as one of the best, Bill Wyman is his usual self—doesn't cause any trouble but doesn't perform miracles either, Watts is precise although a bit less impressive compared to today's standards, Ron Wood is barely heard and in the solos seems to exude some insecurity.

To conclude, there are some negative points: the cover (truly awful!), and the not too cohesive band; and some positive points: Keith Richards, the shift in change of sound and repertoire, the fact that the album isn't boring, but overall quite entertaining.
This live testimony reaches the levels, or even surpasses them, of "Love You Live" (1978), which apart from the recording quality, could not be considered a bad live performance. This is one of the few good things done by the Stones in the '80s, and therefore, listening is highly recommended.