Street Fighting Man / No Expectations
The last single of 1968 Stones
Format: Mono, Singles 1968-1971 release (2005)
Street Fighting Man
It took me a second listen to fully appreciate this song. The first listen stopped a quarter of the way because I was worried something was wrong with my listening devices. unfortunately, Jagger’s vocals just could not escape the mix well enough.
In case you didn't think you were out of the over-produced Stones era yet, this is the most raw sound I’ve heard yet from all of the Stones. It’s pretty basic but powerful, with a strong acoustic sound and the drums that produce power. This song (the single version, mind you) is just mixed so oddly, and everything just blends in together. It makes sense on a song like that, but I still don’t particularly like the mix.
I can’t find anything else to say about this. Maybe it’ll grow on me. Single material, never the less.
No Expectations
The song continues the simple yet effective sound the A-side had, but this time it’s not a raw rocking song. Instead it’s the opposite, a soft song with a prominent slide guitar played by Brian Jones. Everything about it is slow and peaceful, yet with a touch of sad that comes with the style of blues rock. My favorite part of the song comes from the lyrics, and how many people interpret the song into their own. Johnny Cash did a version completely different from this version; a different tempo and a different mood, but good for a different reason than the original was.
It’s simple and sweet, and that’s why I have a problem picking out anything. It does what it sets out to do.
The single is two different personalities that are simple, yet get the job done. While nothing to frame on a wall, the messages and mood of both provide an entertaining performance, one that was the last major contribution by Brian Jones. As many people put it, the “swan song.”
The next piece of Stones will be the Sympathy for the Devil movie.
