The Rolling Stones, ‘En Cuba’ (Goldplate GP-1601CD1/2)
Intro / Jumpin’ Jack Flash / It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It) / Tumbling Dice / Out Of Control / All Down The Line / Angie / Paint It Black / Honky Tonk Women / Band Introductions / You Got The Silver / Before They Make Me Run (59:11)
Midnight Rambler / Miss You / Gimmie Shelter / Start Me Up / Sympathy For The Devil / Brown Sugar / You Can’t Always Get What You Want (With Coro Entrevoces) / Satisfaction (77:03)
Live at Ciudad Deportiva De La Habana, Havana, Cuba, 25th March, 2016.
Obviously a grand statement such as a free gig by the worlds biggest group (Forget it One Direction or Coldplay, Even U2, you’re still usurpers to the crown) wouldn’t go unnoticed by bootleggers, I’m quite surprised I’ve only seen 3 CD versions of the shows released, this may very well be something to do with the fact that a couple of labels (Including this one) decided to put out multi camera variations on the format that seems to be burgeoning at the moment for most new shows, the BDR – Blu Ray DVD with a blue back in other words – Maybe the fact that no-one has captured an IEM recording of the show has put off the labels who might have given this a shot had there have been the choice.
As it is, Goldplate, one of the few Stones only labels to appear in recent years, the No Label gang and a new European label, Backroom records, have bothered to press the show. The Goldplate release uses a different audience recording to the No Label set – It’s a touch more bassy, a little more electronic, and a little flatter than the No Label version – There’s also a little less audience participation through out the songs – Usually, I might suggest that this is a good thing but after hearing the first recording, I’m going to suggest that’s what gives the informality of an all attendees show it’s lift – However, even if you don’t get the Cuban guy freaking out when Keith suggests that he might go shopping for a beach hut in Havana tomorrow, it’s the lady who clutches at her heart and says ‘thank you, thank you, thank you’, as Mick thanks the crowd for accepting the band in to Cuba for their inaugural show.
It’s a marginal toss up between the two releases – No Label and Goldplate – both have an excellent line in artwork and avoid the crass looking Che Guevara / Mick Jagger mash up that Backroom use – with picture CDs and choice graphics from the show on the covers. If it’s a close choice though, No Label pips it by a whisker.
