Pavillon De Paris Day 1 (Sweet Records SV – 6476A/B)
Pavilion de Paris, Paris, France – June 4th, 1976
Disc 1 (54:38): Introduction, Honky Tonk Women, If You Can’t Rock Me/Get Off My Cloud, Hand Of Fate, Hey Negrita, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, Fool To Cry, Hot Stuff, Star Star, You Gotta Move, Angie, You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Disc 2 (42:42): introductions, Happy, Tumbling Dice, Nothing From Nothing, Outta Space, Midnight Rambler, It’s Only Rock And Roll, Brown Sugar, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Street Fighting Man
Paris were one of the earliest cities to truly embrace the Rolling Stones. The band returned the affection with many shows, radio appearances and studio work. Paris was inexplicably skipped over when the Stones toured Europe in 1973, but the band made up for that with four shows in Paris in 1976, the second longest engagement (they played six shows in Earl’s Court in London).
Not only that, but the shows were all professionally filmed and recorded and much of the material was used for the official live album Love You Live in 1977.
June 4th was the first night in Paris. “Angie” was used for ”Les Rolling Stones Aux Abattoirs” but none of the audio was used for the album. Pavillon De Paris Day 1 utilizes the same audience recording that was used on Allright Charlie Watts (Dirty Work Productions DWP-001), First Dose In Paris (Exile EXCD-31/32) and Pavillon de Paris (Dog N Cat DAC-046).
The label claim to use the master tape which is always debatable. However, the newest release sounds noticeably more clear and enjoyable than either the Exile or Dog N Cat.
This era has been criticized for the band being too concerned about “the show” instead of just being a rock and roll band. Mick Jagger has been singled out for slurring the words to the songs too much, for questionable effect, and for being overall very lazy.
Of course, when they toured two years later for Some Girls, Mick slurred his words just as much, yet that tour is praised as a return to the basic Rolling Stones sound. The Black And Blue stage show, which included the Billy Preston interlude, is undeniably slick and professional. But, with the variety of styles covered, is ultimately very fun.
The very beginning of the tape captures the jungle beats leading into “Honky Tonk Women.” Carried over from the previous tour is the great ”If You Can’t Rock Me / Get Off Of My Cloud” segue which is both seamless and exciting.
Jagger announces the newer songs in French, starting with the memorable “Hand Of Fate” and “Hey Negrita.” Following “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” they perform “Fool To Cry,” one of their best new songs. But the audience are growing restless and begin chanting. Mick Jagger can be heard telling the band “two more” (measures) in “Fool To Cry” to wrap things up.
“Hot Stuff” is the final new song to be played and fares much better than the others.
“Angie” is added for filming purposes and makes its debut on the 1976 tour. It would remain in the set for the rest of the French shows and in Barcelona before being dropped again. The Stones probably felt that with “Fool To Cry” and “You Gotta Move” already in the set the show shouldn’t be slowed down too much.
After the band introductions Mick brings Keith up to sing “Happy,” but winds up singing much of it. During the solo he keeps repeating “Bill, won’t you keep me happy.”
In the latter stage of the show Billy Preston comes close to stealing the show again with his two songs. He does his cosmic dance in “Outta Space” and encourages Mick to fly higher before the singer swings on the rope over the audience.
“Midnight Rambler” sounds strange. The dark material stands in contrast with much of the upbeat songs. The chilling effect sounds rather forced and without the Taylor/Richards guitar duel of previous tours, the song sound rather flat.
“It’s Only Rock And Roll” sounds much better. Jagger sings in an exaggerated cockney accent for much of the chorus, telling the audience that “it’s only rock and roll / but I lyke it!” Jagger does a strange Indian style chant right before they start “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and an effective “Street Fighting Man” closes the event.
Pavillon De Paris Day 1 is packaged with various photos from the Paris shows on the artwork. It is a good but low-key show and is a worthy upgrade over past releases.
