San Diego 1969 CD

Some concerts become legendary for a number of reasons: the Rolling Stones' performance at San Diego Sports Arena in 1969 is one of those. It almost never happened thanks to Mick Jagger suffering with throat problems, and fans rioting outside the stadium led to the concert starting two hours late. Yet as this local radio recording of some of the performance shows, the Stones' set was little less than a triumph. Heavy, bluesy, raucous and full of semi-improvised alterations to familiar favourites, it includes brilliant versions of some of the Stones' most powerful and popular tracks. Our picks include the versions of 'Symapthy With The Devil', 'Prodigal Son' (a brilliantly stripped-back, blues-style take), 'Gimme Shelter' (surging and soaring) and a scene-stealing, concert concluding romp through 'Street Fighting Man'.