Song: “Midnight Rambler" (live)
Album: Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out
Length: 9:04
For the first time in a while, I'm picking a song that I've never played in a bar. In fact, I was just listening to the album today -- which is fucking great as far as live albums go -- and decided that "Midnight Rambler" would be a great cut to play in your local dive.
First things first: Yeah, I know everybody and their mom loves (or at least knows) The Rolling Stones. That's the pure genius behind picking this song: unless you're a hip-hop head that hates anything with actual guitars, you can get into this balls-out live rocker from Mick and the boys.
Now, I just described "Midnight Rambler" as balls-out, but it's not quite as menacing as other heavy rockers from the same era...say Black Sabbath's "War Pigs." That's another thing about this song that makes it such a good choice: any schmuck with a dollar bill can pick an all-out assault on the ears like early Metallica or Megadeth. It takes a more discerning listener to choose a slow burner like "Midnight Rambler."
I suppose it sounds like everyone should appreciate this song then...and they should for the first four-and-a-half minutes or so when the song seems ready to fade into oblivion...
...at which point, after slowing down to a crawl, the song picks back up again. Mick Jagger goes on talking about "the midnight rambler" and continues on for another good four minutes.
I know I'm just a dork, but just thinking about that point in the song playing in a bar makes me cackle to myself.
I have devised a ratings system just for fun, and mostly because I thought it incredibly funny to use "Lars Ulrichs" as my rating instead of stars or numbers.
Ratings go from 1-5, least to most.
Obscurity: 3.5
I'm sure any hardcore fans of the Stones will know this song, considering it's not only on the live album, but on Let it Bleed as well. But if most patrons are like me, and only know mostly singles, this song might catch people a little off guard.
Length: 4.5
The Rolling Stones have a few longer songs like "Sympathy for the Devil" (6:17) and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (7:29) but the live version from "Midnight Rambler" tops them all.
Tuneoutability: 2
It's not super-loud. Its lyrics are intelligible and sung, not screamed. The riff is quite catchy. People will listen to this and maybe even like it, but what will get you your money's worth is the 9-minute running time.
Overall: 4
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