In the movie Performance a gangster kills someone and has to go on the run from both his gang and the police, he finds a basement room apartment that he can hide out at. The house is owned by a reclusive rock star named Turner who lives with two women, Turner and one of his women try to figure him out and slip him some mushrooms, the gangster starts to hallucinate that Turner is the head gangster and that’s when Mick Jagger sings the song, the lyrics reflect snippets of the movie that happened earlier. The lyrics have a gay undertone because some scenes with the gangsters eluded towards homosexuality and how they are compensating by trying to be tough. Two of the biggest gangsters in 60’s London were the Kray Brothers who were allegedly gay. It’s a very trippy/disturbing movie in its own way and is considered a masterpiece of British cinema, it was originally shot in 1968 but Warner Brothers sat on it until 1970 because they had no idea what to do with it. Allegedly a wife of one of the studio executives watched the movie at a screening and threw up. The Stones originally recorded a version but there was drama behind it, one of the actresses who was Turners lover in the movie was Anita Pallenberg, then the girlfriend of Keith Richards, there were some pretty steamy sex scenes between Mick Jagger,Anita and the other actress and supposedly there was actual sex that was being filmed and Keith got jealous and kind of dropped out of the project and hence the recording you played here was the one that was in the movie.
Into the Music my pleasure Greg! The entire movie is surprisingly available on UA-cam for free and it’s a pretty high definition transfer if you ever want to give it a go. ua-cam.com/video/ZUm8Il-pFCE/v-deo.html
This is from Jagger’s first starring role in a movie. 1970. Performance. Weird counter culture flick....Mick n Keith were involved but not the other 3.
Late to the party, but I’ve gotta say I’m thrilled to see you react to Memo From Turner!! Nice choice! It’s such a killer deep cut. Ry Cooder slays it in that slide and Jagger’s nasty proto-rap is perfectly delivered. Here’s a few thoughts: I’ve never found anything definitive, but I’m not convinced Keith was involved in this track. Like Lennon/McCartney, all compositions by either Jagger or Richards were always credited to both. So who really knows? The Stones version Allen Klein released on Metamorphosis was, in my opinion, not nearly so good. The B-side to this is an even lesser-known instrumental called Natural Magic and also features Cooder. I’m not clear on if it actually involved any of The Stones or not, but It’s a pretty neat little piece.
I’m 19 and switched over from Beatles. I first sat down and actually listened to the Stones Sticky Fingers Album at 7th grade and been a stones fan since
Ry Cooder on slide.
I so Dig this!!!
Glad you enjoyed!
This is the greatest slide song ever slid...
Super hard to play it perfectly..
Weren't you at the Coke convention...back in 1965!!!
Lyrics are amazing...and so slick...
In the movie Performance a gangster kills someone and has to go on the run from both his gang and the police, he finds a basement room apartment that he can hide out at. The house is owned by a reclusive rock star named Turner who lives with two women, Turner and one of his women try to figure him out and slip him some mushrooms, the gangster starts to hallucinate that Turner is the head gangster and that’s when Mick Jagger sings the song, the lyrics reflect snippets of the movie that happened earlier. The lyrics have a gay undertone because some scenes with the gangsters eluded towards homosexuality and how they are compensating by trying to be tough. Two of the biggest gangsters in 60’s London were the Kray Brothers who were allegedly gay. It’s a very trippy/disturbing movie in its own way and is considered a masterpiece of British cinema, it was originally shot in 1968 but Warner Brothers sat on it until 1970 because they had no idea what to do with it. Allegedly a wife of one of the studio executives watched the movie at a screening and threw up. The Stones originally recorded a version but there was drama behind it, one of the actresses who was Turners lover in the movie was Anita Pallenberg, then the girlfriend of Keith Richards, there were some pretty steamy sex scenes between Mick Jagger,Anita and the other actress and supposedly there was actual sex that was being filmed and Keith got jealous and kind of dropped out of the project and hence the recording you played here was the one that was in the movie.
Oh wow! Didn't know any of this information related to movie. Thanks so much Kevin for filling me in. - Greg
Into the Music my pleasure Greg! The entire movie is surprisingly available on UA-cam for free and it’s a pretty high definition transfer if you ever want to give it a go. ua-cam.com/video/ZUm8Il-pFCE/v-deo.html
ill never forget Anita Pallenberg in that movie
Jagger plays a mob boss in the movie Performance
Ry Cooder
Snippet...was in Goodfellas...
This is from Jagger’s first starring role in a movie. 1970. Performance. Weird counter culture flick....Mick n Keith were involved but not the other 3.
Keith wasn't involved. Anita was tho.
Late to the party, but I’ve gotta say I’m thrilled to see you react to Memo From Turner!! Nice choice! It’s such a killer deep cut. Ry Cooder slays it in that slide and Jagger’s nasty proto-rap is perfectly delivered.
Here’s a few thoughts:
I’ve never found anything definitive, but I’m not convinced Keith was involved in this track. Like Lennon/McCartney, all compositions by either Jagger or Richards were always credited to both. So who really knows?
The Stones version Allen Klein released on Metamorphosis was, in my opinion, not nearly so good.
The B-side to this is an even lesser-known instrumental called Natural Magic and also features Cooder. I’m not clear on if it actually involved any of The Stones or not, but It’s a pretty neat little piece.
Better late than never!
It's a moog synthetic. And Ry cooder.
Very much The stones Bluesrock for me. I am more of a beetle. It´s OK but not more sorry. Like that slide guitar too.
I’m 19 and switched over from Beatles. I first sat down and actually listened to the Stones Sticky Fingers Album at 7th grade and been a stones fan since
Not to be incendiary, but i don't think MT could quite pull this off.
Ry Cooder on slide
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder