The Rolling Stones Release "Still Life" (American Concert 1981)

"Still Life" (American Concert 1981) is a live album by The Rolling Stones and was released in 1982.

Recorded during the band's American Tour 1981 in the latter portion of that year, it was released in time for their European Tour 1982 continuation the following summer.

The album was preceded by their cover of The Miracles' "Going to a Go-Go", which became a Top 30 hit in the UK and US, while follow-up single, "Time Is on My Side" managed to reach the lower part of the UK charts.

"Still Life" (American Concert 1981) was a commercial success, reaching #4 in the UK and #5 in the US, going platinum there, but was not critically well-received, being admonished for sounding too slick and lacking any rough edges expected in a Rolling Stones performance. Of particular chagrin to Rolling Stones fans was the fact that nearly half of the Hampton Coliseum rendition of "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" was edited out for the release.

In 1998, "Still Life" (American Concert 1981) was remastered and reissued by Virgin Records.

Have these guys done it at last? Have they made a great live rock & roll record?

Unfortunately, no. Of course, it's no big surprise that Still Life doesn't live up to its ballsy beginning. The Stones' 1981 tour de-emphasized the go-get-'em guitar jams of earlier outings (remember "Midnight Rambler" from Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out?), as well as Jagger's more Dionysian antics.