Well, we thought that the Rolling Stones were going to announce a tour, based on a social media post that teased an announcement for this morning. As it turns out, they announced another archival live recording: Licked Live In NYC was recorded at New York’s Madison Square Garden in January of 2003, during the band’s 40th anniversary tour. The show (which this writer attended) was fairly epic, and featured a guest appearance by Sheryl Crow. But, the band already have a live album from that tour: Live Licks, released in 2004 (which also features a Sheryl Crow appearance).
The leadup to the announcement seemed a bit over the top, given that less than three weeks ago, the Stones announced a different live album, and one that is arguably more exciting. Welcome To El Mocambo 1977 documents a legendary pair of shows from March 4 and 5, 1977, when the Rolling Stones played “secret” gigs at the 300 capacity El Mocambo in Toronto, under the name “The Cockroaches.” They played alongside Canadian rock band April Wine. Unknowing radio contest winners were the lucky fans in attendance on night one. By the second night, word had got out and it was obviously very difficult to get in.
Welcome to El Mocambo 1977 — a 2CD or 4LP set — is out May 13. Licked Live In NYC, meanwhile, is due out June 10.
