Dirty Work Sessions
Invitation
The Rolling Stones have worked with many different artists in the studio over the years. Perhaps in an effort to provide needed inspiration, or to merely help place the mood for certain tracks or takes. In the early days it includes artists like Gene Pitney, Nicky Hopkins, Gram Parsons, Ry Cooder, Billy Preston, Ian McLagan, and in 1985 it was Bobby Womack. Invitation (15:50) is a slow bluesy improvised jam with Jagger and Womack basically singing two different songs in the same take. This is a "Dirty Work" Outtake recorded at RPM Studios in New York City, July-August, 1985. The track is also known as Sending Out an Invitation & You Don't Tell Me. Chuck Leavell is a possibility on the keyboard.
Found on LP:
"Invitation" King Kong Products (KKP-10-A/B) 200 numbered copies issued on clear vinyl. First surfaced on this LP around 1987/1988. Reissued on several other colored vinyl editions.
Found on CD's:
"Dirtiest Work" King Kong Products (KKP-CD01)
(Disk 2, track 6) "Dirty Work Sessions" 2CD Rogue (RG-06/07)
"Dirty Work Demos" Klub MusiK (KMCD 0084) A clear recording, but lots of tape hiss. This is a partial recording only, the song fades out early at 9:20.
The Words:
(Drum beat)
Okay...
Ba-by yeah (Jagger falsetto)
Lovin', lovin'
(:45)
Bobby Womack:
Baby...
Oh I'm sending, out invitations
I'm gonna have me a big celebration, ...bration (Jagger)
I'm givin' up on everything, ...awooo (Jagger)
Everything I thought was mine
'Cause if our love... is getting stronger
Why drag this thing out much longer
'Cause I'll be ahead
Oh if I could get ahead
And now I'm behind...awooo (Jagger)
You got a way of filling me up
Oh, just to watch me fall down
I'm tired of wastin' my life
The best thing, my life, wastin' my life around
Ohhhwoohh
(2:15)
Jagger:
You don't tell me, who to give my body to, ...oh no (Womack)
And you, you don't tell me, how to make to love to you whoowooo
And you don't tell me...
Oh how to make you feel good
I'll make you feel good all over to your body
Baby, deep and you know it, oh, awooo
Hold on, Yeah...
And you don't tell me baby
How to sing my song, ...ong
And listen to this now...
And you don't have to tell me baby
Oh baby sometimes, you just might sing your song wrong
Yeah...
Womack:
Oh I'm like a fish, whoo
Put me on the line
But you gotta way, of reeling me in
But you won't, won't spend the time
Yeah
Oh yeah
Let the saxophone player play... (Jagger)
Guitar solo: A Fender Stratocaster (bright bridge pick-up, Woody style).
Note: Eddie Van Halen on several occasions has compared his musical experience with the saxophone to playing the guitar, and considers the two instruments to be sonically sympathetic!
(4:20)
Womack:
I'd write a song, about something real funny
If I thought everyone would laugh, ha
I got a song, he's got a song (Jagger), a whole lotta money
Sing the song, sing the song, right here, right here (Jagger)
If I though it would bring me some cash, I can feel it, awhoo (Jagger)
I got a song about the trip I went on
Even though I never take an airplane baby
Oh you keep me feeling funny
If you could keep on, keep on working it out
Oh.. (Jagger)
Yeah you fill me up (Richards: chants), ahwoo (Jagger)
Yeah (Jagger), let me down
I don't feel bad about it...
Oh how I enjoy, joy, joy, feelin' around
Ohh, owwwoo baby yeah
(5:41)
Jagger:
You don't have to tell me baby, what kind of car to drive, ha...
You know sometimes I... I just want to tell you baby
I don't know sometimes if our love is dead or alive
But I said I ...eehhh
You don't have to tell me...yeah
You, don't...
Ahhoo
(6:30)
I put a gun on the, the way I feel
If I thought, my heart, would run
Oh I think I stick around
Oh I like the way you do me
Sing it, sing it, sing it, havin' fun, sing it, sing it
Ohhhwooo, sing it, sing it, sing it
Yeah, yeah
You, you, you, you
(7:01)
You don't tell me (Jagger), but you always do
Oh, don't try to tell me
Who to give my, give my, love to
To give my love to, give my love to (Jagger)
Give my love to, give my love to (Jagger)
You know sometimes it brings about the situation, can I (Jagger)
As long as I can do things and not to go away, can I (Jagger)
Oh a in year ...I send an invitation (Richards)
Loving, loving, relat(ion) (Jagger falsetto)
(7:31)
Exclusive (Richards)
Love you baby, love you baby (Jagger falsetto)
Sometimes we start
Start lon-ger again
Sing it now (Jagger)
We got to stick together, ...alright (Jagger)
If your gonna try, if your gonna try, if your gonna try, to win
Love you baby (Jagger)
Do you want to win baby?
Whooowhooo
(8:10)
Jagger:
You...don't... have...to...
Oh it feels so good I can't talk right now baby
And I wanna...
You make stutter when I touch, when I touch, when I touch, your sweet body
And then start tremblin', ohhmow...haa
I'm gonna fade out of you life, baby, I'm gonna fade-out-of-your-life
I'm gonna fade out of your life, I'm gonna fade out of your life
I'm gonna fade out of your life (fade)
(9:00)
Bobby Womack:
Baby...
Oh, I'm sending, out invitations
I'm gonna have me a big celebration, celebration (Jagger)
'Cause I'm giving-up on everything
Everything, I thought was mine
Now if your love is gettin' much stronger
I'm sending invitations (Jagger)
Why drag it out much longer?
I'm still gonna send an invitation (Jagger)
'Cause I'll be ahead
I'd be ahead
I'm still gonna send an invitation (Jagger)
If I could quit, quit while I'm behind
Cel-ebra-tion (Jagger)
You got a way of, filling me up, ahhwoo
Enjoy watching me fall down
And I made up my mind this morning
He made up his mind (Ivan Neville)
That I decide, I decide, I decide to stick around, Whooo
Ahhwooo, Ahhwooo
(10:18)
Jagger:
You know...
(10:30)
Ohhwoo
You know what?
Seems like to me, whoa (Womack)
Seems like to me, we got a good thing, yeah (Womack)
Seems like to me, that we can sit down and talk
Weeeeheeee
(11:00)
Womack:
Oh I, I'd write a song, about something real funny
If I thought Don Curly would laugh
I got a song, about a whole lotta money
Oh, if I though it would bring me some cash, I need a whole lotta money (Jagger)
How long have I been trying to cross over?
I'm not gonna be a thing in the past
I'm already over (Jagger)
Whoohhhwaaaa
(11:50)
Let's harmonize off, awhoo
(Richards joins in)
Whooooooo
Life is short that's for sure
Whooooooo
Oh the little things that you do
Whoooooo
And that's all you have is only one
Let it be lost, let it be lost, let it be lost
Oh, love is gone, yeah, yeah
(12:21)
Jagger (falsetto):
I'm sending an invitation
Celebration, yeah
(12:51)
Womack:
Now bring it down real easy...
Oh I'm, I'm sending, out invitations, I love it, love it, love it, love it (Jagger)
I'm gonna have me a big celebration, sing it, sing it, sing it (Jagger)
(Laughs)
I'm givin' up on everything
Everything I thought was mine
But if your love again is longer
Why drag this thing out much longer?
Yeah I'll be ahead
If I could bring what I...
You build me up just to let me down
Let me down (Jagger)
You seem to love seeing me falling down
Well what goes up
All the time, all the time, is gonna come down
Ohh, ohhh ehhhhyeah
Instrumental Break: Richards chord noodles in the right channel. Woody plays lead lines in the left.
(14:58)
Ohh I put a gun on the way I feel
If I thought my heart would run
In a million years
If I can have anymore fun
You gotta go through it
I'm gonna get to me
Al-ways
Are we all gonna do it?
Womack (spoken):
(15:57)
It's starting to becoming a scuffle...
A few comments about the voices heard:
Don Covay's voice is not present on this track in my opinion. I have compared the singing on Invitation to Covay's singing on the CD:
"Mercy Mercy: The Definitive Don Covay" on Razor & Tie Records
(order number RE 2053).
Covay has a wonderful falsetto as heard on A Woman's Love. His spoken voice is heard on the track I Was Checkin' Out While She Was Checkin' In.
Theory: The voice heard on Invitation is a somewhat hoarse Mick Jagger doing his worst "soul singer" imitation (maybe the song should be titled Imitation!). I think he is having a bit of fun with Womack. Maybe it's a competitive thing, because Bobby's got such a great groove going. Note where Jagger actually "taunts" the singer:
I love it, love it, love it, love it (Jagger)
sing it, sing it, sing it (Jagger)
It gets to the point that Womack is compelled to comment after the end of the song:
"It's starting to becoming a scuffle..."
Also notice the line at 10:02:
He made up his mind (Ivan Neville)
Listen closely for this different voice. Ivan Neville's voice is heard on his 1988 solo release:
"If My Ancestors Could See Me Now" on Polydor Records
With a special liner note:
"Thanks to Keith Richards for his existence"
The Womack pieces are beautiful. Pure soul, straight from the heart. Jagger may be feeling the pressure of competition, and ends up taking the song elsewhere. There is a great song (or two) buried in the convulsion of this meandering jam session. Too bad it never saw the light of day, like many other great Stones "ideas" that have been lost in the "can" for years. Just think of the possibilities, this track could have been arranged in such a way as to produce the Can't You Hear Me Knocking of the Eighties...two songs in one long jam that segues from one to the other. So read along with that old LP or CD and appreciate the improvisational artistry taking place before our very ears. The Rolling Stones at work with the "catalyst artist" of the New York City "Dirty Work" recording and mix-down sessions.
Strictly Memphis
First played during the Rotterdam rehearsals in January-February, 1975, during the "The Great Guitarist Hunt"! Only found on tape source! First released on the classic LP's "Dirtiest Work" & "Invitation" in the late 1980's on the European King Kong label. The keyboards are very likely played by Chuck Leavell.
First Version: Parts 1 & 2 Primarily an instrumental with Jagger sounding out a vocal
Source: Rotterdam rehearsals in January-February, 1975.
+ Second Version: Jagger (only) vocal with call out chorus and a less developed lyric (8:12)
Source: Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris April - June, 1985.
* Third Version: Jagger/Bobby "It's All Over Now" Womack call and response take (3:46)
Source: RPM Studios New York, August-November, 1985.
** Fourth Version: Jagger vocal intact, playback with Womack retake and edit (3:46)
Note: Differences between third and fourth version indicated by ( ) in the vocal transcription.
Source: RPM Studios New York, August-November, 1985.
Found on Tape:
The earliest version of this track circulates on tapes of the Rotterdam Rehearsal Reels. The song was rehearsed in Holland in January-February, 1975! The recording quality, microphone jostling, and tape stops are consistent with the other tracks that make up this body of work (it's not spliced in). Check your tapes!
Note: The existence of the Rotterdam rehearsal source has not been previously documented in the published works on this subject.
Found on LP:
+ "Lean-Mean-Hits" Outsider Bird Records (R-024 A/B) 150 numbered copies on multicolor splash vinyl, basic color white (Plays slow without a pitch problem).
** "Dirtiest Work" King Kong Products (KKP-9-A/B) 200 numbered copies issued on mauve colored vinyl.
* "Invitation" King Kong Products (KKP-10-A/B) 200 numbered copies issued on clear vinyl. The Jagger vocal mix is brighter on this one.
Found on CD's:
+ "Crushed Pearl" Vinyl Gang (VGP-041)
+ "Lean-Mean-Hits" Outsider Bird Records (QE5124A) (Speed corrected)
+ "Stricktry Works (Unknown Dirtiest Works)" Shaved Disc (TSD 017) (Plays slow - copied from OBR vinyl version)
+ "Straight From The Heart" Melody (002)
* "Dirtiest Work" King Kong Products (KKP-CD01)
** "More Works" King Kong Products (KKP-CD02)
* (Disk 2, track 4) & ** (Disk 2, track 5) "Dirty Work Sessions" 2CD Rogue (RG-06/07)
The Words: "Third Version"
Guitar strum prior to start
Owwwooooo, yeah (faint)
Well... (with reverb - 2x)
Like to put my foot down, head out of New York town
Hit the open road, open road
I guess it clears my mind, I love the change in time
It put my nose in joint, well well well
I'm just so signifyin', I know that it ain't no crime
I'm no country boy, country boy
The blues is in my heart, that's where my story starts
It makes me jump with joy, whoo whoo
Chorus:
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
And down in New Orleans
(Down in New Orleans)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis, (goin')
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis, (goin')
I'm gonna be there
Whooo
Step on it!
Yeah (Jagger).... yeah (Womack)
Back down on in the south
Sweet tastin' in my mouth
And honeysuckle vine, suckle vine
Into the big bayou
In with the Zydeco
My lovin' come alive, come alive
Too big to come upstairs, and Muddy Waters stayed, Water-stayed
From an old man's mouth
Whoowooo (Womack)
Chorus:
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
And down in New Orleans, (down in New Orleans) owwo (add on version **)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
I'm gonna be there
Step on it!
You got it!
Bit on it!
She got it!
Whooo...
Instrumental Break and Bridge
Chorus:
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
I'm gonna be there
Step on it!
You got it!, (you got it)
Yeah...
Owwoooo
(Yes)
(I'm goin' to the Delta)
(Goin' on the shelter)
(Two little sissy boys)
(Say it again)
Chorus & Outro:
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes (add on version **), I'm goin' to Memphis, (yeah)
And down in New Orleans, (Ohwoowoo)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
And down in New Orleans, (Aww)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm like a tempest
And down in New Orleans , whoo (add on version **)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
And down in New Orleans
(Say it again, say it again)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis, (hey)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis, (yeah)
And down in New Orleans
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
And down in New Orleans, (I gotta be there)
(I gotta be there)
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
Yes I'm goin' to Memphis
And down in New Orleans
You come alive...lii-iive
A funky R & B keyboard dominant riff that sounds as if it must be a cover of some classic old R & B artist, but I can't seem to place it. The "Rotterdam Revelation" may help in placing at least the source of inspiration: Jeff Beck. Beck of course would go on to assist Jagger on his first solo album "She's The Boss" (outside of the movie soundtracks) during his spring, 1984 recording sessions. Beck & the Stones played a lot of funk grooves together, including some very James Brown like tunes.