The only track that recording had begun for as early as November 1968 was "You Can't Always Get What You Want", which was cut over two days (16/17th) at London's Olympic Sound Studios. The rest of the album was recorded at the same place between February and November 1969. This is the first album to include a song where Keith is alone with lead vocals.

The album was received well by both the public and critics alike. It went straight to number one in the UK, temporarily knocking the Beatles's Abbey Road off the top. Nowadays Let It Bleed is considered to be one of the Rolling Stones's best albums.

The front cover was designed by Robert Brownjohn.

The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger - lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonica
Brian Jones - autoharp, percussion
Keith Richards - acoustic, electric, and slide guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals
Mick Taylor - electric guitar, slide guitar
Charlie Watts - drums
Bill Wyman - bass guitar

Additional personnel
Ian Stewart - piano
Nicky Hopkins - piano
Byron Berline - fiddle
Merry Clayton - vocals
Ry Cooder - mandolin
Bobby Keys - Tenor saxophone
Jimmy Miller - percussion, drums, tambourine
Leon Russell - piano, horn arrangement
Jack Nitzsche - choral arrangements
Al Kooper - piano, French horn and organ
Nanette Workman - backing vocals
Doris Troy - backing vocals
Madelaine Bell - backing vocals
Rocky Dijon - percussion
The London Bach Choir - vocals

In 1969, the album reached #1 in the UK album charts and #3 in the US Billboard Pop Albums chart.

Page last updated: 03/Apr/2012