The Rolling Stones - Brussels Affair (Definitive Edition) (2000)

Brussels Affair (Live 1973) is a bootleg by The Rolling Stones. It is compiled from two shows recorded in Brussels on 17 October 1973 in the Forest National Arena, during their European Tour. The Definitive edition includes 2 CD. Disc one recorded live at the Forest National, Brussels, Belgium on October 17th 1973, 1st show. Disc two contains tracks from Rotterdam, London, Newcastle, Munich in September/October 1973. Disc two, tracks 13-16: Vienna, Austria, September 1st 1973.

The Background
It’s 1973, the Rolling Stones play a live benefit concert for victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake. The show at the Forum in LA on January 18, would be their first live performance in six months, since the closing date (July 26, 1972) of the North American tour, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Three days after this benefit concert, they took to the stage of the Honolulu International Centre in Hawaii, to begin their Winter tour. After three shows they returned to LA for further work on the forthcoming follow up to ‘Exile On Main St.’
On February 9, the Stones arrived at Sydney airport in Australia, to conduct the usual press conferences for promotional and publicity purposes before flying to New Zealand to perform at the Western Springs Stadium in Auckland on the 11th, their only date in this country. Nine shows then followed in Australia, taking in the cities of Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and finally Sydney on February 26 & 27.

Mixing and overdubbing for the upcoming album ‘Goat’s Head Soup’ continued throughout the spring and summer months. The first single from the album, ‘Angie’ backed with ‘Silver Train’ was released on August 20th
The ‘Goat’s Head Soup’ album would be released on the last day of August, and the European tour in support began the very next day in Vienna. The tour comprised of 43 shows over 49 days. This bootleg is from the third last show, not the official release from the evening show, although a few tracks are common to both.

The Bootleg
At the time of writing, the Rolling Stones bootlegs database, lists 65 different titles for this early show (of which at least part of the show has appeared on). I have downloaded numerous variations over the years, a few of the titles I have been through - Bunnies, Bombs, Busts & A Princess (Halcyon), Bedspring Symphony, Nasty Music (VGP) & Europe 73 (VGP) in fact, five editions of the latter. A book could be written about just this one Rolling Stones show and the endless amount of bootlegs that have been derived from it. The one that remains on my shelf is this: Brussels Affair - Definitive Edition! released in 2000 on the Rattle Snake bootleg label (RS 015/16). Other Stones fans may have their own favourite from the titles I have previously mentioned but what is important, is that you have a copy of the show.

Reviewer’s Comments
“The boot is the Stones' finest hour in terms of live performance captured on tape”

“Midnight Rambler on the first disc just soars (Mick Taylor is in top form) and the recording is a primal moment. The way the Stones come back into the full tempo ending from the conclusion of the breakdown 3/4 of the way through is something magical and transcendent.”

“Gimme Shelter is perhaps the most original and enduring song in the Stones cannon, capable of knocking a listener out in any of the many interpretations the band has put forth over the years. However, listening to the guitar interplay between the savage slashing of Keith Richards on the rhythm riffs and Mick Taylor's monster soloing will take your breath away.”

“This is in fact the best Stones album bar none. Yes, really! Sound quality is amazing. The Stones are at their peak musically and as a performing band.”

“Arguably the best live release from the band's illustrious career, this is one affair that will remain fresh after repeated visits.”

“This snapshot of the 1973 Rolling Stones tour of Europe in support of the Goats Head Soup album finds the band at the pinnacle of their live prowess, Brussels Affair is such a revelation”

Tracklist
Disc 1 (01:11:08)
1. Brown Sugar (03:38)
2. Gimme Shelter (05:38)
3. Happy (03:10)
4. Tumbling Dice (05:03)
5. Dancing With Mr. D (04:25)
6. Angie (04:27)
7. You Can't Always Get What You Want (10:55)
8. Midnight Rambler (12:41)
9. Honky Tonk Woman (03:03)
10. All Down The Line (03:34)
11. Rip This Joint (02:01)
12. Jumping Jack Flash (03:14)
13. Street Fighting Man (04:50)
14. Star Star (04:29)

Disc 2 (01:18:06)
1. Brown Sugar (03:16)
2. Happy (03:09)
3. Gimme Shelter (05:45)
4. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (05:04)
5. Street Fighting Man (05:25)
6. Brown Sugar (04:11)
7. Star Star (04:30)
8. Dancing With Mr. D (04:26)
9. Angie (05:01)
10. Midnight Rambler (13:31)
11. Gimme Shelter (03:17)
12. Street Fighting Man (01:56)
13. Bitch (04:28)
14. 100 Years Ago (04:55)
15. Sweet Virginia (04:53)
16. Silver Train (04:19)