Live Licks (Live) (2004)

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Type: Live album
Released: 2 November 2004
Label: Virgin Records
Genre: Rock • Hard rock • Blues rock
Length: 78:55
Producers: The Glimmer Twins

Live Licks captures The Rolling Stones during their Licks Tour (2002–2003), a worldwide tour celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary. The album presents a mix of arena-rock anthems, classic hits, and rare tracks, showcasing the band’s enduring energy and stagecraft in the 2000s.

The album is notable for its dynamic arrangements and high production quality, combining both electric and acoustic performances.

📦 Cover Art & Design

🎨 Bold & Energetic

🖌️ Photography by Mark Seliger.
🎭 Features a dramatic, high-contrast live shot of Mick Jagger mid-performance, emphasizing motion and intensity.
🔲 Bold red and white typography highlights the album title, reflecting the energetic live show aesthetic.
🖼️ Inner sleeves include candid tour photos, stage shots, and full band performance imagery.

The cover conveys the power and excitement of the Stones’ live performance in large arenas.

🎵 Tracklist

Brown Sugar
You Got Me Rocking
Rough Justice
Out of Control
Gimme Shelter
Paint It Black
Honky Tonk Women
Band Introductions
Slipping Away
Angie
Beast of Burden
Rocks Off
Sympathy for the Devil
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Satisfaction

👥 Band Lineup

Mick Jagger – Lead vocals, harmonica, guitar
Keith Richards – Guitar, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on select tracks
Ronnie Wood – Guitar
Charlie Watts – Drums

Additional Musicians:

Darryl Jones – Bass
Chuck Leavell – Keyboards
Bobby Keys – Saxophone
Lisa Fischer – Backing vocals
Bernard Fowler – Backing vocals
Tim Ries – Keyboards, saxophone

🎶 Top Tracks

⭐ Brown Sugar

High-energy opener; crowd favorite with explosive guitar riffs.

⭐ Gimme Shelter

Powerful live rendition with extended vocal and instrumental sections.

⭐ Sympathy for the Devil

Classic hit with improvisation and audience participation.

⭐ Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Explosive finale, demonstrating the band’s stadium-rock mastery.

📈 Commercial Performance & Sales

🥉 US Billboard 200: #25
🥉 UK Albums Chart: #15
💿 Gold certification (US)
🌍 Worldwide sales: ~1–2 million copies

The album achieved moderate commercial success, appealing especially to fans of the Licks Tour.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Praised for capturing the energy and precision of the 2002–2003 Licks Tour.
Recognized for its combination of classic hits and rare tracks.
Showcased the band’s stamina and performance consistency four decades into their career.

🎤 Fun Facts & Trivia

🎸 Features performances from multiple continents including Europe, North America, and South America.
🎶 Mixes electric and acoustic arrangements, offering unique takes on familiar classics.
🔊 Mick Jagger’s stage charisma and band improvisation are highlighted in tracks like “Slipping Away” and “Rocks Off.”
🏟️ Captures the scale and spectacle of the Licks Tour, which included arenas and stadiums worldwide.

🤯 Did You Know?

The album was released both as a CD and a DVD, allowing fans to experience the live show visually.
Some songs were rearranged with additional instrumentation to adapt to 2000s stage technology.
“Slipping Away” features Keith Richards on lead vocals, a rare spotlight moment in the setlist.