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.

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