Tracklist front / back album covers
Side one
1. "Gimme Shelter" 4:31
2. "Love in Vain" 4:19
3. "Country Honk" 3:09
4. "Live with Me" 3:33
5. "Let It Bleed" 5:26
Total length: 20:58
Side two
1. "Midnight Rambler" 6:52
2. "You Got the Silver" 2:51
3. "Monkey Man" 4:12
4. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" 7:28
Total length: 21:23
The Rolling Stones Band Members / Musicians
Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all but 7), backing vocals (1, 3, 8), harmonica (1, 6), acoustic guitar (9)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all but 3), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 5, 7, 9), slide guitar (2, 5, 6, 7, 8), backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 8), bass guitar (4), lead vocals (7)
Brian Jones – congas (6), autoharp (7)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (1, 2, 5–9), autoharp (5), vibraphone (8)
Charlie Watts – drums (all but 9)
Mick Taylor – slide guitar (3), electric guitar (4)
Ian Stewart – piano (5)
Nicky Hopkins – piano (1, 4, 7, 8), organ (7)
Byron Berline – fiddle (3)
Merry Clayton – vocals (1)
Ry Cooder – mandolin (2)
Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone (4)
Jimmy Miller – percussion (1), drums (9), tambourine (8)
Leon Russell – piano and horn arrangement (4)
Jack Nitzsche – choral arrangements (9)
Al Kooper – piano, French horn and organ (9)
Merry Clayton – backing vocals (1)
Nanette Workman – backing vocals (3, 9) (credited as Nanette Newman on the LP)
Doris Troy – backing vocals (9)
Madeline Bell – backing vocals (9)
Rocky Dijon – percussion (9)
The London Bach Choir – vocals (9)
Let It Bleed is the 8th British and 10th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 28 November 1969 London Records in the United States and shortly thereafter by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. Released shortly after the band's 1969 American Tour, it is the follow-up to 1968's Beggars Banquet. As with Beggars Banquet, the album marks a return to the group's more blues-sound approach that was prominent in the pre-Aftermath period of their career. Additional sounds on the album draw influence from gospel, country blues and country rock.
The album was recorded during a period of turmoil in the band; Brian Jones, the band's founder and original leader, had become increasingly unreliable in the studio due to heavy drug use, and during most recording sessions was either absent, or so incapacitated that he was unable to contribute meaningfully. He was fired in the midst of recording sessions for this album, and replaced by Mick Taylor. Jones appeared on this album on only two songs, playing backing instruments, and died within a month of being fired.
Taylor had been hired after principal recording was complete on many of the tracks, and appears on two songs, having recorded some guitar overdubs. Keith Richards was the band's sole guitarist during most of the recording sessions, being responsible for nearly all of the rhythm and lead parts. The other Stones members (Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts) appear on nearly every track, with contributions by percussionist Jimmy Miller (who also produced the album), keyboardists Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart, and guest musicians including Ry Cooder.
