'Beast of Burden' is another one where Wyman really shines. So fluent and fluid with his bass lines, voicings and choices. The two of them are made for each other rhythmically.
In his book , " Life" , Keith Richards called Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman the "engine room" of the Rolling Stones because their solid, jazz-influenced rhythm section was the heartbeat that powered the band.
Such isolated tracks prove that the bass lines Bill wrote entitled him to writing credit. Then again, Brian Jones and Mick Taylor also deserved writing credit for their own particular form of genius.
Hearing these bass lines is kind of like seeing into the den of a wild animal thought extinct and never really observed before. We see that it really just lumbers around and acts like other wild animals with the occasional obvious flash of extra ability that it probably rarely needs to show. It is no less beautiful to watch, but makes you realize you are overstepping your bounds, watching it this way.
One thing that stands out for me is how little Bill plays here really, I thought he was all over the place. Obviously he knew it wasn't needed. My personal favorite of Bill and Charlie is "Emotional Rescue", amazing track. Also "Beast of Burden".
Bill Wyman / Charlie Watts Isolated bass/drum Start Me Up