1: EXILE ON MAIN ST | THE ROLLING STONES
Wow number one out of a thousand, well thousandS, of albums of all time. Why not a Beatles album? Let me start by saying I am listening to it as I write this and I really stand behind Exile on Main St as number one. I guess I have some explaining to do…
First of all Exile On Main St in a double album with pound for pound more potency and content than any record in history. Brimming with Blues, Rock, Country, Soul and Gospel Exile is one of the ocean of music's whales. Like most artists the Stones would take in their influences from all these genres and output them in their unique way. The Stones did this better than any band in history and Exile is the greatest example of this. Ingredients to this number one boogie masterpiece: Soulful backing vocals / Tight full powerful horns of Billy Keyes (sax) and Jim Price (horn) / Perfect electric and acoustic piano accompaniment from mainly Nicky Hopkins / And I believe this to be some of Charlie Watts best most fitting kit playing. Listen to "Ventilator Blues" and the unified accents between Charlie and the horns.
Filled with soaring melodies, uplifting ballads, and the greatest all time riffs, words fall short in describing what this record does to me. I have known this record for more than three and a half decades and I have never even come close to being tired of any of its contents. "Tumbling Dice" was the albums only hit, so you could say we've probably heard this song more than the others just by being around radio. If "Tumbling Dice" ever plays on the radio I turn it up, I listen all the way through and I am not reachable for those 3 and 3 quarters of glorious minutes. If i had to pick the 5 greatest country-rock tunes of all time "Torn and Frayed" would be on this short list. And lets face it you could not close an album with anything more powerful than "Soul Survivor". I always get goose bumps when Keith rips in with those ultimate Keef-tuned power chords.
Masterful song sequencing, that is easily on par with Sgt Peppers, is a key component in this records immensity. Exiles tracks blend to together and reveal the Stones portraits of southern and middle American country and blues.
So drop the needle or press play on this masterpiece of masterpieces as soon as you can and let its depth, soul and grit seep in.
The story of Exile’s recording is one of the most legendary in history. I highly recommend the Stones In Exile documentary (trailer above). Check it out on Amazon.
The making of the Rolling Stones 1972 masterpiece Exile In Main St. is one of the most mythical periods of their career. In 2010, to accompany the re-release of the LP, the band released this extensive documentary that explains the real story. They never quite get to the bottom of whether the mansion in France where they recorded it was a Nazi headquarters during World War Two, but new interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Mick Taylor explain almost everything else about the album. Rolliing Stone
Sid Smith @ BBC Wrote: Like a musical scrapbook chronicling the decay, decadence, excess and torpor of the Stones’ camp, this rough and ready collection of curios, questionable filler, and the occasional flash of blazing brilliance is frequently hailed as one of the best all-time albums. At first glance it’s not easy to see why. Jagger is sometimes barely audible in the already overcrowded channels, as though his parts are a grudging concession to commercial needs. Just about every track is filled with knotted tangles of drums, keyboards, horns, guitar, hoots, handclaps and sundry embellishments, all snarled up in the often impenetrable murk of the mix: a bit like the aural equivalent of your soles sticking to a grungy club carpet. Like the band itself, the record was strung out between different locations and times. A newlywed Jagger was understandably distracted, whilst Keith Richards was holed up in the squalid luxury of his southern France mansion awash with drugs, booze and a legion of hangers-on. Such was Bill Wyman’s distaste for the company kept at Chez Keef, he was only on eight out of a possible eighteen backing tracks. Indeed it could almost be a textbook demonstration of how not to record an album. Yet out of such adversity there emerges moments of astonishing intensity that you find yourself forgiving them their industrial-quantity sins. The hard-won insolence of Tumbling Dice (rumoured to have gone into 100 plus takes) and driving urgency of Rocks Off, whilst being busy full-on Stones highpoints, somehow find their match in the stripped-back minimalist slapback of Shake Your Hips. Elsewhere, I Just Want to See His Face sounds as though a roving microphone had chanced upon a revivalist meeting somewhere in the deep South of their minds. Let It Loose - a real gem of a ballad, with cascading piano - feels like the emotional heart of the album, breaking free of the uninspired blues-by-the-numbers and too-lazy licks that dominate. When it does click together though, this is an oddly moving experience, reminding us why the Stones, even at their most dishevelled, aren’t to be underestimated.
"Exile on Main St.," the iconic double album by The Rolling Stones, was recorded between 1969 and 1972 in various locations, most notably in the basement of Keith Richards' villa in the south of France, known as Villa Nellcôte. The recording process was marked by a chaotic and unconventional approach, with the band members facing legal issues, drug problems, and personal turmoil during the sessions.
The recording environment at Villa Nellcôte was infamous for its gritty and decadent atmosphere, with the band and their entourage living a hedonistic lifestyle characterized by excessive drug use and late-night jam sessions. Despite the challenging circumstances, the creative energy and camaraderie among the band members fueled the recording process, resulting in a raw and organic sound that captured the essence of the Stones' musical vision.
The album features a diverse range of musical styles, blending rock, blues, country, and soul influences to create a rich tapestry of sound that reflects the band's eclectic taste and musical craftsmanship. From the bluesy swagger of songs like "Rocks Off" and "Tumbling Dice" to the country-tinged balladry of "Sweet Virginia" and the gospel-inspired "Shine a Light," "Exile on Main St." showcases The Rolling Stones at the peak of their creative powers.
Despite the chaotic nature of the recording sessions, "Exile on Main St." has endured as a masterpiece of rock 'n' roll, celebrated for its gritty authenticity, sonic experimentation, and timeless appeal. The album's raw production values and soulful performances capture the spirit of the era and stand as a testament to the enduring influence of The Rolling Stones on the landscape of popular music. "Exile on Main St." remains a landmark achievement in the band's discography and a touchstone for generations of music lovers who continue to be captivated by its raw energy and infectious groove.