The Rolling Stones -Exile On Main Street

Thu 24th Jun, 2010 in Music Reviews

Rawness is probably what this album is all about. The boys were in France trying to run from the tax man and attempting to set up a little home away from home where they could record and keep their assets.

Not everyone in the band was happy about the locale and leaving the U.K., but hell, it was a Rolling Stones moment. These boys were the outlaws. We all wanted to be Mick or Keith, you know hat I mean? The critics were not so sure about this record when it came out, but today it is hard to find a bad word said about it.

What you hear on this double disc set (it was a double album when released) is a conglomerate of what came before. You get some acoustic blues that do sound like they were recorded in a basement ( Sweet Black Angel ), you get some kick ass country rock like the classic Loving Cup, you head into a bit of psych rock like with Let It Loose and All Down The Line is classic Stones cock rock.

Don’t get me wrong, this is in the top four Rolling Stones records. It is a must have and if you have not heard it over these past 38 years, well, I am thinking you would not be reading this. Slim Harpo’s Hip Shake Thing should get you up anytime you hear it. It almost sounds like they are dancing around the Chateau in a late night frenzy.

This was a wine and heroin fuelled session where some songs were completed by various combinations of Stones and friends and other tracks were begun and then finished in L.A. later. It was hard keeping it together.

The additional tracks and alternative takes are mere window dressing. Stay with the 19 songs that are remastered here and you will experience The Rolling Stones still at their peak.