ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 263 THE ROLLING STONES - EXILE ON MAIN ST. (1972)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Genre: Rock

Nationality: British

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: Yes

Album: Exile On Main St.

Producer: Jimmy Miller

Release Date: May 12, 1972

Running Time: 67:07

RIAA Certification: Platinum

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #1 (U.S. and U.K.)

Singles: Tumbling Dice (#5 U.S.)/Sweet Black Angel/Rocks Off/Happy (#22 U.S.)/All Down The Line

 

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it). 

What have we got this week? OMG, it's the Rolling Stones.  Your Album of the Week is Exile On Main St.  That means we are back to 1972.  Exile is the tenth album, a double album, by the Stones and is widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time.  It had one huge hit (Tumbling Dice) and one moderately big hit (Happy, sung by Keith Richards).  The album combines elements of rock and roll, blues, soul, gospel and country.

Basically, from what I've read, the Stones really were just a drama machine when this album was recorded and released.  Drugs, relationships and taxes were just a microcosm of what was going on.  They weren't all in the studio at the same time, yet they managed to put out a revered piece of work.

As far as availability goes, it can be had in remastered form from Amazon for about ten bucks.  That's not bad for a double album that is so highly regarded.  How do you feel about the album?  

Side One:

1. Rocks Off

2. Rip This Joint

3. Shake Your Hips

4. Casino Boogie

5. Tumbling Dice

Side Two:

6. Sweet Virginia

7. Torn And Frayed

8. Sweet Black Angel

9. Loving Cup

Side Three:

10. Happy

11. Turd On The Rain

12. Ventilator Blues

13. I Just Want To See His Face

14. Let It Loose

Side Four:

15. All Down The Line

16. Stop Breaking Down

17. Shine A Light

18. Soul Survivor

[Niels (Mod)]

I bought this album in the start of the 90's. Probably shortly after I saw Stones in concert (still while Wyman was in the band) in 1990.

For years, probably 10 or something like that, I never gave it much attention. I heard it once or twice, but was missing a wellknown hit, and thought all the songs sounded the same.

Something must have happend in the start of the 00's, because suddently I could hear, the greatness of the album, and there was one summer, where I heard the album over and over again.

It's my opinion, that this album is by far the best Stones-album.

There's not one weak song on it, and it must be the third best double-studioalbum ever made (after Physical Graffitti and The White Album).

[RJhog (Admin)]

I thought it was good, but I'd stop short of calling it great.  The only song I recognized when looking at the track listing was Tumbling Dice.  However, when I listened to it, I realized that I have heard Happy.  I just never realized Richards was the vocalist.  

I think side two of album one is the strongest, especially Sweet Virginia and Torn And Frayed.  But I also thought Ventilator Blues was cool and very heavy for the Stones.  Overall I enjoyed it, but I think Sticky Fingers is a bit better personally.

[Jon]

How do I feel about the album?

EH.

Everytime I've listened to this, I eventually space out. Lot of songs here that just don't do anything for me. I'd rather listen to "Sticky Fingers", "Beggars Banquet", "Let It Bleed" , "Some Girls" and more than this. Not that it's a bad album, it just makes me lose interest as it goes on.

IMHOWINW, these double albums are better:

Pink Floyd--The Wall

The Clash--London Calling

The Who--Quadrophenia

Prince--1999

Prince--Sign O' The Times

Elton John--Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Miles Davis--Bitches Brew

Stevie Wonder--Songs In The Key Of Life

Chicago Transit Authority--Chicago Transit Authority

Led Zeppelin--Physical Graffiti

The Beatles--The White Album

I don't lose interest in these albums as they play. It is what it is, I guess.

[Scott]

Don't forget these double albums as well (not saying they're better but thought it would be fun to list some more double ablusm that are awesome)...

• The Who - Quadrophenia
• Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
• Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• ELO - Out of the Blue
• Planet P Project - Pink World

[Niels (Mod)]

You guys forgot two:

The Who - Quadrophenia

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick road 

[Niels (Mod)]

Oh, and even though, they are not as good as "Exile On Mainstreet", because none of you obvioulsy have a clue about, how great that album is, there's also a couple of newer double-albums to mention as very good:

Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon collie and the infinite sadness

Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile

and another oldie:

Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde

[RJhog (Admin)]

Or the one true, true double album:

GNR - Use Your Illusion I & II

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, at the time, "it" was good. Now, it should definitely had been a single album.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Not to mention:

The Who - Quadrophenia

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

[Scott]

I own this, but purchased it only within the last year.  My first Stones ever was Some Girls, but that pretty recent as well.  I've always thought Jagger had a weird stage presence and his voice is definitely hit and miss for me as well.  But, for unknown reasons to me, I've really come to understand what happening musically and how he fits in.  

I love the opener, but I detect a pattern in their approach to these albums, couple rockers, a ballad, and some weird country tinged tune always make up the listening experience.  Shake Your Hips is definitely a ZZ Top influence.  Amazing to hear that riff now and immediately associated with the wrong band!  Kind of wonder what the band thought when they first heard La Grange?!

Tumbling Dice has a Gimme Shelter feel in the chorus, maybe its just me, but I like it! Another revelation about the Stones that I never realized was how good they were acoustically, and while some of the country flavored tunes sound like they are making fun of country music with the way Jagger sings them (I have no problem making fun of country music) the geetar work is really good!  

Turd on the Run is awesome!  Maybe only because the word Turd can always make a guy laugh!

Another Stones revelation was how bluesy they are as well.  Really great blues band!  Side one rocks, Side two acoustically pleases, side three blasts the blues and side 4 is probably the best!  Great post!