The Rolling Stones


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The Rolling Stones
Exile on Main St.
Release Date: 1972 05 12
Running Time: 66:48
Label: Universal Distribution
Rating:

Greeted with decidedly mixed reviews upon its original release, Exile on Main St. has become generally regarded as the Rolling Stones' finest album. Part of the reason why the record was initially greeted with hesitant reviews is that it takes a while to assimilate. A sprawling, weary double album encompassing rock & roll, blues, soul, and country, Exile doesn't try anything new on the surface, but the substance is new. Taking the bleakness that underpinned Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers to an extreme, Exile is a weary record, and not just lyrically. Jagger's vocals are buried in the mix, and the music is a series of dark, dense jams, with Keith Richards and Mick Taylor spinning off incredible riffs and solos. And the songs continue the breakthroughs of their three previous albums. No longer does their country sound forced or kitschy -- it's lived-in and complex, just like the group's forays into soul and gospel. While the songs, including the masterpieces "Rocks Off," "Tumbling Dice," "Torn and Frayed," "Happy," "Let It Loose," and "Shine a Light," are all terrific, they blend together, with only certain lyrics and guitar lines emerging from the murk. It's the kind of record that's gripping on the very first listen, but each subsequent listen reveals something new. Few other albums, let alone double albums, have been so rich and masterful as Exile on Main St., and it stands not only as one of the Stones' best records, but sets a remarkably high standard for all of hard rock. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks:
TitleComposerTime
1Rocks OffJagger, Richards4:33
2Rip This JointJagger, Richards2:22
3Shake Your HipsMoore, Harpo2:59
4Casino BoogieRichards, Jagger3:34
5Tumbling DiceRichards, Jagger3:47
6Sweet VirginiaJagger, Richards4:26
7Torn and FrayedJagger, Richards4:18
8Sweet Black AngelJagger, Richards2:58
9Loving CupJagger, Richards4:25
10HappyJagger, Richards3:05
11Turd on the RunJagger, Richards2:38
12Ventilator BluesRichards, Taylor, Jagger3:24
13I Just Want to See His FaceRichards, Jagger2:53
14Let It LooseJagger, Richards5:18
15All Down the LineJagger, Richards3:50
16Stop Breaking DownWells, Johnson4:34
17Shine a LightJagger, Richards4:17
18Soul SurvivorRichards, Jagger3:49

Other Releases:
Exile on Main St. [Japan]
Release Date: 1972
Label: Toshiba EMI


Member Comments On This Album.

1 - 2 of 2 2 Comments

chunky lover 53 14501 Tue Feb 17 2009 14:12:41
One of the top ten albums of all time.
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chunky lover 53 14501 Fri Sep 28 2007 18:31:24
This is one of my top ten favorites, every song is completely different from the rest.
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