Exile on Main Street - Rolling Stones (The) (CD 1994)

In 1972, 'the greatest rock and roll band in the world' made one of the greatest blues albums ever. That band was of course The Rolling Stones, and the album Exile On Main Street, is considered (by both critics and most fans of the group) to be their finest effort. The Stones had always based their sound on the old blues style -- simple licks, straight-ahead chords and deceptively sexual lyrics. With Exile On Main Street they became the blues. They no longer based their sound on their heroes --- they became the heroes that the next generation would idolize.

Combining elements from their previous masterpieces Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers, The Stones and producer Jimmy Miller recorded eighteen tracks of pure soul and passion -- all in the confines of guitarist Keith Richards' basement! The sound is dirty yet nothing this dirty has ever sounded so pure. You'll hear tape hiss, you'll hear poor acoustics --- you'll even hear a piece of silverware drop to the floor during the opening seconds of one of the tracks This truly feels like a homemade album, the angle The Stones were obviously shooting for. Forget it if you're looking for the hits, you'll only find one -- Tumbling Dice, but that's not what this album is about

The album cover itself is instantly recognizable; the scattered snapshots of oddities ranging from candid pictures of the group to freak show images. The insert is full of 1970's decadence; highlights include an unforgettable shot of a sweaty Mick Jagger and Keith Richards holding hard liquor and singing into the same microphone. The scribbled liner notes include messages like "I don't want to talk about Jesus, I just want to see his face" and "I gave you the dancing, you gave me the disease".

Rocks Off, the first track on Exile On Main Street sets the tone for the rest of the album immediately. The roadhouse rip-roar of Keith Richards' and Mick Taylor's guitars will instantly send the listener back a few decades to an era that somehow seemed more magical. By the time Mick Jagger struts into the mix wailing "The sunshine bores the daylights out of me" over an incredible horn section you will either be bug eyed - jaw agape - or tapping your toes to the beat.

The roadhouse rock doesn't let up with Rocks Off. A few other stupendous tracks such as Rip This Joint, Shake Your Hips (Tell me ZZ Top didn't rip these licks off), Happy (Keith Richards' shining moment as vocalist) capture the Stones in their finest barroom posturing. All Down the Line, Soul Survivor and Stop Breaking Down are other great examples of this style.

Another great feature that can be traced directly back to their brilliant Beggar's Banquet, is the influence of rural blues. Remember tracks like No Expectations and Dear Doctor? The group almost exclusively uses acoustic instruments, and Jagger channels a thousand dead blues-men through his voice and his mouth harp. Some of the greatest tunes in the entire Stones catalog can be defined by these parameters --- and found on this album. Check out the deceptively simple Sweet Virginia, Sweet Black Angel (which includes some truly inspiring harmonies), I Just Want To See His Face, T*rd on the Run and Ventilator Blues.

No Stones album would be complete without a few tender - yet gritty - ballads. If you're a lover of Stones tunes like Wild Horses and Angie you'll find PLENTY to like on this album. The Stones can write believable ballads and love songs because of their sincerity and cock-sure been-there-done-that attitude. Even if Mick Jagger's voice warbles through every line he makes you believe - and feel - what he's saying. He's especially charismatic on tunes like Torn and Frayed, Loving Cup and Let It Loose. Also, it would be a crime to overlook Shine a Light, which is my very favorite track on this album. It's worth every penny you pay for Exile On Main Street just to hear Jagger backed by a wonderful gospel choir as he wails "Let the good Lord / Shine a light on you!"

I've been throwing the words "true" and "pure" around pretty freely in this review, but believe me, never have they been more appropriate. This is one of the finest albums ever put out by the Stones, and a great example of what rock and roll is truly all about. If you're a fan, then you probably already own it. If not, rush out and buy this album immediately -- expose yourself to something wonderful it's one of the best musical purchases you'll ever make.

OVERALL GRADE: A+