REVIEW #1 - December 21, 2020
“Exile On Main Street” - The Rolling Stones - 1972
What’s up y’all! HERE WE GO! Even though these reviews are going to officially start in the NEW YEAR, I figured, let’s kick things off with a couple around the holidays. And besides...we fucking love music. So let’s get this party started.
First, let me introduce myself. My name is Mark. I’m an L.A. based keyboardist by way of New Orleans, by way of Philly, by way of New Jersey by way of upstate NY....I know, my head hurts too. But I promise, that’s as confusing as shit is going to get. I promise. I hope. Ok, I promise. I’ve been a touring musician for 15 years and in my travels I’ve met a lot of cool people and incredible musicians and music lovers. One thing they all have in common? They listen to a shitload of music...all the freaking time. And love to talk about it. Which is why I started this blog. It’s mainly just an opportunity for me to share my thoughts about new and old music...some I know, some I just listened to. And honestly, I don’t care if I have 1 follower or 1,000 followers. I just want to share my love of music with whoever...wherever...whenever. Or no one at all...I talk to myself quite a bit.
Ok, so here goes! I narrowed my first few reviews down to a couple of classics and ultimately chose “Exile On Main Street” by the Rolling Stones (1972) as my very first!!! I think the main reason for this pick, is I just finished Keith Richards’ book and man...I freaking loved it. What a gentle human being...and one hell of a songwriter and musician. I’ve worked with musicians who hate the Stones because they say the music sounds too raw, unrehearsed, or they’re not great musicians...etc etc whatever...Mick Jagger can’t sing....you know...you’ve heard them all. But dammit...all of those things are what give them them a certain charm. The songs (ALL or MOST of their songs through the years) are brilliantly written and recorded. And as a musician, I love raw and unrehearsed...after all, the best rehearsal is a gig.
This was the Stones’ 10th studio album which began recording during the Sticky Fingers sessions in 1969 and continued in 1971 at their French Villa in Nellcote. The band was living in France as British Tax Exiles having not paid taxes (which were extremely high) on their previous earnings. The final touches of this record were put on a Sunset Sound in L.A. with Nicky Hopkins (piano), Bobby Keys (sax), Jimmy Miller (drums) and Jim Price (horns) joining the session.
I confess, this is one album I hadn’t listened to that much as a Stones fan. I had always been more into Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers...but holy crap. I was missing something really special. The album kicks off with blues and boogie woogie tracks “Rocks Off”, “Rip This Joint” and “Shake Your Hips”. Keith Richards plays most of the guitars and bass on the entire album although Bill Wyman makes an appearance on some of these blues tracks. Although, I read somewhere that he was trying to distance himself from Keith and his drug addict antics, and so spent most of the months at his personal home in the French countryside and not in the recording studio.
At the end of Side 1, we get the Stones classic “Tumblin’ Dice”. A great tune in it’s own right, but honestly not one of my favorites. Maybe because of how over-played it’s been. Mick Taylor, who is the 2nd guitaist with the group during this era, plays bass on Tumblin’ Dice. Man...Wyman was just not into it.
Side 2 has the ballad “Sweet Virginia” which I’ve played in bands before and man, it sounds so raw and REAL. I freaking love it. But again, those recording purists who need everything OVERPRODUCED are going to hate it. Fuck em’. It’s the shit. Another highlight on Side 2 is of course “Loving Cup”. I love Nicky Hopkins’ piano playing on this. His playing with the Stones and later, Chuck Leavell was a huge influence on my career and playing. For sure! Can’t forget “Torn and Frayed” also...classic Stones. That country, Americana vibe...with Mick Jagger’s Brit-Blues twang.
OK OK...I’m long-winded...I’ll get right to it. Side 3 get’s down and dirty with “Ventilator Blues”, “Turd on The Run” and “Happy”. The Blues is the soul of the Rolling Stones and these tunes (not to mention the whole album) really capture that vibe. Finally with Side 4, “Shine a Light” is my happy jam. And the back-up singers (who are all over this record) are freaking incredible. Produced by Jimmy Miller and engineered mostly by Glyn & Andy Johns, I can’t say enough about this record. And having on;y listened to a handfull of times prior to now, man oh man...I was missing something really special.
Ok...I’ll wrap this up...and yes, I promise to make reviews in the future much much shorter...I hope. This album is a 10 out of 10 for me. That’s right...it will be the first album reviewed and the first entry into my album Hall of Fame. We’ll see where we go from here. Pick it up on vinyl or listen to the Deluxe version on Spotify. But if you like artist...buy their music...Spotify is great, but if you truly love something, please let the artist know by buying their music. And yes, that includes super stars like The Stones. I know they don’t need the money...but that isn’t the point. They were once hoofin’ it in clubs and sharing an apartment in London with rats and one mattress to share. Classic album...pick it up and keep on jamming y’all. Happy Holidays and we’ll talk soon.!
“Exile On Main Street” - The Rolling Stones - 1972
https://www.allmusic.com/album/exile-on-main-st-mw0000191639
