THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: The Rolling Stones

THE ROLLING STONES – Exile On Main Street

January 26, 2023 /

My two favourite Stones albums are this and Sticky Fingers, released one after the other when the band were in a gold period creatively. The main recording for this album took place in a villa in the south of France when the exotic substances were flowing. This is a very sprawling album that feels like every idea they had was put on tape and put out.

I love the loose feel, and the blues (or their take on it) is oozing from every groove. I don’t think the Stones got any better after this. There is a huge southern influence throughout this album after the recording of last album at Muscle Shoals.

Tumbling Dice is an obvious choice for favourite track, but I’m going for Shine A Light as that slight gospel vibe suits the band so well, and I love Mick Taylor’s solo. It’s a shame Mick Taylor didn’t stick around as he was perfect for the band.

This type of album would never get made today, as bands are not given the freedom to explore and create like the bands were in the late sixties, early seventies.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE ROLLING STONES – Sticky Fingers

December 3, 2020 /

It took me a long time to appreciate the Stones. I always found they were not as immediate as the Beatles say, who were a lot more melody orientated.

This is the 2015 Abbey Road remix and remaster, which contains a bonus disc with alternate takes of 5 songs and 4 live tracks from the Roundhouse in ’71.

Kicking off with the classic Brown Sugar this is the Stones at their very best. I think the addition of Mick Taylor made them the complete article. Followed by the excellent Sway and Wild Horses, which then leads into the Stones finest hour with Can You Hear Me Knocking. This has Muscle Shoals written all over it with the extended middle section which is as groovy has it gets. The track is made by Taylor’s guitar and the sax playing of Bobby Keys and Billy Preston’s organ. I never tire of this track. Side 2 doesn’t quite live up to the sheer brilliance of Side 1 but Bitch, Sister Morphine, and Moonlight Mile come close.

Sure the Stones had their moments after this, especially with Exile, but this was it for me. This has to be the ultimate version of this as the half speed mastering, the remix, and original production by Jimmy Miller make this a joy to listen to.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2024 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑