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You’ve seen how rock critic Joe Gross ranked the Stones albums, now it’s your turn. Is Joe’s list accurate or would you have ranked the albums differently? Is there any album that you would argue deserves a higher or lower place on the list?
Best - Let It Bleed with it’s beautiful intro to Gimme Shelter. Worst? I’m sorry but I lost interest around the time of Shattered (shadoobie) and Beast of Burden. Late seventies and early eighties were a vacuum (sucked) for Stone’s creativity.
Sticky Fingers is the best Stones album and best Rock and Roll album ever. For anyone to argue differantly has spent too much time reading music magazines reviews and is brainwashed. Ever hear of Emperors Clothes? The songs,Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Can’t you Hear Me Knocking, Moonlight Mile, Sway, Dead Flowers, and the most perfect rock song ever B***H. The musicanship,(Mick Taylor most underated guitarist listen to the solo at the end of Sway)the use of horns, nuff said perfect record
One could think that this ranking is nothing but a joke.
But than there is Exile on ’ 1 , and that is about the only disc that is on the right place.
The rest is , sorry , a mess.
I don´t know who voted on this but come on ,Flowers Aftermath….
Personally i would the discs from 1970 - 1975 in the top places.
Best sixties one would be Begggars,Let it Bleed and surly
Out Of Our Heads.
Bridges is surly not as bad as
Dirty Work or Steel Wheels.
on man , f…k all these rankings.
Arno
It’s Only R&R has some duds, but it has its moments, too. Hats of to Jagger who was shouldering the load for Keith here, a feat he was better suited for on Some Girls.
But Dirty Work is unquestionably the worst by this band that I’m offended to see it (or maybe Bridges to Babylon) anywhere but dead last. Mick Jagger has better solo records, and that’s never a good thing.
Best Stones album, in my opinion, is their first greatest hits LP, “Big Hits - High Tide And Green Grass.” Starts off with the best rock and roll song ever, “Satisfaction,” followed by “The Last Time.” Also has “Time Is On My Side,” “Tell Me,” “It’s All Over Now,” “Get Off My Cloud,” “Not Fade Away” and ends with “Play With Fire.” I bought it when I was a paperboy in the 50’s when I wrapped a transistor radio around my handlebars with rubber bands so I could hear the “fuzz bass” intro.
Here it is Folks:
Joe is obviously more than a casual fan: Exile? Yes.
But Joe makes the same mistakes as so many do nowadayz: Describing the current era as “lousy.”
Sorry Joe, that is a cop-out. Just because you haven’t heard ‘Flip the Switch’ on the radio a thousand times doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own against ‘All Down the Line’. Stand ‘Almost Hear You Sigh’ up against ‘Angie’ or ‘Wild Horses’. Yes.
I’m as big a fan of the Miller/Taylor/Hopkins era as any.
how can anyone or a collection of “anyones” not select—hands down, pedal to the metal, full tilt boogie Beggars Banquet as the ultimate album of all time besides just the best of the Stones— As an ol’ burned out product of the 60’s and still immersed in music please revisit the list-listen to your soul when the banquet rocks!!!!!!!
exile is best (twice as much of an untouchable era), dirty work worst. jimmy miller years, aftermath, tattoo you, some girls, black and blue, bigger bang, goats head all good. emotional rescue, love you live, undercover underrated. it’s only rock n’roll (joe) grossly underrated. singles collection takes care of early stuff for casual fans. ya ya’s yeah!
It’s Only Rock and Roll is a very solid Stones album with a great title track. Should be in the middle of the pack not the bottom. Certianly not below Dirty Work - C’mon!
I agree that Exiles and Let it Bleed are the best two, in no particular order. I think that Undercover is underrated, not that it’s one of their best but still. Try it again. I have a soft spot for Black and Blue, but that’s just me. Wrong on Love You Live. Idiosyncratic dissing of It’s Only Rock and Roll, not that it’s one of their very best but still. Scholarly note: Gram Parsons was “the birth of alt country,” unless you consider Neil Young which you should, but in any event Exiles is g
You have nothing to say about Black & Blue, when some of Mick’s most vulnerable, soul-searching moments are there. Same with Undercover. That album has such raunch, such honesty, such a honing of Mick’s aggression towards women-and disgust with political and sexual aggression itself… a hot, complex, thoroughly rocking album. Misunderstood in 1983 and rarely reeavaluated - I can’t understand why no one else hears how well it works, although I won’t blame first-impression calcification.
Pretty good but way off on “Flashpoint”, he needs to listen to “Factory Girl’ a live classic. Also “Vodoo” produced “You Got Me Rockin” a concert staple and now almost a warhorse, and the best unknown track ever “Baby Break it Down”.Plus “Bridges has “Out of Control” a major crowd pleaser on the Bridges and Security tours.
What do you know, Exile at number one. It’s a great album, but it seems like the go-to #1 for Stones credibility. I’ll take Some Girls at #1. I’ll have to agree with Let It Bleed at #2 though. And Only Rock N Roll is a top 10 for sure, WTF. I’d put Steel Wheels & Dirty Work at the bottom. Being a guy in his late 20s who just recently started getting into the Stones as an album band (I got Hot Rocks at like 10 years old), I have been amazed at how great their 70s albums like Only Rock N Roll are.
Sooooo far off in the top 10- All of the tracks from 62-66 that were singles, or are fairly well known were brilliant, but one has to sit through a load of samey R&B/blues mediocre tracks to get to them. Between the Buttons is great as a unique stand-alone experiment in BritPop and quite fun- One must massively edit Satanic Majesties, but from Beggar’s Banquet through AND INCLUDING It’s Only Rock n’ Roll were THE BEST, and then Some Girls, Tattoo You and Emotional Rescue. Avoid Dirty Work! thx!
A couple of weeks ago, I heard a radio special (hosted by a couple of guys, one of which had the last name of Jagger [NOT Mick]) that was a compliation of the Rolling Stone’s blues songs - taken from a number of their albums. Anyone know how to get a copy of that compilation ??? Until I heard all those songs together, I didn’t realize they had that many blues songs.
Some Girls was the most fun and it continues to make me happy. My favorite song has been Shattered since the first time I heard it. Mick Jagger licked Keith Richards’ cheek while singing it on Saturday Night Live and I thought I was gonna die! Wow…
Not to rank “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” as No. 2 or No. 3 is idiotic. You obviously think only their “early” stuff is great. I guess you also do not think “Time Waits for No One” is the most beautiful rock and roll song ever written. And for an ad hominum opinion of you, I am absolutely positive you are homely. Because you evidently think beauty has no place in rock and roll. Well, you’re wrong.
Goats Head Soup should be higher on the list. 100 Years Ago, Winter, Silver Train, Star Star are incredible, the only song I can live without is Coming Down Again. This is an album no one knows about but should. I’m also surprsied to see It’s Only Rock and Roll at the bottom of your list. What about Fingerprint File? Time Waits for No One? All gems. That album is much better than anything they’ve put out in the last 20 years. Good job though. It’s a hard thing to do…
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Comments
By bill keenom
October 31, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this
Best - Let It Bleed with it’s beautiful intro to Gimme Shelter. Worst? I’m sorry but I lost interest around the time of Shattered (shadoobie) and Beast of Burden. Late seventies and early eighties were a vacuum (sucked) for Stone’s creativity.
By sullymon
October 28, 2006 07:18 AM | Link to this
Sticky Fingers is the best Stones album and best Rock and Roll album ever. For anyone to argue differantly has spent too much time reading music magazines reviews and is brainwashed. Ever hear of Emperors Clothes? The songs,Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Can’t you Hear Me Knocking, Moonlight Mile, Sway, Dead Flowers, and the most perfect rock song ever B***H. The musicanship,(Mick Taylor most underated guitarist listen to the solo at the end of Sway)the use of horns, nuff said perfect record
By ANONYMOUS
October 27, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you guys rank Regional Mexican music!
I can relate to that better than I can a bunch of sexist, arrogant, prancing boys making loud, unpleasant noises!
By Rick Kent
October 22, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
Exile.. followed by Beggars, Let It Bleed, and then the record that set the standard for all live albums to follow.. Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out!
By max cooper
October 22, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this
What’s the point of ranking them anyway?
By Arno
October 22, 2006 05:07 AM | Link to this
One could think that this ranking is nothing but a joke. But than there is Exile on ’ 1 , and that is about the only disc that is on the right place. The rest is , sorry , a mess. I don´t know who voted on this but come on ,Flowers Aftermath….
Personally i would the discs from 1970 - 1975 in the top places. Best sixties one would be Begggars,Let it Bleed and surly Out Of Our Heads. Bridges is surly not as bad as Dirty Work or Steel Wheels. on man , f…k all these rankings. Arno
By tommy
October 21, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this
It’s Only R&R has some duds, but it has its moments, too. Hats of to Jagger who was shouldering the load for Keith here, a feat he was better suited for on Some Girls.
But Dirty Work is unquestionably the worst by this band that I’m offended to see it (or maybe Bridges to Babylon) anywhere but dead last. Mick Jagger has better solo records, and that’s never a good thing.
Great calls on Between the Buttons and Flowers!
By Craig P.
October 21, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this
Best Stones album, in my opinion, is their first greatest hits LP, “Big Hits - High Tide And Green Grass.” Starts off with the best rock and roll song ever, “Satisfaction,” followed by “The Last Time.” Also has “Time Is On My Side,” “Tell Me,” “It’s All Over Now,” “Get Off My Cloud,” “Not Fade Away” and ends with “Play With Fire.” I bought it when I was a paperboy in the 50’s when I wrapped a transistor radio around my handlebars with rubber bands so I could hear the “fuzz bass” intro.
By Rob
October 21, 2006 02:57 AM | Link to this
Here it is Folks: Joe is obviously more than a casual fan: Exile? Yes.
But Joe makes the same mistakes as so many do nowadayz: Describing the current era as “lousy.”
Sorry Joe, that is a cop-out. Just because you haven’t heard ‘Flip the Switch’ on the radio a thousand times doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own against ‘All Down the Line’. Stand ‘Almost Hear You Sigh’ up against ‘Angie’ or ‘Wild Horses’. Yes.
I’m as big a fan of the Miller/Taylor/Hopkins era as any.
Get hip JG
By Ray Himebaugh
October 20, 2006 05:46 PM | Link to this
how can anyone or a collection of “anyones” not select—hands down, pedal to the metal, full tilt boogie Beggars Banquet as the ultimate album of all time besides just the best of the Stones— As an ol’ burned out product of the 60’s and still immersed in music please revisit the list-listen to your soul when the banquet rocks!!!!!!!
By adam schaeffer
October 20, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this
exile is best (twice as much of an untouchable era), dirty work worst. jimmy miller years, aftermath, tattoo you, some girls, black and blue, bigger bang, goats head all good. emotional rescue, love you live, undercover underrated. it’s only rock n’roll (joe) grossly underrated. singles collection takes care of early stuff for casual fans. ya ya’s yeah!
By Ice X
October 20, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this
Re: Exile
Side 3? Side four kicks side 3’s a*s up, down & sideways!!! Everybody chant: Side 4! Side 4! Side 4!
By JOE JENKINS
October 20, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this
It’s Only Rock and Roll is a very solid Stones album with a great title track. Should be in the middle of the pack not the bottom. Certianly not below Dirty Work - C’mon!
By Andy Brown
October 19, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
I agree that Exiles and Let it Bleed are the best two, in no particular order. I think that Undercover is underrated, not that it’s one of their best but still. Try it again. I have a soft spot for Black and Blue, but that’s just me. Wrong on Love You Live. Idiosyncratic dissing of It’s Only Rock and Roll, not that it’s one of their very best but still. Scholarly note: Gram Parsons was “the birth of alt country,” unless you consider Neil Young which you should, but in any event Exiles is g
By SaveLove
October 19, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this
You have nothing to say about Black & Blue, when some of Mick’s most vulnerable, soul-searching moments are there. Same with Undercover. That album has such raunch, such honesty, such a honing of Mick’s aggression towards women-and disgust with political and sexual aggression itself… a hot, complex, thoroughly rocking album. Misunderstood in 1983 and rarely reeavaluated - I can’t understand why no one else hears how well it works, although I won’t blame first-impression calcification.
By chip dayton
October 19, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Pretty good but way off on “Flashpoint”, he needs to listen to “Factory Girl’ a live classic. Also “Vodoo” produced “You Got Me Rockin” a concert staple and now almost a warhorse, and the best unknown track ever “Baby Break it Down”.Plus “Bridges has “Out of Control” a major crowd pleaser on the Bridges and Security tours.
By Sam
October 19, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
Sticky Fingers..still the best from start to finish. Everything else Jimmy Miller produced from 2-6
By Will
October 19, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this
What do you know, Exile at number one. It’s a great album, but it seems like the go-to #1 for Stones credibility. I’ll take Some Girls at #1. I’ll have to agree with Let It Bleed at #2 though. And Only Rock N Roll is a top 10 for sure, WTF. I’d put Steel Wheels & Dirty Work at the bottom. Being a guy in his late 20s who just recently started getting into the Stones as an album band (I got Hot Rocks at like 10 years old), I have been amazed at how great their 70s albums like Only Rock N Roll are.
By Billy Miles
October 19, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this
Sooooo far off in the top 10- All of the tracks from 62-66 that were singles, or are fairly well known were brilliant, but one has to sit through a load of samey R&B/blues mediocre tracks to get to them. Between the Buttons is great as a unique stand-alone experiment in BritPop and quite fun- One must massively edit Satanic Majesties, but from Beggar’s Banquet through AND INCLUDING It’s Only Rock n’ Roll were THE BEST, and then Some Girls, Tattoo You and Emotional Rescue. Avoid Dirty Work! thx!
By Richard
October 19, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
A couple of weeks ago, I heard a radio special (hosted by a couple of guys, one of which had the last name of Jagger [NOT Mick]) that was a compliation of the Rolling Stone’s blues songs - taken from a number of their albums. Anyone know how to get a copy of that compilation ??? Until I heard all those songs together, I didn’t realize they had that many blues songs.
By Jacob
October 19, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this
It was WOOD’S cheek, not Keith’s. Disgusting…
By Jacob
October 19, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
Jagger licked WOOD’S cheek, not Keith’s. Disgusting.
By Shanon
October 18, 2006 09:04 PM | Link to this
Some Girls was the most fun and it continues to make me happy. My favorite song has been Shattered since the first time I heard it. Mick Jagger licked Keith Richards’ cheek while singing it on Saturday Night Live and I thought I was gonna die! Wow…
By Negevoli
October 18, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this
Not to rank “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” as No. 2 or No. 3 is idiotic. You obviously think only their “early” stuff is great. I guess you also do not think “Time Waits for No One” is the most beautiful rock and roll song ever written. And for an ad hominum opinion of you, I am absolutely positive you are homely. Because you evidently think beauty has no place in rock and roll. Well, you’re wrong.
By Keith
October 18, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this
Goats Head Soup should be higher on the list. 100 Years Ago, Winter, Silver Train, Star Star are incredible, the only song I can live without is Coming Down Again. This is an album no one knows about but should. I’m also surprsied to see It’s Only Rock and Roll at the bottom of your list. What about Fingerprint File? Time Waits for No One? All gems. That album is much better than anything they’ve put out in the last 20 years. Good job though. It’s a hard thing to do…
By Andrew
October 18, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this
I can’t quibble with that list. I like that Aftermath is considered one of their best.