I’m not going to argue with the top two, except maybe for the order. But I would perhaps make a case for the inclusion of Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)
The Rolling Stones – every album ranked!
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
It looks about right, but I’d jump Let It Bleed up to number one.
Ahhh the myth of Aftermath’s greatness (the Aftermyth?) rolls on, as ’twere. (Paging @tiggerlion ) . Better than Rolling Stones No 2 and Out of Our Heads? You’re havin’ a Steffi!
It is. No. 2 would be in their bottom 5 for me. Aftermath no masterpiece though.
In my mind we all agreed Aftermath would be a better double album.
Besides, this ranking is sooooo wrong. Goats Head Soup is easily the best Stones album. 😉
Goes to show. The Moose never forgets. As for that Lionel Blair bloke….
Compilations are not included. Exile should be no. 1, Satanic Majesties way too low. Oh and Voodoo Lounge is a fine album.
In answer to the OP there should probably also be a list of the top 10 best ofs and the top 10 live albums…. then the top 10 bootlegs. More lists!!
Rolled Gold* and Leeds 1972 since you ask.
(*not just because I’m from Hull)
PS. That review of Rolling Stones No. 2 gives no indication of actually having heard the album. You can’t bluff a bluffer, pal.
Let It Bleed at number 1 for me.
How does Blue and Lonesome make top ten? It is a covers album albeit good blues songs.
I like Exile, Some Girls, Voodoo Lounge and Steel Wheels. TIB and SF are terrific half albums apiece.
Black and Blue should be far higher – the Stones were consistent throughout the 70s with the wretched Emotional Rescue (ranked too high) their first real recorded misstep since 1968.
Exile should be at no 1, and anyone who says it would make a better single album, or is patchy, is deluded. It is, quite simply, magnificent, and untouchable when compared with the rest of their catalogue, or much else released around the same time.
As an album’s band, they had a great run 1968 – 1978, with Tattoo You a sort of worthy coda. After that it’s all a bit too misguided and/or soulless, and inconsistent.
Contraversially, perhaps, I’d say the US version of Out Of Our Heads is superior to the original UK release.
Agree re Black and Blue. Maybea lot of jamming but great grooves and fantastic sound. Leaps out of speakers.
Bloody love Black and Blue. Evidence for my oft-spouted opinion that TRS are one of the few rock bands where the lead guitarist is part of the rhythm section.
I like Black and Blue, but it’s position is roughly correct. Only 8 tracks, one of which is wretched (Cherry Oh Baby). Hand of Fate is awesome and I love Memory Motel. The rest is pretty mediocre. Sounds great though.
Cherry Oh Baby is a great reggae track by Eric Donaldson and I think the Stones have a better feel for reggae than most rock bands.
Maybe, but Mick’s vocal is horrendous.
I dont mind them. I acknowledge his vocals as being a bit hammed up but never got on my nerves.
I listened to that there Back To Zero (worst track off worst album) video while reading the list. Never heard it before. I like it. I don’t usually like The Stones.
Some Girls no1, Exile 2, Sticky 3, Beggars Banquet 4, Goats Head 5,
Glad to note, over time, the rehabilitation of Goat’s Head Soup. It has some quite beautiful moments and, in Coming Down Again, possibly Keith’s finest lead vocal.
“possibly Keith’s finest lead vocal…” faint praise, dude!
But also includes their most unpleasant lyric. Concerning him stealing Anita Pallenberg from Brian Jones:
Slipped my tongue in someone else’s pie
Tasting better ev’ry time
She turned green and tried to make me cry
Being hungry it ain’t no crime
No. The correct answer is the wonderful You Got the Silver
1. Exile on Main St
2. Let it Bleed
3. Sticky Fingers
4. Beggar’s Banquet
5. Their Satanic Majesties Request
6. Goats Head Soup
7. Between the Buttons
8. Some Girls
9. The Rolling Stones
10. It’s Only Rock n Roll
11. Aftermath
12. Tattoo You
13. Voodoo Lounge
14. Black and Blue
15 Out of Our Heads
16 Emotional Rescue
17 Blue and Lonesome
18 Rolling Stones no. 2
19 Steel Wheels
20 Bridges to Babylon
21 A Bigger Bang
22 Undercover
23 Dirty Work
Ya Yas
Sticky Fingers is best for me, but 23 albums? I don’t know why, but I thought it was more. The Beatles packed it in around 1970, and they managed 13, didn’t they (yes, I know: Yellow Sodding Submarine)? Did Mick just go on a really long run?
I heard Memory Motel from Black and Blue in Oxfam in Manchester the other day; I’d forgotten what a lovely song that is.
Going on UK studio releases only.
60s Beatles 11 Stones 8
70s Beatles 1 Stones 6
80s Beatles 0 Stones 5
90s Beatles 0 Stones 2
00s Beatles 0 Stones 1
10s Beatles 0 Stones 1
Dirty Work is dog bottom.
That is the correct answer
High placing for Blue & Lonesome – I really must get a copy one day
Beggars Banquet top of the pile for me.
Exile and Sticky Fingers fighting it out for the runner-up spot
And against all conventional wisdom, I’d place Steel Wheels inside the Top 10
Not a bad list and I’d probably put Fingers ahead of Exile by a hair.
The 1981/2 live album and the double greatest hits CD from a few years back is enough for me.
It’s broadly right I reckon in suggesting the Stones were at their best in the 60s and early/mid 70s, and pretty much stopped producing anything worthwhile from the 80s. Blue and Lonesome is a decent record but way overrated on this list. I’d have Goats Head Soup, and It’s Only Rock and Roll a little higher, and probably put Some Girls in the Top 5. I’d also argue that Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed are better records than Exile which has too many duff tracks for me.
Beggars is my favourite – love the sleazy, decadent and sinister feel to it and as a big fan of the Performance film this one puts you right into Powis Square Notting Hill Gate with Mr Turner and the bums in his beautiful basement.
I’d order my Top 4 – Beggars, Exile, Bleed, Sticky.
Agree heartily with that top four. And Blue and Lonesome is a great little album, highly deserving that high placing.
It’s a good list!
Why isn’t ‘Stripped’ on the list? It may not be an album of original songs, but there are some cracking live performances on there and the crowd are right with them.
Actually it is original songs (getting it mixed up with the recent blues thing). So why is it not on the list? I’d say it’s up there with their best.
Because the list is of original studio albums containing songs recorded for those albums. Stripped is neither consisting of old songs recorded live either in rehearsal or at a show.
Aha. Thanks. More the pity as it’s a great elpee.
This is about right for the first 4 or 5, though I’d have “It’s Only Rock’n’roll” well above “Tattoo You”.
Anyone else going to see the boys on this tour? I’ll be at Olympic Park next Friday. Might be their last ever tour – though we’ve been here before.