Having picked up Hackney Diamonds, my Rolling Stones studio albums collection has now grown to three: HD, Voodoo Lounge, and Steel Wheels. I’ve now realised that I’ve been neglecting one of our greatest bands, and it’s time to get a lot more of their albums.
But where do I go next (leaving out the live stuff for now)? What are the essential Stones LPs? And are there any I should avoid? Any advice would be much appreciated, and if you want to add why a certain album is so good, I’d love to read it.
And is there a comprehensive Stones biography you’d recommend?
You could “do a Partridge” and go for a ‘best of’, of which there are many. The “40 licks” is OK, as was the older “Rolled Gold” of my teens.
I like the “Beggar’s Banquest”, “Let it Bleed”, and “Sticky Fingers” Imperial run, and “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll”.
The much-lauded “Exile on Main Street” would be better as a single album. (I’ll get me coat.)
“Some Girls” is also a beauty., side A and bit of side B, especially. The thing is, The Stones are more a singles than albums band, so all albums have great tracks, but most have a few weaker tracks. Folk differ on what is the weak one; the formulaic rocker, Keef’s song, the ballad, the oen with the guest – that we disagree indicates the merit of the album, as we dont all agree ‘x is kak’.
Not sure about Some Girls. Beast of Burden, Miss You – classic. The rest? Not of the same standard.
Like Vincent says above, start with the 68-71 trio of studio albums and, if you like them, work outwards from there.
I’m a big fan of Singles Collection: The London Years, a triple CD set of every single and almost every B-side from 1963-1971 and a good booklet. They were a great singles act with some wonderful B-sides. Currently out of print but available second-hand for about a tenner.
I like the Rewind (1971-1984) compilation for the ‘later’ (now ‘mid-period’) stuff.
Leave all that loud and brash rock and roll-ey stuff to the ruffians and instead chill out to the sweet sound of Heaven. Senses be praised!
Thanks for the advice so far. I should have said: I’ve got 40 Licks and The London Years, so I’m covered singles-wise.
I may well follow Vincent’s suggestion as a starting point.
I wouldn’t.
Thing is, with Tattoo You you get one side (of vinyl) that’s all rock and roll-ey and tells you all you need to know about that aspect of the Stones, thank you very much, but then on the other side you get really good, slower, chilled songs.
Whereas with Some Girls it’s all a bit like side one of Tattoo You without side two. And who in their right mind wants that? (Though, obviously, Miss You and Beast of Burden are spiffing.)
1. Exile (has to be a sprawling double)
2. Let it Bleed
3. Sticky Fingers
4. Beggars Banquet
Then Aftermath, Between the Buttons, Satanic Majesties, Black and Blue and Some Girls.
If you like all those, get the rest, at least in the 1964-1980 period
What he said … although I think 1, 3, 4, 2 would be the preferred order.
And after Some Girls, I’d spin on to Steel Wheels before going back to the 80s output.
I might too, but he already has Steel Wheels.
Good point … must read things a bit more closely
The Stones and The Kinks from the 1960/70s are not album bands for me.
Great singles bands and 40 Licks is marvellous as a best of Stones album.
If you were tempted by a live album then 1981’s ‘Still Life’ is excellent and less than 40 minutes.
No Get Your Ya Ya’s Out is the first live album to pick up. Jagger’s singing on Still Life is closer to shouting, I do prefer it to Love You Live though probably. There are a number of excellent archive live albums too that have come out in the past decade.
And both The Stones and The Kinks made 5 or 6 magnificent albums.
Ya Ya’s is also a great live album and possibly better than Still Life but from a different era and a very different sound.
From your starting point, I think you should go good, great best. Save Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed until later as they have a different sound and style. Exile is an exception, like nothing else they have done. I think it’s fair to say, it takes some getting used to.
I’d suggest Tattoo You next, then Some Girls and Goat leading up to Sticky Fingers.
Second thread is the Let It Bleed, Beggars then Exile.
A third line involves the debut, Between The Buttons, Out Of Our Heads and Aftermath,.
Good point about Exile, I think it’s their best but certainly not an immediate album.
It’s not exactly Stockhausen. You won’t need to go into training. You’ll either like it or you won’t.
It’s not black and white, took me quite a few listens until I loved it (over a period of about a year)
It doesn’t really matter which classic album you start with. After the mid-70s they became a lesser band. Like Tom and Jerry after Fred Quimby’s name disappeared. Life’s too short to spend on the lower tier without having already tasted the creme de la creme from 68-72. Who knows what might happen while you delay gratification. You might develop a hearing problem, anything. Don’t be mislead by the deluded Goat boy either.
Fred Quimby’s were always the best!
😾
STICKY FINGERS
STICKY FINGERS
STICKY FINGERS
STICKY FINGERS
If not the whole album, just stick on Can’t You Hear Me Knocking and Moonlight Mile nice and loud with a glass of whiskey. All that makes the Stones great is distilled into those two songs.
Art is right, though the whole album is essential. Their best album, and representative of everything they do which isn’t on a bit singles collection. Then Exile.
Thanks to you all. That gives me plenty of options. Looking forward to diving into a Stones stew.
Yes, it’s all really clear now and nailed down to a couple of essential albums…
Personally I would suggest you be roughly chronological, but missing out a few to go back to later.
The Rolling Stones
Out of Our Heads
Aftermath
Beggar’s Banquet.
Let it Bleed
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main Street
It’s Only Rock and Roll
Some Girls
Tattoo You
As is usually the case when an AWer asks such a question, the answer is to basically
buy all the albums
This might sound controversial to some, or just plain wrong, but I recommend It’s Only Rock n Roll as a Stones starter album.
Why?
Because it covers the breadth of their eclecticism without sacrificing that essential oomph. Plus it showcases their mastery of ballads. And Charlie’s brilliant throughout.
If you’ve come to them via their later stuff, It’s Only Rock n Roll makes sense because it sets that template.
Then, work back through Sticky Fingers, Let It Bleed and Beggars Banquet.
The connoisseur’s choice is, of course, Exile On Main St – but they never sounded like this before or since. It’s a kind of one-off (and anyone who says it should have been a single not a double is talking bollocks).
Save this masterpiece for after you’ve sampled the others I’ve listed. That’s my recommendation.
P.S. Once you’ve done these, move onto the underrated albums from their imperial period, Goat’s Head Soup and Black And Blue.
I like this plan and I would endorse it – makes a lot of sense to me.
IKIORnR is a fine album that I would recommend. Especially for side closers Time Waits For No One and Fingerprint File. Aint Too Proud To Beg is a great cover. Luxury and Short And Curlies are skippable. The rest is decent or better.
Really one shouldn’t think too much about it in advance and try some albums without garnering any one else’s opinions first in order to have an honest reaction, without being overly influenced. Too late now. You (OP) should really do one of those review all the albums you hear in order, one post per album things. We really need to know the outcome. 😉
Yes, indeed!
Dunno, maybe. It’s not what I would recommend first, being what I consider to be a pretty mediocre Stones album though. One could lose interest quick.
There is only one correct answer – their first album, “The Rolling Stones”.