THE ROLLING STONES – EXILE ON MAIN ST
It says much of the alchemy-like art of album reviewing that Exile on Main St, now universally acclaimed as the Stones finest album, was met with almost universal disappointment upon its 1972 release. Almost certainly this was a result of the fact that it rambles over eighteen tracks (now an extended 27) without a “hit”; what was initially missed was that it is by far the most cohesive album ever recorded by these music behemoths. With the recent doco showing the full nine month French villa recording experience; the raw and ragged results, polished in LA to a coherent album, continue to sound as good today as they did 38 years ago. Re-released but not over polished, the extra nine track are curios that neither add nor detract. Alternate versions of Soul Survivor and Loving Cup make you wonder on the Jagger/Richards “debates” on what made the original cut. While the final instrumental Title 5 must have been one of those “what the fuck” late night drug-fueled jams that you wish you had been there for. That Jagger has obviously re-voiced some of the add on tracks just speaks to his vanity. Indeed Jagger’s input on the basic tracks in France was known to be minimal, and it is the return to roots and groove -so much Richards department – that makes Exile such an exciting album over and over again. There is little to be added to what has already been written, other than to say that with the morning light coming in the window, and the stereo blasting, there is still no better sound than that of Exile on Main St.
*****
