A Short Paean to The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band

So…I popped over to RP’s ratings and comments page whilst listening to Stray Cat Blues this morning, just to check out what other RP listeners thought of the tune. And I found this comment about halfway down the page:

One of the 4 essential Stones albums. They're still producing passable "product" these days, but it ain't "Begger's Banquet"!
The Top 3 IMO:
1) Let It Bleed
2) Exile on Main Street
3) Sticky Fingers

Not a lot to quibble with there, except perhaps the ordering of the “Top Three” Stones albums. And the fact that “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out” ain’t on the list…but that’s all about taste, and we all know taste is in your mouth. What really brought it all back home was getting in the Green Hornet this morning, firing her up, and hearing what was in the CD player: “Exile on Main Street.” CDs come and CDs go where the car is concerned. They make their way into the car and usually make their way out again after a short or longish stay, depending on the quality of the music. That said, it’s a natural fact that “Exile” lives in my car. I’ve even considered buying a second copy for the house. And, as a further indication of my love for this album, I briefly considered naming the blog you’re reading “Exile on Main Street.” But I didn’t, ultimately, for a number of reasons.

“Exile” is one of a mere handful of albums that really captured the ‘70s ("Who's Next" would be another, "Dark Side of the Moon" yet another). While my absolute favorite Stones tune — Moonlight Mile — is on “Sticky Fingers,” “Exile” contains a lot of their best work — songs such as the single Tumbling Dice, and much lesser known works such as Let It Loose and Loving Cup. “Exile” also got me through a very trying remote tour up on the Turkish Black Sea coast, when I was (sorta) alone, far from home, and going through quite a few changes. “Exile” has seen me through other trying times, as well, not the least of which was the trauma of my divorce.

I’ll quote the Wiki:

Exile on Main St. is a double album released in 1972 by The Rolling Stones. Although initially greeted with lukewarm reviews, it is now widely considered the band's finest work and one of the defining masterpieces of the rock era. In 2003 it was listed as number 7 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Word. Some of us knew it was a “defining masterpiece” from the moment we heard the first few notes on Disc One, Side One, Cut One. And forever after.