Exile on Main St. [LP]

by The Rolling Stones

Overview

Greeted with decidedly mixed reviews upon its original release, Exile on Main St. has become generally regarded as the Rolling Stones' finest album. Part of the reason why the record was initially greeted with hesitant reviews is that it takes a while to assimilate. A sprawling, weary double album encompassing rock & roll, blues, soul, and country, Exile doesn't try anything new on the surface, but the substance is new. Taking the bleakness that underpinned Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers to an extreme, Exile is a weary record, and not just lyrically. Jagger's vocals are buried in the mix, and the music is a series of dark, dense jams, with Keith Richards and Mick Taylor spinning off incredible riffs and solos. And the songs continue the breakthroughs of their three previous albums. No longer does their country sound forced or kitschy -- it's lived-in and complex, just like the group's forays into soul and gospel. While the songs, including the masterpieces "Rocks Off," "Tumbling Dice," "Torn and Frayed," "Happy," "Let It Loose," and "Shine a Light," are all terrific, they blend together, with only certain lyrics and guitar lines emerging from the murk. It's the kind of record that's gripping on the very first listen, but each subsequent listen reveals something new. Few other albums, let alone double albums, have been so rich and masterful as Exile on Main St., and it stands not only as one of the Stones' best records, but sets a remarkably high standard for all of hard rock. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/18/2010
Label:	Polydor
UPC:	0602527142869

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Rocks Off
2. Rip This Joint
3. Shake Your Hips
4. Casino Boogie
5. Tumbling Dice
6. Sweet Virginia
7. Torn and Frayed
8. Sweet Black Angel
9. Loving Cup

Disc 2

10. Happy
11. Turd on the Run
12. Ventilator Blues
13. I Just Want to See His Face
14. Let It Loose
15. All Down the Line
16. Stop Breaking Down
17. Shine a Light
18. Soul Survivor

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Rolling Stones   Primary Artist
Jack Price   Trumpet,Trombone
Paul Buckmaster   Strings
Ian Stewart   Piano,Keyboards
Jimmy Miller   Drums,Percussion
Bill Plummer   Bass,Double Bass,Standup Bass,Bass (Upright)
Bill Wyman   Bass,Vocals,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Bobby Keys   Horn,Saxophone,Percussion
Cindy Mizelle   Vocals (Background)
Clydie King   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tammi Lynn   Vocals (Background)
Joe Green   Vocals,Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Dr. John   Organ,Vocals
Mac Rebennack   Vocals (Background)
Venetta Fields   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kathi McDonald   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Nicky Hopkins   Piano,Keyboards
Mick Taylor   Bass,Guitar,Vocals
Jim Price   Horn,Organ,Piano,Trumpet,Trombone,Vibraphone
Billy Preston   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards
Keith Richards   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocal Harmony,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Charlie Watts   Drums
Lisa Fischer   Vocals (Background)
Merry Clayton   Vocals
Mick Jagger   Harp,Guitar,Vocals,Maracas,Harmonica,Keyboards,Percussion,Tambourine,Lead Vocals
Al Perkins   Guitar (Steel)
Jerry Kirkland   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tammy Lann   Vocals
Vanetta Field   Vocals (Background)
Barry Plummer   Bass,Standup Bass,Bass (Upright)
B.B. Keys   Saxophone,Percussion
Shirley Goodman   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
M. Taylor   Bass,Guitar
Joe Green's Novelty Orchestra   Vocals (Background)
Amyl Nitrate   Marimba,Percussion
B. Preston   Organ,Piano
Norman Seeff   Director
Richard Washington   Marimba
Tamiya Lynn   Vocals (Background)
Jenny Kirkland   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Glyn Johns   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Andy Johns   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Slim Harpo   Composer
Robert Frank   Concept,Cover Photo,Photography
Bob Ludwig   Digital Remastering
Jimmy Miller   Producer
Joe Zagarino   Engineer
Robert Leroy Johnson   Composer
Matt Clifford   Composer
Mick Taylor   Composer
Keith Richards   Composer
Charlie Watts   Arranger
James Moore   Composer
Robert Johnson   Composer
Mick Jagger   Composer
David Campbell   String Arrangements
Jeremy Gee   Engineer
John Van Hamersveld   Design
M. Taylor   Arranger
Norman Seeff   Design,Photography
John VanHammersveld   Design
Kendrew Lascelles   Story