THE ROLLING STONES - Exile On Main St.

It’s never too late to be convinced of the greatness of this album; it took me a couple of years to get it.  A friend in university explained that Exile was truly the apotheosis of American music, as could only be done by white British rock band. Not only did the Stones master raunchy blues/rock’n’roll, but they also nailed country, folk, and gospel sounds and distilled them in a way that had rarely been done previously. 

Covering four sides of vinyl, this record is a miracle of greatness, the Stones at their most convincing, going for purity of expression and performance over clarity of production. The album is famous for its quirky mixing approach, often burying Mick’s vocals in the murk of a haphazardly recorded rhythm section. How they were able to put so much legendary music onto one recorded document boggles the mind, and it still shocks me how many people can reference this record but not be intimately familiar with the tracks that make it up.

So where to start with this reissue? First, there’s the bare-bones remastered version that would be swell for anyone who still doesn’t own this. Curious fans already familiar with the music, though, will find much to be enjoyed on the deluxe edition that boasts 10 bonus tracks, suggesting that Exile could have actually been a triple album! Sure, Mick went back and re-recorded some of his vocals, an understandable griping point for purists, but I think most people wouldn’t have even noticed. You’ll hear “Good Time Women,” which later became “Tumblin’ Dice,” demos of “Loving Cup” and “Soul Survivor,” plus other outtakes. Interestingly, “Plundered My Soul” is kind of a new song, as it never had a vocal until Mick put one on in March. And guess who also did a new lead guitar lead on the track?  You got it, Mick Taylor! (Go back to The Faces where you belong, Ronnie Wood.) 

Want more? Try the Super Deluxe Edition, a beautiful box filled with vinyl, a 50-page book, and a DVD which includes footage from legendary films Cocksucker Blues (pure sleaze), and Ladies and Gentlemen (pure majesty). Take your pick.