I have been a Stones fan forever I'm 71 now and there is no way I could pick the best album as they have songs for what ever mood you are in. They are all Great. To me the greatest band the world has ever known.
The last gasp before they lost it. It’s better than It’s Only Rock n Roll and Black and Blue. The best stuff they did after this was mostly from old unfinished songs. 1972-1973 was the victory lap/end of the line.
Heartbreaker is my favorite of their songs followed by Gimmi Shealter. Wonder how many of the hit makers of today will even be around in 5 years. The Stones started in 1963 unless I'm wrong and still going strong.
Perhaps only bettered by the 5 album streaks of The Beatles Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, Magical Mystery Tour and The White Album and Stevie Wonder's Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life, and equaled by the 4 albums streaks of Led Zeppelin's Led Zep 1 thru 4 (you could of coarse add Houses of the Holy and Physical Graffiti to this streak to make it 6) and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall. But you're so right they're in rarified air, all fantastic albums, most other bands would sell their mothers just to have one album like these.
And can't forget Norm's favorite Bob Dylan with a streak of his own, Another Side of Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde...................
Yes are winning streak, yes they represent the golden era of the RS, ...of Rock history?...OK...but among much others as import or even better than these ones!!!
You are absolutely right. Such a fun and diverse album with a lot of great songs. Some Funk, Soul, Reggae, Rock and two great ballads on it. I don`t understand why the majority of Stones fans don`t like it. Together with Sticky Fingers and GHS my Top 3.
Sticky Fingers and Beggars Banquet, goats head soup, let it bleed, exile on main st.. in no particular order these are the gems of the Stones catalog !
Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Finger and Exile on Main Street are all #1 equal for me. I can't see how you can split them tbh. Simply four of the finest rock albums ever made.
1-Sticky Fingers 2-Exile on Main Street 3-Let It Bleed 4-Beggars Banquet 5-Goat's Head Soup 6-Black and Blue 7-It's Only Rock'n Roll 8-Steel Wheels 9-Some Girls 10-Tatoo You
I so agree with your rankings. I can never understand people putting Exile on Main Street at #1. Let it Bleed and Beggar's Banquet were revelations when they first came out. Of course Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street is one of the great four album runs of all time.
My favorite Rolling Stones record is “Between The Buttons”, but I agree with you in saying that “Beggars Banquet” is their “best”...It’s the most cohesive in my opinion - I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a concept album, but I think that the songs on it hold together in a way that the other albums don’t.. I’ve also always had a soft spot for “Black And Blue” - the song “Fool To Cry” in particular.. Nice video Mazzy..
Thank you so much for your review on Stones. It’s my favorite Rock n Roll band as well. I am from faraway Sri Lanka and I do have over 21 LP’s of The Rolling Stones, still missing a few but hoping to get these. I can imagine the dilemma every Stones fan will have in choosing the top 5 albums in order but in general we definitely agree on this list. Thank you and loved your review on this. Regards - Dilshad
Ranking albums from a band who had so many great ones is very difficult. The one album I was surprised wasn't on your list would be -- "Goat's Head Soup". One I really liked that goes under the radar is "Undercover". Your right that there are many Stones compilations, I think the best one is - "Hot Rocks" (the live "Midnight Rambler" is THE best stones song), & "More Hot Rocks" is cool too. Damn difficult to pick favorites from the amazing '68 to '72 stretch, but, for me, any album that has --- "Gimme Shelter", Midnight Rambler, AND "You Can't Always Get What You Want", is simply unbeatable. My #1 has to be-- "Let It Bleed"......
Great list, Mazzy. Refreshing to see someone else rating Their Satanic Majesty's Request so highly, I love that album. Although, I would have substituted Flowers (as it's a compilation), for Goats Head Soup. I think Beggars Banquet is my favourite too, although Let It Bleed, Exile and Sticky Fingers are near faultless records.
'Get Yer Ya Yas Out' is the best Rolling Stones album and maybe the best live album ever. It certainly catches the band at it's best live which is where that are at their best. If I was forced to choose only two Stones albums, they would be this one and 'Hot Rocks Vol One', which includes all their biggest songs from the Brian Jones era. The only real "Rolling Stones" that ever existed. After that, they were just The Stones. I've seen them live 15 times. They brought the thunder each and every time!
I would really like you to make a video that explains why Goat Heads Soup is not on your list. I'm being totally serious. Exile is not on my top 10 so I know people would have an issue with that.
Love this video. In my opinion, the run of albums the Stones had in the late 60s/early 70s - Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street is unmatched - even tho Stevie Wonder and Led Zeppelin both pushed them pretty close in the early 70s.
@@joefilter2923 yeah great shout, tho I don't think either did 4 albums on the spin as good as those 4. BUT I'm certainly not gonna argue too much as I love both those artists and arguably overall they both did more great albums.
I’m loving this order. Rarely see Aftermath as high as it deserves. Man did Brian Jones shine bright on that record. Your top 5 is my exact top 5 after really mulling it over recently. Although Goats Head would surely be in my top 10, though I’m well aware of the staggering drop off in quality. But Star Star, Silver Train, Hide Your Love are some of my all time favorites. I’m sure you’ve heard the Hide Your Love demo on the 2020 release already. Probably my favorite thing to come out of anyones proverbial vault.
I agree with you 100% about Beggars Banquet as the Stones' best! That album was on my turntable continuously during the winter of 1968/69. The US version of Aftermath would probably be my No. 2. Good to see some love for Satanic Majesties. A lot of people dislike it but I enjoy it immensely and it would be about where you placed it on my list also. Just found your channel a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying it greatly!
Good listing Mazzy! Although, I prefer Sticky Fingers ahead of Exile. I can also do without Satanic Majesties and instead replace it with either December's Children or Goat's Head Soup. Don't know enough about their post 90's work to include anything from that period. Still, that period from '67-'71. WOW!! Amazing stuff. I still think I would take what the Beatles did both as a group and solo from the same period but it's sooooo, so close.
So many great Stones albums -- I enjoyed this video, and guessed early on that Beggars Blanket and Let It Bleed would go 1, 2. You had asked the audience to weigh in on what was the best album of 1968. Lots of great choices, but the winner is Astral Weeks.
In the mid-1980s, I remember driving back to college after October Break, and driving through the hills of Western Massachusetts and upstate NY, and having the car windows open, with the cool fall air and the smell of fallen leaves, and hearing "Moonlight Mile" as the pale moonlight shining through.
Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed my 1,2 albums. I play Beggar's Banquet in my car more than any other Stones album (obviously CD). It's my goto album whenever I want to listen to a Stones album. The Robert Johnson blues is what makes this album stand out from the rest of the pack. I read somewhere Brian Jones is playing slide guitar on No Expectations. Though he may have not played on all the songs. I wish Brian didn't give up towards the end. His versatility on various instruments helped with the overall sound of the 60s Stones songs. Aftermath/Between the Buttons favorite mid 60s album. Aftermath being the 1st Stones album to feature only Jagger/Richards songs. One thing I noticed on Aftermath, the song, Out of Time, is over 5 minutes on the UK version. On the Flowers compilation, song length is much less. Lastly, Hot Rocks - 1964-1971, gives an overall view of the Stones progression in song style. It's more American focused since some of the UK hits are not included (e.g. Little Red Rooster).
Absolutely agree with you Mazzy with the selection. They put out 4 excellent albums in the row in whole rock n roll history. That never happened before and after. Cheers from Serbia 👍
Hey Mazzy. Loved this segment! With the huge output of material I was shocked to find out that we share the same top 4. That’s amazing to me. My ranking is slightly diff. I put Let It Bleed at the top…My all time fave Stones song is Gimme Shelter. But was also shocked that you didn’t mention that all 4 were produced by Jimmy Miller. I think he’s one of the greatest, but most underrated producers in the history of Rock.
Damn I should have mentioned Jimmy Miller. I guess my mind missed that one as I was going through the records. Since you were shocked that we aligned in our top four, I think maybe a bit of shock treatment would have loosened by brain and reminded me of Miller. But seriously thanks for the reminder ✌🏼
You could think of the Stone early/mid/late because there was an evolution in their sound. Aftermath is number one for me. 'After' all these 50+ years, the 'math' just adds up ;-). Beggar's Banquet is up there, but although Sympathy for the Devil is yes a great track, I can't think of it as perfect because that lead guitar could have been so much better.
Yes, I saw them in the park as well. I was a Beatles person in the 60s. It was almost religious. That has a hangover into my current record collection and you have reminded me that I have a dearth of Stones albums. Will take your recommendations and act on them. Cheers.
Beggar’s Banquet is also my number 1. It is a flawless record. All the Stones other albums, as great as they are and as chock full of gems, have at least one song that is so-so. Banquet is flawless. Their performance of most of the album on Rock and Roll Circus film is so powerful, showing their transformation from their initial incarnation. I also feel the same about Satanic Majesties. Very good record. My number 2 would be Sticky, 3 Let It Bleed 4 Exile
Another terrific show about another legendary band. My Top 5 5. Exile On Main Street. 4 Beggars Banquet 3. Let It Bleed. 2. Sticky Fingers. 1 Between The Buttons (Brian Jones at his best).
High Tides & Green Grass was even my entry point to the stones in the late 90s early 00s. In hindsight, I think it does a fantastic job of capturing the early magic of the stones on one quick comp!
I totally agree with you that Beggars Banquet is the Rolling Stone's best album. For me, there are only a handful of their albums that I can listen to from start to finish (in other words, without skipping any tracks) and this is the very best among them.
It's crazy to think a couple of weeks after "Let It Bleed" came out, Elvis started his first Vegas gig, and was singing "Memories" live, and was about to explode back onto the scene.
"Undercover" from '83 is a criminally under-rated album. It It has everything that the Stones are supposed to be: Raw, dirty, punky, funky, and irreverent; with no sappy Jagger ballads. I challenge EVERY true Stones fan to give it a few more listens. Some of Wood's best guitar work and, IMO, some of Jagger's very best lyrics. The Back Side (side 2) rocks as hard as ANY Stones album ever.
Ronald - you are entirely correct. To some degree, it can depend on perspective, and as I am about 10 years younger than Mazzini, my formative music was punk/new wave of the late 70s and 80s. Undercover sounded incredible fresh for a band of the 60s - you could argue they even overcompensate with the entirely misogynistic lyrics and how hard they rock. I wore out a cassette back in the day and recently found a good OG vinyl. I love Some Girls as much/ better, and hear it as a band reinvigorated by the punk of the late 70s. Cheers and keep rockin’
I think it's the last time The Stones lived up to their dangerous reputation. They had some good albums and songs after this but they were never this wild and brazen again.
My favourite Stones album has always been "Between the Buttons". I think it's a very underrated album. I'll go with the UK version, though it's a real pity they didn't put "Ruby Tuesday" on it.
I’d probably move Exile up to number one, and I’d substitute Goat’s Head Soup for It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll. Love the list, you’ve put a lot thought into it. And your analysis of Black and Blue is spot on. It’s shamefully underrated.
A big chunk of Exile was finished off in LA (the background singers, Dr. John, etc.), but the dankness of that French basement pervades everything. Good call on Satanic Majesties. I've never understood why it was so maligned. Citadel is worth the price of admission alone -- so punk rock. Also, totally agree with that Gimme Shelter is the most powerful opening of an album ever.
I've always liked the stones, but most of my friends aren't into them, so it was a pleasure to watch this and hear your opinions. Some I agree with and some I don't, but there is no right or wrong with music. Really enjoyed the video.
@@paulking6219 Yeah, you are correct, I checked the back of my record. Also, I recently watched the film of the ‘69 Hyde Park concert, I am unbelievably jealous you were there. Had I been born a few decades earlier (and across the pond) I would have been there. It’s wild that Mick Taylor’s first gig was in front of hundreds of thousands of people
I was there, it was a great day, even the weather was hot and sunny, after the gig myself and 3 of my friends went to the West End and went to a few pubs then a disco, London was exciting back then, especially when your 16 years old!
Maybe not their best but their first album The Rolling Stones is my favourite. When this came out in 64 a friend bought a copy and we listened to it a thousand times It’s hard to understand now but at the time it was an absolute sensation -so new, raw and different to anything else we had heard in England. To me this is the real Stones and if you are not familiar with this album you just don’t know what you are missing
Love the photos at the end of your video. Look at those high heeled boots on Keith ! My fav. albums are 1. Sticky Fingers,2. Goats Head Soup,3.Let it Bleed,5.Through the Past Darkly,6.High Tides,7. Satanic Majesty,8. Tattoo You,9. Some Girls,10.Black and Blue. Great video,and commentary. Happiness, Cindy
Hey Norman! I got both of Merry Claytons (Gimme Shelter backing vocals) albums after getting into the stones a bit more recently, both brilliant! Hers was a name I’ve been familiar with for years as she sang on Tapestry too, which is one of my favourite albums, but never put two and two together, worth checking out if you haven’t got them!
I think I would have put Ya Ya’s out even higher. It’s such a great live record. Second best rock n roll live album, behind only Live at Fillmore by the Allman Brothers
My top ten best The Rolling Stones albums: 1•Beggars Banquet 2•Their Satanic Majesties Request 3•Sticky Fingers 4• Englands Newest Hitmakers 5• Bridges to Babylon 6• Let it bleed 7• A Bigger Bang 8• It`s Only Rock`n`Roll 9•Steel Wheels 10•undercover
Many thanks for that overview. I have loved the Stones since the 1960s, and I saw them live twice, the first time in Cologne on the day Jimi Hendrix died, and once more in 1994 in Pasadena, CA. Guess which concert was the better one. Well in 1994 you needed a binocular to see anything ... I agree with almost all of your choices, except for The Rolling Stones No.2 from 1965, which you tragically did not include. It opens with one of my all time favorite Stones songs Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. This song never appeared on any other album. I would have put that on my list instead of Flowers.
Great pics at the end. Exile will always be favorite but your ranking is just as good. So much good music. To me "Ventilator Blues" is one of the greatest Stones tunes among those you mentioned. Fingerprint File is excellent. Lucky you. Got to see Stones at their peak. Thanks for this. Cheers from Finland!
My favorite Charlie Watts performance is on " Some Girls". The song is " Lies". He does a basic 4/4 beat with some nasty kick-drum fills and a little bit of secret sauce on the hi-hat, and somehow manages to overshadow everything else on the recording.
I saw the stones once on the Babylon tour, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Mr. watts. Fav stone by far the only one who could put Jaggar in his place. Not even Keef could do that consistently
First off, The Rolling Stones has been and will always be my favorite band. Every few years, I listen to their complete discography (studio albums, comps, live albums, archive material, etc.) I just finished doing it again and my top 5 rankings (studio albums only) haven't changed since the '80s. After the top 5, they have altered some over the years. Anyway, my top five studio albums by The Rolling Stones are: 1. Let It Bleed (this album is an all-time top 10 album of any artist/genre. It is a desert island album for me.) 2. Aftermath U.S. Version (I prefer the U.S. version over the U.K. version for one reason and one reason only. That reason is the song "Paint It, Black". Though, I do really like "Mother's Little Helper" on the U.K. version that isn't on the U.S. version. But, "Paint It, Black" is my favorite Rolling Stones song of all time.) 3. Sticky Fingers (every song is great and lots of diversity of genres in the songs with rock, blues, soul, country, etc. Songwriting is fantastic on this album.) 4. Out Of Our Heads U.S. Version (Prefer the U.S.version over the U.K. version by a long shot. "Satisfaction," "Play With Fire," The Spider And The Fly," "One More Try" and "The Last Time" are all great songs and only on the U.S. Version. "Satisfaction" is my 2nd favorite Rolling Stones song of all time.) 5. Some Girls (Every song is great including their cover of "Just My Imagination" and Keith's song "Before They Make Me Run". Another album with lots of diversity of genres throughout...Rock, Disco, Blues, R&B, Country. Songwriting outstanding on this one too.) Ranking 6-15 changes for me every time I listen to their discography every few years. Anyway, here are what they are now after this last time of doing it. 6.Steel Wheels (I'm probably one of only a few Rolling Stones fans that have this album ranked this high. But I think it is a great rockin' album and is alot of fun to listen to. Great comeback album too after the disappointments of the average Undercover and the awful Dirty Work. This album has the slick '80s production that I think gives the songs some oomph. I know that a lot of people don't like that type of production and they prefer their Stones to be rawer. Thus, those people not ranking this album highly. But I really think this album is a product of the times and, quite surprisingly, I think it still holds up today. The tour for this album was great too. Maybe that is part of the reason I am biased for this album. I have so much fun listening to this album and had good fun seeing them on this particular tour. The recent Steel Wheels Live archive box set enhances my appreciation of this album too.) 7. Beggars Banquet (Like you said, probably the greatest opening track for any Rolling Stones album with "Sympathy for the Devil". I'd probably have this album ranked higher if there weren't those 2 or 3 songs I don't particularly care for on this album. But all the rest are great.) 8.Exile On Main St. (A very, very good to great double album. I'd probably have this one ranked near the top if just a few of the songs on the album were left off. They feel like filler to me. But, the majority of the album is top-notch. I'd say about half the songs are great, one-fourth of the songs are above average to very good and the remaining fourth of the songs are average to below average.) 9. Between The Buttons U.S. Version (If side 2 were as great as side 1, this would be a contender for their best album. Side 1 is just fantastic.) 10. Tattoo You ("Start Me Up" kicks off the album great, not to mention the times they've used it to open concerts over the years. Gets the crowd in the proper mood. "Hang Fire" is another favorite from this album along with "Waiting on a Friend." "Little T&A," "Tops," and "Heaven" are also songs I enjoy hearing. The rest of the album I can skip over.) 11. England's Newest Hit Makers (The U.S. version of their debut. They really do put their own stamp on some of those Blues and R&B covers on this album. Also, the few original songs they wrote are very good too for a debut.... "Tell Me," "Now I've Got A Witness" and "Little By Little." ) 12. Voodoo Lounge (Another good late period album. Not as fun or rockin' as the predecessor Steel Wheels, but there are some really good songs here. Well-written songs with some catchy hooks. Good mix of blues rock, hard rock and roots rock with maybe a little bit of country influence. The tour for this one was a lot of fun like the one for Steel Wheels.) 13. Emotional Rescue (I know this one ranks near the bottom of most people's lists. But, when this came out in 1980, I was a freshman in HS. Soon after, MTV debuted and they played the hell out of the songs on this album that also had music videos made. I thought they were some of the coolest visuals and sounds I heard. I really like about half the songs on the album. The other half are throwaway songs, though. The title track "Emotional Rescue," "She's So Cold," "Dance (Pt. 1)" and "Send It To Me" are the highlights.) 14. It's Only Rock 'N Roll (The title track elevates this album by itself. If not for the title track, this album would not make my list. Other songs on the album I somewhat enjoy are "Dance Little Sister," "Fingerprint File" and their cover of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg". The rest of the album really doesn't do much for me.) 15a. Goats Head Soup (The recent deluxe edition with the 3 unreleased songs and other mixes of songs from the album elevate this one into my top 15. Otherwise it would be ranked lower. Originally somewhat of a disappointment after their classic 68-72 period. Still there are a few songs on the album I really enjoy. "Angie" and "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" are the two that get the most listens since they seem to make compilations and radio airplay since they are the 2 most commercial songs on the album. Also I really like "Star Star (Starfucker)" and "Dancing with Mr. D"". A couple of the other songs are okay too. But the rest are just meh.) 15b. Black And Blue (Most of the songs are good songs, but they are not rockin' songs. They are more laid back here with the reggae and bluesy influences. Probably the song that rocks the most on this album is "Hot Stuff," which really has more of a funky disco vibe than a rock vibe. If this album had a few more uptempo rockin' songs, I would have it ranked higher. Note: I actually have 16 studio albums ranked since I couldn't decide between Goats Head Soup and Black And Blue for #15. My list would look much different if I had included compilations, live albums, and recent archive albums in my rankings.
I have to say I've been loving Between The Buttons more and more as the years go by, but Exile remains my favourite. I think Goats Head Soup is often overlooked, perhaps because it followed a string of amazing LPs.
Glad you included 'Ya-Ya's", because I always consider it a straight up chaser of an album; red hot, and not a compilation. Stones are a fantastic live band, and (back then at least) re-configured songs for live stage. This is where 'Rambler" became a show stopping moment; 'Sympathy" a guitar work-out, and 'Street Fighting Man" the iconic closer. Obviously you did not include 'Goats Head Soup" in your chart. It has aged very well, and more often now gets added on to the Big 4. Also agree on 'Hitmakers", their first. I love that album. You did use up some slots with comps like 'Flowers' and "High Tide". "Hot Rocks" is a great one. For young new comers maybe even something like 'Grr', or "40 Licks". IMO the Stones have never really let up. They've been side tracked not so much by internal strife; because "Undercover" is a very good album, but through lousy late era producers. Don Was is not the guy who will inspire them. All we have to do is look at the record of good releases vs lame ones. But it seems Jagger does not want to be challenged any more. Last great album was "Bridges to Babylon".
Estaba en 3er. De prepa y organizamos una posada y con mis vecinos fuimos a comprar todo para el evento, a la merced!!!e esa época había muchas tiendas de discos y entre a una que estaba sobre av. Circunvalación y encontré dos dis os quedaste la fecha tengo, Stiiking finger y con cierre!!! Y Let it bleed que conel paso del tiempo son más grandes musicalmente hablando, concluyendo los compre!!!! En la merced !!!
People often look at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears when I say Aftermath is one of my favorite Stones albums. I love the darker, blusier feel of it. Going Home is one of the best jams of the 1960s and one of my favorite Stones songs. It’s one of those songs that really helps me to relax when I can’t sleep. The way it goes from louder and quieter is so seamless and doesn’t lead to audio whiplash for me. The other songs on Aftermath are also amazing. Paint it Black, Stupid Girl, High and Dry, Lady Jane, etc etc… It’s not the Stones’s best by any means. The Mick Taylor era is so wildly heralded for a good reason. Beggar’s Banquet, Let it Bleed, Exile and Sticky are perhaps one of the greatest strings of albums ever released by a group in the 70s.
I bought Aftermath in 68 for 2 bottles of beer, best deal ever! I too love Goin' Home and its different moods. The New Zealand version has Mother's Little Helper instead of Paint it Black. There are nofillers on this, their first album with all Jagger/Richard songs.
Thanks for your best RS albums ranked, it's a very good choice. And for me the best album released in 1968, ever, is Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland.
@@jeffthrow6892 You might be right. I scanned through his video on 1968 and he mentions that his favorite bands of the era were the Beatles, the Byrds, and the Kinks. So it would stand to reason that the White Album, Notorious Byrd Brothers, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and Village Green Preservation Society would be high in the running.
Great video as usual! Hmmmmm.... no Goats Head Soup🤔🤔🤔 Was actually listening to Ya Yas the other day and still laugh out loud at the girl saying " Play Paint it Black you Devils before Sympathy for the Devil.... Classic😂😂😂😂
My Rolling Stones top 10 albums 10. Exile On Main Street 09. Rolling Stones - s/t 08. Out Of Our Heads 07. Sticky Fingers 06. Flowers 05. Between The Buttons 04. Let It Bleed 03. Beggar's Banquet 02. Their Satanic Majesty's Request 01. Aftermath
I've got Let it Bleed at 1 and Beggar's at 2. You're right the opening track is incredible and what a shock for the times. By the way there's no Robert Johnson cover on this it's The Reverend Robert Wilkens - Prodigal Son.
Great list and video! And the photos, wow! Thank you! Totally agree with your list! And more or less with the order! The great Robert Frank is responsible for much of the Exile artwork. His wonderful photos, that some first appeared in his groundbreking book "The Americans" and some from the same journey in the USA that were not used in the book.
Hi Mazzy, Another great list. I'm not a huge Stones fan but I do enjoy quite a lot if their albums. I'm surprised by your number one pick..but I can't say I disagree...when I restarted collecting vinyl ..Beggars Banquet was the first Stones album I got. Fantastic record. Hope you are doing well. Mark Anthony K Projekt Gemineye
The secret to the Sticky Fingers cover is to keep the zipper unzipped - then the damage to the adjacent record will be in the middle portion where it doesn't matter as much. Distributors and record stores had to figure that out the hard way in 1971. Sticky Fingers may not have the best Stones songs of all, but it's my favorite Stones album to play because there is absolutely no filler on it (I'm looking at you, Country Honk!) And the extended jam on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is utterly fantastic and unlike anything else they recorded. It's hard to argue against "Sympathy For the Devil" as the best Stones song, though.
In the UK mid 70s there was solidly good tv compilation called Rolled Gold which covered the very early singles up until 1976. This was never off my turntable. It was rereleased a few years back in an extended version.
20 or so years ago I was visiting UK and ended up in a little used record store in Guildford and they had a UK original Decca stereo of Let it Bleed going for about $8. I took a close look and it looked kinda worn, but I also knew that records on certain labels of certain eras may look worn but don't sound that way. Got it back to LA, gave it a good vacuum clean on my trusty VPI, put it on and my jaw fell. It's like they are in the room (and no scratches to hear of). To this day it is an album I use to show off how amazing vinyl can sound. No reissue comes close, although the version in the Mono LP set is very good indeed.
Nice T-Shirt from Nonesuch records.😎 Some Girls ranked lower than the debut - I'm surprised?!? Black and Blue - easily in my top 5! A great record and so underrated! Top 3 - Exile, Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed
I was in high school in 1978, and I can tell you that there is an entire generation that first gained exposure through Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You, and considers those albums to be the band's best, over Let it Bleed/Beggars Banquet. I don't agree, but I think it stands as a testament to the Stones' consistency over their first two decades as a band.
Yup, seeing the Stones on SNL to promote Some Girls was a highlight in '78. Those three albums revived their career, similar to the Kinks at around the same time.
I more or less agree with your list (great to see both Between the Buttons and Satanic Majesties get some love). Although I would put the British album Rolling Stones no 2 in the top ten.
Love seeing your selection for #1. I could’ve sworn you have always said Let It Bleed was your favorite, though. I can’t include comps when I’m thinking of ranking any discography. But I understand including Flowers. Great photos at the end. ✌🏻
Hi/Hola Mazzy!! thanks for doing this video, i'm a big Stones fan, but i'm lacking most of their material right now, i have a couple of really good comps in my collection "forty Licks" and "The Complete Singles Collection: The London Years", however i'm like to collect album or cd if they are fair cheap, so this video was very helpful, from your point of view....btw i had the chance to see them live twice here in Chile (Voodoo Lounge and the last world tour) cool show and great experience. I really enjoy their latests releases too. cheers and be well
saw the stones at the garden in 75....the one song that will always remain a favorite to me is 'gimme shelter'...i got to perform that with ashley cleveland...tore my lips up playing harp that night.... the album that gets my most spins is definitely 'black and blue'...so underrated.....great list my friend...peace...rocky
Hi Mazzy, sorry for my late arrival to this magnificent video of a totally nailed list. The top albums are where they should be.... also happy that Tattoo You cracks the top 15. Their last greT ones the modern Era. Not many bands have made 5 classic albums in a row.. thank you for the sublime listing. Just perfect.
Wow, great vid Mazzy, really enjoyed it. Being a Stones expert, here is what I would change: 1 No GHS? What? 2 Live albums don’t count, sub GHS 3 Black and Blue rated too high Cheers brother, thanks for making this one. One of my favorites from ya! Cheers
Beggars is my all time favorite as well! You're right about how the album feels as a whole making it the best. The vocals on Exile are a bit too raw for me, and Fingers is a bit too slick and polished for my tastes. Great list!
What a great show and tell of the biggest touring band of the world! I love the Stones! I really got hooked on the RS when I was in high school after reading the book “Up and Down with The Rolling Stones” by Tony Sanchez and I never looked back! I recently picked up Flowers just because I fell in love with the song “Out of Time” after it was used in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I couldn’t find Aftermath so I had to get Flowers which is a great comp! I don’t have Beggars Banquet but it just now shot to the top of my want list due to your recommendation Thanks for everything Mazzy! Peace ☮️✌️👽🤘☮️ #mazzylovesyou
Despite The 60s Stones having been one of my top favorites at the time, I only saw them live once, on their first tour with newly anointed Mick Taylor at Madison Square Garden in ‘69, Tina Turner at the height of her comeback opening up.
Why Hot Rocks? Unlike High Tide or Thru the Past it was put out by their now FORMER record co, and features no non lp singles or cool artwork. More HR I get, lots of rarities and Andrew notes a la "Now!"...
I've listened to them since the mid-'60s and I think Miss You is not only their greatest single, but likely the song that will last the longest. Funny how we could agree on so much else here but be miles opposite on that track! Cheers.
In 1968 the LP that obsessed the music industry was Laura Nyro's revolutionary pop masterpiece 'Eli and the Thirteenth Confession ' "it blew everybody's mind" (Todd Rundgren). You can see separate RUclips Nyro discussions by Rundgren, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Narada Michael Walden, Sara Bareilles. Nyro's influence on songwriting in the last 50 years is seismic. Even Morrissey has covered her.
Like your choices. Sticky Fingers. Let It Bleed, Beggar’s Banquet some of their best recordings. I often find myself listening to Hot Rocks to take me back to the period. Got to see the Stones live in Berlin in ‘72. Great concert.
I had a close friend whose was one of the earliest American Stone Fans He actually bought their first album Introducing The Rolling Stones plus 4 others of their first He gave me his albums when he went to Nam He never came back and still have them . My grandson has an eclectic music taste and is an excellent artist. He collects Albums and I will give them to him . Along with my early Dylan Albums
"Satanic" was my FIRST Stones LP...I got it as a trade for "Midnight Ride" by P.R.& the Raiders...in 1967. I LOVED this LP then...and love it TODAY...played it to death on a crappy plastic portable record player....LOVE IT!
I've had a high-end music system for decades now, but you know, I often think that my friends and I enjoyed the music more while listening on the crappy, plastic suitcase-style record player I bought in 1967.
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Have played Exile more than any record I have owned. Never tire of that Mutha!
I have been a Stones fan forever I'm 71 now and there is no way I could pick the best album as they have songs for what ever mood you are in. They are all Great. To me the greatest band the world has ever known.
Fully agree. {My response to this discussion>>> I find THE BEST Rolling Stone's album is the one I'm PLAYING at the time !
1968 - 1972: anything from that sweet spot works!
I agree ! That would be the Mick Taylor years !! one of the greatest guitarists of all time !
1967 between the buttons should be included
@@Bruce15485Mick Taylor did NOT play on the overrated Beggars Banquet from 1968
add 1973 (goats head soup)
I'm 74, saw the 69 show in Philly. Still my numero uno album: BETWEEN the BUTTONS.
Goats Head Soup is so underrated. I was hoping to see it on this list.
FACTS
I agree , but throw away ""Angie "" !
“Winter” is my favorite track. Even though it has a little bit of a Van Morrison sound.
The last gasp before they lost it. It’s better than It’s Only Rock n Roll and Black and Blue. The best stuff they did after this was mostly from old unfinished songs. 1972-1973 was the victory lap/end of the line.
Heartbreaker is my favorite of their songs followed by Gimmi Shealter.
Wonder how many of the hit makers of today will even be around in 5 years. The Stones started in 1963 unless I'm wrong and still going strong.
Beggars, Let it Bleed, Sticky, & Exile is the greatest winning streak in rock history.
Perhaps only bettered by the 5 album streaks of The Beatles Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, Magical Mystery Tour and The White Album and Stevie Wonder's Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life, and equaled by the 4 albums streaks of Led Zeppelin's Led Zep 1 thru 4 (you could of coarse add Houses of the Holy and Physical Graffiti to this streak to make it 6) and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall. But you're so right they're in rarified air, all fantastic albums, most other bands would sell their mothers just to have one album like these.
And can't forget Norm's favorite Bob Dylan with a streak of his own, Another Side of Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde...................
Agreed. You could almost add Goats Head Soup and It's Only R&R to that streak
@@hotpod12 I’d argue to throw Meddle into PF too haha. One of These Days and Echoes are some of PF’s best in my opinion
Yes are winning streak, yes they represent the golden era of the RS, ...of Rock history?...OK...but among much others as import or even better than these ones!!!
love seeing Black and Blue in the Top 10. I adore this record and feels it never gets the respect it deserves. Definitely a go-to for me.
Most underrated album ever!
agreed
You are absolutely right. Such a fun and diverse album with a lot of great songs. Some Funk, Soul, Reggae, Rock and two great ballads on it. I don`t understand why the majority of Stones fans don`t like it. Together with Sticky Fingers and GHS my Top 3.
Bring back the Rolling Stones Mobile!
Concur! And one of their better produced albums. Excellent sound!
Sticky Fingers and Beggars Banquet, goats head soup, let it bleed, exile on main st.. in no particular order these are the gems of the Stones catalog !
Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Finger and Exile on Main Street are all #1 equal for me. I can't see how you can split them tbh. Simply four of the finest rock albums ever made.
Add get your Ya’s Ya’s out
1 - Let It Bleed
2 - Sticky Fingers
3 - Beggars Banquet
4 - Exile on Main Street
5 - Out of Our Heads
Thanx for your great videos!!!
1-Sticky Fingers
2-Exile on Main Street
3-Let It Bleed
4-Beggars Banquet
5-Goat's Head Soup
6-Black and Blue
7-It's Only Rock'n Roll
8-Steel Wheels
9-Some Girls
10-Tatoo You
I so agree with your rankings. I can never understand people putting Exile on Main Street at #1. Let it Bleed and Beggar's Banquet were revelations when they first came out. Of course Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street is one of the great four album runs of all time.
Thanks for the love shown to Their Satanic Majesties Request. I always loved that album - and still do.
My favorite Rolling Stones record is “Between The Buttons”, but I agree with you in saying that “Beggars Banquet” is their “best”...It’s the most cohesive in my opinion - I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a concept album, but I think that the songs on it hold together in a way that the other albums don’t.. I’ve also always had a soft spot for “Black And Blue” - the song “Fool To Cry” in particular.. Nice video Mazzy..
fool to cry and factory girl... two favorites of mine....
Thank you so much for your review on Stones. It’s my favorite Rock n Roll band as well. I am from faraway Sri Lanka and I do have over 21 LP’s of The Rolling Stones, still missing a few but hoping to get these.
I can imagine the dilemma every Stones fan will have in choosing the top 5 albums in order but in general we definitely agree on this list. Thank you and loved your review on this. Regards - Dilshad
Thank you for watching ✌🏽
Ranking albums from a band who had so many great ones is very difficult. The one album I was surprised wasn't on your list would be -- "Goat's Head Soup". One I really liked that goes under the radar is "Undercover". Your right that there are many Stones compilations, I think the best one is - "Hot Rocks" (the live "Midnight Rambler" is THE best stones song), & "More Hot Rocks" is cool too. Damn difficult to pick favorites from the amazing '68 to '72 stretch, but, for me, any album that has --- "Gimme Shelter", Midnight Rambler, AND "You Can't Always Get What You Want", is simply unbeatable. My #1 has to be-- "Let It Bleed"......
I find THE BEST Rolling Stone's album is the one I'm PLAYING at the time ! LOL....
Great list, Mazzy. Refreshing to see someone else rating Their Satanic Majesty's Request so highly, I love that album. Although, I would have substituted Flowers (as it's a compilation), for Goats Head Soup. I think Beggars Banquet is my favourite too, although Let It Bleed, Exile and Sticky Fingers are near faultless records.
'Get Yer Ya Yas Out' is the best Rolling Stones album and maybe the best live album ever. It certainly catches the band at it's best live which is where that are at their best. If I was forced to choose only two Stones albums, they would be this one and 'Hot Rocks Vol One', which includes all their biggest songs from the Brian Jones era. The only real "Rolling Stones" that ever existed. After that, they were just The Stones. I've seen them live 15 times. They brought the thunder each and every time!
Amen - the guitar tones drive that sound. Unbelievable. 💀🔥👅
I would really like you to make a video that explains why Goat Heads Soup is not on your list. I'm being totally serious. Exile is not on my top 10 so I know people would have an issue with that.
Love this video. In my opinion, the run of albums the Stones had in the late 60s/early 70s - Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street is unmatched - even tho Stevie Wonder and Led Zeppelin both pushed them pretty close in the early 70s.
I think Bob Dylan and the Beatles match that run with their own.
@@joefilter2923 yeah great shout, tho I don't think either did 4 albums on the spin as good as those 4. BUT I'm certainly not gonna argue too much as I love both those artists and arguably overall they both did more great albums.
I would put Beggar's Banquet at #4. My top three are Let It Bleed at #1, Sticky Fingers at #2 and Exile at #3. JMHO!
THANKS MINE TWO IN THAT ORDER
I’m loving this order. Rarely see Aftermath as high as it deserves. Man did Brian Jones shine bright on that record. Your top 5 is my exact top 5 after really mulling it over recently. Although Goats Head would surely be in my top 10, though I’m well aware of the staggering drop off in quality. But Star Star, Silver Train, Hide Your Love are some of my all time favorites. I’m sure you’ve heard the Hide Your Love demo on the 2020 release already. Probably my favorite thing to come out of anyones proverbial vault.
Im with you 100% with Her satanic... So underrated in the Stones catalog.
Great to hear your take on The Rolling Stones, and a good addition to this series of videos. Please keep them coming.
I agree with you 100% about Beggars Banquet as the Stones' best! That album was on my turntable continuously during the winter of 1968/69. The US version of Aftermath would probably be my No. 2. Good to see some love for Satanic Majesties. A lot of people dislike it but I enjoy it immensely and it would be about where you placed it on my list also. Just found your channel a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying it greatly!
Good listing Mazzy! Although, I prefer Sticky Fingers ahead of Exile. I can also do without Satanic Majesties and instead replace it with either December's Children or Goat's Head Soup. Don't know enough about their post 90's work to include anything from that period. Still, that period from '67-'71. WOW!! Amazing stuff. I still think I would take what the Beatles did both as a group and solo from the same period but it's sooooo, so close.
So many great Stones albums -- I enjoyed this video, and guessed early on that Beggars Blanket and Let It Bleed would go 1, 2. You had asked the audience to weigh in on what was the best album of 1968. Lots of great choices, but the winner is Astral Weeks.
In the mid-1980s, I remember driving back to college after October Break, and driving through the hills of Western Massachusetts and upstate NY, and having the car windows open, with the cool fall air and the smell of fallen leaves, and hearing "Moonlight Mile" as the pale moonlight shining through.
Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed my 1,2 albums. I play Beggar's Banquet in my car more than any other Stones album (obviously CD). It's my goto album whenever I want to listen to a Stones album. The Robert Johnson blues is what makes this album stand out from the rest of the pack. I read somewhere Brian Jones is playing slide guitar on No Expectations. Though he may have not played on all the songs. I wish Brian didn't give up towards the end. His versatility on various instruments helped with the overall sound of the 60s Stones songs.
Aftermath/Between the Buttons favorite mid 60s album. Aftermath being the 1st Stones album to feature only Jagger/Richards songs. One thing I noticed on Aftermath, the song, Out of Time, is over 5 minutes on the UK version. On the Flowers compilation, song length is much less.
Lastly, Hot Rocks - 1964-1971, gives an overall view of the Stones progression in song style. It's more American focused since some of the UK hits are not included (e.g. Little Red Rooster).
Absolutely agree with you Mazzy with the selection. They put out 4 excellent albums in the row in whole rock n roll history. That never happened before and after.
Cheers from Serbia 👍
Hey Mazzy. Loved this segment! With the huge output of material I was shocked to find out that we share the same top 4. That’s amazing to me. My ranking is slightly diff. I put Let It Bleed at the top…My all time fave Stones song is Gimme Shelter. But was also shocked that you didn’t mention that all 4 were produced by Jimmy Miller. I think he’s one of the greatest, but most underrated producers in the history of Rock.
Damn I should have mentioned Jimmy Miller. I guess my mind missed that one as I was going through the records. Since you were shocked that we aligned in our top four, I think maybe a bit of shock treatment would have loosened by brain and reminded me of Miller.
But seriously thanks for the reminder ✌🏼
You could think of the Stone early/mid/late because there was an evolution in their sound. Aftermath is number one for me. 'After' all these 50+ years, the 'math' just adds up ;-). Beggar's Banquet is up there, but although Sympathy for the Devil is yes a great track, I can't think of it as perfect because that lead guitar could have been so much better.
Great picks! Sticky Fingers is my favorite Stones album.
Yes, I saw them in the park as well. I was a Beatles person in the 60s. It was almost religious. That has a hangover into my current record collection and you have reminded me that I have a dearth of Stones albums. Will take your recommendations and act on them. Cheers.
Beggar’s Banquet is also my number 1. It is a flawless record. All the Stones other albums, as great as they are and as chock full of gems, have at least one song that is so-so. Banquet is flawless. Their performance of most of the album on Rock and Roll Circus film is so powerful, showing their transformation from their initial incarnation. I also feel the same about Satanic Majesties. Very good record. My number 2 would be Sticky, 3 Let It Bleed 4 Exile
Another terrific show about another legendary band. My Top 5 5. Exile On Main Street. 4 Beggars Banquet 3. Let It Bleed. 2. Sticky Fingers. 1 Between The Buttons (Brian Jones at his best).
High Tides & Green Grass was even my entry point to the stones in the late 90s early 00s. In hindsight, I think it does a fantastic job of capturing the early magic of the stones on one quick comp!
I totally agree with you that Beggars Banquet is the Rolling Stone's best album. For me, there are only a handful of their albums that I can listen to from start to finish (in other words, without skipping any tracks) and this is the very best among them.
It's crazy to think a couple of weeks after "Let It Bleed" came out, Elvis started his first Vegas gig, and was singing "Memories" live, and was about to explode back onto the scene.
"Undercover" from '83 is a criminally under-rated album. It It has everything that the Stones are supposed to be: Raw, dirty, punky, funky, and irreverent; with no sappy Jagger ballads. I challenge EVERY true Stones fan to give it a few more listens. Some of Wood's best guitar work and, IMO, some of Jagger's very best lyrics. The Back Side (side 2) rocks as hard as ANY Stones album ever.
Ronald - you are entirely correct. To some degree, it can depend on perspective, and as I am about 10 years younger than Mazzini, my formative music was punk/new wave of the late 70s and 80s. Undercover sounded incredible fresh for a band of the 60s - you could argue they even overcompensate with the entirely misogynistic lyrics and how hard they rock. I wore out a cassette back in the day and recently found a good OG vinyl. I love Some Girls as much/ better, and hear it as a band reinvigorated by the punk of the late 70s. Cheers and keep rockin’
I think it's the last time The Stones lived up to their dangerous reputation. They had some good albums and songs after this but they were never this wild and brazen again.
It's awful.
Too 80's. It actually sounds more dated than their 60's and 70's stuff does.
Undercover sucks.
I'm an old Stones geek and I love Black and Blue, definitely one of my favorites. Never get tired of listening to it.
My favourite Stones album has always been "Between the Buttons". I think it's a very underrated album. I'll go with the UK version, though it's a real pity they didn't put "Ruby Tuesday" on it.
Bingo on "way underrated", and maybe their best.....depends on my mood when listening.
I’d probably move Exile up to number one, and I’d substitute Goat’s Head Soup for It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll. Love the list, you’ve put a lot thought into it.
And your analysis of Black and Blue is spot on. It’s shamefully underrated.
It's Only Rock n Roll is a great album. The cover of Ain't to Proud to Beg . They make it their own.
Fantastic photos Norman!!!,
They are a frozen moment in time of one of the best ever bands a true treasure😉👍👍👍
A big chunk of Exile was finished off in LA (the background singers, Dr. John, etc.), but the dankness of that French basement pervades everything. Good call on Satanic Majesties. I've never understood why it was so maligned. Citadel is worth the price of admission alone -- so punk rock. Also, totally agree with that Gimme Shelter is the most powerful opening of an album ever.
I've always liked the stones, but most of my friends aren't into them, so it was a pleasure to watch this and hear your opinions. Some I agree with and some I don't, but there is no right or wrong with music. Really enjoyed the video.
You need new friends
Saw them in Hyde Park UK in 69. It was a free concert in tribute to Brian Jones.
Wasn't it the gig from which was made "Get yer's ya ya out" ?
@@HAL933 Madison Square Gardens. November 27-28. 1969 as far as i am aware.
@@paulking6219 Yeah, you are correct, I checked the back of my record. Also, I recently watched the film of the ‘69 Hyde Park concert, I am unbelievably jealous you were there. Had I been born a few decades earlier (and across the pond) I would have been there. It’s wild that Mick Taylor’s first gig was in front of hundreds of thousands of people
I was there aged 14! IMHO Exile is the greatest record of all time. Also Tattoo You and Some Girls deserve to be ranked higher.
I was there, it was a great day, even the weather was hot and sunny, after the gig myself and 3 of my friends went to the West End and went to a few pubs then a disco, London was exciting back then, especially when your 16 years old!
Maybe not their best but their first album The Rolling Stones is my favourite. When this came out in 64 a friend bought a copy and we listened to it a thousand times It’s hard to understand now but at the time it was an absolute sensation -so new, raw and different to anything else we had heard in England. To me this is the real Stones and if you are not familiar with this album you just don’t know what you are missing
Love the photos at the end of your video. Look at those high heeled boots on Keith ! My fav. albums are 1. Sticky Fingers,2. Goats Head Soup,3.Let it Bleed,5.Through the Past Darkly,6.High Tides,7. Satanic Majesty,8. Tattoo You,9. Some Girls,10.Black and Blue. Great video,and commentary. Happiness, Cindy
Hey Norman! I got both of Merry Claytons (Gimme Shelter backing vocals) albums after getting into the stones a bit more recently, both brilliant! Hers was a name I’ve been familiar with for years as she sang on Tapestry too, which is one of my favourite albums, but never put two and two together, worth checking out if you haven’t got them!
My favourite 3 albums are: 1. Get yer ya ya's out 2. Sticky Fingers 3. Let It Bleed
I totally agree.
I think I would have put Ya Ya’s out even higher. It’s such a great live record. Second best rock n roll live album, behind only Live at Fillmore by the Allman Brothers
My top ten best The Rolling Stones albums:
1•Beggars Banquet
2•Their Satanic Majesties Request
3•Sticky Fingers
4• Englands Newest Hitmakers
5• Bridges to Babylon
6• Let it bleed
7• A Bigger Bang
8• It`s Only Rock`n`Roll
9•Steel Wheels
10•undercover
Many thanks for that overview. I have loved the Stones since the 1960s, and I saw them live twice, the first time in Cologne on the day Jimi Hendrix died, and once more in 1994 in Pasadena, CA. Guess which concert was the better one. Well in 1994 you needed a binocular to see anything ... I agree with almost all of your choices, except for The Rolling Stones No.2 from 1965, which you tragically did not include. It opens with one of my all time favorite Stones songs Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. This song never appeared on any other album. I would have put that on my list instead of Flowers.
Great pics at the end. Exile will always be favorite but your ranking is just as good. So much good music. To me "Ventilator Blues" is one of the greatest Stones tunes among those you mentioned. Fingerprint File is excellent. Lucky you. Got to see Stones at their peak. Thanks for this. Cheers from Finland!
Saw the Stones on the Tattoo You tour at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta (4000 people) in Oct 1981. The Stray Cats opened for them.... great show.
My favorite Charlie Watts performance is on " Some Girls". The song is " Lies". He does a basic 4/4 beat with some nasty kick-drum fills and a little bit of secret sauce on the hi-hat, and somehow manages to overshadow everything else on the recording.
I saw the stones once on the Babylon tour, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Mr. watts. Fav stone by far the only one who could put Jaggar in his place. Not even Keef could do that consistently
I really concur with so much of this ranking. I agree that Beggars Banquet tops the list. I appreciate the love you gave to the Brian Jones years.
First off, The Rolling Stones has been and will always be my favorite band. Every few years, I listen to their complete discography (studio albums, comps, live albums, archive material, etc.) I just finished doing it again and my top 5 rankings (studio albums only) haven't changed since the '80s. After the top 5, they have altered some over the years. Anyway, my top five studio albums by The Rolling Stones are:
1. Let It Bleed (this album is an all-time top 10 album of any artist/genre. It is a desert island album for me.)
2. Aftermath U.S. Version (I prefer the U.S. version over the U.K. version for one reason and one reason only. That reason is the song "Paint It, Black". Though, I do really like "Mother's Little Helper" on the U.K. version that isn't on the U.S. version. But, "Paint It, Black" is my favorite Rolling Stones song of all time.)
3. Sticky Fingers (every song is great and lots of diversity of genres in the songs with rock, blues, soul, country, etc. Songwriting is fantastic on this album.)
4. Out Of Our Heads U.S. Version (Prefer the U.S.version over the U.K. version by a long shot. "Satisfaction," "Play With Fire," The Spider And The Fly," "One More Try" and "The Last Time" are all great songs and only on the U.S. Version. "Satisfaction" is my 2nd favorite Rolling Stones song of all time.)
5. Some Girls (Every song is great including their cover of "Just My Imagination" and Keith's song "Before They Make Me Run". Another album with lots of diversity of genres throughout...Rock, Disco, Blues, R&B, Country. Songwriting outstanding on this one too.)
Ranking 6-15 changes for me every time I listen to their discography every few years. Anyway, here are what they are now after this last time of doing it.
6.Steel Wheels (I'm probably one of only a few Rolling Stones fans that have this album ranked this high. But I think it is a great rockin' album and is alot of fun to listen to. Great comeback album too after the disappointments of the average Undercover and the awful Dirty Work. This album has the slick '80s production that I think gives the songs some oomph. I know that a lot of people don't like that type of production and they prefer their Stones to be rawer. Thus, those people not ranking this album highly. But I really think this album is a product of the times and, quite surprisingly, I think it still holds up today. The tour for this album was great too. Maybe that is part of the reason I am biased for this album. I have so much fun listening to this album and had good fun seeing them on this particular tour. The recent Steel Wheels Live archive box set enhances my appreciation of this album too.)
7. Beggars Banquet (Like you said, probably the greatest opening track for any Rolling Stones album with "Sympathy for the Devil". I'd probably have this album ranked higher if there weren't those 2 or 3 songs I don't particularly care for on this album. But all the rest are great.)
8.Exile On Main St. (A very, very good to great double album. I'd probably have this one ranked near the top if just a few of the songs on the album were left off. They feel like filler to me. But, the majority of the album is top-notch. I'd say about half the songs are great, one-fourth of the songs are above average to very good and the remaining fourth of the songs are average to below average.)
9. Between The Buttons U.S. Version (If side 2 were as great as side 1, this would be a contender for their best album. Side 1 is just fantastic.)
10. Tattoo You ("Start Me Up" kicks off the album great, not to mention the times they've used it to open concerts over the years. Gets the crowd in the proper mood. "Hang Fire" is another favorite from this album along with "Waiting on a Friend." "Little T&A," "Tops," and "Heaven" are also songs I enjoy hearing. The rest of the album I can skip over.)
11. England's Newest Hit Makers (The U.S. version of their debut. They really do put their own stamp on some of those Blues and R&B covers on this album. Also, the few original songs they wrote are very good too for a debut.... "Tell Me," "Now I've Got A Witness" and "Little By Little." )
12. Voodoo Lounge (Another good late period album. Not as fun or rockin' as the predecessor Steel Wheels, but there are some really good songs here. Well-written songs with some catchy hooks. Good mix of blues rock, hard rock and roots rock with maybe a little bit of country influence. The tour for this one was a lot of fun like the one for Steel Wheels.)
13. Emotional Rescue (I know this one ranks near the bottom of most people's lists. But, when this came out in 1980, I was a freshman in HS. Soon after, MTV debuted and they played the hell out of the songs on this album that also had music videos made. I thought they were some of the coolest visuals and sounds I heard. I really like about half the songs on the album. The other half are throwaway songs, though. The title track "Emotional Rescue," "She's So Cold," "Dance (Pt. 1)" and "Send It To Me" are the highlights.)
14. It's Only Rock 'N Roll (The title track elevates this album by itself. If not for the title track, this album would not make my list. Other songs on the album I somewhat enjoy are "Dance Little Sister," "Fingerprint File" and their cover of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg". The rest of the album really doesn't do much for me.)
15a. Goats Head Soup (The recent deluxe edition with the 3 unreleased songs and other mixes of songs from the album elevate this one into my top 15. Otherwise it would be ranked lower. Originally somewhat of a disappointment after their classic 68-72 period. Still there are a few songs on the album I really enjoy. "Angie" and "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" are the two that get the most listens since they seem to make compilations and radio airplay since they are the 2 most commercial songs on the album. Also I really like "Star Star (Starfucker)" and "Dancing with Mr. D"". A couple of the other songs are okay too. But the rest are just meh.)
15b. Black And Blue (Most of the songs are good songs, but they are not rockin' songs. They are more laid back here with the reggae and bluesy influences. Probably the song that rocks the most on this album is "Hot Stuff," which really has more of a funky disco vibe than a rock vibe. If this album had a few more uptempo rockin' songs, I would have it ranked higher.
Note: I actually have 16 studio albums ranked since I couldn't decide between Goats Head Soup and Black And Blue for #15.
My list would look much different if I had included compilations, live albums, and recent archive albums in my rankings.
Ur description of tumbling dice are essentially my emotions on the song turned to words
Amazing video
I have to say I've been loving Between The Buttons more and more as the years go by, but Exile remains my favourite. I think Goats Head Soup is often overlooked, perhaps because it followed a string of amazing LPs.
Glad you included 'Ya-Ya's", because I always consider it a straight up chaser of an album; red hot, and not a compilation. Stones are a fantastic live band, and (back then at least) re-configured songs for live stage. This is where 'Rambler" became a show stopping moment; 'Sympathy" a guitar work-out, and 'Street Fighting Man" the iconic closer. Obviously you did not include 'Goats Head Soup" in your chart. It has aged very well, and more often now gets added on to the Big 4. Also agree on 'Hitmakers", their first. I love that album. You did use up some slots with comps like 'Flowers' and "High Tide". "Hot Rocks" is a great one. For young new comers maybe even something like 'Grr', or "40 Licks". IMO the Stones have never really let up. They've been side tracked not so much by internal strife; because "Undercover" is a very good album, but through lousy late era producers. Don Was is not the guy who will inspire them. All we have to do is look at the record of good releases vs lame ones. But it seems Jagger does not want to be challenged any more. Last great album was "Bridges to Babylon".
'Bridges ...' struck a chord very reminiscent of good old Rolling Stones, actually gave me a chill when I 1st heard it on my F.M., way back then.
Estaba en 3er. De prepa y organizamos una posada y con mis vecinos fuimos a comprar todo para el evento, a la merced!!!e esa época había muchas tiendas de discos y entre a una que estaba sobre av. Circunvalación y encontré dos dis os quedaste la fecha tengo, Stiiking finger y con cierre!!! Y Let it bleed que conel paso del tiempo son más grandes musicalmente hablando, concluyendo los compre!!!! En la merced !!!
People often look at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears when I say Aftermath is one of my favorite Stones albums. I love the darker, blusier feel of it. Going Home is one of the best jams of the 1960s and one of my favorite Stones songs. It’s one of those songs that really helps me to relax when I can’t sleep. The way it goes from louder and quieter is so seamless and doesn’t lead to audio whiplash for me.
The other songs on Aftermath are also amazing. Paint it Black, Stupid Girl, High and Dry, Lady Jane, etc etc…
It’s not the Stones’s best by any means. The Mick Taylor era is so wildly heralded for a good reason. Beggar’s Banquet, Let it Bleed, Exile and Sticky are perhaps one of the greatest strings of albums ever released by a group in the 70s.
I bought Aftermath in 68 for 2 bottles of beer, best deal ever! I too love Goin' Home and its different moods. The New Zealand version has Mother's Little Helper instead of Paint it Black. There are nofillers on this, their first album with all Jagger/Richard songs.
Hey, AFTERMATH is maybe their first real album, no covers, long jam etc, they became the real band...,they had a good run til TATTOO YOU
I saw the Stones in 72 with Stevie Wonder in Ft. Worth Tx. Great show.
Thanks for your best RS albums ranked, it's a very good choice.
And for me the best album released in 1968, ever, is Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland.
My mind went to the same place when he left that door open.
I figured he was talking about The White Album......
@@jeffthrow6892 You might be right. I scanned through his video on 1968 and he mentions that his favorite bands of the era were the Beatles, the Byrds, and the Kinks. So it would stand to reason that the White Album, Notorious Byrd Brothers, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and Village Green Preservation Society would be high in the running.
@@afterglow2020 All fantastic albums.
Great video as usual! Hmmmmm.... no Goats Head Soup🤔🤔🤔 Was actually listening to Ya Yas the other day and still laugh out loud at the girl saying " Play Paint it Black you Devils before Sympathy for the Devil.... Classic😂😂😂😂
My Rolling Stones top 10 albums
10. Exile On Main Street
09. Rolling Stones - s/t
08. Out Of Our Heads
07. Sticky Fingers
06. Flowers
05. Between The Buttons
04. Let It Bleed
03. Beggar's Banquet
02. Their Satanic Majesty's Request
01. Aftermath
I've got Let it Bleed at 1 and Beggar's at 2. You're right the opening track is incredible and what a shock for the times. By the way there's no Robert Johnson cover on this it's The Reverend Robert Wilkens - Prodigal Son.
Great list and video! And the photos, wow! Thank you! Totally agree with your list! And more or less with the order! The great Robert Frank is responsible for much of the Exile artwork. His wonderful photos, that some first appeared in his groundbreking book "The Americans" and some from the same journey in the USA that were not used in the book.
Hi Mazzy,
Another great list. I'm not a huge Stones fan but I do enjoy quite a lot if their albums. I'm surprised by your number one pick..but I can't say I disagree...when I restarted collecting vinyl ..Beggars Banquet was the first Stones album I got. Fantastic record.
Hope you are doing well.
Mark Anthony K
Projekt Gemineye
The secret to the Sticky Fingers cover is to keep the zipper unzipped - then the damage to the adjacent record will be in the middle portion where it doesn't matter as much. Distributors and record stores had to figure that out the hard way in 1971.
Sticky Fingers may not have the best Stones songs of all, but it's my favorite Stones album to play because there is absolutely no filler on it (I'm looking at you, Country Honk!) And the extended jam on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is utterly fantastic and unlike anything else they recorded. It's hard to argue against "Sympathy For the Devil" as the best Stones song, though.
In the UK mid 70s there was solidly good tv compilation called Rolled Gold which covered the very early singles up until 1976. This was never off my turntable. It was rereleased a few years back in an extended version.
20 or so years ago I was visiting UK and ended up in a little used record store in Guildford and they had a UK original Decca stereo of Let it Bleed going for about $8. I took a close look and it looked kinda worn, but I also knew that records on certain labels of certain eras may look worn but don't sound that way. Got it back to LA, gave it a good vacuum clean on my trusty VPI, put it on and my jaw fell. It's like they are in the room (and no scratches to hear of). To this day it is an album I use to show off how amazing vinyl can sound. No reissue comes close, although the version in the Mono LP set is very good indeed.
Nice T-Shirt from Nonesuch records.😎
Some Girls ranked lower than the debut - I'm surprised?!?
Black and Blue - easily in my top 5! A great record and so underrated!
Top 3 - Exile, Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed
We have #1 & #2 inverted. My personal favourite is Let it Bleed...closely followed by Beggars Banquet. Great stuff !
I agree with you re Time Waits For No One and it tends to get overlooked a bit on that album. Such a great track.
Incredibly beautiful song with some of Mick Taylor’s best guitar playing that is truly a fantastic song and the album itself is solid
I was in high school in 1978, and I can tell you that there is an entire generation that first gained exposure through Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You, and considers those albums to be the band's best, over Let it Bleed/Beggars Banquet. I don't agree, but I think it stands as a testament to the Stones' consistency over their first two decades as a band.
Yup, seeing the Stones on SNL to promote Some Girls was a highlight in '78. Those three albums revived their career, similar to the Kinks at around the same time.
I more or less agree with your list (great to see both Between the Buttons and Satanic Majesties get some love). Although I would put the British album Rolling Stones no 2 in the top ten.
Their version of Down the Road Apiece is my favourite... not bad for a tune that was written ~25 years earlier.
Love seeing your selection for #1. I could’ve sworn you have always said Let It Bleed was your favorite, though. I can’t include comps when I’m thinking of ranking any discography. But I understand including Flowers. Great photos at the end. ✌🏻
In just impressed you stayed till the end. 😎 it’s always been Beggars Banquet. Maybe I was drunk when I said Bleed. But that run from 68-72. Wow.
Hi/Hola Mazzy!! thanks for doing this video, i'm a big Stones fan, but i'm lacking most of their material right now, i have a couple of really good comps in my collection "forty Licks" and "The Complete Singles Collection: The London Years", however i'm like to collect album or cd if they are fair cheap, so this video was very helpful, from your point of view....btw i had the chance to see them live twice here in Chile (Voodoo Lounge and the last world tour) cool show and great experience. I really enjoy their latests releases too. cheers and be well
Thanks Norman keep up the great work
It was a real pleasure hearing someone speak from the heart
And so much of what you said I agree with!
saw the stones at the garden in 75....the one song that will always remain a favorite to me is 'gimme shelter'...i got to perform that with ashley cleveland...tore my lips up playing harp that night.... the album that gets my most spins is definitely 'black and blue'...so underrated.....great list my friend...peace...rocky
Hi Mazzy, sorry for my late arrival to this magnificent video of a totally nailed list. The top albums are where they should be.... also happy that Tattoo You cracks the top 15. Their last greT ones the modern Era. Not many bands have made 5 classic albums in a row.. thank you for the sublime listing. Just perfect.
Wow, great vid Mazzy, really enjoyed it. Being a Stones expert, here is what I would change:
1 No GHS? What?
2 Live albums don’t count, sub GHS
3 Black and Blue rated too high
Cheers brother, thanks for making this one. One of my favorites from ya! Cheers
Show some respect.. Lol. (Altamont!! etc)
Agree with GHS and B&B (I will never listen to Melody again. Lol)
Personally I would add Emotional Rescue. One of the 3 or 4 best sounding RS lps.
I agree with you about Satanic Majesties. I wrote a little book about it because I was so impressed. I think it was gutsy!
Beggars is my all time favorite as well! You're right about how the album feels as a whole making it the best. The vocals on Exile are a bit too raw for me, and Fingers is a bit too slick and polished for my tastes. Great list!
As a teenage fan I considered Some Girls the last listenable record before they became a tribute band to themselves
Let it bleed was actually the first album with mick taylor
What a great show and tell of the biggest touring band of the world! I love the Stones! I really got hooked on the RS when I was in high school after reading the book “Up and Down with The Rolling Stones” by Tony Sanchez and I never looked back! I recently picked up Flowers just because I fell in love with the song “Out of Time” after it was used in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I couldn’t find Aftermath so I had to get Flowers which is a great comp! I don’t have Beggars Banquet but it just now shot to the top of my want list due to your recommendation Thanks for everything Mazzy! Peace ☮️✌️👽🤘☮️ #mazzylovesyou
Despite The 60s Stones having been one of my top favorites at the time, I only saw them live once, on their first tour with newly anointed Mick Taylor at Madison Square Garden in ‘69, Tina Turner at the height of her comeback opening up.
Best Stones Comps (and there's a ton) :
> The Complete Singles Collection: The London Years
> Hot Rocks: 1964-1971
> Forty Licks
More Hot Rocks the B sides Brussels 73 best live recorded performance. Mick Taylor
Why Hot Rocks? Unlike High Tide or Thru the Past it was put out by their now FORMER record co, and features no non lp singles or cool artwork. More HR I get, lots of rarities and Andrew notes a la "Now!"...
I've listened to them since the mid-'60s and I think Miss You is not only their greatest single, but likely the song that will last the longest. Funny how we could agree on so much else here but be miles opposite on that track! Cheers.
In 1968 the LP that obsessed the music industry was Laura Nyro's revolutionary pop masterpiece 'Eli and the Thirteenth Confession ' "it blew everybody's mind" (Todd Rundgren). You can see separate RUclips Nyro discussions by Rundgren, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Narada Michael Walden, Sara Bareilles. Nyro's influence on songwriting in the last 50 years is seismic. Even Morrissey has covered her.
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Great photos! Love audience shots. Been taking photos myself since 84.
That is a very good ranking, I like your thinking and I rate Her Satanic Maj too. I don't understand people who knock the Stones, what a catalogue.
Like your choices. Sticky Fingers. Let It Bleed, Beggar’s Banquet some of their best recordings. I often find myself listening to Hot Rocks to take me back to the period. Got to see the Stones live in Berlin in ‘72. Great concert.
I had a close friend whose was one of the earliest American Stone Fans
He actually bought their first album Introducing The Rolling Stones plus 4 others of their first
He gave me his albums when he went to Nam
He never came back and still have them .
My grandson has an eclectic music taste and is an excellent artist.
He collects Albums and I will give them to him .
Along with my early Dylan Albums
things that NEVER happened part1
Winterland in ‘72!??! What a dream! And Altamont...wow am I jealous!
"Satanic" was my FIRST Stones LP...I got it as a trade for "Midnight Ride" by P.R.& the Raiders...in 1967. I LOVED this LP then...and love it TODAY...played it to death on a crappy plastic portable record player....LOVE IT!
I've had a high-end music system for decades now, but you know, I often think that my friends and I enjoyed the music more while listening on the crappy, plastic suitcase-style record player I bought in 1967.
raiders LP rocks WAY harder
"raiders LP rocks WAY harder"... nope...gotta beg to differ. That's why I got rid of it...because it DOESN'T
Good choices. Begger's Banquet is their masterpiece along with Let it Bleed.
Those photos at the end are great. What awesome memories you must have.