Happy Half Century

[Marshall Stack]

Exile On Main St. released 50 years ago, May 12th 1972.

[Marshall Stack]

Let It Loose.

[Marshall Stack]

[Marshall Stack]

The New Musical Express flexi disc, given free to advertise the release.

[Foxhound]

Exile on Main Street is actually among the Stones' albums that I like the least. It's murky and dominated by very unStones-like brass.

[Marshall Stack]

Exile remains my favourite recorded album of the 20th century, the whole concept, the band owing tax- fled England as residents.. from July 1970 until September 1971 this album was perfected in three separate locations. Nellcoté in France, Stargroves in Newbury and finished at Sunset Sound in the States. Keith's guitaring at this point was top shelf, and despite most being on smack, including Jimmy Miller it's a testament to a joint effort from all, including Andy and Glyn John's, Bill Plummers excellent bass work, Billy Preston and Jim Horn on point. Dr. John sprinkling his magic, Al Perkins with his telecaster and pedal work. Superb backing from Vanetta Fields and Clyde King, Ian Stewart, Bobby Keyes and the band themselves enjoyed the relative freedom and privacy of recording out of a studio for the first time, the Mobile Recording truck had worked well for Deep Purple in recording Machine Head ( and later Physical Graffiti.)in stifling heat of French nights they dragged cables and utilitised the wine cellars of this 19th century mansion to achieve a particular sound, if you listen to Rocks Off, it's a slightly warped sound... this was down to the heat and the John Brothers battling to overcome technical issues concerning humidity, cable length and acoustics... but like Louie Louie by The Kingsmen... the mistakes were left in... and it worked, the varying songs and styles and tactics were new to all, upon release in 1972 it met luke warm reception, but after several months and an album tour... it was soon hailed as being entirely original. Many critics place it with other world bestsellers and shares a coveted pedestal with two other stones albums.
Personally... it's what they left in and this double offering represents a culmination of ten years of being a band and with all that entails the madness, the drink and drugs, the women, the press, the deaths and mostly an interpretation of the blues after ten crazy years... in short- a keeper.

[triptych]

"Time waits for no one ":)

[dr wu]

Not my favorite Stones ,,,,but has some great tracks.....

[Marshall Stack]

Rocks Off.