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TheCellarTapes · 02-09-2009, 05:33 AM

The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet
(1968)

Tracks

1 Sympathy for the Devil 6:18
2 No Expectations 3:56
3 Dear Doctor 3:22
4 Parachute Woman 2:20
5 Jigsaw Puzzle 6:06
6 Street Fighting Man 3:16
7 Prodigal Son 2:52
8 Stray Cat Blues 4:37
9 Factory Girl 2:09
10 Salt of the Earth 4:47

In a year when the big guns of the British music scene were releasing some of their finest works, The Rolling Stones in 1968 took a step back from the Psychedelia that the band had dipped their toe into with Their Satanic Majesties Request, and instead opted to return to the style of music they found more comfortable, the Blues.

In 1968, Beggars Banquet was released on the Decca record label. It marked a return to the essence of what Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are all about. With Beggars Banquet they returned to the sound that got them into music in the first place, demonstrating a passion and purpose to their writing, which I think to some extent, was missing from their 1967 release. It also marked the end of Brian Jones fully contributing to a Rolling Stones album.

Produced by Brooklyn born Jimmy Miller, producer for great Blues connoisseurs The Spencer Davis Group as well as later landmark Rolling Stones albums, the sound on Beggars Banquet is very primal in nature and could be straight from 1930's Chicago, with many of the songs featuring sliding acoustic elements like No Expectations and the unbelievably underrated Jigsaw Puzzle

There are some Rock and Roll numbers to be had on this record as well. Whilst John Lennon was promoting a more passive revolution in the troubling times of 1968, Mick Jagger was right in the thick of London's antiwar protests. The result of his feelings towards these troubling times was the song Street Fighting Man, arguably one of their finest moments as a band.

The opening track to the album also stands out as one of the bands finest moments. Sympathy for The Devil with its very Luciferesque lyrics and an upbeat voodoo feel must have been quite the song in 1968, as it still stands up as a belting epic song to this day.

The Rolling Stones tried outright Psychedelia in 1967, and for me personally, there were bands out there that were much better at writing that sort of material. But when it came to out and out British Blues with a twist, The Rolling Stones were champions and head and shoulders above the rest. In Beggars Banquet they let rip and produced an exceptional album, not just for 1968, but for anytime, the front cover aint that bad either.

02-09-2009, 05:33 AM	#45 (permalink)
TheCellarTapes Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 490	The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet *(1968)* Tracks 1 Sympathy for the Devil 6:18 2 No Expectations 3:56 3 Dear Doctor 3:22 4 Parachute Woman 2:20 5 Jigsaw Puzzle 6:06 6 Street Fighting Man 3:16 7 Prodigal Son 2:52 8 Stray Cat Blues 4:37 9 Factory Girl 2:09 10 Salt of the Earth 4:47 In a year when the big guns of the British music scene were releasing some of their finest works, The Rolling Stones in 1968 took a step back from the Psychedelia that the band had dipped their toe into with Their Satanic Majesties Request, and instead opted to return to the style of music they found more comfortable, the Blues. In 1968, Beggars Banquet was released on the Decca record label. It marked a return to the essence of what Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are all about. With Beggars Banquet they returned to the sound that got them into music in the first place, demonstrating a passion and purpose to their writing, which I think to some extent, was missing from their 1967 release. It also marked the end of Brian Jones fully contributing to a Rolling Stones album. Produced by Brooklyn born Jimmy Miller, producer for great Blues connoisseurs The Spencer Davis Group as well as later landmark Rolling Stones albums, the sound on Beggars Banquet is very primal in nature and could be straight from 1930's Chicago, with many of the songs featuring sliding acoustic elements like No Expectations and the unbelievably underrated Jigsaw Puzzle There are some Rock and Roll numbers to be had on this record as well. Whilst John Lennon was promoting a more passive revolution in the troubling times of 1968, Mick Jagger was right in the thick of London's antiwar protests. The result of his feelings towards these troubling times was the song Street Fighting Man, arguably one of their finest moments as a band. The opening track to the album also stands out as one of the bands finest moments. Sympathy for The Devil with its very Luciferesque lyrics and an upbeat voodoo feel must have been quite the song in 1968, as it still stands up as a belting epic song to this day. The Rolling Stones tried outright Psychedelia in 1967, and for me personally, there were bands out there that were much better at writing that sort of material. But when it came to out and out British Blues with a twist, The Rolling Stones were champions and head and shoulders above the rest. In Beggars Banquet they let rip and produced an exceptional album, not just for 1968, but for anytime, the front cover aint that bad either.