Exile on Main Street, to my ears the Stones' best album, will be reissued on May 10th and include 10 never-before-heard tracks. If you're not familiar with the legendary back story of the album, here's a condensed version:
In 1972, the Stones flee England for tax reasons (the British Government was threatening to seize their assets). The band picks as their exile a villa in the south of France called Nellcote, which also happened to be Gestapo Headquarters during World War II. The band records in the Villa's sweltering basement that was so humid their guitars refused to stay in tune. Keith Richards later says, "...down there, it was Dante's Inferno. It was like trying to makes a record in the Fuhrerbunker." Keith shoots heroin every day with a revolving parade of guests including Gram Parsons, William S. Burroughs and Terry Southern. There is growing friction between band members, especially Keith and Mick. Exile is released in May of 1972 to lukewarm critical reaction but is now considered the Stone's masterpiece. As the critic Robert Christgau wrote "it took me perhaps twenty-five listenings before I began to understand what the Stones were up to and I still haven't finished the job... Exile explores new depths of record-studio murk, burying Mick's voice under layers of cynicism, angst and ennui..."
Style-wise what can one say? I'll let these photos taken from here do the talking.
Quite fucking epic, I'd say. Oh, to be a guest at Nellcote during the making of Exile. One can only imagine the level of hedonism, not to mention some of the best rock n roll ever recorded. Glad to hear of the reissue! Was not aware.
ReplyDeleteA few details; parts of Exile were also recorded at the small but legendary Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_Shoals_Sound_Studio). Famous for legendary soul recordings. The Stones had previously recorded the Sticky Fingers record there (right up there with Exile in my book). "Wild Horses" from that record was originally written for Graham Parsons to sing. It was so good, the Stones kept it.
I've also got a bootleg copy of "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones", a concert film recorded on the '72 tour, just after Exile was finished. Here's a taste of "Bitch" for ya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEIIWLmFyzk&feature=related