The Rolling Stones Make Unexpected Chart Topping Comeback!
The Rolling Stones' celebrated double album "Exile on Main Street" remains one of the band's greatest achievements, with its re-release in 2010 being one of the most highly anticipated in rock music history. With its raw energy, diverse musical influences, and guttural rock 'n' roll attitude, it is an album that continues to inspire legions of fans more than four decades after its initial release.
The story behind the making of "Exile on Main Street" starts with the band's relocation to France at the height of their fame. It was 1971, and the Stones, seeking a break from the intense scrutiny and pressure they faced in the UK, had decided to settle in the south of France. They rented a sprawling villa in the small town of Villefranche-sur-Mer and set up their recording studio in the basement.
Recording in a villa brought its own challenges - including a lack of critical studio equipment and the distractions that come with living in a holiday destination. But these difficulties only served to add to the album's raw and gritty feel. As guitarist Keith Richards said at the time, "It was like, OK, we're playing music, we have fun, let's see what we can capture."
The sessions were chaotic, with a steady stream of hangers-on and visitors drifting in and out of the villa. Drugs were plentiful, and the Stones' hedonistic lifestyle only compounded the challenges they faced. Against this backdrop, the band worked tirelessly to produce a timeless masterpiece.
With its eclectic musical influences, from country and blues to gospel and reggae, "Exile on Main Street" represented something of a departure for the Stones. But it was a departure that spoke to the musical moment and broke new ground in popular music. Despite some mixed critical reviews upon its initial release, the album quickly went on to achieve legendary status and has since been hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time.
“It’s the Stones at their most instinctual, and that’s part of why it still sounds so good,” says respected rock journalist David Fricke. “There is no self-editing on it. You hear everything the Stones are capable of. Every different kind of song, from the most delicate balladry to the most brutal bluesy rock.”
While "Exile on Main Street" was a culmination of everything the Rolling Stones had achieved up until that point in their career, it also represented the beginning of new chapter for the band, setting the template for their subsequent output. It remains a defining moment in rock music history and a testament to the creative genius of one of the most iconic bands of all time.
Ultimately, the re-release of "Exile on Main Street" in 2010 offered fans a chance to rediscover and re-experience this classic album in all its raw and unvarnished glory. As Mick Jagger himself said at the time, "Exile will always be a classic, one of the greatest albums of our time." And with its timeless music and enduring legacy, it's hard to argue with that sentiment.