"Get Yer Ya's Out" ('70), one of the most satisfying live rock albums ever, focused on their '68-'69 hits, including an extended, definitive "Midnight Rambler," and showed how integral Mick Taylor had become to the Stones' roaring live sound.
The band's first release on their own Rolling Stones Records was the druggy, shambling, brilliant "Sticky Fingers" ('71), with the infamous working-zipper cover by Andy Warhol. Taylor again sparkled and the Jagger/Richards songwriting continued at the highest level: swaggering "Brown Sugar," plaintive "Wild Horses," jazzy grooving "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," horn-rocking "Bitch," chilling "Sister Morphine" and countrified "Dead Flowers."
The murky, dense, jumbled double album "Exile on Main Street" closed the era of Stones invincibility in '72. A yeasty blend of all the band's roots influences — blues, country, soul, gospel and rock — "Exile" yields fresh revelations over 30 years later, and "Rocks Off," "Rip This Joint," "Tumbling Dice," "Sweet Virginia," "Happy," "All Down the Line" and "Shine a Light" are among the band's best work.
The Stones have been a different band ever since: Mick Taylor left in '74, replaced by the stalwart Ronnie Wood. They have released a couple great albums: "Some Girls" ('78), their rough response to the challenges of disco and punk ("Miss You," "Some Girls," "Respectable," "Beast of Burden," "Shattered"), and "Tattoo You" ('81, their top-charting album ever - nine weeks at Number One) with standouts "Start Me Up," "Hang Fire" and "Waiting On a Friend." They have also released a lot of simply good albums: the '70s were better than the '80s, which were better than the '90s.
But they have soldiered on, taking breaks but focusing more and more on getting the music out to the fans live, becoming particularly reinvigorated with the "Steel Wheels" album and world tour in 1989. I caught that tour in Los Angeles and the Stones came on with an air of eager assurance. All of the elements clicked: the guitars cut and slashed, the rhythm section locked in and rode it out, the songs were a perfect blending of old and new, the band was abundantly enthusiastic.
Jagger didn't exhibit a drop of Cool Star attitude: he worked, talked, sang with energy and attention to detail. He was obviously happy to be liked again. The collective joyous relief of the stadium buoyed Jagger to childlike vulnerability:
"Do ya like the new songs?" he almost pleaded of the throng.
"We love them, Mick!"
"We love you!"
"Yeahh!"
Maybe Mick was reminded of his quote from the '70s, "Sometimes I prefer being on stage, sometimes I prefer orgasm." That night, I'm pretty sure the stage won.
In the 1990s, the band took in a staggering $750 million from three tours. When I watched them live from Madison Square Garden on HBO early last year my eyes confirmed that these craggy, gaunt guys are about 60 years old, but when the cameras pulled back 30 years melted away and the magic was real and grew in intensity as the night wore on.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Matt Fanslow
How is Metallica not on the list, much less an honorable mention? They alone are responsible for making metal/speed metal mainstream. They are just as important as Nirvana.
2 - Barry Stoller
NOPE - due to corporate radio's overkill, almost all of these bands now qualify for nothing but most boring; the others, similarly falling victim to standard rock critic worship, qualify for the same. What we need is a postmodernist re-evaluation, a cultural archeological dig to finally break fresh strata. Allow then a real contender to kick off the new vision: BLOODROCK as number 1. Let's go (fresh)... from there.
3 - Craig Lyndall
There is no way Metallica is as influential as Nirvana. If you look at the span of their careers and the fact that Nirvana had 3 real albums, 1 b-sides album, and an unplugged album from the 1989 - 1994. They have achieved far more in that painfully short period of time than Metallica has to this point.
4 - Craig Lyndall
"7. Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (1968)
Motown's greatest singer's greatest singing performance."
I would argue with this completely and totally. There are so many other songs by Marvin Gaye that I like so much more. Specifically, "What's Going On."
5 - Eric Olsen
Metallica could very easily be on the honorable mention list, but I think Black Sabbath is a more important metal band.
6 - WarrenP
Rock and Roll? Aretha Franklin? Outkast?
Are you for real?
Marvin Gaye? Dude - get a life you 'sell-out' kiss ass! People LIKE categorys for a reason. Bob Marley? Sly and the Family Stone? Rock? I mean - I listen to these entertainers, too - but, ROCK is ROCK! I wish the media would stop trying to 'gender cross' musics all over the f*&^'en map!
It's insulting.
7 - Craig Lyndall
Damn it and another thing. I hate the Rolling Stones. Really, I can't stand them at all. I do understand their contributions to rock and roll, but to say that one of their songs is number 1 is preposterous. Maybe top twenty, but how is this song ahead of Stairway and that song isn't even on the list. Stairway and Zeppelin put the effing Stones to shame.
8 - A Girl
Dude, you just took yourself out for a nice Italian Dinner... You dated yourself. Radiohead much?! The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A etc. (heck even the sketchy Pablo Honey). That retro era doesn't have a lock on thoughful innovation and raw emotion, you know.
9 - Ace
How come Queen wasn't even mentioned?
Thanks to them, stadiums all over the world have not one, but two himns repeatedly being played on every match... "We will rock you" is the thing you hear when everybody is slapping their seats rhytmically... And what song other than "We are the champions" come right in handy when your favorite team wins??
10 - Ace
(sorry for this second post)
PD: Of course, Queen is not great only because it's affinity to sports...
11 - Eric Olsen
Craig, you really need to check into the STones a little more. How much have you listened to them? You have too good taste to dismiss them so completely - give them another shot.
RE those complaining about the "rock" category: there will never be agreement on what should or should not fit. I interpreted "rock" fairly broadly. Perhaps the songs should have been called the "Rock Era." I have no problem thinking of Sly and Bob as rock bands.
12 - mwanji
Eric,
Why even write such an article? You know you'll only get abuse for it. I hope they paid you well, at least.
"I wish the media would stop trying to 'gender cross' musics"
What is gender-crossed music?
13 - h price
What!!! No Jimi Hendrix Expereience, Come on, PLEASE! Hendrix did more in 4 measly years than Ueffing2, Marley, Velvet Underground could possibly do in 40. The only thing Hendrix didn't do with an ax was invent it. This is crazy.
14 - Eric Olsen
Mwanji, I have no problem with the controversy - you sort of answered your own question as to why they would ask me to write it (smile). While there has been all kinds of disagreement, I have already had a ton of very complimentary notes even from those who disagree. All I'm really concerned about is whether or not I did a good job of supporting those I did pick.
15 - Mark Saleski
mighty fine drivel, mr. olsen.
;-)
16 - Southern Belle
Nope, nobody is perfect...Still, I can't get over the fact that one of the most innovative, artistic and talented bands ever, the Queen, was never mentioned. Shame on you for this oversight.
Otherwise it was an interesting article.
17 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Southern Belle, As much as I like some Queen, I don't think they overall rate the very top echelon. Thanks for your kind words otherwise!
Thanks Mark, you are coolest!
18 - Mark Saleski
hey, ya coulda thrown 'ole Al a bone and at least had them add Elvis Costello to the msnbc "who's missing" pole.
19 - Eric Olsen
I put him in the "solo+backup" category.
20 - Mark Saleski
You dated yourself. Radiohead much?! The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A etc.
Radiohead's "OK Computer" = Low Rent King Crimson.
21 - Bill
Hey Eric,
Ever hear of a little band called Aerosmith? Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? 30+ years of making music? 60 million + records sold? Pioneers of the rock/rap genre? Any of this ringing a bell?
22 - Eric Olsen
Bill, If Aerosmith had made more albums like Get Your Wings, Toys In the Attic and Rocks they would have received more consideration. As it is, I see them a second tier. But it's just opinion, okay?
23 - Craig Lyndall
Aerosmith is probably the greatest American rock band, but unfortunately for them, they cam after Zeppelin and the Stones. They should win an award for longevity, but there would be no Aerosmith without a Zeppelin, Stones, etc.
24 - MH
Where do you come up with Velvet and the Dead? I saw these bands live and they sucked..They sold no records and influenced very few others. Ask either of them to open for The Who and you have all the makings of a nice little riot. Your need to be hip and diverse clouds any real conviction and I find your list nothing but a political comprimise of misguided PC dribble. If Sly and Bob Marley are ROCK then so is Maria Carey and the Spice Girls.
25 - Don Geddis
What drugs were you on in the seventies!!!!! Most of your list isn't even what any moron would call rock & roll!!!!!!!! Bob Marley is reggae, aretha franklin is soul and nirvana was grunge.............Get A Clue!!!!