Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
CDs and Music - Just The Good Stuff
Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones ranked # 57 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums list.
Beggars Banquet was released by the The Rolling Stones in 1968.
It marked a return to the band's R&B roots, generally viewed as
simpler and more primal than the conspicuous psychedelics of Their
Satanic Majesties Request.
Following the long sessions for the previous album in 1967, Mick
Jagger decided that the band needed more direction in the studio and
in early 1968 hired Jimmy Miller, who had produced the Spencer Davis
Group and Traffic. The partnership would prove to be a success and
Miller would work with the band until 1973.
In March, the band began recording their new album, aiming for a July
release. One of the first tracks cut, "Jumpin' Jack Flash", was
released as a single that May, becoming a major hit.
Beggars Banquet was Brian Jones' last substantial effort with The
Rolling Stones. In addition to his elegant and prominently
acknowledged slide work on "No Expectations," he played harmonica on
"Dear Doctor", "Prodigal Son" and "Parachute Woman", added tamboura
to "Street Fighting Man" and mellotron on the fade out of "Stray Cat
Blues".
By June, the sessions were nearly completed in England, with some
final overdubbing and mixing to be done in Los Angeles during July.
However, both Decca Records in England and London Records rejected
the planned cover design - a graffiti-covered lavatory, and the band
held back the album. By November, however, The Rolling Stones, gave
in, allowing the album to be released in December with a simple
imitation invitation card cover. In 1984, the original cover art was
released with the initial CD remastering of Beggars Banquet.
Most critics considered the LP as a return to form, if not an instant
classic. It was also a clear commercial success, reaching #3 in the
UK and #5 in the US (on the way to eventual platinum status).
On 10 and 11 December, the band aimed to promote Beggars Banquet by
recording a television extravaganza entitled The Rolling Stones Rock
and Roll Circus featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton and The Who among
the musical guests. However, the project did not air and would not
receive an official release until 1996.
Track Listing
- Sympathy for the Devil
- No Expectations
- Dear Doctor
- Parachute Woman
- Jigsaw Puzzle
- Street Fighting Man
- Prodigal Son
- Stray Cat Blues
- Factory Girl
- Salt of the Earth
100 Greatest Albums of All Time
Search Our Site For Music, Films, and Books
|
|
