Speaking about the original LP's:

Exile would tip a scale slightly because of the weight of the extra vinyl disk and paper, despite Sticky's added weight from the zipper.

Both are great. I take Exile, and also say that (for me) You Gotta Move is not a great take. I liked it better live, in both '69 and '76, but I think the Sticky version is a bit...um...tongue in cheek, or a bit of a caricature, whether intended or unintended...

No, i don't agree Exile is overrated, and i do prefer it to Sticky Fingers. The murkiness and depth found within Exile's sound is far more emotionally stimulating than the much cleaner and more commercially orientated Sticky Fingers, although one may argue that song for song Sticky Fingers is perhaps more consistent. I love the density found on Exile and that is the reason i never tire of listening to it. Also there's the feeling that the Stones are completely at ease within themselves as they plunder many of their primary musical influences, in a way that indicates they are doing it as much for personal satisfaction as much as commercial aspirations, things sounding so free flowing and easy. Sticky Fingers by comparison is a little more stiff and formal, but nonetheless highly effective. I think a much better match is between Beggars Banquet and Exile, as Beggars Banquet works equally effectively, only in a more acoustic setting. Sticky Fingers and Exile are possibly a closer match stylistically, as Beggars Banquet is to Let It Bleed, but for me both Beggars Banquet and Exile are stronger than their closest relations.

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WeLoveYou
Moonlight Mile is a basically a lot of meandering melodies but there isn't really anything definite there..it sounds a bit laboured and contrived to me. I tend to skip this track.

Sister Morphine could have been a better tune if it had more of a full band sound, it's the minimalistic sound that I don't like. Minimalism is ok for some tunes but I feel this one deserved more instrumentation. I tend to skip this track also.

But there's enough good stuff on SF (and EOMS) to keep me happy

The Fade out of Moonlight Mile, with all of those drum fills, one of my favorite stones moments on record.

which is better? i dont think of it that way, i simply play the album i'm in the mood for. the stones never put out a bad album until dirty work.

sticky fingers!

both are masterpices, but my choice is "Sticky fingers", it doesn't have a single filler on it.

I don't get how someone could not like Moonlight Mile. That's absurd.

Ha ha...good one Stones Tod.

1)Let it bleed
2)Sticky Fingers
3)Exile
4)Beggars

Nothing against SF as it is often my #1. But I think the songs on EOMS are underrated. With the length and similarity of several songs I think some of these gems are taken for granted. Like Torn and Frayed, Turd on the Run, Ventilator, Let It Loose, Stop Breakin Down (I know it is a cover). If some of these had been held over for one of the next ones, or came out for the first time on the Exile rarities, people would be raving about these songs.

What if we matched up 10 of the best songs from Exile against the 10 from Sticky just for fun:

Could look something like this:

Brown Sugar vs.Rocks Off
Sway vs. Rip This Joint
Wild Horses vs. Tumbling Dice
Can't You Hear Me Knocking vs. Sweet Virginia
You Gotta Move vs. Torn and Frayed
Bitch vs. Loving Cup
I Got The Blues vs. Happy
Sister Morphine vs. Let It Loose
Dead Flowers vs. All Down the Line
Moonlight Mile vs. Shine A Light

Everyone would probably pick 10 of their own different Exile songs for their favorites but these were mine.The winners in the above match up for me would be:

Rocks Off
Sway
Tumbling Dice
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Torn and Frayed
Loving Cup
Happy
Let It Loose
Dead Flowers
Moonlight Mile/ Shine A Light Tie (Two of my all time faves)

EXILE is like a concept-album without wanting to be one...

Sticky Fingers greatest rock'n'roll album ever made
Exile On Main Street greatest Rolling Stones record.

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MKjan
Sticky Fingers greatest rock'n'roll album ever made
Exile On Main Street greatest Rolling Stones record.

what?...;-)i get dizzy trying to follow that logic....

ok guitarbastard, sorry for the dizziness, I think I'm trying to say EOMS is so much more than rock'n'roll.

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MKjan
ok guitarbastard, sorry for the dizziness, I think I'm trying to say EOMS is so much more than rock'n'roll.

So is Sticky.
No need to name the songs again, speaks for itself.

Sticky, and no way did Bitch deserve to be a B-side single. Keef and MT at the pinnacle of RNR!!!

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drbryant
Sticky Fingers is tighter and nastier. It's got a much better opening track ("Brown Sugar"), and their most famous ballad ("Wild Horses"). But there is so much more music on Exile - and back in 1971, more meant better.

better opening track than rocks off....bold statement

Rocks Off
Sway
Tumbling Dice
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Torn and Frayed
Loving Cup
I Got The Blues
Sister Morphine
All Down the Line
Moonlight Mile

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Steven
Sticky, and no way did Bitch deserve to be a B-side single. Keef and MT at the pinnacle of RNR!!!

As much as I like "Bitch", I could counter that 'no way did "Rocks Off" deserve not to be a single AT ALL!

I wonder if it would have impacted sales in any way, had Rocks Off been released as the lead single, before Tumbling Dice?

I would be interested...as much as I like Brown Sugar, I find it almost unlistenable because it has been so over-played. I never feel that way about Rocks Off though...even though I play it way more often!

Plus Rocks Off has those killer horns.

Sticky vs Exile

Brown Sugar vs Rocks Off
Sway vs Casino Boogie
Wild Horses vs Tumbling Dice
Can't You Hear Me Knocking vs Torn and Frayed
You Gotta Move vs Loving Cup
Bitch vs Ventilator Blues
I Got The Blues vs All Down The Line
Sister Morphine vs Stop Breaking Down
Dead Flowers vs Shine A Light
Moon Light Mile vs Soul Survivor

Result:

Rocks Off
Sway
Wild Horses
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Loving Cup
Ventilator Blues
All Down The Line
Stop Breaking Down
Shine A light
Moonlight Mile

In this strange way Sticky vs Exile = 4-6
Great mixed album: Sticky On Mainstreet

there's no way rocks off could of been a single unless mick would of sang different lyrics for the single release

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treaclefingers

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Steven
Sticky, and no way did Bitch deserve to be a B-side single. Keef and MT at the pinnacle of RNR!!!

As much as I like "Bitch", I could counter that 'no way did "Rocks Off" deserve not to be a single AT ALL!

I wonder if it would have impacted sales in any way, had Rocks Off been released as the lead single, before Tumbling Dice?

I would be interested...as much as I like Brown Sugar, I find it almost unlistenable because it has been so over-played. I never feel that way about Rocks Off though...even though I play it way more often!

Maybe because Brown Sugar on SF is boring in the end. But if I had to choose between the best live version of these both songs I would blindly choose Brown Sugar.

Yea both the cds are great in their way,for me exile has lots diffrent kind of music and sticky is rock and blues based cd,each to their own,both the cds rock so i am happy.

What's incredible is how DIFFERENT Exile and Sticky are, and yet they're both freakin' fabulous. That evolution starting in 1968 and continuing through say 1983 is what makes the Stones so great.

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ghostryder13
there's no way rocks off could of been a single unless mick would of sang different lyrics for the single release

Might have passed censors in 1972...

Lou Reed got away with "Holly never lost her head, even when she was givin' head"

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TeaAtThree
What's incredible is how DIFFERENT Exile and Sticky are, and yet they're both freakin' fabulous. That evolution starting in 1968 and continuing through say 1983 is what makes the Stones so great.

Thank you...I also like UNDERCOVER!

Casino Boogie gets better and better every time I listen to it, and trust me I've listened to it A LOT (53 yrs. old)