Rocks Off.

It has everything.

The single riff that launches it and opens the door to a jaggered “OH YEAH....!”

The guitars, the groove, the horns, the disenchantment, the sexual frustration, the great lyrics:

I was making love last night
To a dancer friend of mine.
I can't seem to stay in step,
'Cause she come ev'ry time that she pirouettes over me.

The Sunshine Bores The Daylights Out Of Me

Kick me like you've kicked before,
I can't even feel the pain no more.
But I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming,
I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping.

Feel so hypnotized, can't describe the scene.
Feel so mesmerized all that inside me

...the sublime vocals, the grooving drums, the ethereal bridge, the raw energy, the horns MAN THE HORNS!

It’s the standout and lead cut on the widely regarded ‘best album’ in the stones canon.

They can’t play it in concert, no way, not to the perfection of the original studio version.

It is the archetypal Rolling Stones song, unbelievably never released as a single.

It is a tour de force, all on its own.

Is it better than Gimme Shelter, Sympathy For the Devil, or Jumpin’ Jack Flash?
I don’t know...but it is the perfect Rolling Stones song.

Midnight Rambler is the perfect Stones song or Tumbling dice



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-02-13 23:16 by pepganzo.

I wouldn't disagree. If I should play an example to someone who hadn't heard a Stones song, this would be wuite a logical choice. Then I would play Ruby Tueday next.

Rocks Off would also be a great choice for a Ring Tone.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-02-13 23:14 by Chris Fountain.

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pepganzo
Midnight Rambler is the perfect Stones song or Tumbling dice

Both great songs but missing elements.

..not for me...

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treaclefingers

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pepganzo
Midnight Rambler is the perfect Stones song or Tumbling dice

Both great songs but missing elements.

what are the missing elements?
you have a riff by keith, a lot of energy, charlie's drumming and a fantastic performance by mick.

Anyway it's very difficult to choose.

Hell yeah treacle! Can't argue with your logic. The studio track is perfect. One of my all time favorites. But methinks there is no THE perfect Stones track because there are so many. But I never get tired of hearing Rocks Off. I can just imagine what it was like for folks who heard it way back in 1972. peace

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jp.M
..not for me...

ok.

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treaclefingers

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jp.M
..not for me...

ok.

In Stones songs it's impossible to speak of The Perfect or The Best...there are to many and different songs.....there is no comparison in between HTW, YGAGWYW, Angie, JJF, Stray Cat Blues, What A Shame, Ruby Tuesday ...or Sweet Virginia............etc....

__________________________

dunno if perfect is the word for any Stones song but hey it's definitely one hell of a number...intro ..Oh yeah!!... The build...... The wall Of Jericho horns....



ROCKMAN

I'll never the first time I heard it. I was given Exile as Christmas present and I had on a quality set of headphones. I felt like I just stuck oil. So, yes I agree. IMO the Stones could not make this one better live. The studio version just so amazing.

The live version in 1973 was still fresh and rockin'! Different than the studio version for sure but still quite excellent. The live versions from 2003 and 2013? are not quite so great. Nice to see them try it but both Keith and Mick have let this one slip, imo. peace

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Rockman
dunno if perfect is the word for any Stones song but hey it's definitely one hell of a number...intro ..Oh yeah!!... The build...... The wall Of Jericho horns....

Give yourself a couple of more minutes and I think you'll talk yourself into it Rockman!

Perfection. Together with TD the only immediate hit off Exile

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NICOS

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treaclefingers

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jp.M
..not for me...

ok.

In Stones songs it's impossible to speak of The Perfect or The Best...

You're wrong NICOS...I already did.

The perfect intro riff for sure, and a murky, mysterious, and fascinating recording. A real challenge to play live, as the lead vocal jumps a whole octave. Highlights for me are Keith's harmonies (they peaked on this lp as vocalists, imo) and the way Mick Taylor sneaks in with those nasty runs at the end. Oh, forgot to mention the epic horns and Charlie's propulsive fills on the drums. It just doesn't get any better...

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jp.M
..not for me...

Check his pulse.

.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015-03-28 15:16 by camper88.

Ummm...much as I like this song I'll go way back and pick The Last Time as a perfect Stones song. It rocks like hell and Mick's vocals are out there. It's too bad the Stones don't make much more of this song in their shows. Personally, if ya grab it, I'll take Moonlight Mile as the most beautiful and perfect song the Stones have ever done. There's nothing about Moonlight not to like.

I love 'Rocks Off'. But hasn't it been years since Mick has sung the first verse as it was originally written/recorded? I think that detracts from the performance.

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Roscoe
I love 'Rocks Off'. But hasn't it been years since Mick has sung the first verse as it was originally written/recorded? I think that detracts from the performance.

You only have to sing it right in the studio once.

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pepganzo
Midnight Rambler is the perfect Stones song or Tumbling dice

Right, or as mentioned:

The Last Time

I'd also nominate:

It's only Rock 'n' Roll
Paint it black

And I could name a few others. Probably Start me up and Gimme Shelter too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-02-14 06:14 by BroomWagon.

Definitely up there with as one of the great songs from their vast catalog but on Exile, i think All Down The Line is the superior rocker ... as for the perfect Stones song, I go with Gimme Shelter.

It is the best cut off the best album. And although they seemed to have bypassed Bill on quite a few of the songs, this primo cut shows his worth. He propels the whole thing.

I always thought it weird that there's no Rocks Off on the LAGTRS movie. I like the Live at Leeds version.

It is indeed the "perfect" Rolling Stones song. Look, if you were Michelangelo and you needed inspiration to make a sculpture of the Rolling Stones, this is the song that you would use.

It's the "modern" Stones belting out an amazing song, rock and roll, horns, and desperation all rolled into one. There is a "rush" to Rocks Off. You hear a semi-related rush in Street Fighting Man in GYYYO. It's that rush, it's pushing you forward, the wild abandon, the multi-layered Mick vocals, the lovely muddiness, the lust, the desperation, the damn horns!

Rocks Off is the "hidden" "perfect" Rolling Stones song.

Yep it's a perfect Rolling Stones song as so many others of their songs also is...and this is eary Punk-rock...

2 1 2 0

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camper88

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DandelionPowderman
Perfection. Together with TD the only immediate hit off Exile

Happy?

I always thout the studio cut was a little dry-sounding.

It's a great track and translates well to a live performance. Shame they didn't include it on the Ladies 'n Gents DVD.

yes, it is.