Rocks off and Let it loose....

Right now LC & Sweet Virginia.
But Shine A Light is an all-timer too.
So it had to be three...

If you take any one or two songs from exile they probably don't stack up to the two best songs from many of the Stones records, but it is listening to the album in its whole is the magic, it really is the best album made from any band in my opinion. If an alien came down to earth and asked me "What is rock music?" I would play this album for him because it has all of rock influences, rocabilly,country,gospel and the blues played loose and honest.

All Down the Line
Tumblin' Dice

All Down The Line and Rocks Off

All Down The Line, Rocks Off, Loving Cup, Torn & Frayed, Sweet Virginia, Rip This Joint, Happy, Soul Survivor, Let It Loose, Shine A Light, Stop Breaking Down, Tumbling Dice.........thats 2....isnt it?

Soul Survivor
Stop Breaking Down

T D & Happy

The best songs on this great album is in my opinion Shine a light and Sweet Viginia. Maybe. But then on another day.......

All Down The Line and Shine a Light right now.

Although I must say I prefer the Stripped version of Shine A Light over the Exile version. It seems more powerful to me.

Tumbling Dice is my favorite song period
Then Let It Loose would probably edge out Happy and Ventilator Blues

Impossible to cap it at two, but if pressed I'd have to say Rocks Off and Torn and Frayed.

Rocks Off for sure. Torn & Frayed is right up there with any song from side 2; especially Loving Cup. Gimme a little drink!!!

1. Torn & Frayed
2. Stop Breakin' Down or Tumbling Dice

Oh Man, Stop Breakin Down! Tumblin Dice! No wonder it's my favourite album I remember trying to scrape up the $$$ to buy this double album. I think it was like $6.50 or so. What an album, with all the photos & postcards. What a Summer! Then getting The Stones on the cover of LIFE magazine! That told my parents to shut up!

I saw this album reduced in HMV for £4.99 yesterday.

I know we all like a bargain and maybe I'm weird, but I almost feel insulted seeing one of the greatest records ever made in a bargain bin with other dross that the store is trying to get rid of. I almost feel like taking all the copies to the front door, wearing a sandwich board saying "Anyone who doesnt own this album is a moron with no taste" and haranguing and harassing perfect strangers into buying it - or just taking the album to the counter and demanding that they sell it at a price which justifies its greatness

1. Loving Cup

2. Shine A Light

3. ALDTL

4. Sweet Virginia

5. Rocks Off

6. Torn and Frayed

7. Tumbling Dice

8. Happy

9. Soul Survivor

10 Rip this Joint

Rest are tied for # 11...and not one is less than great.

1. Happy
2. All Down the Line

Casino Boogie and Stop Breaking Down.

all down the line and sweet virginia

Hands down.... this isn't even moderately debateable... the 2 best songs on Exile on Main street are:

Sweet Virginia
Tumbling Dice

Two monster classics that belong in the Stones "Greatest 21 Song Setlist" anyday.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

Loving Cup
Soul Survivor

TD
Happy


But sooooo many others that could be there

Its funny but the album version of stop breaking down is better than all of the extended boot versions I have- especially the harp playing-

Talkin bout the....

Loving Cup & Torn & Frayed

"Tumbling dice" and "Sweet black angel".

LET IT LOOSE AND THEN SHINE A LIGHT..... THIRD VENTALATOR BLUES! There is not a poor song on the cd!

It's fun to see the different suggestions here. I really think you could pair every two songs on this album and they would be equally good.Debra, you are right: No poor song on the album!

my #1 and #2 are debra's 1 and 3.

let it loose -a true epic
ventilator blues -amazing hiccup-stop slide, great horns on the turnaround