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matxil

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LeonidP
Wow, many have Tattoo over Some Girls ... which is odd since 'almost' every song on Some Girls is better that almost every song on Tattoo You. Anyway ...

SG:
Miss You: great, original, the Stones upping their game
When The Whip Comes Down: funny, worked great live, but not a great song
Imagination: rather boring, really
Some Girls: funny but predictable, obvious
Lies: not a very good rocker
Faraway Eyes: too much tongue in cheek, funny lyrics are fine but if I want parody I buy a comedian's album
Respectable: punky Chuck Berry. Okayish but ages fast
Before They Make Me Run: Good. I like the lyrics better than the song though.
Beast Of Burden: absolutely splendid soulful song. Brilliant.
Shattered: great mixture of punk and doo-wop

I know I'm in the minority but I can't stand Shattered, otherwise I pretty much agree.

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SoulSurvivor1990
I think Some Girls is on par with the 1968-72 run. Maybe "Lies" dings it a little, but the rest of the album is so strong it's easy to overlook. It was a very important record that definitively answered whether or not the band could stand strong against punk and disco. It's an important record for them and one of their best.

What bugs me about Some Girls is that half of the songs are using the same chords structure. A, E and D

Lies, Whip, Respectable... All the same song basically

Ok, agree that Exile is my fav.

All the others, save Voodoo, at least once, I have considered their "best since exile".

Strange thing I notice the more I grow older is that my love for Exile remains intact, but the appreciation for the others - all of them - is growing and growing, so the gap that once was huge, now is actually narrowing. In the case of Undercover, TY and Girls its mostly only in the details.

C

I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

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Big Al

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Stoneage
Another way to look at it is to study their biggest hits since Exile.
From the top of my head I would rank the 5 biggest hits like this:

1. Start Me Up - TY
2. It's Only R&R - IORR
3. Angie - GHS
4. Miss You - SG
5. Beast of Burden - SG

Yeah, that's pretty much spot-on; especially when considering 'global hits' Start Me Up being their last, of course.

Thanks. To that I would add still another perspective:

Album with most hits (and semi-): SG
Best sound quality: TY
Album with the last magic of Taylor: GHS (especially Winter is a gem).

Sound quality:

1. Black And Blue
2. Tattoo You
3. Emotional Rescue

Yes, maybe you are right there Dandy? Good to add nuances to the discussion anyway.

GOATS HEAD SOUP
IORR


BLACK AND BLUE


………………………

Tier 1: Some Girls, Tattoo You, Goats Head Soup, Black and Blue
Tier 2: It’s Only Rock n Roll, Emotional Rescue, Hackney Diamonds, Undercover, Blue and Lonesome

BLACK AND BLUE

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ironbelly
This topic is kind of useless and speculative.

I’m actually surprised that nobody remembers Mick clearly saying back in 2005 that A Bigger Bang is their best album since Exile. He repeated it everywhere - interviews, press, pre-release - like some sacred mantra. Comparing Bigger Bang to Exile became almost a National Anthem that year.

So what are you all buzzing about now? We already have the truth, delivered by the prophet himself. Mick said it - therefore it must be true. Case closed.

I've never seen him say that. He did compare its running time to EOMS. Keith said that it was the closest he and Mick worked together since EOMS, which there's no reason to believe that.

Mick said DIRTY WORK was "a great record" in 1986.

They tend to say convenient for the moment lies and three to ten years later dismiss the album.

Mick even thought that if an album sold more copies than the previous album that then the recent album is great or the best of the two, that the sales make the album great.

This is very easy. Tattoo You! I agree that side B is brilliant, but side A is mighty fine as well. A top five stones album for sure. Some Girls is very good, but doesn't come close at all.

Listened to Steel Wheels to refresh:

Tattoo
SG
Goats
Bridges
Steel Wheels
IORR
Hackney
Black and Blue
Undercover
Blue Lonesome
Dirty Work
Bigger Bang
Voodoo Lounge

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NashvilleBlues
Tier 1: Some Girls, Tattoo You, Goats Head Soup, Black and Blue
Tier 2: It’s Only Rock n Roll, Emotional Rescue, Hackney Diamonds, Undercover, Blue and Lonesome

Yes. I like this ranking.

I would have Bigger Bang in tier 2 and drop Hackney.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-10-08 23:34 by JimmyTheSaint.

Some Girls
Goats Head Soup
Hackney Diamonds
A Bigger Bang
Blue & Lonesome
Voodooo Lounge
Black and Blue
Emotional Rescue
Tattoo You
Bridges to Babylon
Steel Wheels
Dirty Work
Its Only Rock n Roll
Undercover

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

My favourite tracks from the LPs since Steel Wheels are mostly Keith songs.

Slipping Away
The Worst
Thru & Thru
Thief in the Night
How Can I Stop?
You Don’t Have to Mean It

The Keith track on HD is OK. And I do play Rolling Stone Blues occasionally.

I didn’t care much for Angry or Sweet Sound….

What do the Hackney enthusiasts recommend I pay closer attention to on the LP?

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slewan
I might be part of a small minority but I'd say 'Some Girls' is the only relevant Stones album after 'Exile'.

Define "relevant".

That's such a misguided sentiment amongst music critics and fans. There are obvious moments of relevancy that's strictly tied to a moment.

DIRTY WORK is a perfect example.

UNDERCOVER is another one.

Both albums had "relative moments" as far as production and instrumentation. Both are dated in that regard yet some of what happened with U has kind of made a visit with recent albums by others much younger.

There's production and there's songwriting. U got the better end of that.

DW is essentially the Stones' version of "We Build This City".

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I think it still too early to judge it really with a cool mind. That's why it is still very polarizing, and also that's why Big Al choose to point it out...

But what I find more interesting in this thread is the status of SOME GIRLS going down and TATTOO YOU going up. That has been the trend for ages, and probably the consensus starts to be that TATTOO YOU actually is the 'best since EXILE'. I started to write about here, but got bored. Let's see if I am able to finish it.

- Doxa

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Doxa

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I think it still too early to judge it really with a cool mind. That's why it is still very polarizing, and also that's why Big Al choose to point it out...

But what I find more interesting in this thread is the status of SOME GIRLS going down and TATTOO YOU going up. That has been the trend for ages, and probably the consensus starts to be that TATTOO YOU actually is the 'best since EXILE'. I started to write about here, but got bored. Let's see if I am able to finish it.

- Doxa

Yes, please do finish it, Doxa - in your own time, of course

I, for one, have always preferred Tattoo You: better songs; better production...

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I don't hate it. I just think it's "meh". Ni fu ni fa, as they say in Spanish. Mediocre.
I don't hate any Stones albums. There is at least one I never play (Between the Buttons) and some which have horrible stuff on them but also some good stuff (TSMR and DW obviously) and then there are some which are okayish, like a tepid shower or a York ham sandwich without cheese and pickles. Most albums post DW are okayish, playing it safe but without being exciting or new or fresh, apart from a few songs that stand out. Except HD doesn't really have that either. It's a bit like Between the Buttons, but less annoying.

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JimmyTheSaint
My favourite tracks from the LPs since Steel Wheels are mostly Keith songs.

Slipping Away
The Worst
Thru & Thru
Thief in the Night
How Can I Stop?
You Don’t Have to Mean It

The Keith track on HD is OK. And I do play Rolling Stone Blues occasionally.

I didn’t care much for Angry or Sweet Sound….

What do the Hackney enthusiasts recommend I pay closer attention to on the LP?

Driving Me Too Hard

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matxil

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I don't hate it. I just think it's "meh". Ni fu ni fa, as they say in Spanish. Mediocre.
I don't hate any Stones albums. There is at least one I never play (Between the Buttons) and some which have horrible stuff on them but also some good stuff (TSMR and DW obviously) and then there are some which are okayish, like a tepid shower or a York ham sandwich without cheese and pickles. Most albums post DW are okayish, playing it safe but without being exciting or new or fresh, apart from a few songs that stand out. Except HD doesn't really have that either. It's a bit like Between the Buttons, but less annoying.

okay perhaps i should rephrase that

you either like it or you don't i guess (a bit like a ham sandwich with pickles?)

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matxil

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I don't hate it. I just think it's "meh". Ni fu ni fa, as they say in Spanish. Mediocre.
I don't hate any Stones albums. There is at least one I never play (Between the Buttons) and some which have horrible stuff on them but also some good stuff (TSMR and DW obviously) and then there are some which are okayish, like a tepid shower or a York ham sandwich without cheese and pickles. Most albums post DW are okayish, playing it safe but without being exciting or new or fresh, apart from a few songs that stand out. Except HD doesn't really have that either. It's a bit like Between the Buttons, but less annoying.

I'm often surprised for the dislike aimed at Between The Buttons. I know it's rather English, London-centric and quirky, but still. Alongside it's follow-up, Satanic Majesty's, it's almost an anomaly among the Stones', generally, more uniformed output.

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Doxa

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I think it still too early to judge it really with a cool mind. That's why it is still very polarizing, and also that's why Big Al choose to point it out...

But what I find more interesting in this thread is the status of SOME GIRLS going down and TATTOO YOU going up. That has been the trend for ages, and probably the consensus starts to be that TATTOO YOU actually is the 'best since EXILE'. I started to write about here, but got bored. Let's see if I am able to finish it.

- Doxa

yes i agree

for some time will be required for them to really find out what they think of it

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Big Al

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matxil

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I don't hate it. I just think it's "meh". Ni fu ni fa, as they say in Spanish. Mediocre.
I don't hate any Stones albums. There is at least one I never play (Between the Buttons) and some which have horrible stuff on them but also some good stuff (TSMR and DW obviously) and then there are some which are okayish, like a tepid shower or a York ham sandwich without cheese and pickles. Most albums post DW are okayish, playing it safe but without being exciting or new or fresh, apart from a few songs that stand out. Except HD doesn't really have that either. It's a bit like Between the Buttons, but less annoying.

I'm often surprised for the dislike aimed at Between The Buttons. I know it's rather English, London-centric and quirky, but still. Alongside it's follow-up, Satanic Majesty's, it's almost an anomaly among the Stones', generally, more uniformed output.

One might say that Aftermath is English, London-centric and quirky too, but I like Aftermath very much. The difference is that Aftermath, although very much "pop", still sounds real, authentic. English guys crazy about the blues, exploring how to write pop songs.
BtB sounds fake, artificial. Whenever I accidently hear a song from it, it annoys me tremendously. Not like marmite, but like stale bread or overcooked pasta.

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matxil

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Big Al

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matxil

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I don't hate it. I just think it's "meh". Ni fu ni fa, as they say in Spanish. Mediocre.
I don't hate any Stones albums. There is at least one I never play (Between the Buttons) and some which have horrible stuff on them but also some good stuff (TSMR and DW obviously) and then there are some which are okayish, like a tepid shower or a York ham sandwich without cheese and pickles. Most albums post DW are okayish, playing it safe but without being exciting or new or fresh, apart from a few songs that stand out. Except HD doesn't really have that either. It's a bit like Between the Buttons, but less annoying.

I'm often surprised for the dislike aimed at Between The Buttons. I know it's rather English, London-centric and quirky, but still. Alongside it's follow-up, Satanic Majesty's, it's almost an anomaly among the Stones', generally, more uniformed output.

One might say that Aftermath is English, London-centric and quirky too, but I like Aftermath very much. The difference is that Aftermath, although very much "pop", still sounds real, authentic. English guys crazy about the blues, exploring how to write pop songs.
BtB sounds fake, artificial. Whenever I accidently hear a song from it, it annoys me tremendously. Not like marmite, but like stale bread or overcooked pasta.

Now, despite loving Between The Buttons as I do, I can entertain the gripes any annoyances others may have. I wager that either Cool Calm Collected, or Something Happened To Me Yesterday, are your most detested.

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Big Al

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matxil

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Big Al

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matxil

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ProfessorWolf

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Big Al
I know I've mentioned Hackney Diamonds, previously, but going by it's positions, here, I do wonder whether it is becoming a contender for the most 'marmite' Rolling Stones album?

it really is taking a beating isn't it?

and if i'm understanding your use of marmite it indeed seems very polarizing

either people love it or hate it with little inbetween

I don't hate it. I just think it's "meh". Ni fu ni fa, as they say in Spanish. Mediocre.
I don't hate any Stones albums. There is at least one I never play (Between the Buttons) and some which have horrible stuff on them but also some good stuff (TSMR and DW obviously) and then there are some which are okayish, like a tepid shower or a York ham sandwich without cheese and pickles. Most albums post DW are okayish, playing it safe but without being exciting or new or fresh, apart from a few songs that stand out. Except HD doesn't really have that either. It's a bit like Between the Buttons, but less annoying.

I'm often surprised for the dislike aimed at Between The Buttons. I know it's rather English, London-centric and quirky, but still. Alongside it's follow-up, Satanic Majesty's, it's almost an anomaly among the Stones', generally, more uniformed output.

One might say that Aftermath is English, London-centric and quirky too, but I like Aftermath very much. The difference is that Aftermath, although very much "pop", still sounds real, authentic. English guys crazy about the blues, exploring how to write pop songs.
BtB sounds fake, artificial. Whenever I accidently hear a song from it, it annoys me tremendously. Not like marmite, but like stale bread or overcooked pasta.

Now, despite loving Between The Buttons as I do, I can entertain the gripes any annoyances others may have. I wager that either Cool Calm Collected, or Something Happened To Me Yesterday, are your most detested.

Those are high on the list of annoyances, yes She Smiled Sweetly is another one.
But to be honest, I hardly ever listen to the album so I don't even recall the details. I have forced myself listening to it some times (long ago) and I found the entire album unbearable. Even Back Street Girl. I am talking about the UK version. The US version has Let's Spend the Night Together, I think, but I can listen to that on one of their Greatest Hits albums.

Kinda off-topic, but kinda on, I love the drums on My Obsession. They seem ahead of their time.

She Smiled Sweetly is beautiful!