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Big Al

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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...

Tattoo You is Jagger’s masterpiece. He put that album together with Kimsey beautifully.

Jagger did an excellent job on Some Girls capturing popular trends like disco and punk, however a handful of songs grow tired quickly and would better be served as b-sides, Far Away Eyes* for instance. Tattoo You is timeless and covers a wide range of the band’s abilities including former pals Taylor and Hopkins.

*I would enjoy this song had they developed an album version without the tongue-in-cheek spoken word pastiche and used the released version as a b-side where it firmly belongs IMO

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DandelionPowderman
She Smiled Sweetly is beautiful!

If Uriah Heep (the Dickens' character, not the band) would have been a singer, he would have sung like that.

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matxil

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DandelionPowderman
She Smiled Sweetly is beautiful!

If Uriah Heep (the Dickens' character, not the band) would have been a singer, he would have sung like that.

In a very 'umble style

Tier 1…complete legend

Some Girls
Tattoo You
Goats Head Soup

Tier 2…solid albums a little disjointed

It’s Only Rock N Roll
Black And Blue
Emotional Rescue
Voodoo Lounge
Hackney Diamonds
Undercover

Tier 3. Good songs, a little bloated and self-indulgent. Flashes of brilliance

Bridges to Babylon
Blue and Lonesome
A Bigger Bang
Steel Wheels

Tier 4. Void of any redeemable quality. Utter trash

Dirty Work

the shoot 'em dead, brainbell jangler!

Regarding Some Girls vs. Tattoo You.

This is a continuation of my post upthread (on page 2). As opposed to Some Girls and Emotional Rescue, the two preceding albums, Tatoo You on its release sounded to me lacking the contemporaneity or the edge. While SG and ER reflected the times they were recorded, the late 70s, I felt TY was back to the old school Stones sound of the early 70s, a regression and rather conservative. I may be referring to what slewan tried to express by the word, ‘relevant’.

But now, we live in the Year 2025, a quarter-century into the 21st Century. Looking back from the present, both early and late 70s are fifty years ago, more or less. The hippy times (the late 60s to early 70s) and the punk times (the late 70s to early 80s) were both long way back, and don’t seem to be that separated from each other. They both belong to a distant past in our aging memory.

What matters now is, rather than a record being contemporary or edgy when it was released, the very quality it presents. And TY possesses enough of it. That’s where my reappreciation of the album after a long yeas’ neglect comes from, perhaps.

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StonedRambler

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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

Some of Charlie’s most underrated drumming on Lies…

Maybe not the complete correct reaction for this thread, but I want to say that after Exile only Tattoo You was a superb album. All the other albums had 1 to a few great songs.

Racca1962

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matxil

………………

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 likeBetween the Buttons, but less annoying.

It seems that my and your attitudes to BETWEEN THE BUTTONS and TATTOO YOU are quite opposite. Only that my dislikes are not so accentuated as yours. Apart from that, I still listen to TATTOO YOU as much (or as little) as every other of their studio albums. I acknowledge that TATTOO YOU may be better than DIRTY WORK, but on the other hand it irritates me in a way that DIRTY WORK does not. And indeed, "Waiting in a Friend" I find marvellous.

Also apparently, my love for BETWEEN THE BUTTONS corresponds to the love a majority of posters have for TATTOO YOU.

I so much agree with Dandelion Powderman. "She Smiles Sweetly" is beautiful. I have thought so since 1967.

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Witness
I acknowledge that TATTOO YOU may be better than DIRTY WORK, but on the other hand it irritates me in a way that DIRTY WORK does not.

That is hilarious.

However, I disagree with you - TATTOO YOU is better, there is no doubt, than DIRTY WORK, as well as any of their other albums are better.

Between the Buttons and Flowers have great songs

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GasLightStreet

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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".
(…)

relavant = adding something new to an oeuvre that becomes a integral part of that oeuvre

Consindering their post-Some Girls albums the Stones have somehow come to a similar conlusion. It's at least telling that no song(s) except for Start Me Up (which dates back to the seventies) became a standard live song. As far as I remember very few songs from later albums ('Slipping Away','You Got Me rocking' etc.) survived' the tour following it's album as a staple and/or stayed in heavy rotation during following tours. Some songs returned to setlists, of course, but usally either as rarities or they disappeard at the following tour(s).

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RisingStone
Regarding Some Girls vs. Tattoo You.

This is a continuation of my post upthread (on page 2). As opposed to Some Girls and Emotional Rescue, the two preceding albums, Tatoo You on its release sounded to me lacking the contemporaneity or the edge. While SG and ER reflected the times they were recorded, the late 70s, I felt TY was back to the old school Stones sound of the early 70s, a regression and rather conservative. I may be referring to what slewan tried to express by the word, ‘relevant’.

But now, we live in the Year 2025, a quarter-century into the 21st Century. Looking back from the present, both early and late 70s are fifty years ago, more or less. The hippy times (the late 60s to early 70s) and the punk times (the late 70s to early 80s) were both long way back, and don’t seem to be that separated from each other. They both belong to a distant past in our aging memory.

What matters now is, rather than a record being contemporary or edgy when it was released, the very quality it presents. And TY possesses enough of it. That’s where my reappreciation of the album after a long yeas’ neglect comes from, perhaps.

Great analysis, and what I meant with Tattoo You having a timeless quality. I wasn’t around when any of this was going on so I am looking at it from a millennial’s perspective. I have never been a fan of punk, so Some Girls doesn’t resonate with me overall. The uptempo rockers just sound very much of the period and I’m not sure exactly why, perhaps it’s the production quality or the vocal delivery. A song like Rip This Joint or even Star Star sound timeless, despite some lyric references.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-10-10 00:27 by TravelinMan.

I should say I absolutely love the music of the song Some Girls, and I can’t believe they performed it a decade ago because the lyrics IMO are far more non-PC than their other stuff. Did they omit or change lyrics when they last played it?

Wasn't it 1999 when they last played Some Girls? I don't recall. Sure they wouldn't have done it very recently. To bad of course, in my opinion.

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frankotero
Wasn't it 1999 when they last played Some Girls? I don't recall. Sure they wouldn't have done it very recently. To bad of course, in my opinion.

Some Girls was play 38 times in 1999 and once in 2015, 2007 and 2015.
(note: Some Girls was not played during the Some Girls Tour in 1978!)

I don’t know hardcore Punk from the 70’s/early 80’s, most of the commercial stuff(Costello, Clash, Ramones, X etc.) had more bark than bite IMO.

What Mick did with Whip, Lies and Respectable was super impressive. Great lyrics and on par with the other bands.

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Maindefender
I don’t know hardcore Punk from the 70’s/early 80’s, most of the commercial stuff(Costello, Clash, Ramones, X etc.) had more bark than bite IMO.

What Mick did with Whip, Lies and Respectable was super impressive. Great lyrics and on par with the other bands.

I love the commercial punk of the period above, thoroughly enjoyed seeing X last year

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slewan

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frankotero
Wasn't it 1999 when they last played Some Girls? I don't recall. Sure they wouldn't have done it very recently. To bad of course, in my opinion.

Some Girls was play 38 times in 1999 and once in 2015, 2007 and 2015.
(note: Some Girls was not played during the Some Girls Tour in 1978!)

+ twice in 2006.

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Mathijs

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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

TY:
Start Me Up: a killer of a song. Everything about it, drums, base, guitars, voices are perfect. Perfection.
Hang Fire: boring rocker, filler
Slave: delicious. Only the Stones could come up with something like this. Loose, rocking, soulful. Perfection.
Little T&A: groovy rocker. Good lyrics.
Black Limousine: straight up 12(13)-bar blues done perfectly
Neighbours: just great fun, both lyrics, voice and guitars having a blast
Worried About You: Perfection
Tops: Perfection
Heaven: Perfection. Sounds like nothing they did before or after but fits in wonderfully.
Ain't No Use For Crying: Perfection. Interesting rhythm.
Waiting On A Friend: absolute masterpiece.

Both SG and TY have an overall sound that keeps them together.
I think TY is winning here, though.

I just about completely agree with. I think many of the tracks on Some Works worked better live than on the album

Tattoo You is perfection to me. I don't really know which album is better, Exile or TY, but I do play TY more often.

Mathijs

Tattoo You side 2 is perfect. Absolutely perfect. And then also Slave.. Very underrated. I listen to the Aint no use in crying outtakes a lot. Such a great song.

And while I agree SG is a better album for live shows, one of my main Stones wishes that will never become true is playing Slave live. I really think they could pull it off between 81 and 03.

Didn't know they played Some Girls live as late as 2015. To my knowledge I'm not aware of any adlibbing of the lyrics. This is more ballsy than Brown Sugar in my opinion. Anyhow, I love the live version, very powerful.

In the 1999 versions I believe they flip flopped the lyrics about black girls and white girls

2006 didn’t have that verse at all.

2015 was a lyrical mess. I think Mick just repeated the same verse over and over.

Goats Head Soup, obvs.

I love Exile but unfortunately some lazy music journalists say it is the last best album they ever did.Many of these Journalists need to listen to ome Girls,Voodoo Loumge,and Goats Head soup.Awesome albums.All down to personal choice.

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GasLightStreet

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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".
(…)

relavant = adding something new to an oeuvre that becomes a integral part of that oeuvre

Consindering their post-Some Girls albums the Stones have somehow come to a similar conlusion. It's at least telling that no song(s) except for Start Me Up (which dates back to the seventies) became a standard live song. As far as I remember very few songs from later albums ('Slipping Away','You Got Me rocking' etc.) survived' the tour following it's album as a staple and/or stayed in heavy rotation during following tours. Some songs returned to setlists, of course, but usally either as rarities or they disappeard at the following tour(s).

In regard to the definition, UNDERCOVER is as relevant as SOME GIRLS.

Perhaps the word is misused to be some kind of stamp meaning of "interesting" or "chart topping".

The 1983-2005 plus Don't Stop and Doom...

In 1989-90 they played one from U and, for a few shows, two, but one from DW.

Since then they've played two others from U along with Undercover Of The Night, and Harlem Shuffle... twice?

STEEL WHEELS... Slipping Away has had the longest life, with Mixed Emotions played once and Rock And A Hard Place was last played a few times on the LICKS tour.

VOODOO with You Got Me Rocking being the most played song of that entire time span and, except for a couple shows, as I recall, three other songs but, what, once?

BRIDGES... Out Of Control has hung around as well as You Don't Have To Mean It and, on a much smaller number, Thief In The Night. I can't recall any other songs played live post-1999.

Don't Stop... only the Licks tour.

For A BIGGER BANG by the last couple of legs of that tour they basically did one song but as far as I know zero since. Eh, Streets Of Love in 2014.

Doom... was last played in 2016 so it hung around a while.

Maybe for 2026 they'll play 3 new songs and 2 from HACKNEY, which hopefully means no Sympathy For The Devil or IORR.

Overall, there's very little relevancy to any post-1981 release with the set lists, just the usual HOT ROCKS and REWIND songs.

It's a good thing they recorded all those albums after 1981. Don't want them to get bored.

Qualitatively Exile and Some Girls might be the best albums, or the most important albums, but I hardly ever play these albums anymore. Tattoo You still gets a lot of rotation, as does Undercover.

When I play Stones, it's mostly live, and outtakes.

Mathijs

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Mathijs
Qualitatively Exile and Some Girls might be the best albums, or the most important albums, but I hardly ever play these albums anymore. Tattoo You still gets a lot of rotation, as does Undercover.

When I play Stones, it's mostly live, and outtakes.

Mathijs

As much as I love Stone's studio records, I have always preferred their live performances, official or non-official releases. If only they would play more of their less well known songs...

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Mathijs
Qualitatively Exile and Some Girls might be the best albums, or the most important albums, but I hardly ever play these albums anymore. Tattoo You still gets a lot of rotation, as does Undercover.

When I play Stones, it's mostly live, and outtakes.

Mathijs

Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Beggars Banquet are not lesser albums than Some Girls in my opinion.Keith’s guitar playing on those albums is fantastic to say nothing of the classic songs.I would not put Some Girls in that category



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-10-11 12:44 by Taylor1.

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Taylor1

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Mathijs
Qualitatively Exile and Some Girls might be the best albums, or the most important albums, but I hardly ever play these albums anymore. Tattoo You still gets a lot of rotation, as does Undercover.

When I play Stones, it's mostly live, and outtakes.

Mathijs

Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Beggars Banquet are not lesser albums than Some Girls in my opinion.Keith’s guitar playing on those albums is fantastic to say nothing of the classic songs.I would not put Some Girls in that category

But this thread is 'since Exile'....

To me, Beggars is their absolute best and most important album.

Mathijs

It feels like Goats Head Soup’s stature or rank has gone up among the fandom over the years.

Not for me. That ‘un always comes across as quirky and unfocused.
To borrow GLS’s word describing my stance to GHS from the album thread, it didn’t connect then, and doesn’t now.

One thing that doesn’t convince me is the track order.
I’d put Heartbreaker and Starfxxker to start each side for my liking.
Too formulaic? Maybe. But repositioning these songs that way would make the initial impression of GHS less ‘deep’ hence more accessible for a non-convert like me.
The rest changes depending on how I feel on the time, maybe leaving Angie in the original position (i.e. the final track on Side A).

IMO there is no album better (combination of songwriting, variety, production, flow, timelessness etc) than Sticky Fingers. It’s perfect from beginning to end. That said, Exile is my favorite album.