Rolling Stones Re-Release "Exile On Main Street"
Yesterday the Rolling Stones re issued their 1972 classic album; EXILE ON MAIN STREET. The album celebrating its 40th anniversary, (a bit early) has become known through the years as a masterpiece & one of the Stones finest works. This was never my personal favorite album among the Stones works, but indeed it is a classic. It is now available in a deluxe boxed set & deluxe i-tunes version which I down loaded. 
The original songs, remastered sound absolutely great, much clearer & crisper than the original recordings. The new release comes with alternate versions of “All Down the Line” “Loving Cup” & “Soul Survivor” with Kieth singing the lead. There are eight new songs: PLUNDERED MY SOUL which also has two videos of footage from that era associated with it. PASS THE WINE (SOPHIA LOREN) / DANCING IN THE LIGHT / FOLLOWING THE RIVER / GOOD TIME WOMEN / I’M NOT SIGNIFYING / SO DIVINE (ALADDIN STORY) / & TITLE 5. They are all quality songs that didn’t make the original double albums cut. 
The songs for EXILE were recorded form 1968-1971. The Stones had just gotten out of their LEGAL ties with Allen Klien & had to flea England because they owed more taxes than they could afford. Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman & Mick Taylor (the guitarist who replaced Brian Jones) settled in the South of France. Mick Jagger had just gotten married to Bianca, & moved to Paris. While Keith & Anita Pallenberg settled in a luxury villa called Nellcote near Nice. The album was recorded amongst chaos, with drugs, booze, freaky people, wild parties & horrible surroundings in Keith’s basement. The sound was sent to the Stones mobile truck recording studio & eventually finished off at Sunset Sound in L.A. During this period Keith was supporting a daily heroin habit & had a lot of shady people hanging around him. Keith & other Stones were always late or not showing up at all for sessions. Richards claims his classic HAPPY, was recorded one day when he was actually early & no one else was around except sax man Bobby Keys & producer Jimmy Miller. He played the riff & the song just developed on the spot. Mick got heavily involved in the final mixes in Los Angeles & helped complete the final product.
The album was released as a double LP, on May 12th 1972 in the United States. It received great reviews & went straight to the top of the album charts. ROCKS OFF, ALL DOWN THE LINE, HAPPY, &TUMBLING DICE all became FM Rock radio classics. RIP THIS JOINT still holds up as one of the greatest hard rocking songs ever. The cover featured a series of black & white photographs by Robert Frank and included a gatefold collage of pictures as well as 12 post cards.The album featured Keith Richards on guitars, bass, piano & backing vocals. Mick Jagger on vocals, harmonica, tambourine, guitar & maracas. Charlie Watts on drums, Bill Wyman on bass, & Mick Taylor on guitars, bass & backing vocals.
Guests include Ian Stewart on piano, Bobby Keys on sax & percussion, Billy Preston on piano & organ, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Venetta Fields on backing vocals ( who has worked with Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Joe Walsh & the Doors post Jim Morrison just to name a few) Shirley Goodman also on backing vocals (later of Shame Shame Shame, fame) & other various artists.The release was followed by the legendary Stones 1972 Tour that was wild, rowdy & highly publicized. It put rock & r
oll on the map with the “in crowd”. The Stones were now celebrities on the fore front of the rock movement. The was heavy drug use, addictions, lots of booze & lots of sex. Jagger was carrying a gun because Hells Angels had a price tag on his head after the whole Altamont aftermath, which still loomed over the Stones legally. Bianca & Anita were always fighting causing tension between Mick & Kieth.
oll on the map with the “in crowd”. The Stones were now celebrities on the fore front of the rock movement. The was heavy drug use, addictions, lots of booze & lots of sex. Jagger was carrying a gun because Hells Angels had a price tag on his head after the whole Altamont aftermath, which still loomed over the Stones legally. Bianca & Anita were always fighting causing tension between Mick & Kieth.
The wild tour had riots, heavy police activity, wide media attention, movie stars, rock stars, groupies & lots of stragglers rolling with it along the way. Overall it was huge success setting the standards for large concerts of its day & the future. The tour ended with three wild nights at Madison Square Garden in New York.
An unreleased film titled “Co#*Su%#er Blues” was made from footage of the tour. Some of that video is being used for a movie to be releaded this June called "The Stones In Exile".
An unreleased film titled “Co#*Su%#er Blues” was made from footage of the tour. Some of that video is being used for a movie to be releaded this June called "The Stones In Exile".
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