The Rolling Stones, Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet

Artistic Masterpiece, Commercial Flop

This legendary album was hailed both by critics and Stones fans alike whom consider it one of the very best efforts of their illustrious careers, although commercially it would be the worst performing record of the 24 albums issued between 1963 and 2005 reaching only #5 on the charts. Although it sounds absurd now, it was also considered a comeback by a band that at the time appeared doomed after their previous album Their Satanic Majesties Request was the weakest of their career and several members of the band were involved in high profile drug arrests and the band's founder Brian Jones sank further into the morass of drugs. Furthermore, the band had not toured since 1966, an eternity back in that era, mostly due to issues related to the decline of Jones. The band was also nearly bankrupt due to a combination of a terrible recording contract, lack of touring, outrageous tax rates in England at the time and excessive spending on their part.

Against this beak backdrop and behind the scenes the band was about to rebound to spectacular creative heights over the next 4 years that would forever give them deserving claim to "The Greatest Rock `N Roll Band in the World". Mick Jagger would maintain his wild image, but behind the scenes he gave up drugs and smoking and reverted to his roots of exercising regularly as taught by his Phys-Ed instructor dad. In an interview in the 1990s Jagger said "I was too smart to fall victim to drugs".

He also became a voracious reader of scores of classic novels, and spent hours learning how to play guitar, both of which had a profound effect on his song writing ability. It would no longer be Jagger exclusively writing the lyrics and Keith Richards exclusively writing the music. The band also marginalized Jones' involvement as he had become a liability. Between mid '68 and mid '69 they recorded 25-30 songs, many of which would ultimately be among the greatest Rock `N Roll songs of all time. The songs would be divided into 2 albums, 2 separate singles, and another classic that would be released on a later album. Jagger later explained that Beggar's Banquet and Let It Bleed were recorded over the same extended 12 months of recording. It was decided that for the most part, the songs that were predominantly acoustic would be on Beggar's Banquet and the songs that were predominantly electric would be on Let It Bleed. For example, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" was one of the first songs recorded and was played live in '68 at the Rolling Stones Rock `N Roll Circus, but its release was delayed (with a boy's chorus intro added) until the fall of '69 on Let It Bleed. That is why Brian Jones and his replacement Mick Taylor both appear on Let It Bleed.

It was also decided, in a rare promotional blunder by the Stones, that "Jumping Jack Flash" would be left off of Beggar's Banquet and instead would be only available as a single, preceding the release of the album. JJF was an instant hit (#3 on the singles chart) and is unquestionably an all time rock classic. Critics and fans hailed that the Stones were back and "they had returned to their roots". Jagger disputes that saying that yes it was a turn away from the psychedelic failure of Their Satanic Majesties Request and the Pop sound of Between the Buttons, but in fact it was quite unlike any song they had done before. It was not psychedelic or Pop, but is was also not blues based rock like many of their earlier recordings, it was pure Rock `N Roll. The release of the single was complimented for the first time with a music video that was seen by few due to censorship because as Richards says "it was a pretty wicked video". Also absent from the record would be the classic "Sister Morphine" that was delayed until Sticky Fingers in 1971 because Jagger's ex girlfriend Marianne Faithful had made claims she wrote the song.

Despite the absence of these songs, and the relative poor sales for the album, Beggar's Banquet is a landmark album. The opening song "Sympathy for the Devil" is musically and lyrically unlike any song ever written and is on everyone's top 10 all time rock songs. Another hard rock classic, and perhaps the only hard rock acoustic classic, was Street Fighting Man, a reflection of the student riots taking place on both sides of the Atlantic at the time. The remaining tracks are acoustic songs that have never gotten radio play then or now, but every one of them is a hidden gem. There is the soulful ballad "No Expectations" and the cleverly comical country influenced songs "Dear Doctor" and "Factory Girl". There is the "Sympathy for the Devil" antithesis redemption in the Jesus parable from the Bible "Prodigal Son" followed by the savagely hard rock "Stray Cat Blues", which was easily the hardest edge rock song recorded at that point in time and is one of the top 10 most underrated songs ever. Have you ever heard it on the radio? "Jig Saw Puzzle" and "Salt of the Earth" with Richards singing the intro, are exclamation points for this masterpiece in which the Stones took acoustic songs well beyond the usual background sound for soft rock ballads.

So why was it tied with Now! (1964) as the poorest charting Stones album in their careers? To this day it has barely sold 1 million copies compared to the nearly 8 million copies of Some Girls (1978). There are multiple reasons, the hit "Jumping Jack Flash" was not included, it followed the much high charting Satanic (#2) which disappointed most buyers, the original bathroom graffiti album cover was rejected by the record company and instead they went with a bland white jacket, albums that are primarily acoustic don't sell well (for example Led Zeppelin III and Pink Floyd's Meddle) and lastly the album was not promoted/backed by a tour. An example of the reaction is documented in Bill Wyman's book in which members of the Stones and Beatles were at the same party. Jagger played an advance copy of "Sympathy" and the muted reaction by the partygoers were that it was "cool" and "unique", then Paul McCarthy put on an advance of "Hey Jude" and all the hippest of the hip flower children of the day got much more excited and all "oohed" and "aahed" about how great it was.

Despite the lack of sales, I rank this album surely in their top 10 and close to the top 5. I will note that many "hardcore Stones fans" typically rate it in their top 3 or 4. Maybe if "Jumping Jack Flash" were included I would have rated it as high. Regardless, it is a must have Masterpiece. Overall grade: A

Other Stones album ratings

1) Some Girls (1978) A+
2) Let It Bleed (1969) A+
3) Sticky Fingers (1971) A+
4) Exile on Main Street (1972) A+
5) Voodoo Lounge (1994) A
6) Beggar's Banquet (1968) A
7) Black and Blue (1976) A
8) It's Only Rock `N Roll (1974) A
9) Bridges to Babylon (1997) A-
10) Out of Their Heads (1965) A-
11) Goat's Head Soup (1973) A-
12) Aftermath (1966) A-
13) A Bigger Bang B+ (2005)
14) Between the Buttons (1967) B+
15) Tattoo You (1981) B+
16) Now! (1964) B+
17) Emotional Rescue (1980) B
18) Steel Wheels (1989) B
19) Dirty Work (1986) B-
20) Undercover (1983) B-
21) England's Newest Hit Makers (1963)B-
22) December's Children (1965) B-
23) 12 X 5 (1964) B-
24) Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) C
July 5, 2008

Why Review?

It is hard to argue that this is not the Stones finest (I love "Let It Bleed" and most Mick Taylor Stones.) I won't. May 12, 2008

A Wholly Satisfying Beginning To A String Of Classic Albums.

"Beggars Banquet" was released in 1968 after the largely unloved (and underrated) "Her Satanic Majesties Request," and began an unprecedented series of classic albums that helpe define them as The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World.

"Beggars Banquet" begins with "Sympthy For The Devil," an immortal piece rock music that remains among their most exciting recordings, from its sizzling samba opening to Mick's scintilating vocal performance to a fiery guitar solo provided by Keef.

Next up is the beautiful "No Expectations," which features Brian Jones playing amazing bottle neck guitar. This is quite possibly the most beautiful song in The Rolling Stones' catalogue, a touching ballad with lovely, amtmospheric lyrics and one of Mick's most genuinely passionate and sincere vocal performances.

"Dear Doctor" is a lyrical tour de force, featuring the sardonic lyrical wit and verbal intercourse that help define the band musically.

"Jigsaw Puzzle" is a lengthly piece in which Mick goes into an indepth analysis of his bandmates as well as Londonites in general. A very rich and atmospheric number that goes down smoothly.

"Steeet Fighting Man" is of course an anthem for disillusioned youths whose only way to rail out against the repressive society is "to sing for a rock and roll band." An anthem if there ever was one.

"Prodigal Son" is down and dirty acoustic blues that The Rolling Stones are of course accustomed to. This one is done in a stripped down acoustic manner that marks a change of pace for the group but is nonetheless excellent.

"Stray Cat Blues" is the band at their raunchy best. A tale of underage sex, it's among their most rsique numbers, with a thrilling instrumental climax that underscores the excessively sexual nature of the song perfectly.

"Factory Girl" boaasts Indian influences mixed with traditional folk and country. It's a very nice and mellow acoustic rocker with a classic Mick vocal and atmospheric lyrics.

Closing the album is the Mick & Keith collab, "Salt Of The Earth," a tribute to the working class. A beautiful song, and one they appropiately revived on October 11, 2001 at The Concert For New York, in honor of the thousands of men and women who lost their lives a month before.

"Beggars Banquet" is a fantastic album that ranks among The Rolling Stones' finest achievements. April 23, 2008

"They've been outcasts all their lives"

The Rolling Stones have one of the most enviable back catalogues in the history of rock 'n' roll, a fierce musical resume that includes such grand slams as Exile On Main Street, Some Girls, Aftermath, Out Of Our Heads, and Let It Bleed. With a lineup like that, topping oneself is extremely difficult- most bands probably couldn't even make an album as good as Their Satanic Majesties Request, and that's the one that 'Stones fans don't even like! Which is what makes Beggars Banquet such a mind-boggling achievement; even in a discography stuffed with high points, it stands out. Why? Simple: There isn't a single bad song on this thing. No mediocre ones, either. As a matter of fact, what we have here is a collection of ten rock 'n' roll mini-masterpieces, raw symphonic explosions of sleaze and sex and blues and country and Brian Jones and a bunch of other really good stuff.

I mean, this album has "Sympathy For The Devil" on it! Do you have any idea how good that song is? It's incredible! Everything about it, from its surging melodies to its hypnotic rhythms to its apocalyptic lyrical poetry, is just plain stunning, and the performance itself is full of nerve-strangling tension and mounting fury. The other big song here is the rousing working class stomp of "Street Fighting Man," which is also just plain great. The other songs deserved to be huge, too. "No Expectations" is an absolutely gorgeous piece of lovelorn blues, and "Jigsaw Puzzle" is a surreal gospel-tinged end-of-the-sixties anthem. "Dear Doctor" is a hilarious (and relentlessly catchy) rural country romp, "Stray Cat Blues" is distilled sleaze, and "Salt Of The Earth" is a genuinely rousing ode to the downtrodden. "Parachute Women" is pure ramblin' blues, and the cover of Robert WIlkins' "Prodigal Son" is an atmospheric slice of raw rural gospel.

So, what you're looking at is simply one of the greatest albums ever made by anyone, anywhere, for any reason. It's the kind of thing you might want to buy. Like, right now. April 3, 2008

The First of 4 Flawless Albums by The Rolling Stones

The first of 4 consecutive great albums by The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet is THE album anyone who has bought a Stones 'best of cd' and wants more should start. Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Mainstreet are also essentials. Together they make up one of the greatest winning streaks in rock album history. Exile on Mainstreet is considered by most to be The Rolling Stones' finest album. Some consider Beggars Banquet to be Exile's only rival, which I think is overrating the album a bit. In my opinion, Let It Bleed is a much stronger album. However I still recommend that you begin with Banquet because most of the songs are rarely, if ever, played on FM radio and have not made it onto the various 'best of' compilations. This is definitely one to seek out. February 22, 2008

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