The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. (33 1/3)

Written in two parts.

Part 1 is about the overarching elements of the album: The cover artwork by photographer Robert Frank, immigrant outsider, shows a different side of America, an exile's view. A people as seen on city streets, in movie theaters, and roadside freakshows. The Stones, like characters in a Pynchon novel, are hiding/partying in a French villa still showing signs of Nazi occupation. The sixties are over; the band is ready to shed any pretenses of the reverb-drenched flower power. The technicolor robes and wizard hats come off and we see they've been palming bottles of brown liquor and pills all the while. The reader may find themselves wanting more of this background; juicy stories of absent Keith nodded off while the show more others are sweating in the basement at Nellcote like dishwashers; hard-working Keith laying down tracks while Mick is away neurotically checking on Bianca... This, however, is beyond the scope of this book, which is by necessity brief.

Part 2 is a song-by-song review of the album. Janovitz has obviously listened to the album many, many times, and had time to formulate his own colorful and personal picture of what he's hearing, lyrically and instrumentally. Perhaps he hears more than is actually there, but that's testament to his deep love of the album. show less

Aside from the horrible Aqualung book, I'm enjoying this series, and Janovitz's reflections on the Stones at the time, their environment, the musicians both credited and uncredited... he ties it all together into a fascinating creation story of a phenomenal album.

Well done.

A great history and analysis of the Stones Exile by a true fan and musician. But the "greatest rock album ever"?? Don't think so.

A fascinating insight into the greatest album ever made, read and listen to the album at the same time and take your appreciation to a whole new level....

Break out your copy of "Exile on Main Street", and listen to each track as Janovitz describes it. Go ahead.

33 1/3