Oh yeah. I would add Some Girls to that list, but regardless, that run is just amazing.
I tend to play Sticky Fingers a bit more than Exile, but both are an embarrassment of riches.
And yes, the end outro bit to Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ is wonderful. Bobby Keys discussed it a bit in his autobio - how it came together in the wee hours and he knew he would be expected to contribute a lead, but not much more. That organic interplay in that music is so great to hear.
Hmm, may have to break out the Telecaster today (even though Keef was likely using a cool old Les Paul Custom with a cool paint job…): Photo Storage
Not even close to the best Stones song and forget about best rock song.
For the Stones I would go with Sympathy For The Devil
For all of Rock, I lean towards ***Kashmir ***by Led Zep. It is a hard driving song indeed.
Worthy candidates: Baba O’Riley by the Who. Riders on the Storm by the Doors.
*Whipping Post *by the Allman Brothers. Love Ramblin’ Man but probably a little to countrified to content for best rock song. Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix Enter Sandman by Metallica
Other Great songs of Rock that aren’t all that rocking in the end:
Imagine, Hey Jude, Respect,
Well, to each their own but honestly I posted to a thread where what to me is an inferior Stones songs is being lauded as the greatest. So I should be allowed my pet song. I should have included Close to the Edge or *And You And I * or maybe I’ve Seen all Good People but I know how little love for Prog Rock there is on this board. Lucky Man by ELP is another of my favorites. Wooden Ships by CSN is great but so folky.
Rocks Off is a fine song, but I doubt anyone is really pushing it to the tippy-top of the list. It kicks off one of the all-time great albums, and when the sax and trumpet come in in the middle, I happen to just love that incredibly simple, powerful addition…
I know Doors folks dig that song, so there ya go. I am a sucker for British metal band UFO’s live album, Strangers in the Night, featuring Michael Schenker on some wonderful lead guitar. We all have our go-to’s…
Those are all great songs, but I think this thread is leaning more towards songs that “rock out”. Sounds like you’re more into stuff that has a certain ethereal quality (I’m not sure that’s exactly the right term but hopefully you know what I mean).
See, I don’t get why Some Girls is rated so highly. It’s a really good record, arguably the last such record the band made, but I don’t see it ranking with the Perfect Four (BB, LIB, SF, EOMS).
Add me to the choir. Sticky Fingers has been my all time favorite album since I first heard it some 30 years ago, although I learned to love a lot of albums since then which are strong contenders.
Seconded, I’m sure I stated almost exactly the same point some time here on the board. For me it started with Jimmy Miller’s first production job “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and ended with “Exile”. The rest of their seventies output was hit and miss, with “Some Girls” a last high point, but after “Tattoo You” they lost it, at least in the studio and in songwriting.
Now “Rocks Off” is a fine rocker, what I especially love about it is Charlie’s drumming. Like everybody who loves rock ‘n’ roll, I’ve heard countless Stones covers or bands which tried to emulate their sound, but nobody came close in the drum section, and “Rocks Off” is a prime example of his sound. Love you, Charlie.
Funnily, just yesterday I had a similar thread in mind about songs that just rock after listening to the MC5. So here are two of theirs which totally smoke:
kashmir ranks up there but I’d put Aerosmith’s Dude Looks like a Lady against Rocks Off start to finish and every single note in between. It’s got everything, horns, sax, vocals, guitar solo. All of it belted out in full strut mode. It literally drives hard all the way through.
Yes, Einsteinshund, MC5 could do it! American Ruse is great, but they, too–like the Stones–could take a Chuck Berry song and add about 100 mph to it, as they did with Back in the USA (on same album as American Ruse). Thanks for the US
Bastards of Young? But the Mats, as much as I love them, don’t really belong in a discussion of straight-up rock-n-roll. It’s not just that they’re missing the piano and horns, it’s that they didn’t try to make grand rock songs. They were going to play their three chords, spit out the lyrics, suck down a bottle of Jack (not necessarily in that order), and fuck you if you don’t like it. When I think of “Rock Songs,” they’re as much for the audience as for the performers, and the Replacements couldn’t have cared less what the audience thought about their shows.
For me the best rock song is Iggy Pop’s Repo Man. Really good drum work, a nice bass line, the lyrics are kind of nonsensical but that’s rock music for you. Iggy basically put the song together just before it was recorded which makes it all the more impressive. I don’t know if he still sings this song or not and he didn’t when I saw him in concert years ago, but he should.
Not even the best Rolling Stones song, which is Gimme Shelter. Martin Scorsese has used it in at least two different films to accompany pivotal action sequences. So, in answer to your question, no.
As to those who mistakenly believe that Exile on Main Street is the best Stone’s album, I think it drags in a number of spots. Sticky Fingers is raw, monstrous and alive in every single lick.
A non Stones contender for best song would be Mr. Tambourine Man.
