# name your top five Rolling Stones albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 23, 2019, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865 "2019-11-23T10:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/1 "2019-11-23T10:21:16Z")
I will not list mine because I am biased. I was born in 19\_\_. Interestied in other opinions ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/2 "2019-11-23T11:02:12Z")
Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street, Goats Head Soup. I’d be surprised if many people’s lists don’t have at least three of those. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/3 "2019-11-23T11:09:13Z")
In no particular order: **The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones Now, 12x5, Out of Our Heads** (basically the first four albums), **Sticky Fingers**. I love their original “blues purists” period, but I also really like **Sticky Fingers**. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/4 "2019-11-23T12:07:02Z")
1. Get yer Ya-Yas Out 2. Between the Buttons 3. Sticky Fingers 4. Beggars Banquet 5. tie between Aftermath and Let it Bleed ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/5 "2019-11-23T12:12:43Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > 1. Get yer Ya-Yas Out > 2. Between the Buttons > 3. Sticky Fingers > 4. Beggars Banquet > 5. tie between Aftermath and Let it Bleed I also have a weird love for December’s Children (US version) When applicable, all these refer to US versions. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/6 "2019-11-23T12:15:53Z")
PS _Ya-yas_ was recorded exactly 50 years ago this week, in Madison Square Garden (and Baltimore, plus a few overdubs later, nearly all of them vocals). Celebrate by playing it — loud! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/7 "2019-11-23T13:26:48Z")
Hard to argue with (most of) the choices here so I’ll use the opportunity to put in a plug for the unfairly maligned ‘[Their Satanic Majesty’s Request](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-rolling-stones-their-satanic-majesties-request/)’. Well, at least for ‘[She’s a Rainbow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1BThu95d8)’ and ‘[2000 Light Years from Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRc0yaMW7Mw)’. “Wanna cop some acid?” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/8 "2019-11-23T13:28:09Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Hard to argue with (most of) the choices here so I’ll use the opportunity to put in a plug for the unfairly maligned ‘[Their Satanic Majesty’s Request](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-rolling-stones-their-satanic-majesties-request/)’. Well, at least for ‘[She’s a Rainbow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1BThu95d8)’ and ‘[2000 Light Years from Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRc0yaMW7Mw)’. > > “Wanna cop some acid?” Good call. Other cuts I like from that album include “Citadel” and “2000 Man.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/9 "2019-11-23T13:32:10Z")
1. Sticky Fingers 2. Exile on Main Street 3. Some Girls 4. 12 x 5 5. It’s Only Rock and Roll I know it’s early but I’m surprised Some Girls and Rock and Roll have not yet been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/10 "2019-11-23T14:05:07Z")
Big Hits Hot Rocks Made in the Shade Rewind Through the past Darkly ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/11 "2019-11-23T14:16:15Z")
Between The Buttons was the apex of Brian Jones’ creativity with the Stones, and thus their finest record. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/12 "2019-11-23T14:28:59Z")
Beggars Banquet Let it Bleed Exile on Main St Some Girls Got Live if you Want It (which was the first Rolling Stones album I owned) ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/13 "2019-11-23T14:43:10Z")
Beggar’s Banquet Let It Bleed Get Yer Ya-ya’s Out Between the Buttons Exile ON Main Street ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/14 "2019-11-23T16:40:13Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street, Goats Head Soup. > > I’d be surprised if many people’s lists don’t have at least three of those. IMHO the four album stretch from Banquet to Exile is the greatest sustained output of any band. The fifth album is harder to pick, I’d probably go with Some Girls. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/15 "2019-11-23T16:46:59Z")
Beggar’s Banquet Let It Bleed Exile on Main Street Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out Some Girls For compilations, I still have a warm space in my heart for Flowers. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/16 "2019-11-23T16:57:35Z")
Exile Sticky Fingers Let It Bleed Ya Ya’s Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/17 "2019-11-23T17:46:31Z")
should have said live albums don’t count but I’ll allow it for those who have previously posted. Love Ya-yas and will play it now loud. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/18 "2019-11-23T18:27:37Z")
Sticky Fingers Exile On Main Street Beggars Banquet Let It Bleed Ger Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (yes, I like Mick Taylor Stones the best) ETA: just saw that live albums don’t count: in this case Some Girls instead of Ya-Ya’s. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/19 "2019-11-23T22:01:39Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#): > > IMHO the four album stretch from Banquet to Exile is the greatest sustained output of any band. The fifth album is harder to pick, I’d probably go with Some Girls. Yep. I would propose Neil Young Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After the Gold Rush, Harvest, Tonight’s the Night, Zuma, American Stars and Bars, Comes a Time, Rust Never Sleeps. But that is another thread. But here is the reason I made no nominations for the Stones in the OP. I wanted to see how many people would mention Some Girls. The first Stones album I knew was Some Girls. It came out in 1978 when I was 16. And the reviews were mixed. These were the days of punk rock and CBGB and all that, and the Stones were thought of as washed up, old “over 30” musicians. I didn’t know this at the time, I just liked the album. But I know that, at the time, people who grew up with the Stones in the 60s thought it did not compare to Exile, Beggars, etc. I think it does, I think it is every bit as good as those. And how weird is it to think that the Stones, in 1978, were considered too old. So Some Girls will always be my favorite album, but for their best album, Beggars Banquet. And then Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed, Exile. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865/20 "2019-11-23T22:14:09Z")
Some Girls represented a wonderful comeback, that’s for sure. I think of it, Emotional Rescue, and Tattoo You as a trio of their last blast of creativity and relevance. An album of the best songs among these three would have made my top five, probably. “Beast of Burden,” “Before They Make Me Run,” “Far Away Eyes,” then “Dance, Pt. 1” and “She’s So Cold,” then “Start Me Up” and “No Use in Crying,” maybe a couple others. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-top-five-rolling-stones-albums/843865.md?page=2)