I have been a big fan of the Rolling Stones in my childhood. During primary school, from "Let's spend the night together" (b-side: Ruby Tuesday) on - I really loved the song, although, 7 years old, I had no idea what it was about - I have bought almost all of their singles, later on starting with albums. In my opinion, their most creative and best time (maybe due to Nicky Hopkins and other non-mebers), at least with reseoct to studio work, was between "Beggars Banquet" and "Exile on Main Street", "Goat's Head Soup" being kind of disappointing. The next album I did like was "Some Girls" and after that I went New Wave and Alternative and did not care about the Stones any more. No need to introduce them, just a few comments on my choice. I could have chosen each and every track from Beggars Banquet, with the possible exception of "Sympathy for the Devil" (for being way too popular and known by everybody). Jig-Saw Puzzle is one of my favourite tunes from that one, but I chose "Factory Girl", because it is not a Rock'n Roller. On Let it Bleed it was easy, the haunting Gimme Shelter immediately gets me on my dancing feet. Sticky Fingers (I remember the vinyl I used to own, with the original zip you could open attached to the picture of the jeans on the cover; I was old enough then to understand its meaning) contains one of my all time fav Stones. tunes, Dead Flowers (featured in The Big Lebowski as rendered by the great Townes van Zandt). Finally, Exile on Main Street, maybe their best album ever. Hard to decide, but as I have always loved the tune, I feature "Sweet Virgina" here. I once played this to a Blues purist, and she said to me: "see, this is where groups like the Stones have stolen their tunes from". "This is the Stones" I answered.
Factory Girl:
Gimme Shelter:
Dead Flowers:
Well when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
Talkin' to some rich folk that you know
Well I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
Well, you know I could never be alone
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Well when you're sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
Ah, I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
And another girl to take my pain away
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail
Say it with dead flowers in my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
No, I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Sweet Virginia:
Bonus Track: Townes van Zandt doing "Dead Flowers":
