‘Exile On Main Street’ stands as a monumental achievement for The Rolling Stones, arguably capturing the band at their most raw and authentic. Recorded over an extended three-year period, the album finally took shape at Nellcôte, a villa nestled in Villefranche-sur-Mer near Nice. This wasn’t just a scenic recording location; it was a refuge. By 1971, facing substantial tax liabilities in their native UK, the Stones opted for tax exile in France, channeling their funds into a temporary escape rather than government coffers.
The album’s creation benefited from the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, a recording studio on wheels that had previously hosted luminaries like Led Zeppelin for albums such as ‘IV’ and ‘Physical Graffiti’, The Who’s ‘Who’s Next’, Bob Marley’s iconic live rendition of ‘No Woman, No Cry’, and Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke On The Water’, among many others. However, the sessions for ‘Exile’ were far from conventional. Typically unfolding between 8 PM and 3 AM, or sometimes stretching even further into the night (or starting earlier), these were loose, often unpredictable gatherings where band member attendance was fluid. Keith Richards’ struggles with heroin addiction were intensifying during this period, and Nellcôte became notorious for its hedonistic atmosphere, allegedly awash with drugs and frequented by associates similarly entangled.
Alt text: The Rolling Stones’ Mobile Recording Studio, a key element in the Exile on Main Street album recording process.
In stark contrast to their earlier, more blues-centric work, ‘Exile On Main Street Album’ showcased a sprawling musical landscape. It’s an album deeply rooted in American musical traditions, despite its British origins, seamlessly weaving through Rock ‘n Roll, Country, Blues, Soul, and Gospel influences. Originally conceived as simply a collection of songs, the sheer volume of music generated from their unstructured jam sessions organically expanded into an 18-track double album, spread across four vinyl sides. The spontaneous nature of their creativity is perfectly illustrated by the genesis of ‘Happy’. Keith Richards arrived at the studio ahead of schedule one day, finding himself in the company of session musicians Bobby Keys (saxophone) and Jimmy Miller (drums). With time to spare, Richards spontaneously began playing the riff that would become ‘Happy’. His enthusiasm was infectious, and a recording session immediately commenced. Within a mere four hours, Richards had laid down the foundational tracks – guitar, bass, and vocals – with Keys and Miller adding their instrumental contributions. Nicky Hopkins later enriched the track with piano, and Mick Jagger contributed backing vocals. This impromptu jam session blossomed into ‘Happy’, Keith Richards’ most successful vocal performance and the second single released from the ‘exile on main street album’.
Alt text: Keith Richards recording “Happy” during the Exile on Main Street sessions, showcasing the spontaneous creativity of the album.
‘Exile On Main Street’ is brimming with standout tracks, including personal favorites like the raw energy of ‘Rocks Off,’ the gritty groove of ‘Casino Boogie,’ the iconic ‘Tumbling Dice,’ and the soulful ‘Sweet Virginia.’ ‘Ventilator Blues’ resonates with a surprising contemporary relevance, echoing themes reminiscent of ‘Come Together.’ The album also features the loose, rambling beauty of ‘Let It Loose,’ the driving rhythm of ‘All Down The Line,’ and the transcendent ‘Shine A Light.’ The lyrics from ‘Shine A Light’, “May the good Lord shine a light on you/Make every song your favourite tune,” possess a profound gospel-infused quality, standing out as some of the album’s most powerful and moving.
Alt text: Album cover of Exile on Main Street, a visually iconic representation of The Rolling Stones’ masterpiece.
With ‘Exile On Main Street Album’, The Rolling Stones definitively came into their own. Liberated from the constraints of managers and the limitations of single LP lengths, they embraced artistic freedom. They fearlessly explored uncharted sonic territories, capturing their musical ideas as they emerged, ultimately delivering what many consider one of the quintessential rock albums of the last half-century. The album’s closing lyrics, “Thank you for your wine, California/Thank you for your sweet and bitter fruits/Yes I got the desert in my toenail/And I hid the speed inside my shoe,” encapsulate the complex, bittersweet, and ultimately unforgettable journey that is ‘Exile On Main Street’.
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