Best song on Exile On Main Street

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Poll Results

Option	Votes
Rocks Off	17
Tumbling Dice	12
Sweet Virginia	8
Loving Cup	7
Shine A Light	5
Happy	5
Torn & Frayed	5
Ventilator Blues	4
I Just Want To See His Face	3
Let It Loose	3
Sweet Black Angel	2
Stop Breaking Down	1
Rip This Joint	1
Soul Survivor	1
Turd On The Run	0
Shake Your Hips	0
Casino Boogie	0
All Down The Line	0

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 20 April 2007 19:56 (eighteen years ago)

Sweet Virginia

― admrl, Friday, 20 April 2007 19:57 (eighteen years ago)

let it loose

― will, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:03 (eighteen years ago)

"Rip This Joint" - Charlie rules.

― Jazzbo, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

Rocks Off

― van smack, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

I Just Want To See His Face

― Billy Pilgrim, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

Torn and Frayed

― Bill Magill, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

I can't be the only one who likes "Tumbling Dice?"

― Sundar, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)

No, I love that song. I just prefer Sweet Virginia.

― admrl, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:43 (eighteen years ago)

Close call between Rocks Off and Tumbling Dice for me. Tumbling Dice is prettier, but Rocks Off has much more interesting lyrics and that iconic opening riff that surprises by being weirder and less iconic than a bunch of other Stones opening riffs, and great horns. And it's first, and not a Classic Rock staple. So Rocks Off.

But there's hardly a song on the record I don't basically like, except for maybe Sweet Black Angel, which hasn't aged well. For a long time, Turd On The Run was my favorite.

― Vornado, Friday, 20 April 2007 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

i can't be the only one who likes "happy"?

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

and "turd on the run" is a damn good song to have as your favorite. i love how that lyric flips from complete submission in the first two verses to complete domination in the third.

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:15 (eighteen years ago)

I love "Happy". It might even edge out "Before They Make Me Run" as far as Keith tunes.

― will, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:16 (eighteen years ago)

Tumblin' Dice for me.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 20 April 2007 21:32 (eighteen years ago)

Heh, guess I can't choose one song per LP, which means that I can't say "Rocks Off" and "Happy". So, "Rocks Off" it is.

(I seriously considered saying "Sweet Black Angel" too.)

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Friday, 20 April 2007 22:26 (eighteen years ago)

The change to the chorus on Ventilator Blues always gives me chills.

― bendy, Friday, 20 April 2007 23:27 (eighteen years ago)

Loving Cup.

― Frogman Henry, Friday, 20 April 2007 23:31 (eighteen years ago)

rocks off

― M@tt He1ges0n, Friday, 20 April 2007 23:32 (eighteen years ago)

"Torn & Frayed"

― Rock Hardy, Saturday, 21 April 2007 00:45 (eighteen years ago)

I can run and jump and fish but I won't fight

― Johnny Hotcox, Saturday, 21 April 2007 03:16 (eighteen years ago)

tumbling dice

though rocks off is nipping at its heels

― Charlie Howard, Saturday, 21 April 2007 07:04 (eighteen years ago)

An almost impossible choice. Kinda like having to choose between your babies, thanx. Picked "Rocks Off" cause it comes first and contains my favorite Keith line ever--"the sunshine bores the daylights out of me."

― JN$OT, Saturday, 21 April 2007 07:17 (eighteen years ago)

I've been working my way through this record, getting into one song at a time, cos I simply don't have the constitution for a double album of classic rock. I'm looking forward to playing the whole thing through though. Anyway I can only choose between the first six or so tracks, but I picked my favourite of those.

― Groke, Saturday, 21 April 2007 07:28 (eighteen years ago)

Rocks Off edges it--just for the way the lyrics are intoned as to make them quite indecipherable on a first listen. Also: hipshake--why no love for this song?

― aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Saturday, 21 April 2007 19:16 (eighteen years ago)

Moonlight Mile

― billstevejim, Saturday, 21 April 2007 20:23 (eighteen years ago)

"Soul Survivor" is THE very best song Exile, the very last chance these tropical disease-infected tax dodgers have to get up and go. And they do! But just barely which makes the effort gargantuan. Dig that woozy intro as if the guitar had just been punched. Dig that first line which a bewildered Mick sings as if in media res, as if some dictator in the Third World country the band has abused for their playground has just burst in and forced Mick at gunpoint to finally, literally sing for his supper. And then contrast that opening with how the track steadily gains godspeed until it starts sprinting at the fade out which sees the boys taking the first flight the fuck outta there. It reads like the last chaper of Lester Bangs' beloved The Ice Age by Margaret Drabble. The difference is that as rich men, Mick and Keith already have that freedom from freedom the main character in the novel finds (and desires) in a Third World country. After all, such a place would be little more than a tax shelter to the Glimmer Twins. So any other kind of freedom spells death to them. No biggie, though. We know they got outta there alive. The intensity that never lets up throughout the fade to silence is testament to that fact. So is the sad truth that they went on to record their worst studio album of the decade. And gave us "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" as an encore.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 22 April 2007 02:22 (eighteen years ago)

"Shine A Light", for the closing solo and the background vocals; would love to hear an Al Green cover.

― Euler, Sunday, 22 April 2007 02:28 (eighteen years ago)

The change to the chorus on Ventilator Blues always gives me chills.

-- bendy, Friday, April 20, 2007 6:27 PM

This is correct.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Sunday, 22 April 2007 02:28 (eighteen years ago)

Today: "Let It Loose"

― rogermexico., Sunday, 22 April 2007 03:14 (eighteen years ago)

I ended up plumping for "Loving Cup" just cos it really got me last night (weird coincidence, almost, I hadn't listened to it for months beforehand), and because I like songs about vaginas. And vaginas. It's an insanely strong and of a "piece"/feeling record tho.

― President Evil, Sunday, 22 April 2007 03:55 (eighteen years ago)

Oh and "Torn and Frayed" is the worst even though it's still a great song.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 22 April 2007 04:10 (eighteen years ago)

strong case for loving cup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfdBCa13zPo

― will, Sunday, 22 April 2007 16:07 (eighteen years ago)

"Soul Survivor" is THE very best song Exile, the very last chance these tropical disease-infected tax dodgers have to get up and go. And they do! But just barely which makes the effort gargantuan. Dig that woozy intro as if the guitar had just been punched. Dig that first line which a bewildered Mick sings as if in media res, as if some dictator in the Third World country the band has abused for their playground has just burst in and forced Mick at gunpoint to finally, literally sing for his supper. And then contrast that opening with how the track steadily gains godspeed until it starts sprinting at the fade out which sees the boys taking the first flight the fuck outta there. It reads like the last chaper of Lester Bangs' beloved The Ice Age by Margaret Drabble. The difference is that as rich men, Mick and Keith already have that freedom from freedom the main character in the novel finds (and desires) in a Third World country. After all, such a place would be little more than a tax shelter to the Glimmer Twins. So any other kind of freedom spells death to them. No biggie, though. We know they got outta there alive. The intensity that never lets up throughout the fade to silence is testament to that fact. So is the sad truth that they went on to record their worst studio album of the decade. And gave us "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" as an encore

You sound like the biggest douche ever.

― Reatards Unite, Sunday, 22 April 2007 16:52 (eighteen years ago)

Well, at least I'm clean, Rea

― Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 22 April 2007 19:20 (eighteen years ago)

I take it you mean that Goat's Head Soup is the worst of the decade? I guess I'm just thinking that it seems odd, but then I'm also thinking that I've never heard It's Only Rock 'n' Roll or Black and Blue! Don't much like Some Girls, though.

― Keith, Sunday, 22 April 2007 19:27 (eighteen years ago)

In that, I like Goat's head soup quite a lot. I'm not really sure what I'm driving at here, though!

― Keith, Sunday, 22 April 2007 19:28 (eighteen years ago)

I generally find "Exile...." very overrated, repetitive, boring and "underproduced". However, "Tumbling Dice" is among the better of the Stones' singles so it has to be that one.

― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 22 April 2007 19:54 (eighteen years ago)

bump

― JN$OT, Thursday, 26 April 2007 08:16 (eighteen years ago)

Linda Ronstadt owns "Tumboing Dice"- if you've never heard her version you'll be surprised!
i'm picking "Happy" but there are a few others i could go for

― outdoor_miner, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:22 (eighteen years ago)

Well Rocks Off won after all.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 27 April 2007 01:54 (eighteen years ago)

Linda Ronstadt owns "Tumboing Dice"- if you've never heard her version you'll be surprised!

I was very surprised, and, yes, she slays it.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:36 (eighteen years ago)

soooooooo much gospe influence on this record, in a real and groovy way, too! one of many things to love about it.

― Mike McGooney-gal, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:38 (eighteen years ago)

GOSPEL not 'gospe' of course -- mostly referring to "see his face," "shine a light," "loving cup," and "all down the line."

― Mike McGooney-gal, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:47 (eighteen years ago)

I soooooooo don't get Ronstadt's version of "Tumbling Dice." How precisely does she slay the original?

― Kevin John Bozelka, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:38 (eighteen years ago)

All Down the Line got no votes? that's a shock

― Bill Magill, Friday, 27 April 2007 13:28 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

so 'shake your hips' is my jam right now

― mark cl, Wednesday, 3 June 2009 16:28 (sixteen years ago)

so good

― mark cl, Wednesday, 3 June 2009 16:29 (sixteen years ago)

All Down the Line got no votes? that's a shock
― Bill Magill, Friday, April 27, 2007 9:28 AM (2 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^ I still love this song

― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 3 June 2009 16:56 (sixteen years ago)

There's a demo version that's even better than the one on the record.

― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 3 June 2009 18:27 (sixteen years ago)

Never heard it. Any type of link would be greatly appreciated!

― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 3 June 2009 19:00 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

i agree that 'all down the line' is one of the standouts. a prime example of how boundless and exciting these guys could be when band chemistry (and chemicals) was at a peak.

― charlie h, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 04:37 (fifteen years ago)

and 'soul survivor' with one solitary vote? that song's got a killer verse, which i kind of wish they dragged out a bit longer each time round. but there's something to be said about quality in small doses. listening to the song now, it has a fairly complex arrangement. i don't normally notice that type of thing with stones tracks, because they're usually so effortless and immediately engaging. but i think i'll play a whole bunch of stones albums tomorrow or something and think about some of the songs in a new light.

― charlie h, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 04:46 (fifteen years ago)

yeah 'all down the line' is killer. love 'turd on the run' and 'shake your hips' too -- speed along with the murk. reminds me of too-bright sun, coffee, and hangovers.

― Matt P, Wednesday, 29 September 2010 05:17 (fifteen years ago)

ten years pass...

i know this is meant to be one of those albums you have to sit with for it to work its charms on you, but i dont totally get why this is so great (but then i prefer the stones as a singles band). still, i do like rocks off, down the line, happy, shake your hips and stop breaking down. i think i love the album cover more than anything else.

― candyman, Wednesday, 3 March 2021 22:23 (four years ago)

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