The Greatest of All Time



In 1972, The Rolling Stones found themselves unwelcome in their own country. As targets of several public drug raids, and forced into tax exile, The Stones moved to the south of France to begin work their tenth album. Recorded under extraordinary circumstances, Exile on Main St. stands as the pinnacle of The Stones’ Stonesiness. Everything about the making album was done in a style completely unique to the band.

To record what is thought by many to be the greatest rock and roll album of all time, the band convened in the dank basement of Nellcôte, a house that served as former Gestapo headquarters during the second World War. A traveling circus of friends, session musicians, producers, engineers, managers, wives, girlfriends, dope dealers, and hired thugs all made the trip. The music, recorded in the basement at odd hours by whomever happened to be around, reflects the chaotic atmosphere of what was going on upstairs. The recording schedule was dictated by Keith's drug use.

The packaging of the Exile reflects the atmosphere in which the album was made. The cover photo, taken by Robert Frank, is a collage of circus sideshow freaks found on the wall of a tattoo parlor somewhere along Route 66. On the back of the album is a series of similar photos of The Stones, taken while finishing the album in Los Angeles. Inside, the track list is scrawled by Mick.

It is perhaps the best example of the all-too ubiquitous black, white, and red color scheme. The album cover screams “Rock and Roll.” And the 18 songs inside, without a real hit to speak of, do not fail to deliver.

Perfect art for the perfect album.