What Is The Best Rolling Stones Album of All Time?
The Rolling Stones – a band that feels like it could be both your reckless best friend and your sagacious grandparent.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ron Wood didn’t just form a band; they manufactured an ongoing social experiment. The ’60s? They were there, at the forefront of a musical revolution, giving voice to rebellion while donning the fashion of roguish dandies. “Satisfaction?” More like a societal anthem for generations.
Now, it’s easy to chalk up The Stones to their hits, their influence, or even their controversies. But like an intricate jazz riff, they are more complex and nuanced. Keith Richards, a man whose existence defies medical science, is not merely a guitarist but a philosopher-king of chords. Mick Jagger, with his rooster-like strut, isn’t just a singer; he’s the embodiment of the frenetic, unapologetic id of rock itself.
Their discography? Oh, it’s not just music. Albums like “Exile on Main St.” and “Sticky Fingers” are a mirror reflecting society’s soul. Or perhaps they’re more like a funhouse mirror, warping and bending our perceptions, challenging what we believe about art, culture, politics, and ourselves.
Some might say The Rolling Stones were the Beatles’ archrival, a kind of Pepsi to their Coke. But, ah, that’s a superficial read, my friend. The Stones were never chasing the Fab Four; they were chasing something more elusive, something wild and untamable. They were chasing the very essence of rock ‘n’ roll.
And what of their longevity? Bands aren’t supposed to last this long, certainly not with their creative spark intact. But here they are, in the epoch of TikTok and AI, still rocking, still rolling, still thumbing their noses at convention. It’s a paradox, a contradiction, a rock ‘n’ roll enigma.
In the end, to understand The Rolling Stones is to embrace the questions, the contradictions, and the sheer madness of it all. They’re not just a band; they’re a living, breathing question mark, set to a rhythm that still makes the world dance. Now, let’s address the real question: of their immense list of studio albums: which is their best?
Review their list albums below before casting your vote.
| Release Date | Album |
|---|---|
| April 16, 1964 | The Rolling Stones |
| January 15, 1965 | The Rolling Stones No. 2 |
| September 24, 1965 | Out of Our Heads |
| December 3, 1965 | December's Children (And Everybody's) |
| February 11, 1966 | Aftermath |
| January 20, 1967 | Between the Buttons |
| December 8, 1967 | Their Satanic Majesties Request |
| December 6, 1968 | Beggars Banquet |
| September 26, 1969 | Let It Bleed |
| April 23, 1971 | Sticky Fingers |
| May 12, 1972 | Exile on Main St. |
| August 31, 1973 | Goats Head Soup |
| October 18, 1974 | It's Only Rock 'n Roll |
| March 23, 1976 | Black and Blue |
| June 9, 1978 | Some Girls |
| June 20, 1980 | Emotional Rescue |
| November 24, 1981 | Tattoo You |
| September 7, 1983 | Undercover |
| July 1, 1986 | Dirty Work |
| August 29, 1989 | Steel Wheels |
| July 11, 1994 | Voodoo Lounge |
Notes About The Rolling Stones Albums
The Rolling Stones, hailing from London, England, formed in 1962, have become a defining force in rock ‘n’ roll. Thus you should know a little bit about their albums but hey, there’s a lot of them. Read a quick refresher about each album below and then make your case for why you voted the way you did at the bottom.
The Rolling Stones
The debut studio album, “The Rolling Stones,” released in 1964, marked the beginning of an era. It features a raw blend of R&B covers and original material.
- Year Released: 1964
The Rolling Stones No. 2
Their second album, released in 1965, continued in the same vein as their debut, with an energetic fusion of blues and rock.
- Year Released: 1965
Out of Our Heads
“Out of Our Heads,” released in 1965, marked the Stones’ growing experimentation and included the hit “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
- Year Released: 1965
December’s Children (And Everybody’s)
This 1965 release showcased a mixture of live performances and studio recordings, illustrating the band’s live prowess.
- Year Released: 1965
Aftermath
1966’s “Aftermath” was a departure from covers, featuring all original material, and included the hit “Paint It, Black.”
- Year Released: 1966
Between the Buttons
Released in 1967, “Between the Buttons” showed a more artful, experimental direction, influenced by contemporary pop art.
- Year Released: 1967
Their Satanic Majesties Request
This psychedelic album from 1967 marked a drastic shift in style, experimenting with unconventional instruments and sounds.
- Year Released: 1967
Beggars Banquet
“Beggars Banquet,” released in 1968, marked a return to roots-rock and includes the iconic “Sympathy for the Devil.”
- Year Released: 1968
Let It Bleed
This 1969 release is often considered one of the Stones’ best albums, including hits like “Gimme Shelter.”
- Year Released: 1969
Sticky Fingers
With the 1971 release of “Sticky Fingers,” the Stones introduced their iconic tongue-and-lips logo and classics like “Brown Sugar.”
- Year Released: 1971
Exile on Main St.
This 1972 double album is celebrated for its sprawling, eclectic style and is often considered one of rock’s greatest albums.
- Year Released: 1972
Goats Head Soup
Released in 1973, “Goats Head Soup” includes hits like “Angie” and showcases the Stones’ more polished sound.
- Year Released: 1973
It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll
This 1974 release is a return to straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll, reflecting the title’s sentiment.
- Year Released: 1974
Black and Blue
“Black and Blue,” released in 1976, marked a transition period for the band and explored various musical styles.
- Year Released: 1976
Some Girls
The 1978 album “Some Girls” brought the Stones back to commercial prominence with hits like “Miss You.”
- Year Released: 1978
Emotional Rescue
Released in 1980, “Emotional Rescue” continued the band’s exploration of dance-friendly sounds.
- Year Released: 1980
Tattoo You
“Tattoo You,” released in 1981, featured the hit “Start Me Up” and showed the band’s sustained creativity.
- Year Released: 1981
Undercover
This 1983 release was noted for its more aggressive and political tones.
- Year Released: 1983
Dirty Work
“Dirty Work,” released in 1986, includes collaborations with various artists and reflects the tensions within the band at that time.
- Year Released: 1986
Steel Wheels
The 1989 album “Steel Wheels” marked a comeback for the Stones, showcasing their classic sound.
- Year Released: 1989
Voodoo Lounge
Released in 1994, “Voodoo Lounge” won the Grammy for Best Rock Album and showed the band’s continuing relevance.
- Year Released: 1994
Bridges to Babylon
“Bridges to Babylon,” released in 1997, reflected a modernized sound, featuring guest artists and experimenting with different genres.
- Year Released: 1997
A Bigger Bang
Released in 2005, “A Bigger Bang” was a return to the classic rock sound and marked the band’s first original material in nearly a decade.
- Year Released: 2005
Blue & Lonesome
“Blue & Lonesome,” released in 2016, was a full-blown blues album, featuring covers of classics by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter.
- Year Released: 2016
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