Beggar’s Banquet – THE ROLLING STONES*****

Sympathy For The Devil/No Expectations/Dear Doctor/Parachute Woman/Jig-Saw Puzzle/Street Fighting Man/ Prodigal Son/Stray Cat Blues/Factory Girl/Salt Of The Earth

Beggar's Banquet was the album which provided the blueprint for The Rolling Stones' blues-rock sound over the next few decades. The unpleasant original cover was quickly ditched. (US:5 UK:3)

"1968's Beggar's Banquet was a real turning point for The Rolling Stones. This is the moment in time when they passed from being a hugely successful pop band, with tons of hit singles, and became the pre-eminent blues-rock band on the planet. Beggar's Banquet just oozes and bleeds deep blues from it's every pore. It is also the snapshot of a very transitional time in The Stones history. This is the last time original guitarist Brian Jones contributed anything meaningful. It also has some of their greatest and most earthshaking songs. Sympathy For The Devil is one of the greatest songs ever released by any band, ever. Street Fighting Man is a revolutionary call to arms. Stray Cat Blues is just wonderfully dirty, and Salt Of The Earth incredibly sublime. You need Beggar's Banquet, everyone does."

"Following Their Satanic Majesties Request's odd, almost insincere psychedelia, the Stones turn right back to the blues, where they belong. But this time they hit it off with pure musical experience in hand as well as all the basics delightfully mastered, the result is a triumph of self discovery and some terrific music. It's down and dirty blues rock that embodies what these guys are all about."

"From the first drum beat on Sympathy For The Devil to the last guitar strum on Salt Of The Earth you are treated to an exceptional rock and roll experience with this record. The music is outstanding, the lyrics are meaningful. In my opinion this record marks a turning point for the 'Greatest Group'."

"Not a duff track on it. The sequence of tracks, the excellent playing and standard of songs on BB established the Stones as a serious musical force, rather than just a highly successful pop group. It stands the test of time superbly, and is still probably the best rock/blues album ever made."

"The band had finally found their George Martin. Jimmy Miller's sympathetic production captured the band's raw edge. This is as raspy and as close to the blues as rock ever got. BB was the most consistently brilliant album the band would make."