It's Only Rock & Roll - THE ROLLING STONES***

If You Can't Rock Me/Ain't Too Proud To Beg/Its Only Rock & Roll (But I Like It)/Till The Next Goodbye/Time Waits For No One/Luxury/Dance Little Sister/If You Really Want To Be My Friend/Short & Curlies/Fingerprint File

By the time of release of It’s Only Rock & Roll the Rolling Stones were showing unmistakable signs of decline. The tedious and repetitive title track single did not help matters. (US:1 UK:2)

“For me this is the last great Rolling Stones recording. Some real toe tappers and some cool stuff make this a must for fans and rock lovers in general. This is Mick Taylor's album from start to finish. His guitar is fantastic and there is nothing like this on any of their recordings since.”

“With It's Only Rock & Roll it became quite clear that the Rolling Stones' classic days were behind them. While there are a few passable cuts, such the rollicking opener, the disc lacks the power and passion of their classic period.”

“A perfect example of the generic conservative dullness of great deal of mainstream rock in the mid-70s which albums like this, helped to spread.”

“It's Only Rock & Roll in some ways marked the end of an era for the Stones. It was their final album with Mick Taylor, and it began a decline for the band. Keith was absent for many of the sessions. Listening to it, it seemed the Stones were starting to lose their touch.”

“Some commentaries may feel that Its Only Rock & Roll is just a standard by the numbers release. However, in addition to the usual brand of in your face rock ‘n’ roll, there are some nice experimental pieces like the funky Fingerprint File, the tender acoustic gem Till The Next Goodbye, and the stunning Time Waits For No One.”

“An album that, while still sounding good, just wasn't up to the level of their classic era. Instead of coming up with four or five great cuts they were now getting a couple per album and they just didn't seem quite as strong. For me this is the weakest of all the Stones albums.”

“Not bad, but the Stones are going in the wrong direction now. Each album is a step down from its predecessor. The fact that they are pulling out old Temptations tunes might be evidence that they were beginning to run short on material. Nevertheless, the Stones still deliver with some of these songs.”