May 12, 2021

20,000 vinyl LPs 290: The Rolling Stones ~ Exile on Main St.

~       
vinyl LP gatefold interior 
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 


On May 12th in 1972, the Rolling Stones released their album, Exile on Main St. It was the band's tenth studio album released in the United Kingdom, as well as their twelfth American album.      
 
 
vinyl LP front cover
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 
 
 
Recording for the album began in 1969 in England during sessions for Sticky Fingers (link below) and continued in the summer of 1971 at a rented villa in the South of France named Nellcôte.       
 
 
Rolling Stones, Gram Parsons & Anita Pallenberg 
Villa Nellcote, France, 1971
 photo by Dominique Tarle
 

A collage of various images, the album's artwork, according to frontman Mick Jagger, reflects the Stones as "runaway outlaws using the blues as its weapon against the world", showcasing "feeling of joyful isolation, grinning in the face of a scary and unknown future"; forty-nine years later the future is even more scary and unknown.      
     

vinyl LP back cover
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 

 
The photographs used on the album were by Swiss-American photographer and documentary filmmaker, Robert Frank. His most notable work, the 1958 book titled The Americans (link below), earned Frank cudos for his fresh and nuanced outsider's view of American society.      
 
 
 
vinyl LP record sleeve
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 
 
 
Richards' substance abuse frequently prevented him from attending the sessions that continued in his basement, while Jagger and Wyman were often unable to attend sessions for other reasons. This often left the band in the position of having to record in altered forms. A notable instance was the recording of one of Richards' most famous songs, Happy. Recorded in the basement, Richards said in 1982, "'Happy' was something I did because I was for one time early for a session. There was Bobby Keys and Jimmy Miller. We had nothing to do and had suddenly picked up the guitar and played this riff. So we cut it and it's the record, it's the same. We cut the original track with a baritone sax, a guitar and Jimmy Miller on drums. And the rest of it is built up over that track. It was just an afternoon jam that everybody said, 'Wow, yeah, work on it'."   
 
  
  
vinyl LP record sleeve
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 


Working with a mobile recording studio, the loose and unorganised sessions went on for hours into the night, with personnel varying greatly from day to day. The recording was completed with overdub sessions at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and included additional musicians such as pianist Nicky Hopkins, saxophonist Bobby Keys, drummer Jimmy Miller and horn player Jim Price. The resulting music was rooted in blues, rock and roll, swing, country and gospel, while the lyrics explored themes related to hedonism, sex and time. These newly recorded tracks were combined with some tracks recorded at earlier sessions from 1969–1971, resulting in the Stones' first double album.     


vinyl LP record sleeve
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 


The album was originally met with mixed reviews before a positive critical reassessment during the 1970s. It has since been viewed by many critics as the Rolling Stones' best work and a culmination of a string of the band's highly critically successful albums, following the releases of Beggars Banquet (1968) (link below), Let It Bleed (1969) and Sticky Fingers (1971) (link below). Rolling Stone has ranked Exile on Main St. number 7 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003 and 2012, and dropping to number 14 in the 2020 edition, the highest Rolling Stones album ranked on the list. In 2012, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the band's fourth album to be inducted.
        

vinyl LP record sleeve
photos by Robert Frank
photo of album interior by Styrous® 

A set of postcards came with the album (link below
 
 

 
       
   
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - Rocks Off, written by Jagger-Richard* - 4:33

A2 - Rip This Joint
Double Bass [Uprite Bass] – Bill Plummer
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 2:24

A3 - Shake Your Hips
Harmonica – M. Jagger*
Piano – I. Stewart*
Written by James Moore A.K.A. Slim Harpo* - 2:58

A4 - Casino Boogie
Bass – K. Richards*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:30

A5 - Tumbling Dice
Backing Vocals [Background Vocal] – Clydie King, Friend*, Vanetta*
Bass – M. Taylor*
Guitar – M. Jagge*

Side 2:
 
B1 - Sweet Virginia
Harmonica – M. Jagger*
Piano – I. Stewart*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 4:25

B2 - Torn And Frayed
Bass – M. Taylor*
Organ – J. Price*
Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:40

B3 - Sweet Black Angel
Blues Harp [Harp] – M. Jagger*
Marimba [Marimbas] – Amyl Nitrate
Percussion – J. Miller*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:05

B4 - Loving Cup
Percussion – Jimmy Miller
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 4:22

Side 3:
 
C1 - Happy
Drums – J. Miller*
Lead Vocals, Bass – K. Richard*
Percussion – B. Keys*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:00

C2 - Turd On The Run
Blues Harp [Harp] – M. J.*
Double Bass [Bass Uprite] – Bill Plummer
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 2:33

C3 - Ventilator Blues, written by Richard*, Jagger*, Taylor* - 3:20

C4 - I Just Want To See His Face
Backing Vocals [B. Vocals] – Clydie King, Jerry Kirkland, Vanetta*
Bass – B. Plummer*, M. Taylor*
Percussion – J. Miller*
Piano – K. Richards*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:15

C5 - Let It Loose
Backing Vocals [B. Vocals] – Clydie King, Joe Green*, Mac Rebennack, Shirley Goodman, Tammi Lynn*, Vanetta*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 5:17
 
Side 4:
 
D1 - All Down The Line
Backing Vocals [Backing Vocal] – Kathi McDonald
Double Bass [Standup Bass] – Bill Plummer
Percussion – J. Miller*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:50

D2 - Stop Breaking Down
Arranged By – Wyman*, Watts*, Richard*, Jagger*, Taylor*
Guitar, Blues Harp [Ha
Written by Trad.* - 4:34

D3 - Shine A Light
Backing Vocals [Background Vocal] – Clydie King, Jerry Kirkland, Joe Green*, Vanetta*
Bass – M. Taylor*
Drums – J. Miller*
Organ, Piano – B. Preston*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 4:15

D4 - Soul Survivor
Bass – K. Richards*
Written by Jagger-Richard* - 3:50

Companies, etc.

    Record Company – Musidor N.V.
    Record Company – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Distributed By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Musidor N.V.
    Copyright © – Rolling Stones Records
    Recorded By – Rolling Stones Mobile
    Mixed At – Sunset Sound
    Lacquer Cut at – Artisan Sound Recorders
    Pressed By – PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN
    Made By – Shorewood Packaging
    Published By – Promopub B.V.
    Published By – Excellorec
    Published By – ABKCO Music
    Published By – Promoright B.V.

Credits:

    Bass – B. Wyman*
    Design [Postcards] – J.V.H.*
    Drums – C. Watts*
    Engineer – Andy Johns, Glyn Johns, Jeremy Gee, Joe Zaganno*
    Guitar – M. Taylor*
    Guitar, Vocals – K. Richards*
    Layout, Design – John Van Hamersveld, Norman Seeff
    Liner Notes [Story Dialogue, Postcards] – Kendrew Lascelles
    Photography By [Cover], Design Concept [Cover] – Robert Frank (3)
    Photography By [Postcards], Directed By [Postcards] – Norman Seeff
    Piano – N. Hopkins*
    Producer – Jimmy Miller
    Saxophone [Sax] – B. Keys*
    Trumpet, Trombone – J. Price*
    Vocals – M. Jagger*

Notes:

PRC pressing variant nearly identical to Exile On Main St. (1297607), but with UNIPAK patent # 3,426,960 inside spine instead of "Patent Pending."

Another similar PRC pressing variant, with Atco distribution on Side A label, at Exile On Main St..

"RI" matrix suffix on labels and "PR" etched in runouts denotes PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN, pressing. Single 70mm pressing ring.

Issued in Unipak gatefold jacket with single compartment for both records, and heavy-stock printed inner sleeves with credits and photographs, and an insert of 12 perforated postcards.

Label rimtext:
Side A:
Dist. by Atlantic Recording Corporation, 1841 Broadway, New York, New York 10023
Sides B, C, D, in small-sized text:
Rolling Stones Records, TM Musidor N.V., Dist. by Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Bway., N.Y., N.Y.

Label "Stereo" and side indicator type face is serif text.

On labels:
P 1972
MUSIDOR N.V.

On jacket back:
Rolling Stones Records TM Musidor N.V. Distributed by Atlantic Recording Corporation 1841 Broadway, New York, New York 10023 ℗ 1972 Musidor N.V. Printed in U.S.A.
Unipak U.S. Patent No. 3,426,960

On jacket inner spine:
UNIPAK U.S. Patent No. 3,426,960 Printed in U.S.A.

On inner sleeves:
Shorepak-U.S. Patent No. 3,301,467
Rolling Stones Records TM Musidor N.V. Distributed by Atlantic Recording Corporation 1841 Broadway, New York, New York 10023 ℗ 1972 Musidor N.V. Printed in U.S.A.

Inner sleeve title variations:
A3 as "Hip Shake"
B2 as "Torn & Frayed"
B3 as "Black Angel"
C4 as "Just Wanna See His Face"

Title on jacket front, labels: "Exile On Main St"
Title on spine: Exile On Main Street
Artist on jacket front, labels: "Rolling Stones"
Artist on spine: The Rolling Stones

First cat. # on jacket, inner sleeves
Second cat. # on labels

Recorded with Rolling Stones Mobile Unit.
Mix at Sunset Sound, Hollywood.

All tracks (Promopub B.V., ASCAP)
except A3 (Excellorec, BMI)
B1, B4, D1 to D3 (Abkco Music, BMI)
C3 (Promopub B.V.-Promoright B.V., ASCAP)

Postcards:
© Rolling Stones Records printed in U.S.A.

Special thanks to Ian Stewart: Everyone at Nellcote, Villefrenche for help in recording, feeding etc.
Rolling Stones available only on Rolling Stones records.
 
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side A label): ST-RS-722507RI
    Matrix / Runout (Side B label): ST-RS-722508RI
    Matrix / Runout (Side C label): ST-RS-722509RI
    Matrix / Runout (Side D label): ST-RS-722510RI
    Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, variant 1): ST-RS-722507-DDD-1 ROLLING STONES RECORDS PR D [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, variant 1): ST-RS-722508BBB-1-111 ROLLING STONES RECORDS D PR [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side C runout, variant 1): ST-RS-722509- BBB-1-1-11111 ROLLING STONES RECORDS PR D [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side D runout, variant 1): ST-RS-722510 DDD-1 ROLLING STONES RECORDS [Artisan logo] PR D A
    Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched (Artisan logo stamped), variant 2): ROLLING STONES RECORD ST-RS-722507-CCC﹢﹢-1-11 PR [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched (Artisan logo stamped), variant 2): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722508 DDD﹢-1-1 PR [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side C runout, etched (Artisan logo stamped), variant 2): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722509-BBB﹢1-111 PR [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side D runout, etched (Artisan logo stamped), variant 2): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722510 FFF-11 PR [Artisan logo] B
    Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched, variant 3): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722507-BBB--1-11 PR D [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched, variant 3): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722508 BBB-1-1111 PR [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side C runout, etched, variant 3): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722509 CCC-1-111 PR D [Artisan logo]
    Matrix / Runout (Side D runout, etched, variant 3): ROLLING STONES RECORDS ST-RS-722510 DDD-1-11 [Artisan logo] PR D
    Pressing Plant ID (On labels): RI
    Other (Unipak patent #, jacket): 3,426,960
    Other (Shorepak patent #, inner sleeves): 3,301,467
    Rights Society (A1, A2, A4, A5, B2, B3, C1 to C5, D4): ASCAP
    Rights Society (A3, B1, B4, D1 to D3): BMI
 
 Rolling Stones* – Exile On Main St
Label: Rolling Stones Records – COC-2-2900, Rolling Stones Records – COC 2-2900
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, RI - PRC Pressing, Unipak
Country: US
Released: May 22, 1972
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Classic Rock
 
  
         
Viewfinder links:        
         
Beggar's Banquet (vinyl LP)          
Beggar's Banquet (R 2 R tape)          
Robert Frank                
Robert Frank ~ The Americans      
Nicky Hopkins           
Jimmy Miller        
Keith Richards        
Sticky Fingers         
Charlie Watts       
Ronnie Wood    
        
Net links:        
         
RPM Life In Analog ~ Still a nice buzz: Strolling Down Exile On Main St.       
        
YouTube links:        
         
The Rolling Stones ~ Exile on Main St. in track order      
Rocks Off         
Rip This Joint         
Shake Your Hips       
Casino Boogie       
Tumbling Dice      
Sweet Virginia      
Torn And Frayed       
Sweet Black Angel        
Loving Cup         
Happy                 
Turd On The Run           
Ventilator Blues                    
Let It Loose         
All Down The Line          
Stop Breaking Down           
Shine A Light       
Soul Survivor         
        
        
         
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Sunday, July 19, 2020       
       
















 

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