~
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.
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.
Villa Nellcote, France, 1971
photo by Dominique Tarle
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®
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'."
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.
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.
A set of postcards came with the album (link below)
Tracklist:
Side 1:
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*
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
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
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:
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.
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
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
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)
Net links:
The Atlantic ~ How Exile on Main St. Killed the Rolling Stones
The Guardian ~ The true story of Exile on Main St.
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
