Music

Rolling Stones Eying #1 Spot on U.K. Charts

by Ciaran Thompson

Much has been done in celebration for the reissue of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 album, Exile On Main Street. A week ago Jimmy Fallon hosted musical guests on his late night show for performances of songs from the album such as Sheryl Crow and Green Day.

Now it seems all the fuss has amounted to some serious ratings as the album is set to go number one in the U.K. for the first time in 16 years. Their last album to reach that mark was 1994’s Voodoo Lounge, a year not really known for mature bands like The Rolling Stones, but rather emerging alternative acts like Weezer, Blur and Sloan. The album is also at the top of the U.S. Amazon.com album chart and is number three on the U.S. iTunes album chart. [NME] [BlackBook]

Exile is credited as being one of the best rock ‘n’ roll albums of all times and its background story with regards to recording and various other events have made the whole thing mystical. It was their tenth studio album and was primarily recorded at Nellcote, a former Nazi headquarters in the southern part of France. Several visitors such as William S. Burroughs and Gram Parsons stayed with the band while in France and it has been noted that guitarist Keith Richards began a daily habit of using heroin while at Nellcote. Upon its release the first single “Tumbling Dice” was a top 10 hit and the album reached #1 worldwide.

The reissue, released this past week, features 10 new tracks including “Plundered My Soul,” Following the River,” “Dancing in the Light,” “Pass the Wine” and alternate versions of “Soul Survivor” and “Loving Cup.” The album has been released as a CD, 2-LP vinyl, 2-CD deluxe edition and a super deluxe edition that features everything just mentioned and a 64 page photo book, four postcards and a DVD containing scenes from Stones in Exile and Ladies and Gentlemen…The Rolling Stones.