The Rolling Stones have captivated the world over the last six decades, releasing more than 30 studio albums and performing in front of millions of fans worldwide. They were one of the best-selling bands of all time, with an estimated total of more than 200 million records sold worldwide. The majority of their songs were written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and it’s difficult for a writer to choose their best work. However, in a 2020 interview with GQ, the guitarist identified four albums from their catalog that he considered to be among his favorites. So Rock and Roll Garage selected what the performer said about certain records during his career, as well as some intriguing facts about them.
Keith Richards’ top five Rolling Stones albums include “Beggars Banquet” from 1968.
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“Beggars Banquet,” released in 1968, was an album that reintroduced the Stones to their original sound after a year of experimentation with “Their Satanic Majesties Request.” Keith Richards listed it as one of his favorite albums. In an interview with the BBC in 1998 (transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), he talked about how it felt to make that record. “(When) you make a record, it depends on how you feel, I believe. More than just what you think about. As previously stated, ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ showed the first signs of truly enjoying recording a record again. Working with Jimmy Miller (Producer) provided a clear sense of direction to the sound. (He) would allow us to conduct these strange experiments, you know.”
“So the freedom to work while also having time to have fun. (Also) I believe that taking a break and getting off the road is beneficial. Keith Richards recalled, “We were just gathering some energy and steam and getting ready to work again.” “Beggars Banquet,” one of the Rolling Stones’ most legendary albums, had two songs that have become big classics. They are “Sympathy For The Devil” and “Street Fighting Man”. Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Brian Jones were the group’s original members. Richards’ album Beggars sold fewer copies. It is estimated that more than one million copies were sold.
“Let it Bleed” (1969)
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“Let It Bleed,” published in 1969, is another iconic album by the band with numerous classic songs that Richards also like. It was the final album to feature the original guitarist, Brian Jones. He was fired in the middle of the sessions owing to his addiction and absence from the recordings. As a result, he is only credited with playing congas and autoharp on two tunes. Mick Taylor, his replacement, played slide and electric guitar on two tunes. Keith Richards played all of the other guitar parts himself. In a 2017 video made on his own YouTube channel, Richards recounted how the album’s song “Country Honk” evolved into “Honky Tonk Women,” which was published as a single.
(Transcribed by Rock & Roll Garage.) “I was writing ‘Country Honk’ and saying, ‘This sounds like Jimmy Rogers or Hank Williams.’” How would it be performed today? So we projected it forwards. At the same time, it’s an excellent country song. “And a damn good country song is almost always a damn good rock and roll song,” Keith Richards stated. Aside from the title track, other iconic tracks on the album include “Gimme Shelter,” “Midnight Rambler,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The album is projected to have sold over 3,5 million copies worldwide.
“Sticky Fingers” (1971).
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The Rolling Stones’ 1971 album “Sticky Fingers” was the first on which guitarist Mick Taylor had the opportunity to contribute more. Richards admitted to Rolling Stone in 2015 that it was a “pivotal album” in the band’s progression. “Well, that was one of them. Beggars Banquet was another. But with Sticky Fingers, we worked closely with Jimmy Miller (Producer). “It was a very productive period.” That same year, he told the Associated Press that the record was unquestionably among their top five albums. “I put it up there; I don’t know what’s number one, number two, or number three. But it’s somewhere among our top four or five albums,” Keith Richards stated. “Sticky Fingers” contains more of the band’s most famous tunes. Some of the tracks include “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.” The record is estimated to have sold over 3,5 million copies.
“Exile on Main St.” (1972)
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Many Rolling Stones fans consider “Exile on Main St.” to be the best Rolling Stones album. Keith Richards agrees with that when it comes to the band members’ relationships, as he told Guitar World in 2022. “Exile on Main Street was, in my opinion, the best Rolling Stones record in terms of the band members’ connection. We were brainstorming song ideas like crazy. The concepts were gaining on. Everyone was going all out. (…) I look back on everything. I have to say, Jimmy Miller was the ideal producer for the Rolling Stones.” As Richards indicated, Jimmy Miller, who worked on the other albums cited by the guitarist, produced this one as well. This double album featured an astonishing number of outstanding songs, but the most well-known are “Tumbling Dice,” “Happy,” and “Shine a Light.” The album sold approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide.