So, now over in the Beatles' thread the topic has turned to the question of favorite song.
I thought that question could definitely be extend over here... of for me, an easier question when it comes to the Stones is favorite album.
So... what's your favorite Stones song or album? And, do you have any relatively obscure recommendations?
For me, that answer changes all the time depending on my mood.
In terms of favorite album... I have to say (usually) I turn to
Sticky Fingers as an all-around great/ almost perfect Stones album. I often think of that one as their best because, to me there really isn't a bad track on that album. This is, of course, one of the four albums probably most often cited as their best (including
Beggars Banquet,
Let It Bleed and
Exile on Main Street). I like all three of these other albums (and, from time to time, I go through phases where I like one of these other three better than
Sticky Fingers), but I think all three of these other albums have a couple less-than-great tracks on them, unlike
Sticky Fingers. On
Sticky Fingers, I think one particular highlight is the amazing guitar solo by Mick Taylor on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." Of these four major albums my least favorite is usually
Exile. There are some amazing tunes on that album for sure, but also quite a lot of songs that I don't like so much (more so than is the case with the other three).
In terms of off-the-beaten-track recommendations... I think it's really fun to listen to the really, really old Stones tracks from the very early '60s when they were particularly close to their blues routes. There's a great 3 volume box set out there called
The Rolling Stones: Singles Collection, The London Years, which includes truly awesome and obscure old singles (many of which were never on an album in the olden days when singles were the standard). I think listening to their really early stuff is actually extremely interesting and sort of eye-opening to realize where they came from.
Also, I tend to really recommend their awesome live albums. Two in particular are just awesome:
Love You Live and
Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out are just incredible in the energy level and musicianship that they demonstrate. I can (and have been known to) listen to those two albums over, and over and over again. Lots of fun.