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The last complete album recorded by the original band and a
masterpiece. A return to their roots after Satanic Majesties. With the
song "Sympathy For The Devil", the Stones sealed their fate as far as being
labeled "devil worshipers", etc., by Christian and other religious groups, but of course
the Devil isn't what this classic tune is about. The song is actually about the
atrocities that unfortunately
have been committed by
mankind throughout history (yes, mankind is the devil in this song). By far the best
written song ever by Mick Jagger or anybody else in rock, IMO. Keith Richard's
acid guitar riff, along with his bass playing on this tune, also is A-1, as is Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Rocky Dijon's
driving percussion; not to forget the great back up vocals by the entire band.
The rest of the
album is just as classic. Keith Richards' driving acoustic guitars along with
Brian Jones' sitar and tamboura on "Street Fighting
Man", makes this song special; more great guitar riffs on the hard rocking "Stray Cat Blues"
and "Parachute Woman"; a fine harp on the country "Dear Doctor", plus
outstanding slide guitar by Jones on a great blues song, "No Expectations",
with more of the same on "Jig-Saw Puzzle" (don't believe those
who claim it's Keith's slide on here, it ins't), a song Mick wrote about his then girlfriend,
Marianne Faithful, who loved to do jig-saw puzzles.
This album isn't just for Stones fans, no. It really is for all
people,like the ones Jagger is singing about in "Salt Of The Earth". So yes, do
spare a thought for us rag taggy people, let's drink to the salt of the earth!
- Keno 1998
*Old Ratings vs. New Ratings
The oldest ratings that you see here are from
back in 1998 when I first rated the album for this site. Since time does change
one's point of view, I decided to listen to and rate the album again, doing so
in late 2005. In May, 2018, 20 years after the first ratings were made, I
rated all of the songs for a third and likely last time. Also note that I did not look at the
old ratings from 1998 until after I placed my new ratings here in both 2005 and
2018.
To listen to some sound clips from
BEGGARS
BANQUET, or to buy click on:
Beggars Banquet (Remastered)
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