Jay Ferguson
Special to the Star
Did the Rolling Stones' golden age end after 1972's Exile On Main Street? If you hung on a little longer, maybe you made it to the era that ended with 1981's Tattoo You, perhaps their last truly fine LP? If, like me, you followed their subsequent 30-year output, you might agree it was a bit trying for the true fan to find tracks that stood shoulder to shoulder with the best of their glory years.
Still, there's some gold (a bit of silver, maybe too much bronze) to be found. Here are some of my favourites, imagined as an album. Long live The Rolling Stones.
Undercover of the Night (1983)
To be honest, I remember when this song debuted on TV's Friday Night Videos. I thought it was the result of Mick hearing “Union of the Snake” by Duran Duran and thinking “I can do this!” Still, I loved it. With the addition of one of Keith's clangy-est scattershot riffs, Mick's obsession with the current and Keith's deferral to the past (see also “Miss You” and “Emotional Rescue”) have never been better travelling partners.
Harlem Shuffle (1986)
Guilty pleasure to the max. I don't know anyone else who likes this, but almost every Stones LP has a cover, so here it is. It's at least a bit better than their rendition of “Ain't Too Proud Beg,” no?
One Hit (To the Body) (1986)
When Dirty Work, their most maligned LP, was due to be released, Rolling Stone magazine previewed the tracks claiming one sounded like Husker Du. My teenage brain was perplexed. Metal Circus meets Rock and Roll Circus? Yet, upon hearing Keith's electric guitar on this opening track, I realized what the writer was getting at.
Had It With You (1986)
More Dirty Work sniping from Mick (directed towards . . . ?), but with producer du jour Steve Lillywhite's “Grand Canyon snare drum” button switched off. Whoever was behind this track should have produced the whole LP.
Slipping Away (1989)
Did rock 'n' roll archetype Keith Richards begin softening up as he approached 50? Keith reimagines himself as an early '70s gentleman soul balladeer while Mick struts on the JumboTron.
Love Is Strong (1994)
Though it was a return to the game for the band, I wasn't a big fan of the Steel Wheels LP. So when they emerged five years later with this roaming panther of a riff, I was psyched to hear a rawer approach, perhaps courtesy of co-producer Don Was, and that it didn't sound like “Walk The Dinosaur.”
The Worst (1994)
Keith's inner cowboy emerges on this concise, country confessional.
How Can I Stop? (1997)
Did home life with beautiful Patti continue to reign in the renegade? Another slow southern Keith ballad. I was turned on to this song when I saw Feist perform it with Broken Social Scene at Lee's Palace back in 2003 or so. Thanks Leslie.
Back Of My Hand (2005)
OK, yeah it's pretty authentic blues. As if no time had passed since they first visited “2120 South Michigan Avenue” in 1964. If they made an entire record like this, it would perhaps be Keith's dream LP, but Mick would still find a way to get will.i.am involved.
Plundered My Soul (2010)
OK, I'm kind of cheating here. This is a song where the backing was recorded in 1972, and then Mick's awesome vocal recorded in the late 2000s as part of the Exile On Main Street reissue. Had this fantastic track been released as a new single by the Stones in 2010, a parade would have been scheduled in their honour.
--taken from: Toronto Star
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