Beggars Banquet

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For the record label, see Beggars Banquet Records.

Beggars Banquet
Studio album by The Rolling Stones
Released	6 December 1968
Recorded	17 March - 25 July 1968
Genre	Rock, Blues
Length	39:47
Label	Decca/ABKCO (UK) ABKCO (US)
Producer(s)	Jimmy Miller
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link
The Rolling Stones chronology
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)	Beggars Banquet (1968)	Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (1969)
Alternate cover
Initially rejected cover of Beggars Banquet

Beggars Banquet is an LP released in 1968 by The Rolling Stones. It marked a return to the band's R&B roots, generally viewed as simpler and more primal than the conspicuous psychedelics of Their Satanic Majesties Request.

[edit] History

Following the long sessions for the previous album in 1967, Mick Jagger decided that the band needed more direction in the studio and in early 1968 hired Jimmy Miller, who had produced the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. The partnership would prove to be a success and Miller would work with the band until 1973.

In March, the band began recording their new album, aiming for a July release. One of the first tracks cut, "Jumpin' Jack Flash", was released as a single that May, becoming a major hit.

Beggars Banquet was Brian Jones' last substantial effort with The Rolling Stones. In addition to his slide work on "No Expectations," he played harmonica on "Dear Doctor" and "Prodigal Son." He also played sitar and tambura on "Street Fighting Man" and mellotron using the same brass sound he selected for "We Love You" on "Stray Cat Blues".

By June, the sessions were nearly completed in England, with some final overdubbing and mixing to be done in Los Angeles during July. However, both Decca Records in England and London Records rejected the planned cover design - a graffiti-covered lavatory, and the band held back the album. By November, however, The Rolling Stones gave in, allowing the album to be released in December with a simple imitation invitation card cover. However, its simple design once got the Rolling Stones accused of copying their rivals, The Beatles who just released their minimalist art cover for what would be become to be known as the "The White Album". In 1984, the original cover art was released with the initial CD remastering of Beggars Banquet.

Critics considered the LP as a return to form.[1] It was also a clear commercial success, reaching #3 in the UK and #5 in the US (on the way to eventual platinum status).

On 10 and 11 December, the band aimed to promote Beggars Banquet by recording a television extravaganza entitled The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton, The Who and Jethro Tull among the musical guests. However, the project did not air and would not receive an official release until 1996.

Jean-Luc Godard filmed some of the recording sessions showing the band recording Sympathy for the Devil, the lead off track for the album. The film is widely available on DVD.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 57 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2003 the TV network VH1 named Beggars Banquet the 67th greatest album of all time.

In August 2002 Beggars Banquet was reissued in a new remastered CD and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records.

In 2005, The Yuppie Pricks parodied the album's title and cover with their album Brokers Banquet.

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

1. "Sympathy for the Devil" – 6:18
   • Keith Richards on bass
2. "No Expectations" – 3:56
   • Nicky Hopkins on piano
3. "Dear Doctor" – 3:21
4. "Parachute Woman" – 2:20
5. "Jigsaw Puzzle" – 6:05
   • Nicky Hopkins on piano
6. "Street Fighting Man" – 3:15
7. "Prodigal Son" (Rev. Robert Wilkins) – 2:51
8. "Stray Cat Blues" – 4:37
9. "Factory Girl" – 2:08
10. "Salt of the Earth" – 4:47
    • First verse sung by Keith Richards

[edit] Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1968 1969	UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart	3 3
1968 1969 1980	Billboard Pop Albums Billboard Pop Albums Billboard Pop Albums	27 5 169

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1968	"Jumpin' Jack Flash"	UK Top 50 Singles	1
1968	"Jumpin' Jack Flash"	The Billboard Hot 100	3
1968	"Street Fighting Man"	The Billboard Hot 100	48
1971	"Street Fighting Man"	UK Top 50 Singles	21

The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger | Keith Richards | Charlie Watts | Ron Wood
Former members
Brian Jones | Bill Wyman | Mick Taylor | Ian Stewart | Dick Taylor
See also
Chuck Leavell | Darryl Jones | Andrew Loog Oldham | Allen Klein
Related articles
Discography | The Glimmer Twins | Nanker Phelge | Rolling Stones Records | Rock and Roll Circus
Categories
The Rolling Stones | Members | Albums | Singles | Songs | Tours
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